Data Execution Prevention - Closes Explorer for "Printers and Faxe

[Zakhary]

Except for the Adobe PDF printer, all printers from this computer (a laptop)
are attached to another computer and network accessed. FOr the first time
(at least in a long time), when I have attempted to print this evening, my
printers are unable to be found by the programs I use.

I went to investigate this by going to my "Printers and Faxes" folder with
the intent of uninstalling, then reinstalling one or more printers. However,
whenever I attempt to access the "Printers and Faxes" folder, I receive the
message that Data Execution Prevention has closed Windows Explorer in order
to protect my computer.

I looked at my restore point options to see if any updates are to blame, and
the only thing that I see on there that may be the suspect (i.e., the only
thing added in the last day) is a Software Distribution Service 3.0 update.
Before restoring my computer to offset this update and see if it is to blame,
I wanted to see if there are any other ideas out there - or others are
experiencing problems with this particular Windows update?

Thanks,
Zakhary

[Jose]

Post by Zakhary
Except for the Adobe PDF printer, all printers from this computer (a laptop)
are attached to another computer and network accessed.  FOr the first time
(at least in a long time), when I have attempted to print this evening, my
printers are unable to be found by the programs I use.
I went to investigate this by going to my "Printers and Faxes" folder with
the intent of uninstalling, then reinstalling one or more printers.  However,
whenever I attempt to access the "Printers and Faxes" folder, I receive the
message that Data Execution Prevention has closed Windows Explorer in order
to protect my computer.
I looked at my restore point options to see if any updates are to blame, and
the only thing that I see on there that may be the suspect (i.e., the only
thing added in the last day) is a Software Distribution Service 3.0 update.  
Before restoring my computer to offset this update and see if it is to blame,
I wanted to see if there are any other ideas out there - or others are
experiencing problems with this particular Windows update?
Thanks,
Zakhary

If you restore to an earlier point and it starts working, you will not
know what the problem was.

I don't know what your printer problem is, but can maybe help with
your DEP error in Explorer:

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.

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.

Since you said Adobe, I would pay attention to them also when DEP
errors are happening.

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'll look into this. However, the error and program shut down of Windows
Explorer only comes about from the Printers and Faxes folder. No other
folder experiences this problem. So, this is not a general Windows Explorer
problem; it is unique to the Printers and Faxes folder.

After restarting a few additional times, my programs are able to print and
the print menu is able to be utilized. But that Printers and Faxes folder is
not functioning for some reason. Hopefully the program you've pointed me to
can evaluate this specific folder.
--
-Zakhary

Post by Jose

Post by Zakhary
Except for the Adobe PDF printer, all printers from this computer (a laptop)
are attached to another computer and network accessed. FOr the first time
(at least in a long time), when I have attempted to print this evening, my
printers are unable to be found by the programs I use.
I went to investigate this by going to my "Printers and Faxes" folder with
the intent of uninstalling, then reinstalling one or more printers. However,
whenever I attempt to access the "Printers and Faxes" folder, I receive the
message that Data Execution Prevention has closed Windows Explorer in order
to protect my computer.
I looked at my restore point options to see if any updates are to blame, and
the only thing that I see on there that may be the suspect (i.e., the only
thing added in the last day) is a Software Distribution Service 3.0 update.
Before restoring my computer to offset this update and see if it is to blame,
I wanted to see if there are any other ideas out there - or others are
experiencing problems with this particular Windows update?
Thanks,
Zakhary

If you restore to an earlier point and it starts working, you will not
know what the problem was.
I don't know what your printer problem is, but can maybe help with
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.
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
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.
Since you said Adobe, I would pay attention to them also when DEP
errors are happening.
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
.