[Big Problem] Data Execution Prevention

[Konasumi]

Hi guys, I have a problem. Every time I launch a Steam game and try to play it, Windows shuts the program down because of data execution prevention. For some reason, I don't have this issue with Minecraft or Live for Speed. It's just Steam games. I go to the settings for data execution prevention, and I try to set the game's .exe to not get hit by Windows because of this.

 

It then tells me, "This program must run with DEP enabled. You cannot turn off DEP for this program". Can someone help me?

 

OS - Windows Vista (64 bit, SP2 all updated, legit copy)

 

Games in Question:

Assetto Corsa

Castle Crashers

Euro Truck Simulator 2

 

[Altecice]

Open up a command promp as admin.

 

To verify if DEP is on type this in:

wmic OS Get DataExecutionPrevention_SupportPolicy

 

-----

 

If you get no number reply its off and follow this instruction:

bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx OptIn

 

you should get a message saying operation completed successfully.

 

Restart your PC and try again.

 

 

 

if all that fails open a new command prompt up and type this in instead:

bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOn

[Konasumi]

Open up a command promp as admin.

 

To verify if DEP is on type this in:

wmic OS Get DataExecutionPrevention_SupportPolicy

 

-----

 

If you get no number reply its off and follow this instruction:

bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx OptIn

 

you should get a message saying operation completed successfully.

 

Restart your PC and try again.

 

 

 

if all that fails open a new command prompt up and type this in instead:

bcdedit.exe /set {current} nx AlwaysOn

 

I have tried all the methods you have listed, and I am still getting this issue.

[Altecice]

I have tried all the methods you have listed, and I am still getting this issue.

 

Quickly run a quick file check:

 

SFC /SCANNOW

 

see what happens after the scan.

[Konasumi]

Quickly run a quick file check:

 

SFC /SCANNOW

 

see what happens after the scan.

 

Response:

 

Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection found some corrupted files but was unable to fix some of them.

 

I tried opening up the detailed log in Notepad, but I was denied access.

[Altecice]

Response:

 

Verification 100% complete.

Windows Resource Protection found some corrupted files but was unable to fix some of them.

 

I tried opening up the detailed log in Notepad, but I was denied access.

 

Run it a few more times.

[Konasumi]

Run it a few more times.

 

I ran the scan three more times, and I got the same result.

[Altecice]

Hmm.. ok give this a shot (still with Command prompt)

 

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth                    

 

(if corruption is found follow the next steps)

 

----

 

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

 

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

 

After that if you have received a message to say the corruption was fixed re-run the sfc /scannow command a few more times.

[Konasumi]

 

Hmm.. ok give this a shot (still with Command prompt)

 

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth                    

 

(if corruption is found follow the next steps)

 

----

 

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

 

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

 

After that if you have received a message to say the corruption was fixed re-run the sfc /scannow command a few more times.

 

 

I'm having issues entering the first command. I either get an error saying "Dism" does not exist or the pathway could not be found.

[theawesomejman]

How about just turning DEP all the way off? I always do that with DEP, UAC and paging files...

[Konasumi]

How about just turning DEP all the way off? I always do that with DEP, UAC and paging files...

 

I have tried this, and even though it is disabled, I still get my programs shut down due to DEP. Weird.

[Konasumi]

@Altecice, do you think a re-install (Going through the Windows recovery / installation on my HP desktop) of Windows would fix this issue? Nothing is working. DEP is disabled, but when I launch a game, it still gets shut down by it.

[Sihastru]

I'm having issues entering the first command. I either get an error saying "Dism" does not exist or the pathway could not be found.

 

DISM is available starting with Windows 7. But other then the problems with your hard drive, you may also have a virus that targets Steam installations. Try to install Microsoft Security Essentials and do a complete system scan.

[Konasumi]

DISM is available starting with Windows 7. But other then the problems with your hard drive, you may also have a virus that targets Steam installations. Try to install Microsoft Security Essentials and do a complete system scan.

 

I am currently running Windows Vista. I'm not sure if it's a virus or not. I reinstalled Windows, and it appears that the problem might still be there. I had AVG and Malwarebytes 2.0 installed on my machine, and they reported no viruses. I'll still scan with MSE and see if anything shows up.

[Sihastru]

Did you reinstall everything from scratch? Including Steam and all the games you're having problems with?

[Konasumi]

Did you reinstall everything from scratch? Including Steam and all the games you're having problems with?

 

Yes. Just reinstalled Windows, and now I'm reinstalling my games to see if this problem is still there.

[Sihastru]

Ok, good. Most people backup their Steam folder. If you were to use a backup, having already corrupted files in there, then reinstalling Windows would be pointless.

[Konasumi]

Ok, good. Most people backup their Steam folder. If you were to use a backup, having already corrupted files in there, then reinstalling Windows would be pointless.

 

The weird thing is, I launched Assetto Corsa on the desktop and the menus worked just fine. When I tried to enter a race, Windows shut down the game's .exe file. Other Source games work just fine on the PC, and I run those through Steam. Euro Truck Simulator 2 has the same problem as Assetto Corsa, except that the game gets shot down right when I launch it.

[Sihastru]

How's the video card situation? What video card do you have? Are the drivers up to date?

[Konasumi]

How's the video card situation? What video card do you have? Are the drivers up to date?

 

Currently, I use an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100. The drivers are not up to date, but I will update them. I do have a GTX 750 Ti on the way.

[Sihastru]

OK. If you don't have any issues with DEP anymore I'm thinking that the integrated Intel GMA3100 (Intel G33) isn't up to snuff with these games. Some games have high minimum requirements. For example for Assetto Corsa: http://www.assettocorsa.net/hw-sw-requirements/

 

They require a cards with DX10.1 and a minimum of 512MB of video RAM. The GMA3100 is only DX10 compliant (just barely, with lots of bugs) and can access just 384MB of video RAM. How much RAM have you shared in the BIOS for the integrated video card?

[Konasumi]

OK. If you don't have any issues with DEP anymore I'm thinking that the integrated Intel GMA3100 (Intel G33) isn't up to snuff with these games. Some games have high minimum requirements. For example for Assetto Corsa: http://www.assettocorsa.net/hw-sw-requirements/

 

They require a cards with DX10.1 and a minimum of 512MB of video RAM. The GMA3100 is only DX10 compliant (just barely, with lots of bugs) and can access just 384MB of video RAM. How much RAM have you shared in the BIOS for the integrated video card?

 

Not much. Less than 500MB was shared. I'm not certain, but I will give you a number once I get CPUZ installed.

[Konasumi]

I think I found my problem.

 

I think hardware based DEP is enabled, according to Windows. That explains why I keep getting shut down even when I turn off DEP in Windows. I'll go into the BIOS and see if there's a setting.

 

It turns out I'm locked out of my BIOS. This is most likely because I'm on an OEM board. Anyone know how to disable hardware based DEP without going into the BIOS?

[ig33ku]

Don't think it is possible If you have a standard PSU and Casing (all the wires and case holes are in the right places) you may need to buy a new mobo..... and hope you can transfer the windows licence over to the new system. BTW if you do that do not install your 750 ti first. Install windows completely then install it. Unless you do not have onboard graphics with the new mobo.

[Konasumi]

Don't think it is possible If you have a standard PSU and Casing (all the wires and case holes are in the right places) you may need to buy a new mobo..... and hope you can transfer the windows licence over to the new system. BTW if you do that do not install your 750 ti first. Install windows completely then install it. Unless you do not have onboard graphics with the new mobo.

 

Buying a new motherboard won't be worth it, in my opinion. The plan right now is to purchase a copy of Windows 8.1 and get rid of Vista as soon as I possibly can. I would like to know if this problem may persist; as Windows told me about hardware based DEP. Will I still have that issue with Windows 8.1?