Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature that can help prevent damage to your computer from viruses and other security threats. Harmful programs can try to attack Windows by attempting to run (also known as execute) code from system memory (RAM) locations reserved only for Windows and other authorized programs. These types of attacks can harm your programs and files. If DEP notices a program on your computer using memory incorrectly, it closes the program and notifies you with the
DEP stop error. DEP is ran in a software mode and in a hardware mode. If your processor supports DEP (
NX for AMD, and
XD for Intel), then you will have hardware and software DEP. If it doesn't, then Vista will just use software DEP. 64 bit applications will have DEP enabled all the time by default, but 32 bit applications do not and must have DEP manually enabled for them. For more information, see:
Windows Help and Support: Data Execution Prevention: FAQs NOTE
If a program is being closed by DEP, then make sure that it is a DEP compatible version and check for an updated version. If it is not DEP compatible, then you can uninstall the program or turn off DEP for that particular program. See:
How to Turn DEP On or Off for a Program
WARNING
Do not disable DEP, or exclude (OptOut) a program, unless you have adequate protection and are having problems only with a known safe program that DEP will not let run and you cannot live without it. Remember DEP stopped the program for a reason. Either it is just a improperly running program, or some sort of malware trying to get into restricted memory.
Adequate Protection:
- Antivirus program with realtime scanning (EX: Avast or AVG are good ones)
- A spyware/adware program with realtime scanning (EX: Windows Defender, Spybot Search and Destroy)
- Enable Vista's UAC (User Account Control). It asks you for permission first for anything that wants to run with full access to the computer.