so for programs installed outside the sandbox

[sandisk43]

So, let's say I have a application installed outside of the sandbox. However, let's say a file it uses is compromised and is a virus or whatever.

If I force the application to run in a sandbox, will it still be safe? Even though the virus/malware is stored outside the sandbox? If my understanding is correct, the computer would still be safe, because sandboxie forces everything triggered by the program to run in the sandbox?

[Curt@invincea]

You should not expect to be protected in Sandboxie if your host is infected. If the malware has taken over a system service, then you are still in trouble. Sandboxie expects a clean host system.

[sandisk43]

Okay, but let's say the infected file had never been run before so the system is still not infected. It's just sitting there for now. Then sandboxie would run that infected dependent file within the sandbox, correct?