Shadow Defender on Windows 11

Discussion in 'sandboxing & virtualization' started by Zapco_force, Nov 17, 2022.

  1. pvsurfer

    pvsurfer Registered Member

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    Hi Terry,

    Yeah, it comes down to either disable Core Isolation (CI) in order to use SD, or enable CI and do without SD.

    I've chosen the latter option on my personal 2023 laptop (Win11 24H2) because I prefer the OS protection that CI affords. However, SD is still running great on the family's 2016 laptop (no TPM, therefore not capable of supporting CI).
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2025
  2. Robin A.

    Robin A. Registered Member

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    CI does not require TPM 2.0. I can enable it in a 10-year old desktop with TPM 1.2, but I prefer to continue using Shadow Defender.

    Edit - CI is related to virtualization, but not to TPM. It can be enabled in a computer without any TPM.
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2025
  3. TerryWood

    TerryWood Registered Member

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    Hi @ Wilders

    For those who are undecided about installing Shadow Defender on Windows 11 24H2. I have just acquired a new PC with Windows 11 Home 24H2 installed therein.

    I used the AndyFul/Gaddster version referred to in this thread. I believe Gaddster hosted on his website, a modified version which I downloaded some time ago.

    So on this new PC I installed the modified version. It was installed flawlessly. So far no problems. I SHOULD ADD Core Isolation Memory Integrity was disabled.

    Prior to this new PC I had previously installed this same modified version of Shadow Defender on an upgraded PC from Windows 10 to Windows 11. It also installed Shadow Defender on Win 11 24H2 flawlessly. Similarly Memory integrity was disabled.

    Terry
     
  4. Mr.X

    Mr.X Registered Member

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    @Gaddster has a website?
    Could you post a link to such website?
     
  5. TerryWood

    TerryWood Registered Member

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  6. Robin A.

    Robin A. Registered Member

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    The file does not exist.
     
  7. Mr.X

    Mr.X Registered Member

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    I unpacked the setup file (v1.5.0.726) and prepared it a la AndyFul, if someone is the need of it.
    Report if the link is broken.

    https://www.upload.ee/files/18203338/SD1.5.0.726.7z.html
    Password: k@1aGmp)7cc"q/HfIZsww2-"$9£u"dP£>B

    Run from sSetup.exe file to install Shadow Defender
     
  8. TerryWood

    TerryWood Registered Member

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    Hi Robin A

    Suggest you contact Gaddster. It did exist at the time of Jan 15 because I downloaded it. Sorry it's not available.

    Terry
     
  9. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    How do i do it? I downloaded but could not open the file due to that it was encrypted.
     
  10. EASTER

    EASTER Registered Member

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    That's odd. Seems the only way it could be encrypted is if the PW failed which in that respect you couldn't even unpack it to begin with.

    I download from the same link, used 7 zip to drop files and ran sSetup and it started up just fine. I didn't go further because i already have SD installed.
     
  11. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    I did it all wrong. Now i figured it out and it worked.
     
  12. EASTER

    EASTER Registered Member

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    More MS trickery i assume?

    Did you try to run it from a folder or other location on your machine? I have one machine where i always need to start an install from NOT the desktop but inside a folder because file Permissions are glitchy

    I would try downloading again from a different Browser? I dunno, maybe your Browser did something In Transit. Just pulling straws here coz it's weird.

    Someone should be along shortly Hang In There!:cool:
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2025
  13. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    Anyone having problerms with commiting changes?
    I am on the latest W11 build, and after having gone through the steps of commiting and rebooting, everything is gone anyway.
     
  14. Mr.X

    Mr.X Registered Member

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    I don't have a W11 machine or vm, so I can't say anything about that, on my W10 machine all is good with committing changes though.
     
  15. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    I may have been fooled by the fact that the program icon did not get saved on the desktop. I suppose i should have made an exception for that to, instead of taking it for granted that that would be made automaticly if all the rest was done. Or mainly the main folder. Anyway, as it says within SD, one adds all the folder that one wants to save, and then click Apply, when that is done, one clicks Apply again - or?
     
  16. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    Another thing. Any programs icon on the desktop does not survive a "commit", they are always gone. How do i fix that?
    I use HiBit uninstaller, and after every "commit" and reboot the actual program that has been commited is gone from HiBit:s program display even though it has been saved on C:. Is there a fix for that?
     
  17. EASTER

    EASTER Registered Member

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    What i do and it's failproof is if COMMIT fails, i simply use a plugged in UFD to keep files while in shadow mode. Guaranteed
     
  18. pb1

    pb1 Registered Member

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    No one have mentioned problems?
    For me it is as if the program does not exists on the pc except that which i have commited. It can not be seen in start menu neither as installed in Windows hence no uninstall support.
     
  19. Robin A.

    Robin A. Registered Member

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    Although I was aware of the Shadow Defender incompatibilities with Windows 11, I inadvertently tried to install it (using the modified installer) in a new Windows 11 PC.

    The boot to install the Shadow defender driver failed with an error (trying to write read-only memory), and the computer entered a repair cycle...

    This happened because the Core Isolation security options were all enabled by default (as it should be).

    The system should simply reject the installation of the driver and continue to boot normally, but this is not was happened.

    So, it comes to downgrade Windows security before trying to install SD, which is not a good option, especially in a new computer, or forget about SD. I chose the latter.
     
  20. Peter 123

    Peter 123 Registered Member

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    :thumb::thumb: Thank you sooo much, both of you, TerryWood and Mr. X!

    Because of your excellent support I was able to install Sandboxie on this damned version 24H2 of Windows 11.

    I have various setup-files for Shadow Defender on my computer (among them the two most recent 1.5.0.726 and 1.4.0.680), but I was not able to install SD by the method described above in post #9 by digmor crusher: When trying to unpack the installer Setup_x64.exe, Windows told me that this app cannot run on my computer. So I already had given up any hope to be able to continue with my beloved Shadow Defender. Then I read TerryWood's post about a modified version, and as Mr.X was so nice to prepare it in the necessary way and to post a download link, I gave it a try. And indeed it worked! :)

    You helped me very much. Thanks again!

    PS:
    Mr.X, the folder you offer us for download does not contain only the sSetup.exe file but also the files which are part of the program itself (Defender.exe, Commit.exe etc.). Do they have any function after having installed ShadowDefender successfully on the computer?

    PPS:
    In general, this version 24H2 of Windows 11 is terrible. I think about returning for the time being to the former version, especially for finding an alternative for configurating a decent taskbar (as my favorite "7+ Taskbar Tweaker" in combination with the "ExplorerPatcher" does no longer work with 24H2). - But whatever I will do, in any case I will keep the invaluable treasure of this modified Shadow Defender file.
     
  21. Mr.X

    Mr.X Registered Member

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    No they don't. Those files are already copied to the program's folder by the sSetup.exe routine. You can delete the whole folder if you like.
     
  22. n8chavez

    n8chavez Registered Member

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    This is so stupid. I loved Shadow Defender too. I used it for years. But it's way past time to move on. It's not longer being supported, much less developed. For those that say Windows 11 24h2, it's not. You are the problem. Software, no matter the title, is not meant to be used forever. Just like Windows 10 and 7, support is over. It's time to move on. No amount of throwing a temper tantrum will change that.
     
  23. Peter 123

    Peter 123 Registered Member

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    I see, thank you.

    In general I agree with you. Perhaps it was misunderstanding, but my critics or even temper tantrum about Windows 11, 24H2, primarily refers to the new problems concerning the taskbar (and some other annoying things). I see no necessity to change every two or three years the structure of the taskbar (making it always more ugly and less configurable) - in a way that developers of useful software which can help users to get rid of this nonsense, can no longer cope with all the difficulties created by Microsoft (see e.g. the two programs mentioned above).

    Concerning Shadow Defender, yes, of course it would need more engagement by the person(s) responsible for it. (And such person/s obviously exist as licenses for the software are still officially sold.) But as long as it does its work - at least with the help of some friendly people :) - and as long as it is no risk for my computer I will stay with it.
     
  24. n8chavez

    n8chavez Registered Member

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    Version 1.5.0.726 was released five years ago, and since then there has been radio silence from Tony. There are even reports that he died from covid in 2021. Shadow Defender is dead.
     
  25. Peter 123

    Peter 123 Registered Member

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    That's a matter of how you define the term "dead". No longer maintained / developed? Or no longer usable (in a secure way) on an up-to-date (operating) system?

    I prefer the second way of defining it. For purely practical reasons: Something that I can continue to use (securely) and that helps me to do my work on the computer in a pleasant way, is still alive. ;)
     
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