SYMPTOMS
You install Microsoft Windows CE 4.x Emulator on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). The computer has Data Execution Prevention (DEP) hardware. You receive the following error message when you restart your computer: Devices or applications disabled
'Virtual PC/Windows CE Emulator' will cause Windows to become unstable. Windows has prevented these drivers from loading.You may also receive the following error message when you try to start Windows CE 4.x Emulator: Emulator for Windows CE One or more files from the Emulator for Windows CE installation is missing. Please reinstall Emulator for Windows CE and try again.
CAUSE
This problem occurs because Windows XP with SP2 does not allow the Virtual PC/Windows CE Emulator driver (VPCAppSv.sys) to load when hardware-based DEP is enabled. This is part of the Windows XP SP2 Driver Protection feature.
Note Physical Address Extension (PAE) mode must be enabled for DEP to work. Windows XP automatically enables PAE mode to support hardware-based DEP. You do not have to make an entry in the Boot.ini file to enable PAE mode.
RESOLUTION
Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make your computer or your network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to, or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you choose to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect your system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.
To resolve this problem and to run Window CE 4.x Emulator, disable hardware-based DEP on your computer that is running Windows XP SP2. To do this, follow these steps:
1.
Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
2.
In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
3.
Under Start and Recovery, click Settings.
4.
In the Startup and Recovery dialog box, click Edit.
5.
Disable PAE mode by removing the /pae option if it exists.
6.
Remove the /noexecute option if it exists.
7.
Add the /execute option.
8.
On the File menu, click Save.
9.
To exit Notepad, click Exit on the File menu.
10.
To close System Properties, click OK two times.
11.
Restart your computer.