Have you seen this new thing in XP Pro called "Data Execution Prevention"? This is the blurb I come up with when I click on a link to learn more:

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) helps prevent damage from viruses and other security threats that attack by running (executing) malicious code from memory locations that only Windows and other programs should use. This type of threat causes damage by taking over one or more memory locations in use by a program. Then it spreads and harms other programs, files, and even your e-mail contacts.

Unlike a firewall or antivirus program, DEP does not help prevent harmful programs from being installed on your computer. Instead, it monitors your programs to determine if they use system memory safely. To do this, DEP software works alone or with compatible microprocessors to mark some memory locations as "non-executable". If a program tries to run code—malicious or not—from a protected location, DEP closes the program and notifies you.

DEP can take advantage of software and hardware support. To use DEP, your computer must be running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later, or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or later. DEP software alone helps protect against certain types of malicious code attacks but to take full advantage of the protection that DEP can offer, your processor must support "execution protection". This is a hardware-based technology designed to mark memory locations as non-executable. If your processor does not support hardware-based DEP, it's a good idea to upgrade to a processor that offers execution protection features.

I'm working with a new computer and I'm trying to put files on my hard drive from disks. I am moving some of the folders around as I rethink how I want to organize them. But every time I click on an important sub-folder in "My Documents" in Windows Explorer, it crashes, simply going away, or giving me an error message and saying it wants to report back to the MotherShip (And you thought it only meant MickySoft!)

A note at the bottom states By default, DEP is only turned on for essential Windows operating system programs and services. To help protect more programs with DEP, select Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select.

When I follow the directions to get to the settings for this feature, the only program on the list is Windows Explorer. There are two radio buttons. By default the first is selected and it says "Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only." Below it is the choice "Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select:" and when it is toggled, Windows Explorer is the only program in the box, though I can add and remove programs. In a kind of reverse logic, I'm afraid that if I check the Windows Explorer box that I'll be blocked from everything else. I think perhaps I need to go to the bottom and "Remove" Windows Explorer from the list. Hmmm.

I guess this means that if I add other stuff and don't check it, it won't be affected. So Windows Explorer is the only over-arching program initially set up for Data Execution Prevention. I wonder if there is a way to fine tune this? For now I need to turn this off. At least for now. It is blocking my ability to work with my files and folders.

What compelling reasons for using or not using this have any of you come across? As it is, the program is essentially denying me the easy access to folders or directories on the drive, but I haven't found a protocol-driven way to work with them.

Any thoughts? John?

SRS