Microsoft added DEP to Windows 2003 server SP1, Windows X64, and Windows XP SP2. DEP is Data Execution Prevention, and it stops executables (.exe files) from running in an effort to thwart virus attacks. More importantly, DEP also stops SAS executable files that need to run.
Note: In Windows XP SP2, DEP is not the default. However, it can be turned on, so, be aware if an .exe does not run under it.
SAS will try to invoke and the splash screen will appear but then it will quickly disappear again.
The problem occurs because the applications have not been added to Windows Control Panel>Data Execution Prevention. With computers that contain AMD Opteron 64 or Intel EM64T chips, Data Execution Prevention is unique to these chips and protects applications at the hardware chipset level.
To circumvent the problem, do the following:
- Select Start>Control Panel, and double-click System.
- Click on the Advanced tab.
- Under Performance, click Settings.
- Click on the Data Execution Prevention tab.
- Now choose your DEP configuration:
Choice 1
Click Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services
or
Choice 2
- Click Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select.
- Click Add and add the applications (such as SAS) that you do not want DEP-enabled.
For further information, please have a look at the following SAS documentation:
http://support.sas.com/techsup/technote/ts717/ts717.html
SN-013965: SAS fails to start on Opteron (AMD 64) or EM64T machines.
SN-016408: SAS 8.2 might not invoke under Windows Small Business Server 2003.
SN-016583: Data Execution Prevention (DEP) may interfere with SPDS processes.
SN-016443: Data Execution Prevention (DEP) may interfere with SAS OLAP processes.
