DEP - data executable program microsoft warnings?

Question

All of a sudden when I use notepad, IE, or even other stuff I get this warning that closes whatever I am doing. My virus protection says I do not have a virus. Why am I getting these?

Answer 1

Another Microsoft pain in the **** unfortunatly.

As long as you have a decent anti-virus application install there is no danger in disabling this.

Disable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) completely:

   1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

   2. Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.

   3. Under or Pick a Control Panel icon, click System.

   4. Click the Advanced tab, and in the Startup and Recovery area, click Settings.

   5. In the SystemStartup area, click Edit.

   6. In Notepad, click Edit and then click Find.

   7. In the Find what field, type /noexecute and then click Find Next.

   8. In the Find dialog box click Cancel.

   9. Replace the policy_level (for example, "OptIn" default) with "AlwaysOff" (without the quotes).

      WARNING: Be sure to enter the text carefully. Your boot.ini file switch should now read:

      /noexecute=AlwaysOff

  10. In Notepad, click File and then click Save.

  11. Click OK to close Startup and Recovery.

  12. Click OK to close System Properties and then restart your computer.

This setting does not provide any DEP coverage for any part of the system, regardless of hardware DEP support.

Read up on this further before turning it off if you wish.