Microsoft Windows uses DEP for memory allocation for data. Refer to Windows Help file for more information. It seems that Windows or an antivirus update can change the setting without notice. Experiment by switching between the two settings. DEP is always turned on, but for different programs and services. The effects on various Windows versions are undocumented.
DEP Symptom #1
One symptom of a DEP issue is when the Volunteer Reporter desktop icon is clicked “nothing happens.” See DEP below. Also check VR icon to be sure it isn’t set to open minimized [Shortcut tab | Run: Normal Window]. Be sure icon points to right executable (reporter.exe in the Reporter\Program folder).
You can read about DEP at support.microsoft.com/kb/875352 and in your Windows help files. Sometimes with DEP turned on for all services, the Volunteer Reporter won’t run. It’s easy to set it to exclude reporter.exe or, set DEP for only essential Windows programs and services.
The path to DEP on Windows XP:
System Properties: Rt-click My Computer | Properties | Advanced tab | Performance: Settings button | Data Execution Prevention tab:
Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only
* Turn on DEP for all programs and service except those I select:
reporter.exe
The path to DEP on Windows 7:
System Properties: Rt-click Computer | Properties | System Protection | Advanced tab | Performance: Settings button | Data Execution Prevention tab.
Steps to set DEP – Data Execution Prevention
Data Execution Prevention (DEP) helps protect against damage from viruses and other security threats.
Rt-click My Computer / Properties
Advanced tab / Performance: Settings button /
Data Execution Prevention tab / set:
Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only
* Turn on DEP for all programs and service except those I select:
reporter.exe
Data Execution Prevention (DEP) helps protect against damage from viruses and other security threats.
- Select the second choice, Turn on DEP for all programs and service except those I select
- Click Add and browse to reporter.exe to add it to the list. By default the path would be C:\Reporter\Program\reporter.exe.
- Restart the computer.
You might have noticed from these screen grabs taken from different computers that one computer processor supports hardware-based DEP while the other does not. Windows explains, “If your processor does not support hardware-based DEP, Windows will use software-based DEP to help protect your computer.”
DEP Symptom #2
Sept 2011 – The Reporter ran fine the previous day. This day when the Reporter icon was clicked this error appeared:
dBASE PLUS Runtime has stopped working.
And then a popup balloon on the bottom right task bar reported: dBASE PLUS Runtime was closed….
In this case, try the other setting:
- Select the first choice, Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only.
- Any exceptions in the big field will bank out.
- Restart the computer.
