VISTA and DEP
 

I started a game I recently installed, and VISTA shut it down before it even began. it referred to DEP, Data Execution Prevention.

I tried making the .exe file an exception, as the help screen told me to do, but that didn't work either. I tried disabling the DEP altogether, as various internet sites told me to do, that didn't work either.

Now, should I try something else or am I reduced to burning vista on a pyre to appease the chaos gods?

Dude, vista is a tool OF the choas gods.

So I noticed. Actually, it's a tool of Tzeentch, since it never does the same thing twice.

Did you try the instructions here?

http://ablestmage.wordpress.com/2008...on-prevention/

It might be helpful to know what game it is you installed, and, if possible, what version, too.

Really, this is one of the first bits of information that should have been given/asked for.

It would be even more helpful to find a copy of Windows XP and ditch Vista altogether. That OS has been a bane of the world of computers for it's entire existence. Beyond Vista's tendency to be a complete memory-hog, there are simply too many programs out there which have compatibility issues with the OS, if they're not just completely incompatible to begin with.

Myself, I'll be waiting to see what Microsoft does for their next OS release... hopefully they'll wise up a bit from all the negative response Vista has been receiving. Until then, I'll keep dual-booting XP and Sabayon Linux. The two combined do everything I want my comp to do.

Quoted for truth. We'll be infinitely more helpful if we know what we're looking at. It might be a specific game issue; if it is, then you don't want to shut down DEP when you could fix it much more easily.

The guy asked for help with Vista, not your opinion.

It sounds to me like he could also be seeking other options. And that you, perhaps, should take a lesson in manners. I supplied what answer I had that was asked.

When helping someone, typically you follow these steps:

1. Find out what the problem is (check)
2. Find out what's causing the problem (uncheck)
3. Attempt to fix the problem (Well, the current attempts skipped a step, so uncheck)
4. If problem cannot be solved, go to one of two options:
5a: Live with it
5b: Find an alternate option

You can see why I'm a bit terse when someone suggests we give up before we've even started. Now, I apologize for being rude, but maybe you should consider that what you're suggesting would likely cost the guy $100, potentially make him waste what he spent on Vista, and you're doing this before we even know what is actually going on.

There is a time for suggesting that he scraps his OS. We're nowhere near this point.

Kakashi's right, though, Grim. Vista has some serious compatibility issues with some older software. If this was out before, I dunno, 2000 (that's a nice, round number), there's a good chance that it simply won't run no matter what you do. I had this happen to me with FF7, only without any error message whatsoever. I have yet to get around to installing any of my other older faves, but I wouldn't be surprised if any of them reacted the same way.


Edit: That said, it would be really crappy of me to insinuate you should just give up on everything forever. There are probably tons of Google results that may help.


Edit again: Oh, and Kakashi? From what I'm hearing, Windows 7 is going to be based on Vista's same architecture, like Longhorn was supposed to be based on XP's. So I really don't see compatibility improving.