Data Execution Prevention - Changes Settings Exposes Other Problem

[Zakhary]

I can't find the original post I had made about a week ago, so am posting a
new.

Whenever I attempt to open my "Printers and Faxes" folder in a window, Data
Execution Prevention closes Windows Explorer. For some reason, this does not
occur for any other folder I attempt to access, despite them all using
Windows Explorer.

I went ahead and changed the settings for DEP so that it would prevent the
operation of programs other than Windows Explorer (i.e., Windows Explorer is
excepted from DEP intervention). However, upon doing that, the problem was
simply altered. Rather than DEP stopping Windows Explorer from operating,
Windows Explorer crashes and I get the message that it has experienced a
severe problem and needs to close. When I attempt to debug the program, it
just freezes everything until I get convinced to turn off the machine.

Any thoughts on a fix?? My searches continue to refer me to information
about what DEP is and how to change its settings. Searches for reinstalling
Windows Explorer have not given an avenue for doing so.

 

[Jose]

I can't find the original post I had made about a week ago, so am postinga
new.

Whenever I attempt to open my "Printers and Faxes" folder in a window, Data
Execution Prevention closes Windows Explorer.  For some reason, this does not
occur for any other folder I attempt to access, despite them all using
Windows Explorer.

I went ahead and changed the settings for DEP so that it would prevent the
operation of programs other than Windows Explorer (i.e., Windows Exploreris
excepted from DEP intervention).  However, upon doing that, the problemwas
simply altered.  Rather than DEP stopping Windows Explorer from operating,
Windows Explorer crashes and I get the message that it has experienced a
severe problem and needs to close.  When I attempt to debug the program, it
just freezes everything until I get convinced to turn off the machine.

Any thoughts on a fix??  My searches continue to refer me to information
about what DEP is and how to change its settings.  Searches for reinstalling
Windows Explorer have not given an avenue for doing so.

DEP Data execution IE8

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) messages mean that Windows feels
threatened by some program running on
your computer, so it shuts it down. This is actually a good thing
since Windows recognizes the threat
and is trying to prevent further damage.

You could tell Windows that the program is okay (not good advice), but
this is generally not a good idea since there is some other problem
that needs to be corrected.

You should first run some good scans for malicious software and see if
that will correct the problem:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

They can be uninstalled later if desired.

After running the scans, be sure to reboot and then test.

If it is Windows Explorer that is reporting the Data Execution
Protection error, suspect a non Microsoft
Explorer Shell Extension. Shell Extensions help make up the Right
Click menu for files you see in Explorer.

You can download ShellExView from here to see which ones you have
loaded:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html

ShellExView doesn't install anything on your computer, it just runs
and displays.

When you launch it, the non MS extensions will be in light pink, but
on some systems that is a
hard color to see, so click View, Choose Columns and move the
Microsoft column closer to the
top so you can see it on your screen without having to scroll left and
right.

Sort the display by clicking the Microsoft column so all the "No"s are
at the top and easy to see.

I am not a trial and error advocate, but I can't think of another way
to do this...

Right click and disable the non Microsoft extensions one at a time
keeping a list so you can enable
them again later if desired. The result of the change is immediate and
no reboot is required. Test your
failure condition.

If you recognize any extensions that may have been added or downloaded
recently, start with those. The
Extensions are not uninstalled, just disabled.

The hope is that you will find the one Extension that causes the error
and then you can figure out
what to do about it.

I don't have your issue but I can see that the Extension is
immediately disabled, so disabling one
does not require a reboot but if you find the culprit, I would reboot
anyway to really be sure.

 

[Zakhary]

I have performed the malware scan, which found five suspects. One, in
particular, was n the registry key and looked suspicious. However, the
problem persists.

You mention that "if it is Windows Explorer that is reporting the Data
Execution Protection error, suspect a non Microsoft Explorer Shell Extension"
and that "Shell Extensions help make up the Right Click menu for files you
see in Explorer."

Based on this definition of a shell extension, I'm having trouble
understanding the relevance of them to my problem. My problem has nothing to
do with right-clicks. My only problem is an inability to open the "Printers
and Faxes" folder. Again, all other folders, as well as Internet Explorer,
function fine even though they all use Windows Explorer as their program.
So, please explain more as to how shell extensions are relevant and why it is
appropriate to conclude that these are the likely suspect if DEP interrupts
Windows Explorer.