Altiris Service will not start "Error 0x80004005: Unspecified error"

Products

• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

 On screen error:

Altiris Log message:

<event date='Mar 04 13:16:12' severity='1' hostName='XXX' source='ComService' module='AeXNSAgent.exe' process='AeXNSAgent.exe' pid='3200' thread='3976' tickCount='3202875' >
  <![CDATA[Unexpected error in ServiceMain: Unknown error]]>
</event>

Environment

ITMS 7.x, 8.x

Cause

DEP (Data Execution Prevention) is preventing the Altiris Service from starting.

Resolution

Run CMD.exe as an "Administrato"r and run bcdedit /enum and look at the "nx" value. If its set to "AlwaysOn" then this is the issue. Change DEP to "OptIn".