(Potential) Windows 10 Fix for Silent Crash on Startup

[Anti-Personic Bullet]

Every few years I like to play through AoW's campaign, and it seems every time I must troubleshoot why the game doesn't want to run, or doesn't run properly. This time was no different. I will attempt to outline what steps I took to fix it here.

AoW would simply silently crash right after trying to start it, with no visual effect at all.
Obviously the complete lack of error message is rather unhelpful, so I took a look in the Windows Event Log and noticed under System that a few Application Popup events indicated AoW was crashing with error 0xc0000005, Access Violation. From previous experience my first suspected cause was DEP, Data Execution Prevention (also known as NX), as AoW was made before DEP existed (or at least before it was common) and this would cause memory access violations.

Unfortunately, the normal way to opt-out a program (or the entire system) from DEP did not work (DEP status verified with Process Monitor while running AoW.exe in WinDbg) and I spent an hour trying to figure out why.

Eventually I remembered Windows 10 was recently updated (I believe in the anniversary update) to include a new security feature, Exploit Protection. If you've ever used or heard of Microsoft EMET, it is essentially the same functionality. This means there is yet another place where DEP is configured on a system and process basis! Sure enough, after I disabled it there AoW ran fine.

Stage 1:
Verify your computer supports DEP and therefore AoW may be fixed by the following procedure.

1. Open Windows Explorer and right click This PC in the left pane. Select Properties. This should open the System dialog.
2. Click Advanced System Settings on the left of the System dialog, answering yes to UAC if it prompts you.
3. Click Settings... under Performance.
4. Switch to the Data Execution Prevention heading, at the top of the Performance Options dialog that should have just opened.
5. Do you see "Your computer's processor supports hardware-based DEP." at the bottom? If not, this guide may not work.
6. While we're here, notice whether "Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only" or "Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select" is enabled. If the latter is the one selected, hit the Add... button and navigate to Act of War's folder
(For me, C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Act of War Direct Action) and select ActOfWar.exe
This is how you USED to add exceptions for DEP, I'm not sure it is required now but it can't hurt.

Stage 2:
1. Open Settings. Not the control panel, Windows 10's Settings page (icon is a white gear).
2. Type Exploit into the Find a setting text box.
3. Exploit Protection should appear under the text box. Click it.
4. In the new Exploit Protection page that just opened, click Program Settings (to the right of System Settings)
5. Click the + next to Add program to customize.
6. Click Add by program name.
7. Type ActOfWar.exe and click add.
8. You will now be presented with a list of options that you can enable and disable. These can enhance security however many programs will not work with some or all of them enabled. Simply check every box that says Override system settings (if it isn't checked already) and ensure it is set to Off, not On.
9. Double check Data Execution Prevention (DEP) has override system settings checked, and is set to OFF.
10. That's it, try running Act of War again.

[Lirus_Blake]

Thank you so much; I tried everything else and only this worked.

[smiluk1508]

Yeah, it still wont get past 69%% I did everything on the list.

[RABBIT]

not working for me .

[ltanderl]

Thanks for that... Tried many things but nothing worked but now i can finaly play it :-)

[The Necrodeath]

Not working for me (win 11)

[Anubis]

It doesn't work for me on Win 11.

[Setting Sun]

I did Stage 1 then it worked like a charm, thank you sir.
(on Windows 10)

[NeverSurrender]

This worked for me.
go to system properties > Advanced settings > Performance > Settings > Data Execution Prevention > add the games .exe file to turn on DEP Exception

[KaMpFkOlLoSs]

Originally posted by NeverSurrender:

This worked for me.
go to system properties > Advanced settings > Performance > Settings > Data Execution Prevention > add the games .exe file to turn on DEP Exception

Worked just fine. THX

[sdack]

Thanks so much. After years and having given up on the game did I stumble over your comment and gave it a try ... and it worked!

[libik]

This worked for me (w11, 2025). Thanks a lot

[Mat76400]

it doesn't work help please