Data Execution Prevention in Windows Vista is Not a Real Security Feature
by Scott Allen - October 17, 2008
Filed Under Random
Anyone who’s spent more than a minute with me online or off, will know of the extreme distaste I have for Microsoft Windows Vista. I have been a bilingual power user of both PC’s and Mac’s since I was young. I have to use both platforms at a high level in my line of work. In my opinion, Windows XP is Microsoft’s best system thus far. (Of course, it’s not even close to Mac OS, but hey, I’ve learned to lower my expectations from Microsoft.) Vista on the other hand is terrible. It’s not only a memory hog — it’s slow, buggy, inefficient, doesn’t play well with multiple processors, need I go on?
By far, what annoys me the most is the “security feature” Data Execution Prevention (DEP). It’s supposed to prevent programs from executing operations that could potentially put the system at risk. Sounds good on paper, and I’m sure it was well-intentioned, but in reality it shuts down many valid programs and operations, making it impossible to complete day-to-day tasks.
Some of the important programs it regularly shuts down include: Firefox (seriously, what a nice under-the-radar way to kill off Internet Explorer’s competition!), setup programs for new software I’m trying to install, Windows’ own WIFI process (yes, with DEP Microsoft stops it’s OWN software, preventing me from being able to connect to my router and the Internet – HOW AWESOME!), to name a few.
Hey Microsoft, FYI: When a “security feature” shuts down some of the main programs I need to use on a daily basis, it’s not a real a security feature.
Turn DEP Off
If you use Vista for any length of time it will likely be necessary to shut DEP down, at least a once in a while. Here’s how:
- To start, you’ll need to run a command prompt with administrative privileges.
Go to the Start Menu, choose “All Programs”, then click on “Accessories”, and right-click on the “Command Prompt” shortcut, selecting “Run As Administrator”.
- Type in the following line to disable Data Execution Prevention (DEP):
bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOffYou can either leave it off, or keep your command prompt open, run your desired setup or other process being killed by DEP, and turn it back on.
- To turn it back on, repeat step 1 and type:
bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOn
Now you can keep the buggy Data Execution Prevention “feature” from slowing you down while you work, and take back a little control from your operating system.
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Windows Vista: Data Execution Prevention is Not a Real Security Feature: Anyone who’s spent more.. http://tinyurl.com/5enfry
I turned DEP off using the command prompt, but it didn’t help. DEP is still shutting down MS Works 6.0 I know it’s off because the DEP section is grayed out. Any other suggestions? Thanks!
@Dave: If you’ve turned off DEP and your program is still being shut down, then something else is going on. I recommend you contact Microsoft tech support.
WOW, based on amount of search-driven traffic 2 this post: http://bit.ly/jlFtJ it seems that a *LOT* of people hate DEP “feature” in Vista.
thanks for the tip . . . I followed your instructions and turned of the DEP ’cause it was hanging my IE, turning off my flash and bunging up my Norton. So much better now but believe it or not … DEP is still working though not as agressively. The error has something to do with a toolbar….I think? reading: “toolbar.dll_unloaded version 0.0.0.0″.