Multiple Sandboxes

LarryH · Post by **LarryH** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:14 am

I use the computer to do different "tasks". Each "task" requires multiple programs. Obviously, some programs like a word processor, spreadsheet, browser, and e-mail would be used for many tasks. Would the registered version allow me to create multiple "permanent" task sandboxes, each separate from all of the others? Then I could recover data as necessary and as a last resort delete a problem task sandbox and recreate it.

Thank you,
Larry

tzuk · Post by **tzuk** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 4:15 pm

If you need inter-operability between programs in different sandboxes, or between programs in a sandbox and programs outside the sandbox, then this might be difficult. If the tasks are completely independent then it might work well. You can get a feel for this even with the free version of Sandboxie, you can have multiple sandboxes, you just can't run stuff in more than one sandbox at a time.

You might find this topic interesting.
http://www.sandboxie.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12171

LarryH · Post by **LarryH** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:29 pm

Thank you for the very quick and helpful reply, including the link, which pointed out several things I hadn't thought of.
I guess my idea now would be to install all of my programs in the main OS or a Virtual machine, and then create sandboxes to run groups of programs, with some programs appearing in several different sandboxes at the same time. This way the programs would interact during installation obviously, but then only while in a sandbox. If one program was in two sandboxes would each sandboxed version be isolated from the other? This would be a good thing. Also, if I had to update a program at the OS level, would an open sandboxed version get the update, or would I have to close the sandbox and recreate it?
Thank you once again,
Larry

tzuk · Post by **tzuk** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:11 pm

Are you going to install the same program in two sandboxes? Then the two copies would be isolated from and independent of each other.

As for updates to shared files of Windows, the updates occurs outside the sandbox, and would be visible inside the sandbox, in most cases.

LarryH · Post by **LarryH** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 4:21 pm

I was hoping to install once into the main OS and run instances in the various sandboxes.
If I did that, would any "saved" sandboxes be automatically updated with the main OS program update, or would they still function in the sandbox in an unupdated form?

Thank you once again.
At this rate I think I will actually understand the program soon!

tzuk · Post by **tzuk** » Thu Oct 04, 2012 4:54 pm

If we're talking in the general sense of installing third party program, then these shouldn't/wouldn't be affected by Windows updates.

On the other hand, if we're talking about programs from Microsoft, then Windows Update would only offer updates for programs you installed outside the sandbox, and then it is likely the updates will apply when the programs run in a sandbox.

The exception is if your sandbox for some reason has made copies inside the sandbox of stuff outside the sandbox. Like DLL files. When those files outside the sandbox are updated, the program in the sandbox will keep using the copy in the sandbox. So in such a specific scenario, you effectively don't get the update in the sandbox. But I'm just saying this to be pedantic; it's usually not an issue.

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