ITunes 12 incompatible with Windows Vista Data Execution Prevention FIX

Question

I have been getting a "Vista Data
Execution Prevention" error message whenever I closed iTunes for months
now, and after reading through a few forums, I have found a solution
that works.  It only takes two minutes.  Long story short:
1) Start iTunes
2) Open the Windows Task Manager
3) Go to the "Proccess" Tab
4) Find "AppleMobileDeviceHelper.exe *32" and right click on it.
5) Select "Properties" from the drop down menu
6) Go to the "Compatibility" Tab
7) Check the Box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"
8) If "Windows XP (Service Pack 2)" is not in the field below, click on the down arrow and select said option.
9) Click on "OK" to close the window.
10) Close the iTunes application
11) Reopen the iTunes application
12) Close the iTunes application again.
At this point you should not see anymore "Vista Data Execution Prevention" error messages when you close iTunes!
P.S. 
If you want to go back and de-select running
"AppleMobileDeviceHelper.exe *32" in Windows XP Compatibility mode, you
can.  Though this part is totally optional.  The next time you close
iTunes, you will get one last "Vista Data Execution Prevention" error
message, but don't worry, it will be the last one.  Try opening iTunes
again and then closing it, and TaDa, no more error messages.  I don't
know why running AppleMobileDeviceHelper.exe *32 in compatibility mode
JUST ONCE solves the problem, but it worked for me.
Happy new year \o/

Answer 1

Welcome tocguy. If I may ask you a question: How much memory does your Vista x64 PC have? I have 3 GB, which is the maximum that 32-bit Vista can recognize, but I seem to recall that 64-bit Vista can utilize much more than that, and wonder if that might be why 64-bit users are scarce in the 11.2 thread.
I have now also done a truly clean reinstall, deleting Apple folders in ProgramData and each user account's AppData folder, and even the iTunes folders in each user's Music folder. Of course I moved my iTunes Media folder to a safe location first, and one iTunes Library backup file suitable for version 11.1.5. I also cleaned the registry. The most I can say is that I sometimes don't get a BEX upon closing iTunes now, but usually I do. I deselected one default setting during installation, "Use iTunes as the default player for audio files." (If an audio file can be opened by Media Player 11, why would I want to open it in a program that gives me a BEX nearly every time I use it? Too bad my AAC files purchased at iTunes Store can't be opened by WMP, but I certainly won't be buying any more of those now.) My advice to other Vista users: Don't waste your time reinstalling, it won't solve the DEP problem.
Ran the Program Compatibility Wizard to run iTunes in XP SP2 compatibility mode, but abandoned that idea after the first BEX.
Thought I was onto something when I tried the registry fix at http://blogs.technet.com/b/askperf/archive/2008/06/17/to-dep-or-not-to-dep.aspx. Johnny DEP thought he was so slick when he saw iTunes listed as an exception in his DEP tab, but there was one minor problem (yes I did reboot):
Oh well, it's probably a bad idea to allow buffer overruns anyway. The fact that this didn't work causes me to think that Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit or Application Compatibility Toolkit would also be a waste of time. Vista users who wish to avoid BEX errors can either downgrade their iTunes (free) or upgrade their Windows (not free).