- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP/Vista
- Date added: March 20, 2008
- Total Downloads: 505,883
- Downloads last week: 2,414
- See full specifications
A newer version of Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 71 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
The premise behind this free utility that complements your PC's security system is interesting, but we ran into some glitches while working during its protection sessions.
Our introduction to the Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition was a very slow installation, which is understandable, because the software creates a new partition on the systems hard drive. It's essentially a mirror of the system that acts as an isolated work environment that protects your actual system by preventing downloads and such from accessing it. Instead, anything created in this pocket of your drive--this virtual partition--is erased when you reboot.
The utility adds an icon to the system tray and a small Returnil bar, always on top, near the top of the monitor screen. Clicking the bar lets you configure the utility's settings and open or close the virtual partition. However, doing so isn't as simple as running a basic DOS shell, because turning Returnil's protection on or off requires the system to reboot. This is a minor speed bump if you're working with potentially destructive software or visiting Web sites that may attempt to load malware, but it certainly slows productivity.
We also encountered two problems. First, while booting up, Windows Explorer would shut down and relaunch, slowing the entire launch cycle. Second, when our Internet browser displayed a pop-up alert, any open tabs other than the active tab would spontaneously close. There weren't any settings to correct this frustrating behavior. While we liked the concept of this utility, there are some bugs that need to get worked out before we can recommend it.
Publisher's description
From Returnil :The Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition provides an altogether different and highly complimentary level of defense. It is designed to protect your computer from all types of software, downloads, websites or anything else that might harbor viruses, spyware and other malicious programs. Returnil virtualization technology clones a computers System Partition and boots the PC into this system rather than native Windows, allowing you run your applications in a completely isolated environment. Hence the session and all activity, malicious or otherwise, will happen in the virtual environment, not in the real PC environment. If the PC is attacked or gets infected, all you need to do is to simply reboot the PC to erase all changes. After reboot, the system will be restored to its original state, as if nothing ever happened. All of this without sacrificing computer performance or usability while helping to reduce technical support intervention and the need for routine maintenance.
Version 2 includes Protection and Virtual Partition engine quality improvements, redesigned, intuitive, and more mature User Interface, third party Virtual Partition access control, choice between Memory and Disk caching, easier access to the System File and Folder Relocation Tool.
What's new in this version:
Version 2 includes Protection and Virtual Partition engine quality improvements, redesigned, intuitive, and more mature User Interface, third party Virtual Partition access control, choice between Memory and Disk caching, easier access to the System File and Folder Relocation Tool.
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User reviews of Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition 2
- Average user rating: 3.8 stars out of 71 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 29 user reviewsSee all 29 user reviews
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89 out of 90 people found this review helpful
Version: Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition 2
Pros: this does exactly what it claims, didn't slow down my computer. and here's my big butt....
Cons: but, if you download a program or updates, remember to turn this program off or it doesn't reach your hard drive.
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88 out of 89 people found this review helpful
Version: Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition 2
Pros: the 2008 new version has a very cool GUI and very solid kernel. I like it very much.
Cons: I have use it for a long time. it works smoothly.
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74 out of 78 people found this review helpful
Version: Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition 2
"Does everything it should with ease."
Pros: Once installed, turn on system protection and re-start. Your on a virtual system so theres no way to catch spy-ware, viruses or damage your operating system which I've done to many times without it. It's a superior way to test software including anti-virus programs, tuning, tweaking, registry cleaners, etc. Re-start and the what ever you installed is gone, just like it t never happened. If you decide you like it, start with protection turned off and install it for real. It's simple to use and free just makes it that much better.
Cons: No cons. This is a good, free virtual drive program
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88 out of 89 people found this review helpful
Version: Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition 2
"great protection on both system partition and MBR"
Pros: It gives me a great protection on both system partition and MBR. It does not slow my system. I even find it speed up my system while I use the memory cache mode.
It is really a cool invention I think. It makes the security for normal people who does not have good skill on computert technology so easy.
Cons: I think this is one of the best security app I have.!!!
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88 out of 90 people found this review helpful
Version: Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition 2
Pros: I installed and forgot.2 days later I was almost dead to see that all my files that were saved ,after installation of the Rerurnil Virtual Personal Edition, into my computer were not saved.I thought that perhaps virus were doing the damages because my computer is full of viruses.I was helpless and even my computer engineer could not understand the matter.He told me to format the drive.Suddenly something struck to my mind and I understood the reason.Thanks to the programme, I don't care for viruses now.
- See all 29 user reviews Write review
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