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Vmware mksSandbox.exe memory leak

  • 1.  Vmware mksSandbox.exe memory leak

    Posted Mar 03, 2025 08:43 AM

    I am running a Windows 10 virtual machine in VMware Workstation.

    Inside the VM, I run an application that is minimized to the system tray while it performs automated clicks within the program.

    The Problem:

    • When 3D acceleration is enabled, the mksSandbox.exe process appears and starts leaking RAM.
    • Over time, RAM usage increases indefinitely-it can reach 30GB in just 30 minutes, eventually causing the VM to crash.
    • I discovered that this issue does not occur if the application remains open (not minimized to the tray). However, I must run it minimized for my workflow.
    • The only guaranteed fix is disabling 3D acceleration, but this severely degrades the user experience, making the VM 10x slower and less responsive.

    What I've Tried:

    • Modifying the VMX file with various settings to limit RAM usage.
    • Tweaking multiple VMware settings to control how mksSandbox.exe behaves.
    • Researching known issues and workarounds, but nothing has successfully stopped the RAM leak.

    What I Need:

    Is there any way to prevent mksSandbox.exe from consuming excessive RAM while keeping 3D acceleration enabled?