To prevent Origin from scanning your PC, you can run it in a program called Sandboxie. In this post I’m going to show you how to set up Sandboxie.
First of all you have to download Sandboxie. The free version should be enough.
Your first step in Sandboxie is to create a new sandbox (I called it origin).
You can also use the default sandbox if you want to.
Next, select Configure from the menu and click on Edit Configuration.
In the now opened Sandbox.ini add at the bottom of the file under the [origin] category:
OpenFilePath=C:\ OpenFilePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin\ OpenFilePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\ OpenFilePath=C:\Users\Username\Documents\Battlefield 3\ OpenFilePath=C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Origin OpenFilePath=C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Origin OpenFilePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\SRWare Iron\
The paths might differ from your installation so you have to check them. In this case I am using SRWare Iron as Browser for BF3, you have to run the Browser you want to use for the Battlelog in a sandbox, else the BF3.exe might crash.
Underneath this, you can add all the folders you want Origin to not access.
For example:
ClosedFilePath=Z:\ ClosedFilePath=X:\ ClosedFilePath=G:\ ClosedFilePath=C:\foobar2000\ ClosedFilePath=C:\LaTeX\ ClosedFilePath=C:\MinGW\ ClosedFilePath=C:\Python27\ ClosedFilePath=C:\ProgramData\Adobe\ ClosedFilePath=C:\ProgramData\BOINC\ ClosedFilePath=C:\ProgramData\MiKTeX\
etc.
A fast way to do this is to go to the Folder (for example C:\Program Files (x86)) and click on the icon before the folder path:
Next replace it with cmd and press enter:
Now a console window is open, type dir /d and press enter.
Now you will see all the folders, you just have to copy them and replace the brackets.
Attention!
Do not Close the File Path for folders you opened at the beginning, in this case:
C:\ C:\Program Files (x86) C:\Users\Username\Documents\ C:\Users\Username\AppData\
Attention 64bit Users! To prevent random crashes, block access to the IGO32.dll
ClosedFilePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin\IGO32.dll
Remember that you have to start the Browser and Origin in the Sandbox. You can let them always start in a Sandbox by adding this to the Sandbox.ini file:
This only works for the purchased version of Sandboxie.
ForceProcess=bf3.exe ForceProcess=origin.exe ForceFolder=C:\Program Files (x86)\SRWare Iron
Here are two links that helped me:
http://www.sandboxie.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11767
http://bf3blog.com/forum/topic/how-to-make-origin-stay-away-from-the-rest-of-your-computer
If you have questions or problems, feel free to write a comment, I’m happy to help you.
By Med November 3, 2011 - 4:43 am
Thanks for the guide!
Just curious if you were able to play BF3 multiplayer with your sandoxie set up above? did you have any issues with punkbuster?
By Pixel November 3, 2011 - 5:30 am
Yes I am playing with this setup every day. There hasn’t been any problem with Punkbuster so far.
By Med November 3, 2011 - 6:17 am
Also just wondering, did you install origin through the sandbox you created?
By Pixel November 3, 2011 - 7:25 am
Nope, I’ve installed it without Sandboxie and ran it once. I’ve already played BF3 before applying the sandbox.
Do you have any problems? I’m not quite sure if I forgot something.
By Med November 3, 2011 - 7:41 am
ill report back once i install, just been messing around with sandboxie
By JimJim November 3, 2011 - 4:12 pm
Starting Origin for the first time. Have followed instructions, including the ‘code’ to ” let them always start in a Sandbox”. However on opening Origin.exe, I see no reassuring yellow bounding box to indicate that the login window is sandboxed… that is, unless I manually force it to ‘Run Sandboxed’ from the (right-click) shell menu option.
Trying to find what I could have done wrong.
By JimJim November 3, 2011 - 4:25 pm
Seems ‘forced folders’ and ‘forced programs’ are features only available to registered (paying) users.
By Pixel November 3, 2011 - 6:38 pm
Oh yes that would be possible, I’ve bought Sandboxie so I’m not quite sure what’s possible with the free version and what not. Thanks for the comment, I’ll edit my post on that.
By Meks November 6, 2011 - 4:24 pm
Thanks a lot for this write up! It’s working perfectly for me so far. On a side note from what I’ve read, Origin can possibly shorten your SSD’s lifespan due to how many writes it does, so it’s recommended that you sandbox it regardless if you have it installed on your SSD drive.
By Gaxonga December 4, 2011 - 8:20 pm
when i rightclick origin.exe and run in sandbox, there is no yellow frame around the login window,
also, i did only put in these lines into the sandbox.ini file
OpenFilePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin\
OpenFilePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\
OpenFilePath=C:\Users\Username\Documents\Battlefield 3\
OpenFilePath=C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Origin
OpenFilePath=C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Origin
OpenFilePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\BROWSER\
essentially i removed the acces to the C:\ but not the other subfolders, does this work, so that I dont have it “disacces” to the other folders, is there som default setting so that the program only access the folders i have typed in but any others?
Thanks
By Pixel December 4, 2011 - 8:59 pm
Unfortunately that’s not possible. You can’t close C:\ and open the other paths. You have to keep C:\ open and then close what you don’t want to be accessed. It’s inconvenient but there’s no other way as far as I know.
By Gaxonga January 6, 2012 - 5:01 pm
Hello, i get an error “you need to install browser plugin to be able to play”
how do i get around this error, i have installed the plugin i know for sure since I have used it while not running the game and origin in sandbox
By Pixel January 6, 2012 - 9:59 pm
Have you opened the file path to your browser?
By Nizi March 15, 2012 - 10:42 am
Hello, i get an error “you need to install browser plugin to be able to play”
Im having this same error with the newest battlelog update (isnt it the voip etc?) and I have opened the filepath to my browser (chrome). Installation hangs in “installing” part and never gets to the end. Update installs fine when ran outside sandboxie but it still doesnt work on sanboxie side.
By Pixel March 15, 2012 - 2:59 pm
Could you please show me your opened paths from the sandbox.ini?
By Nizi March 15, 2012 - 10:24 pm
There you go.
By Nizi March 15, 2012 - 10:26 pm
Oh well didnt work as I thought.
By Nizi March 15, 2012 - 10:27 pm
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20126512/sandboxie-filepaths.txt
By Pixel March 16, 2012 - 5:49 am
Please remove the line “ClosedFilePath=C:\” and try it again.
By Nizi March 16, 2012 - 7:55 am
Hi
I removed the mentioned part but it still hangs on Game Manager trying to install it with spinning icon.
By Pixel March 16, 2012 - 8:16 am
Have you tried to launch chrome without the sandbox to install the update and then start it again within the sandbox? I’m going to try it later. I’m not at home at the moment.
By Nizi March 16, 2012 - 8:41 am
Yes i have and it installed without a hinch but when i start Origin via Sandboxie, press battlefield icon to launch battlelog in Chrome the game manager says it still needs an update as i’ve never even installed it.
By Pixel March 17, 2012 - 8:24 pm
Sorry haven’t found a solution yet.
If you find I way to fix it please write me. I’m also going to test some things myself.
By Tim Collins March 2, 2013 - 5:00 am
Making a new sandbox only tells me it’s for the paid version only.
By Pixel March 2, 2013 - 8:58 am
You can also use the default sandbox.