The information in this article applies to:

• SONAR 4
• SONAR 3
• SONAR Home  Studio Version 4
• SONAR LE
• Home Studio

Service Pack 2 (SP2) is the newest update to windows XP. It installs a new security feature called data execution prevention, or DEP, DEP works by preventing viruses form entering your computer through a data buffer or protected memory address. Once a virus enters your systems this way, it can successfully run its code from the memory location. The protection provided by SP2 therefore is very valuable.  

Our initial testing with SP2 and current Cakewalk programs revealed an adverse interaction that does not appear to manifest in the released version of SP2. In the unlikely event Windows cease your Cakewalk program, citing a security violation after installing SP2, complete the follow instructions.

Because Cakewalk program use self-generating/modifying  code that runs in protected memory, certain function within our program may cause Windows XP to stop the program and display a security warning. To prevent Window XP from stopping your Cakewalk program, follow these simple steps:

1. After installing SP2 for Window XP, right-click My Computer and choose properties from the menu.

2. Next, go to the Advanced tab and click the setting button in the performance section.   

3. In the performance Options windows click on the Data Execution Prevention tab and choose "Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select:"  

4. Click the Add button towards the button of the window and navigate to your Cakewalk program. For example, the default location for Sonar is C:\Program Files\Cakewalk\Sonar. Once inside the Sonar folder, double click file SONARPDE.EXE to add Sonar Production Edition to the list of programs that will be excluded from DEP. If you are using the Studio Edition of Sonar the default location will be the same, but the program's executable file is SONARSTD.EXE for Home Studio users the file is CWHS.EXE. As you can see the file name you to add will depend on which cakewalk program you are using. For all of our programs the default  location of the program folder is C:\Program Files\Cakewalk.

5 Click apply and Ok.

That's it Now Window XP will continue to protect your system form viruses and your Cakewalk program will remain unaffected.