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Virtualization or Virtualisation??
April 17, 2010
3:53 PM
3:53 PM
karen
Washington, DC Metro Area
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If your looking for the off-topic chit-chat that used to reside here, it has been moved to: http://dottech.org/forums/talk-it-up/chatter/
March 27, 2010
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
ebony
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I like to try, test, playwith software to learn it features and usefulness even if I have no everyday use for it. (Some might say I am strange, and to that I say oh well). 
Be that as it may, my question is can I use a virtualization s/w to protect my machine from changes that the s/w I am reviewing might try to make during the install.
I am an "end user" and for the most part the programs I currently have installed is sufficient. I just like tinkering around with some programs just to see what is new and what it does.
My OS is Vista, if that matters.
In case you guys don't know it, the info and responses here is invaluable and very much appreciated.
Ebony 
March 27, 2010
9:32 AM
9:32 AM
jumbi
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Hello Ebony,
Among many tools, reading what you want, you have to check Returnil for sure:
http://www.returnilvirtualsystem.com/
You may test the free version and wait for an offer of paid version (gaotd offers it once per year).
xxx
March 27, 2010
11:18 AM
11:18 AM
Pwnana
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You could also try a sandbox program, which creates an isolated section of your HD and RAM so that you can test programs without any risk. I recommend the free Sanboxie (which finally supports Windows 7!!! ^.^)
You got Pwnd
March 27, 2010
11:27 AM
11:27 AM
Locutus
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I recommend being too lazy to do so and instead just not keeping any valuable data unencrypted. 
Oh, the site that was :(
March 27, 2010
1:37 PM
1:37 PM
ebony
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Thanks for responding good people.
I knew I would get intelligent suggestions here.
Just one thing, I did not understand your response Locutus. 
Ebony
March 27, 2010
1:47 PM
1:47 PM
Locutus
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Lol sorry.
I'm too lazy to do either of these. In fact I don't even run a security suite, just a light weight antivirus/antimalware app. So I just encrypt my data I don't want to be stolen so it needs a passkey.
Oh, the site that was :(
March 27, 2010
5:03 PM
5:03 PM
Pwnana
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Cuz encrypting everything you have and needing a password to view any of it is a LOT easier than just using a sandbox or security suite.
You got Pwnd
March 27, 2010
6:52 PM
6:52 PM
Locutus
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There's hardly anything I encrypt. Plus, what are the chances that malware will attack? I'm an optimist :D
Oh, the site that was :(
March 30, 2010
5:16 AM
5:16 AM
Jeanjean
Belgium
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Hi,
For this purpose (…and others), I use SVS (Software Virtualisation Solution).
It's a free soft by Altiris (Symantec) but I think he's replace at the moment and I'm not sure you must pay for the new one.
Tutorial : http://www.svsdownloads.com/svs_tutorial.php
You can still download it here :
http://download.cnet.com/Software-Virtualization-Solution-SVS/3000-2651_4-10516806.html
March 30, 2010
5:23 AM
5:23 AM
ebony
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Hi Jeanjean
Thanks for the suggestion.
I read documentation and reviews of Returnil and decided that I was not conformtable using it due to my lack of knowledge/understanding …
Are there any quirks, irks or warning that I should expect from this SW. I really want to use a Virt SW but … just a little hesitant.
Ebony
March 30, 2010
5:39 AM
5:39 AM
Jeanjean
Belgium
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I have not had any problems with this program.
Softwares installed will be placed in c: fslrdr.
They may reappear until you delete them.
Only special procedure : when there is a reboot …
http://www.symantec.com/connect/forums/how-do-i-capture-installation-when-its-installer-restarts-my-computer
March 30, 2010
6:14 AM
6:14 AM
ebony
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Thanks much,
I think I have figured out my problem.
It pays to ask the right question. In a word or two,
What can I expect a virt program to do for me when I am "playing" with a new program?
Ebony
March 30, 2010
6:25 AM
6:25 AM
Harlan
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Another virtualization possibility is Microsoft's Steady State. It guarantees that you can return your system to a saved version, with all changes deleted. It's not as flexible as Returnil (paid version), but it is a Microsoft freeware product. Sandboxie is excellent, but it is not a complete system virtualization.
Sun offers VirtualBox, another freeware virtualization program. It's highly capable, but I think more complex than Returnil or MS SS.
March 30, 2010
7:01 AM
7:01 AM
Jeanjean
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Returnil and other soft of this kind are used to find a healthy situation after a virus attack.
SVS is used only to install software in a secure way (like Sandboxie that I tried but was causing bugs on my machine).
If a problem arises during installation, you close the virtual layer (if you can!) and removes it, or you reboot the PC (which automatically closes the layer) and remove the layer.
March 30, 2010
1:40 PM
1:40 PM
Pwnana
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I would really recommend a sandbox because I think it is exactly what you are looking for. You want something that can protect you when you try out a new program that may be unsafe or unnecessary, right? Then you don't need a whole virtualization suite, you need something that can protect you on a program by program basis, which is exactly the purpose of a sandbox.
To answer your specific question, Sandboxie will prevent the program from making any real changes to the system (HD, registry), but it will think that it is so the program will run normally. It will also load any programs or files that the sandboxed program needs into the sandbox. When you are done you can either save the changes the program made, or delete the sandbox and wipe all traces of it. You can also recover specific files or folders.
You got Pwnd
March 30, 2010
1:46 PM
1:46 PM
Gvape
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Or, if you wanna go hard core virtualization or have a 64bit OS, you can give http://dottech.org/tipsntricks/14020 a try :P
Guh-vah-pay
March 31, 2010
3:27 PM
3:27 PM
ebony
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Pwnana said:
Sandboxie will prevent the program from making any real changes to the system (HD, registry), but it will think that it is so the program will run normally. It will also load any programs or files that the sandboxed program needs into the sandbox. When you are done you can either save the changes the program made, or delete the sandbox and wipe all traces of it. You can also recover specific files or folders.
You are the best. You are so right.
This does sound like what I need. So I DL it and attempted to configure it and realized that I was not sure of what it was asking me to decided in terms of the settings.
If someone could point me to some step by step instructions in plain speak NOT geek speak, I would really appreciate it.
A question or two that I have is,
do I want to put it startup and have it running all the time
How do I know if it is doing what it is suppose to
Much appreciation
Ebony
March 31, 2010
3:33 PM
3:33 PM
ebony
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Harlan said:
Another virtualization possibility is Microsoft's Steady State. It guarantees that you can return your system to a saved version, with all changes deleted. It's not as flexible as Returnil (paid version), but it is a Microsoft freeware product. Sandboxie is excellent, but it is not a complete system virtualization.
Hi Harlan,
Thanks for responding. I read up on Microsoft's Steady State and I think I would like to try it.
Would I be over doing it if I have this and sandboxie? I am trying to be as safe as possible.
My XP OS computer got "hijacked" some kind of way and now I am on a Vista OS and I guess you might say, I am overly precautious.
Ebony
March 31, 2010
6:55 PM
6:55 PM
ebony
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Jeanjean said:
Sandboxie that I tried but was causing bugs on my machine).
Jeanjean
I too had some problems with Sandboxie.
I loaded browser and the screen immediately started to bounce up and down.
I did not know what to do so I exited.
I just got frustrated. I did not know how to troubleshoot the problem.
I guess I will keep looking.
BTW. My OS is Vista 64 bit. I was wondering if maybe it was not the right version.
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