Why do Windows 10 laptops fail to run application that runs on Windows 10 Workstations?

[Jeffrey H Jacobs]

Wrote a couple of VB.NET Forms applications using third party IOCOMP plotting library. When I install on company, Windows 10, laptops I get the exception, "Unable to get the window handle for the control. Windowless ActiveX components are not supported." The code installs and works correctly on a couple of company, Windows 10, workstations. I used the Click Once publisher for the application to avoid the need for Administrator access. From searching the internet I found that it may require turning off "Data Execution Prevention" for the application. This requires administrator privilege which I would like to avoid. I notice turning off "Data Execution Prevention" did not work for many with the same issue. I also ran the wmic command "wmic Get Data Execution Prevention Support Policy which shows Data Execution Prevention Support Policy 2. The same result occurs on the working Work Stations and non-working laptops. As a result, I don't believe turning off the Data Execution Prevention will help. Can you explain why the application runs on the Workstations, but not the laptops? Is there any way to allow the application to run on the laptops without Administrator privilege? Is there any way to get the application to run on the laptops?

In order to see the exception, I had to add a try catch block to code auto-generated by VB.NET. I would suggest that auto-generated code include proper error handling.

I will have DEP turned off by our IT department, but that will require time. If it works, I will repost.

The Windows 10 version is the same on the laptops and Workstations.

Edition: Windows 10 Pro
Version: 20H2
OS Build: 19042.508
Experience: Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.31.0

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