Which light virtualization software is better?

Hello, i'm from Italia and excuse me for my bad english!

I need to try large softwares like the fantastic Adobe Master collection CS6 and the new version of Cinema4D, but i don't want that remain any trace of the installations!...to avoid problems with future installations.
For this purpose i prefer a light virtualization software instead a VM, because the VM is more uncomfortable and requires too many hardware resources!

After much researches i realized that the best light virtualization programs are:
1) Returnil virtual system
2) Shadow Defender
3) Toolwiz time freeze

which do you think is the most suitable for testing programs and especially which of them is most "hermetic"??,
Of course I will never use these programs to try viruses or suspicious files!!

Thank.

 

I've never tried the other two, but Shadow Defender is great for testing software, as long as there's no reboot involved. Sandboxie is also great as long as the software doesn't install any drivers.

 

Rollback Rx

 

Zapco, either Toolwiz TimeFreeze or Shadow Defender are great for trying programs. I used both programs in the past and like both programs. Never a problem.

Bo

 

Assuming you don't experience any kind of system conflict with any of the three, they will all do what you want very well.

 

I agree. I have also used Returnil RSS (Free). With respect to testing software, I think they´re equivalent. The choice must be made according to other features of both programs. I would choose SD.

 

Returnil works fine but if you want only test some apps you rather need something lighter like SD or TTF. Both are very useful...of course TTF you can get and use for free.

 

As far as i am aware TTF does not work in a standard user account.
Just thought i would point this out.

 

Shadow Defender has worked flawlessly here (Xp 32-bit) for four years now, no complaints or problems whatsoever. Its great for testing programs that do not need a reboot. However if your needing to test programs which require a reboot to fully install I would suggest an Imaging program with images stored on an external hard drive, takes a little longer to get back to where you were but no leftovers either. Macrium Reflect has also worked here with zero issues for years and hundreds of restores without a single failed one. Good luck in your search and test more then one out to see which one fits your needs.

 

If you want to try a software for some days, and after that to return at the day before install my advice is to use the freeware Toolwiz Time Machine ["the beta label in the product was removed, so you can treat it as the release version"].

It allows to try software that needs reboot or not (Time Freeze feature is supported also with T. Time Machine).

'Toolwiz Time Machine' is ease-to-use and not "hermetic" in using.

 

It works flawlessly under a SUA.

 

Thank you very very much for your precious advice!!

I decided to try Toolwiz time freeze and Shadow Defender also, because are more updated by their developers, and because are the most light also.
Unfortunately Returnil not been updated for a long time and given't me much confidence!

However the most important thing for me is to keep clean registry, so TTF and Shadow Def. ensure this??

 

I can't speak for TTF, but SD does protect Windows registry.

TS

 

If malware is of no concern and you are merely using it to test legit clean programs that require no reboot, any decent LV would do the job (and keep the registry clean).

 

when should you choose something like Virtualbox or VMware over something like Toolwiz Time Freeze?

I think Virtualbox protects MBR and is a heavier duty Virtual Machine than Time Freeze but I don't know much about VM's.

 

VMs are supposed to be more secure since they're a full-blown virtualization. Say..., you can use Windows as your host OS and use Linux as the guest OS. If you do your daily computer usages like browsing, playing media files, writing documents, etc inside the VM then it's more secure IMO. But this is overkill, and you need a computer with good specs.

OTOH, light virtualization is a lot easier to use, more lightweight, and is secure enough although VMs are more... locked. If the LV software is written properly, then perhaps it's also a better choice instead of VMs, unless you're testing malware or security softwares (-cough-youtesters-cough-).

I heard Shadow Defender also protects MBR. Maybe someone could clarify this part better? Dunno about other LV softwares though.

 

I dont know but i would not trust testing malware using virtualization software like Rollback Rx/Returnil etc.

Anyways, i used to like Returnil. Worked pretty good when i used it a few years ago.

 

thanks GrafZeppelin, I have virtualbox installed with Ubuntu and Win7 with CIS on full blast.....more security than I would ever need I am sure as I am pretty low risk I just like having cool software to play around with. I have snapshots of both Ubuntu and Win7 with CIS and I am sure I could test about anything, while run from a LUA and if something could bypass all of that then wow. Just curious as Time Freeze sounds good but not as good as virtualbox, amazing free software but the performance hit is huge so I rarely use it.

 

Try Shadow Defender, barely any performance hit.

P.S. : Not free, but the price is very well worth it. Especially considering that it's a lifetime license.

 

Mainly when malware are a sort of rookits with MBR effects.

In fact light virtualization works to virtualize OS partition in general. Thinking that it virtualizes MBR also, it is a delusion.

To insist that it must virtualize MBR is a foolishness - from someone that doesn't want to accept for what light virtualization was designed for.

For who are concerned with MBR malware it is far better to consider Full Virtualized software and/or another security applications.

Even - and especially - when securities 'experts' spread that a good light virtualization program must to virtualize MBR system: in fact light virtualization IS NOT full virtualization! And doesn't need to be!

 

So, no matter how good the light virtualization software is, the MBR remains vulnerable? I'm pretty sure they're good against rogues though.

 

Agreed. I hope programs like Toolwiz TimeFreeze and Shadow defender remain as they are now, Light virtualization programs.

Bo