zlacker

If you just have a need for isolating Windows applications have you tried the Windows Sandbox functionality built-in to Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise version? https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-pro...

>>tssva+(OP)
It’s very different. Can I open a PDF from Windows into Windows Sandbox with 2 clicks and close with 1 after reading, nearly instantaneously, without noticing the virtualization? Nope. Windows Sandbox is just a fresh VM, almost useless.

>>izzytc+2g
If you're on Windows, and you want to download something, install it, see what its all about.

Windows Sandbox starts in like 8 seconds to be usable and is trashed when you close it.

So its far from useless.

But for your usecase, yes it wont work.

>>izzytc+2g
You can do exactly that. Setup a .wsb file that mounts your downloads folder to the VM desktop and disable network.

Open the .wsb (1 click) then open the PDF (1 or 2 clicks). When you're finished close the windows sandbox window and it'll all be gone.

>>jmprsp+cL
Using a zero install PDF viewer, the wsb login command and a few lines script file one could also have the PDF automatically open in the Windows sandbox with a double click or using "Open with" from the context menu.

>>tssva+811
You could piggyback off MS Edge in the sandbox to open the PDF. Provided you don't need any advanced features, and just want to read it.

But yes that is a great idea.

>>jmprsp+xs1
I was more thinking of running a portable pdf viewer such as Foxit Reader Portable from a folder mounted read only in the sandbox.