Minimal C: partition usage...and here's why.

[smallhagrid]

I've had some exchanges with other folks because I've got some gripes with SBIE - and the biggest gripe:

Even when SBIE is made portable it STILL puts files & folders into the C: drive.

VERY NOT COOL.

I keep the C: drive as much for the OS as possible, and as clean as possible.

PERIOD.

(And exceptions to this are very, very rare.)

Many times I've been asked why I'm such a PITA about isolating the OS in it's own partition - keeping programs, downloads, data and most any&everything OUT of the C: partition.

Here's a very current example:

Today I installed Trojan Remover (not in C: !!!) and after updating it, started a scan of just C:.

It's been scanning almost an hour now, scanned 20,000 files so far, and found just one thing that appears to be part of the stooopid .NET stuff (and renamed the file for me).

Based on how long it's taken to sacn under 10GB here's the 1st good reason for isolating the OS=>

If I let it scan my entire HDD, it might take several whole days !!!

Now here's some more generally correct info:

- When malware of whatever sort attacks, it is generally aimed at the OS as well as the C: drive.

- If something harms a system, it is usually the OS that is targetted most often.

- If the C: drive becomes inaccessible, the system cannot boot.

In regards to ongoing security and the ability to repair some such problems:

- If the system is not bootable it is possible to gain access to files on other partitions quite easily via other boot media (even if C: cannot be accessed).

- If C: is totally messed up beyond repair then it is easier to restore an isolated, smaller C: alone from an image than to restore the whole contents of a system based entirely upon having one huge partition.

- Even if the space occupied by C: is somehow corrupted beyond re-use, if an empty space is reserved then the image of a smaller C: can easily be restored and made bootable from that other space.

I've been using windows this way for a very long time - and largely avoid win-rot this way too.

If/when any program is so poorly made as to REQUIRE using the C: drive, and it is not any sort of device driver s/w or system service - I will generally find a better way to do whatever that program is for.

(IMO it is usually best to just completely avoid badly made s/w rather than trying to tweak it to be better.)

Any programmer who fails to allow their s/w to be custom-installed to where ever the user wishes it to be is not someone whose code I am inclined to trust inside my PC.

BTW, the malware scan completed while I typed this and did take just over an hour to do my small C: partition alone.

Edited August 3, 2013 by smallhagrid

[SnakeMasteR]

It doesn't need C:\ drive, it just is the default configuration, create a new Container.

Sandboxie Control -> Sandbox -> Set Container Folder

C:\Sandbox\%USER%\%SANDBOX% is default

If you wanna use it on drive J, it will look like this

J:\Sandbox\%USER%\%SANDBOX%

The %USER% parameter isn't required, you just can go for

J:\Sandbox\%SANDBOX%

where %SANDBOX% is the name of the Sandbox you have created by your own, the old one, the actual one, if it's e.g. nsane_stuff, the folder you browse would be

J:\Sandbox\nsane_stuff

it will be created directly after you have run something in Sandboxie. C:\ won't be used anymore then.

Edited August 3, 2013 by n0_risk!

[smallhagrid]

Thanks n0_risk! !!!

I thought it did other stuff too, guess it's time to try again with the info you've shared and see if it behaves better for me.

If I can get it to leave C: totally alone I'll use it alot more often...

[2Old2Remember]

I've had some exchanges with other folks because I've got some gripes with SBIE - and the biggest gripe:

Even when SBIE is made portable it STILL puts files & folders into the C: drive.

VERY NOT COOL.

I keep the C: drive as much for the OS as possible, and as clean as possible.

PERIOD.

(And exceptions to this are very, very rare.)

Many times I've been asked why I'm such a PITA about isolating the OS in it's own partition - keeping programs, downloads, data and most any&everything OUT of the C: partition.

Here's a very current example:

Today I installed Trojan Remover (not in C: !!!) and after updating it, started a scan of just C:.

It's been scanning almost an hour now, scanned 20,000 files so far, and found just one thing that appears to be part of the stooopid .NET stuff (and renamed the file for me).

Based on how long it's taken to sacn under 10GB here's the 1st good reason for isolating the OS=>

If I let it scan my entire HDD, it might take several whole days !!!

Now here's some more generally correct info:

- When malware of whatever sort attacks, it is generally aimed at the OS as well as the C: drive.

- If something harms a system, it is usually the OS that is targetted most often.

- If the C: drive becomes inaccessible, the system cannot boot.

In regards to ongoing security and the ability to repair some such problems:

- If the system is not bootable it is possible to gain access to files on other partitions quite easily via other boot media (even if C: cannot be accessed).

- If C: is totally messed up beyond repair then it is easier to restore an isolated, smaller C: alone from an image than to restore the whole contents of a system based entirely upon having one huge partition.

- Even if the space occupied by C: is somehow corrupted beyond re-use, if an empty space is reserved then the image of a smaller C: can easily be restored and made bootable from that other space.

I've been using windows this way for a very long time - and largely avoid win-rot this way too.

If/when any program is so poorly made as to REQUIRE using the C: drive, and it is not any sort of device driver s/w or system service - I will generally find a better way to do whatever that program is for.

(IMO it is usually best to just completely avoid badly made s/w rather than trying to tweak it to be better.)

Any programmer who fails to allow their s/w to be custom-installed to where ever the user wishes it to be is not someone whose code I am inclined to trust inside my PC.

BTW, the malware scan completed while I typed this and did take just over an hour to do my small C: partition alone.

This is basically how I've been using my system for a while now. Oh and the majority of my programs are portables, both what i make myself and what i download. PAF Platform is Genius.

[nasernori]

You can create a junction using "mklink" and install programs on other drives and point 'em to a folder in your system drive.

I even put some part of windows on my D: drive.

and for scanning faster exclude archives and disk images. (cab,wim,iso,...) or change your antivirus level or profile of scanning.

[smallhagrid]

Very cool, thanks for replying !!

This makes me wonder...:

This is basically how I've been using my system for a while now. Oh and the majority of my programs are portables, both what i make myself and what i download. PAF Platform is Genius.

If there are very good (and sort of 'underground'...) places where one may find sharings by others who favour portable apps ?!?

PortableFreeware.com is very good, and Portableapps.com is very big - but both have a very 'starched shirt' attitude about things having to be -just so- to be posted, or even asked about there.

I wonder if there's any forums with a very nicely loose regard for such things ?!?

[2Old2Remember]

Very cool, thanks for replying !!

This makes me wonder...:

This is basically how I've been using my system for a while now. Oh and the majority of my programs are portables, both what i make myself and what i download. PAF Platform is Genius.

If there are very good (and sort of 'underground'...) places where one may find sharings by others who favour portable apps ?!?

PortableFreeware.com is very good, and Portableapps.com is very big - but both have a very 'starched shirt' attitude about things having to be -just so- to be posted, or even asked about there.

I wonder if there's any forums with a very nicely loose regard for such things ?!?

not sure about uploading your own stuff but portablexapps.blogspot.com has some very skillfully made apps. There are other sites but i'm not sure about the rules of posting links here.

Edited August 15, 2013 by 2Old2Remember