Windows 10 - Font of text in sandboxed explorer (folders etc) appears lower resolution

[ssj100]

Windows 10 64-bit (1703). Sandboxie 5.20. No other security applications installed.

Can anyone reproduce this please. I can't seem to reproduce it in a freshly installed (ancient) version of Windows 10, but I've noticed this with a fully updated version as above. I suspect Windows 10 itself changed the mechanism of Windows explorer as it updated over the years, so it can probably only be reproduced in recent versions. I'm not sure if specifically having a touchscreen device is also needed in reproducing this:

There are two main issues that can be observed - within a sandboxed explorer (browsing a folder for example):
1. Notice that the font of every letter displayed appears to be at a relatively lower resolution than your native display - that is, it's slightly blurry compared to an unsandboxed folder.

2. The folder window size/shape that opens sandboxed does not match the size/shape of the unsandboxed folder window. In fact, no matter what size/shape the unsandboxed window is, the sandboxed window seems to default to a specific size/shape.

Furthermore, it's slightly sluggish to open the sandboxed folder too - it takes about 2 seconds. On my desktop running Windows 7, it takes less than 1 second. Finally, displaying the icon pictures of the files within the folder can be slightly sluggish (particularly on first opening from OS restart etc) - it should be instant, but there's a slight lag that can be observed (less than 1 second, but still noticeable).

Would appreciate it if people running Windows 10 could see if they can observe the same behaviours.

[ssj100]

EDIT: okay, I think I worked out the issue:

If you set the "size of text, apps and other items" (under the Windows "Display" - "Scale and layout" setting) to anything greater than "100%", then the above issue(s) can be reproduced. Try setting it to 200% to see it more obviously. I have doubts whether much can be done about it? I think it means that Sandboxie isn't emulating the display resolution of text within explorer windows optimally/correctly, and not remembering the size/shape of the windows, at greater than 100% scaling etc.

For what it's worth, doesn't seem to be an issue with Windows 7.

[bo.elam]

Hi ssj100, in my W10 64 bits version 1703 laptop, scale at 100%, all looks the same sandboxed and unsandboxed. The opening of sandboxed Explorer feels fast but not as instantaneous as the non sandboxed version. As far as I am concerned, all regarding running Explorer sandboxed is well in this laptop. I opened explorer sandboxed a couple of days ago in my W7, there was nothing wrong, otherwise I would have noticed it. I am using Sandboxie beta 5.21.2 in both computers.

Bo

[ssj100]

Hi ssj100, in my W10 64 bits version 1703 laptop, scale at 100%, all looks the same sandboxed and unsandboxed. The opening of sandboxed Explorer feels fast but not as instantaneous as the non sandboxed version. As far as I am concerned, all regarding running Explorer sandboxed is well in this laptop. I opened explorer sandboxed a couple of days ago in my W7, there was nothing wrong, otherwise I would have noticed it. I am using Sandboxie beta 5.21.2 in both computers.

Bo

You mention testing it with the scale of 100%. Please re-read all information above. Thanks.

To clarify - at a scale of 100%, everything looks fine. You need to increase that scale to reproduce the issue - I'd suggest testing at 200%.

EDIT: I just tested in a freshly installed Windows 10 with absolutely nothing else extra installed except Sandboxie - easily reproduced this time. The key is to set the scale at greater than 100%. No problems with Windows 7.

[bo.elam]

In my laptop, at 125%, sandboxed Explorer look blurry a little while non sandboxed Explorer looks fine.

Bo

[ssj100]

In my laptop, at 125%, sandboxed Explorer look blurry a little while non sandboxed Explorer looks fine.

Bo

Thanks for confirming bug number 1 as above. Can you also please post your experience of bug number 2 (see original post)?

[bo.elam]

The size seems a little bigger, bulkier sandboxed.

Bo

[ssj100]

The size seems a little bigger, bulkier sandboxed.

Bo

The behaviour should be that the sandboxed explorer window is opened with also the identical size/shape of the respective unsandboxed window. For example, if the unsandboxed window is maximised, then the sandboxed window should also be opened maximised. Conversely, if the unsandboxed window is not maximised, then the sandboxed window should open with exactly the same size/shape of that unsandboxed window. However, this is not the case at greater than 100% scaling.

I'm be really impressed if all the above is able to be fixed. Again, the issues are not present with Windows 7 no matter what scaling is used. So there may be some hope that it can be fixed on Windows 10.

[Barb@Invincea]

ssj100,

Have you tried these steps?:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22782&p=127396&hili ... ng#p127396

I have found other similar threads in the forums:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=22271&p=116861&hil ... ng#p116861
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=18593#p100122

I will talk to the devs about it, but it seems that this is not a new problem with Windows 10.
I'll get back to you with more info.

Regards,
Barb.-

[ssj100]

ssj100,

Have you tried these steps?:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22782&p=127396&hili ... ng#p127396

I have found other similar threads in the forums:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=22271&p=116861&hil ... ng#p116861
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=18593#p100122

I will talk to the devs about it, but it seems that this is not a new problem with Windows 10.
I'll get back to you with more info.

Regards,
Barb.-

Those steps don't appear to have any effect on the specific issue described above. It does have an effect on specifically the display of the Sandboxie Control windows.

Thanks for feeding back to the devs.

[ssj100]

Hi, any further insight about this issue?

[Barb@Invincea]

Hello ssj100,

No updates yet.
Once new info becomes available, we will update this thread.

Regards,
Barb.-