Forcing Memory Integrity to Turn On via Registry Editor in Windows
Here’s where I ran into a bit of a snag—trying to activate Memory Integrity (also known as Core Isolation Memory Integrity) in Windows, and it simply refused to switch on. No matter how many toggles I flicked in Settings, it stayed off. Turns out, Windows can be quite stubborn about this, especially if some drivers or system configurations are incompatible or if the feature is disabled deep within the system. After a couple of nights of trial and error, I realised I could manually tweak the registry to force it on.
Now, I’ll admit, messing around with the registry sounds a bit daunting—like one wrong move might cause trouble. But if you’re cautious and back up first, it’s quite manageable. Just keep in mind: editing registry keys carries risks, such as making Windows unstable or preventing it from booting properly if you’re not careful. So, always back up your registry beforehand—click File, then Export in regedit after opening it with administrator rights, and save that backup somewhere safe.
Why Bother Forcing Memory Integrity?
This security feature helps protect your system against malware trying to execute malicious code in protected memory areas. It’s part of Windows’ hypervisor-based security, and without it, your PC might be more vulnerable—especially to certain exploits. Windows sometimes disables it automatically—say, if it detects incompatible drivers or hardware, or if a system setting is turned off. That can be frustrating if you’re confident your setup is fine and just want that extra layer of security activated.
Step-by-step: How to Enable It via Registry
First up, make sure you open the registry editor with admin rights. You can do this by clicking the Start menu, typing regedit, then right-clicking the result and selecting Run as administrator. It’s important because without those permissions, your changes might not save. Confirm any User Account Control prompts — I’ve had to repeat this a few times, usually forgetting to run as admin.
Once inside, navigate to this path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\DeviceGuard\Scenarios\HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrityIf that key isn’t there, don’t worry. Depending on your Windows version or hardware, it might be located elsewhere—perhaps directly under DeviceGuard. Or, if needed, you can create it:
- Right-click on
Scenarios, select New > Key, and name it HypervisorEnforcedCodeIntegrity. Inside that, you’ll add the setting.
Next, look for the Enabled DWORD
If it’s not there, you’ll need to create it:
- Right-click on the right pane, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it Enabled.
Double-click on Enabled, set the Value data to 1 (this means “turn it on”), then click OK and double-check that it’s set to 1. This instructs Windows to enable the feature at a low system level.
Reboot — the final step
This is the crucial part: a restart is necessary. After rebooting, go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation. Your Memory Integrity toggle should now be enabled. If it’s still greyed out or refuses to activate, it might be due to driver conflicts or hardware issues. Updating your drivers or checking your system logs may help diagnose the problem.
What if it still won’t turn on?
If memory integrity persists in staying off despite your efforts, consider your drivers—especially for your GPU, chipset, or virtualization software. Sometimes, proprietary drivers or certain security tools interfere with it. Make sure you’ve got the latest drivers from your hardware manufacturer, and check for Windows updates, as they often resolve these sort of quirks.
Also, some OEMs lock down these options. If you’re running a laptop from Dell, HP, or similar brands, some settings might be disabled in the BIOS. Updating or flashing the BIOS could be necessary. On my older ASUS laptop, I found the setting tucked away deep in Advanced options, so don’t lose hope if it’s not apparent right away.
All in all, it took me a couple of nights fiddling around to get it working. But it’s definitely doable if you take it steady. Just remember to back up your registry before tinkering, and keep in mind that hardware compatibility might be the limiting factor. Still, it’s reassuring to know the option’s there—hidden behind some registry tweaks.
Hope this guide helps — it certainly took me a while to work it all out. Double-check those registry paths, keep drivers up-to-date, and scan your system logs if things aren’t working as expected. Good luck!