Loss of Saved Data [SOLVED]

[yabbadoo]

I use Sandboxie all the time to open my Opera browser. I have never noticed this problem before.

I save special bookmarks mostly in the folders of my bookmarks bar, just like i always have done for years. I also save popular sites on the Speed Dial homepage of Opera which appear as icons.

Recently, every time I shut down my PC and reopen using Sandboxie, this saved bookmark bar data has vanished, even the arranged Speed Dial page has gone back to what it was previously.

If I use Opera unsandboxed and save data, then Sandboxie picks it up and all the data is still there, no problem.

This means saving and arraanging data under Sandboxie is a waste of time. If I want my data to stay put, then I have to use an unsandboxed Opera. Not really much use.

Any clues ?

My Speed Dial Homepage :-

[Craig@Invincea]

This means saving and arraanging data under Sandboxie is a waste of time. If I want my data to stay put, then I have to use an unsandboxed Opera. Not really much use.

Any clues ?

Sandboxie shouldn't be used for long term storage. The hierarchy is creates is temporary in the sandbox, and for some reason that data isn't written to "disk" but to memory or to a location in that temp sandbox that could be lost in reboot.

If you want to make certain that bookmarks, settings, layouts, preferences, etc are saved as such, Then that should be done OUTSIDE of the sandbox for them to "stick"

This is something we've always said. This applies to updates, etc.

You can always edit the ini or a local template to allow SBIE to write to your host to allow this to "stick" also, of course, through the sb.

[bo.elam]

Recently, every time I shut down my PC and reopen using Sandboxie, this saved bookmark bar data has vanished, even the arranged Speed Dial page has gone back to what it was previously.

.......
Any clues ?

Yabbadoo, I am not familiar with Opera and dont use speed dials, bookmarks bars or anything like that, but if in the past, when you allowed Operas bookmarks to be saved out of the sandbox, it also saved the bookmark data you are talking about as well as what is displayed in the speed dial page, then you should still be able to do that now.

I suggest you create a new sandbox, and in Sandbox settings, allow access to the same files that you did in the past. Your issue could also be due to Opera, in a recent update, changing the location for the file where bookmarks are saved. I don't know, I am just not familiar with Opera but I know one thing and that is that your issue is related to settings, try figuring out which file sandboxed Opera has to have access to in order for bookmark data to be saved out of the sandbox, and then allow access to it in Sandbox settings.

Bo

[Craig@Invincea]

I'm thinking they did change something. Much like FF did in the past.

Code: Select all

%APPDATA%\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable\

[look here]

The current SBIE template looks at

Code: Select all

OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%AppData%\Opera\*\Profile\
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Local AppData%\Opera\*\Profile\

I checked Opera 37.0.2178.32 on Win 10x64.

[Craig@Invincea]

Opera bookmark location in SBIE

Code: Select all

OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\opera6.adr
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\bookmarks.adr
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\notes.adr
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\speeddial.ini
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\wand.dat
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\thumbnails
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\Profile\opera6.adr
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\Profile\bookmarks.adr
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\Profile\notes.adr
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\Profile\speeddial.ini
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\Profile\wand.dat
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.Opera%\Profile\thumbnails
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%AppData%\Opera\*\Profile\opera6.adr

In opera 37

Code: Select all

AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable\Bookmarks

I'd probably just give direct access to

Code: Select all

AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable

[yabbadoo]

Thank you so much Craig and Bo, you never fail to give me your valuable comments on my little problems.

But this is the way I see it :-

Sbxie protects us form infection by operating in a virtual environment - fundamental. When we download an item, we have to go through the recovery routine where we give permission for SBxie to let the item go freely from the sandbox onto our PC.

In this, we accept any bugs that go with it. The responsibility for infection is ours. OK, fine. With that door closed, SBxie then terminates all programs and content within the sandbox on browser closure. Again OK.

BUT, when we bookmark an item, we effectively place that item, bugs and all into our intended PC bookmark library, within the sandbox of course. It becomes an unauthorized "recovery" operation. SBxie does not allow unauthorized exits from the sandbox, hence on browser closure, the bookmark is deleted.

This means that bookmarking items when using SBxie is an impossibility, which makes using SBxie impractical.
Your comments please.

PS - All bookmarks should be treated like authorized recovery items and allowed to leave the sandbox freely on browser closure.

[yabbadoo]

Downloads are subjected to a "recovery" panel and a "destination" panel, both of which have to be authorized by the user.

This effectively gives the download a "passport" to exit the sandbox. Bookmarks and other saved file data have no such "passports" and are deleted on browser closure.

[Peter2150]

This means that bookmarking items when using SBxie is an impossibility, which makes using SBxie impractical.
Your comments please.

PS - All bookmarks should be treated like authorized recovery items and allowed to leave the sandbox freely on browser closure.

Forunately I am at a point where I don't need to bookmark many sites. So if I find a site, and trust it, I just copy the link into a txt file, and then go to that link unsandboxed and bookmark it then.

Since I also have the browsers protected by other software it's not a high risk action

[yabbadoo]

I hope you can throw some light on this exercise.

Firstly, I do not open my Opera browser, I click the SBxie icon on my desktop and as SBxie is programmed to open my default browser (Opera), it does it, up comes Opera all sandboxed.
I did this :-
Checked the direst access for Opera.

Unchecked automatic sanbox delete.


1. Using SBxie again, which still shows the changes I made several hours ago, although I have shut down the browser a few times and rebooted since, I made several more changes - new bookmarks and placed them in my bookmark bar folders.

2. I went for broke and rebooted. Then I opened my basic Opera (a separate icon on my desktop). It had not been updated with all the new changes I have made.

3. I then used SBxie to open Opera. Every single change I have made in the past hours and minutes is still shown. Nothing has been lost.

So, SBxie must retain all the changes within its program OR SBxie has created a second Opera default browser unknown to me in my system. If Sbxie opened my known Opera browser, the changes made would NOT be shown and they ARE.

Can anybody say what is going on ?

[bo.elam]

Yabaddoo, I believe you like to save bookmarks out of the sandboxed browsing session and still be able to delete contents of the sandbox when you exit the browser, Right?

If thats the case, What happens if you tick the setting to Allow direct access to Opera bookmarks, and set the sandbox to delete on closing of the sandboxed browser.

Does new bookmarks get saved out of the sandbox or not?

By the way, like you, I believe not being able to save bookmarks out of the sandbox would be very inconvenient. Fortunately, saving bookmarks can be done with Sandboxie. You either do it by applying the setting that's already available in Sandbox settings. And if that doesn't work, then all you have to do is figure out in which file Opera stores bookmarks, and then you apply direct access to that file to bypass sandboxing.

Bo

[yabbadoo]

Yabaddoo, I believe you like to save bookmarks out of the sandboxed browsing session and still be able to delete contents of the sandbox when you exit the browser, Right?

If thats the case, What happens if you tick the setting to Allow direct access to Opera bookmarks, and set the sandbox to delete on closing of the sandboxed browser.

Does new bookmarks get saved out of the sandbox or not?

By the way, like you, I believe not being able to save bookmarks out of the sandbox would be very inconvenient. Fortunately, saving bookmarks can be done with Sandboxie. You either do it by applying the setting that's already available in Sandbox settings. And if that doesn't work, then all you have to do is figure out in which file Opera stores bookmarks, and then you apply direct access to that file to bypass sandboxing.

Bo

Bo, again very helpful of you. I will explore and see what happens

[Guest10]

Can anybody say what is going on ?

Yes. The changes are being saved only inside of the sandbox, and are not being saved to the Opera profile outside of the sandbox.
If the sandbox contents are deleted, the changes are deleted.

Why is this happening? The Opera program itself may or may not be officially supported, as far as running/not running is concerned, but that doesn't mean that the templates that Sandboxie includes for Opera are any good. In fact, the Opera templates are woefully out of date and are useless for saving items out of the sandbox - unless you're using something like Opera v12.

Scroll down here for some user provided templates for Opera:
http://forums.sandboxie.com/phpBB3/view ... 22&t=22319

[yabbadoo]

From what started out as a seemingly simple problem in my little world, a monumental and highly complex issue has developed.

I used Google Chrome for many years and only changed to Opera when Google dumped Win XP. I have found Opera many times better than Chrome and would never consider going back to Chrome even if Win XP was still supported.

Not being able to store bookmarks and probably other data in a SBxie`d Opera, is a huge inconvenience, but unless somebody knows of a simple fix, I cannot contemplate getting involved in some complex template issue between SBxie and Opera.

I do not spend all my time creating bookmarks, just occasionally, when I feel i want to store the link. So I will plod on using my SBxie/Opera combination and when it comes to saving or rearranging something, I will tab up my Opera basic, copy the sandboxed URL and paste it in my basic Opera. The changes will then be included in any further sandboxed Opera after browser closure or PC shutdown.

[bo.elam]

From what started out as a seemingly simple problem in my little world, a monumental and highly complex issue has developed.

Yabadoo, saving bookmarks out of the sandbox is huge, if we couldn't do it, it would be highly inconvenient. So, between all of us who have posted in this thread, we ll help you set things correctly so you can do it, OK. And we are almost at the end.

I checked the link posted by Guest10, if the information there regarding saving bookmarks in the new Opera is correct, then all you have to do is add a couple of lines to your Sandboxie config file. There are different ways to do that. I ll give you the instructions to do it using the Sandboxie User interface.

In your Opera sandbox, go to Sandbox settings>Resource access>File access>Direct access, Click Edit/Add, and add the lines below, one at a time. Remember to Apply.

OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.OperaStable%\Bookmarks*
OpenFilePath=opera.exe,%Tmpl.OperaStable%\Thumbnails*

Afterward, you should be able to save bookmarks out of the sandbox for Opera. Check it out and tell us if its working OK.

Bo

[yabbadoo]

@ Bo

Sounded brilliant Bo.

I did exactly what you said with no problem. I copied your line and pasted it into the panel "Add resource name". When I pressed OK it showed as added to the main list, highlighted in blue, but every time I pressed Apply, it was deleted as unacceptable. Just disappeared.