Verify Data Execution Prevention Status in Vista
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 locations reserved for Windows and other authorized programs. These types of attacks can harm your programs and files.
This security tool needs to be configured before it can fully operate. Over time, this feature might also accidentally shut down legitimate processes of valid applications. Users can choose to activate the feature as security measure or disable it for certain reasons. If you are using others’ computer or for some reason want to verify whether the DEP feature is enabled or disabled, you can do so via the following steps:
Launch an elevated command prompt shell with administrative privileges and credentials. To do so, users need to log on to Windows Vista with a user account with administrator rights. Right click on the Command Prompt icon and select “Run as Administrator”
Execute the following command:
wmic OS Get DataExecutionPrevention_SupportPolicy
Press Enter.
Look at the number display on the screen. The number indicates the DEP status which reads as follows:
- 0 =AlwaysOff – DEP is disabled for all processes
- 1 =AlwaysOn – DEP is enabled for all processes
- 2 =OptIn – DEP is enabled for Windows system components and services (this is the default setting)
- 3 =OptOut – DEP is enabled for all processes except for those Administrators identified
Re: Verify Data Execution Prevention Status in Vista
Sometimes this is not good and makes sure that programs DEP concluded that no threat to your PC. If so you can turn off DEP.
Turn DEP not matter if you have any problems with the post!
Go to the Start menu and type "cmd" in search. Enter below. If you have classic start menu go to "run", type "cmd" and enter it.
Now type "bcdedit.exe / set (current) nx AlwaysOff" to DEP off.
Close all windows now.
If the state DEP is now. You want it again, type
"bcdedit.exe / set (current) nx AlwaysOn"
Does this tweak is not for you, start the cmd manually as Administrator. Do this by using the standard Vista Start menu, type cmd, and then right-click the cmd icon and click "Run as Administrator" choice.
