Error or Warning Message

MicroStation or MicroStation PowerDraft will not start and get Text Window with error message.

Error Message:

System fault: 5
MDL abort in DITEMS
Unable to start ditems.ma

Press any key to continue …

Explanation

The "unable to start ditems.ma" message is fairly generic, but it could be related to a security setting for Data Execution Prevention (DEP) in Windows. In more recent Windows releases, that has been set with additional security to only allow authorized executables to run -- MicroStation/J is probably not one of them (since it was released before DEP security was a factor... yet another reason to look into getting a more current release of MicroStation).

How you change that depends on the OS that you are using. There is some information in this article that might be worth to check with your system administrator(s) regarding that.

How to Avoid

Option 1

Company IT department may set up additional security on the workstation that’s why error message shows up.

1. From View System Information > Advance Tab> Performance Settings > Data Execution Prevention Tab >

   The user's IT department set Data Execution Prevention (DEP) additional security to only allow authorized executables to run. MicroStation is not one of them.

2. IT department advised to set the variable to the top option.

TO DISABLE:

Use the (Radio Button) to "Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only". Reboot machine.

Option 2

Steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.

2. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.

3. On the Data Execution Prevention tab, use one of the following procedures:

   3.1) Click Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only to select the Option policy.

   3.2) Click Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select to select the OptOut policy, and then click Add to add the programs that you do not want to use the DEP feature.

4. Click OK two times.