Enable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in Internet Explorer 7

Because browsers can host plug-in extensibility, security settings within the browser can make plug-ins fail. This is why in Internet Explorer 7 Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is off by default. Two of the most well-known and commonly used browser plug-ins, the Adobe Acrobat/Reader browser helper object and the Adobe Flash Player, now run when DEP is enabled. You can enable DEP by navigating to the following dialog and checking the highlighted option shown below (note, you must elevated to admin first, otherwise the option is grayed out).

source: techguylabs.com

Disable Data Execution Prevention (DEP)

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.

:: Verifying DEP is Disabled ::

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.

5. In the Performance area, click Settings and then click Data Execution Prevention.

6. Verify that the DEP settings are unavailable and then click OK to close Performance Settings.

7. Click OK to close System Properties then close Performance and Maintenance.