Codex 28 · Theme · #37

Windows sandbox command failures

11people describe this

11 on X

1 win · 11 problems · first reported 7 Oct 2026

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In their words

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Problem
Paying for ChatGPT Pro, but my Codex project is stuck before it can run even a read command: “exec-server rejected request (-32603): helper_unknown_error: setup refresh had errors”. Restarting the app didn’t help. @OpenAI, how do I fix this?

@Fenesyyy on X ↗ · 14 Oct 2026
Problem
Codex is broken on windows... Helper unknown failure and it's not my devices I've followed all th necessary troubleshooting steps.

@Hader_campbell on X ↗ · 8 Oct 2026
Problem
same issue, how to fix it: helper_unknown_error: setup refresh had errors

@wwz41611514 on X ↗ · 8 Oct 2026
Problem
Hi @Tibo, I’m a Pro subscriber. Since the update, Windows tasks fail with “setup refresh had errors” (OS error 32 on node_repl.exe). Reinstalling didn’t help. Cloud task startup and file delivery also fail. Could your team investigate? I have logs and request IDs.

@Abdosayed2026 on X ↗ · 8 Oct 2026
Problem
Codex cannot run sandboxed commands on Windows. Logs show error 32 (file in use) on node_repl.exe and VCRUNTIME140_1.dll during runtime ACL validation, followed by "helper_unknown_error: setup refresh had errors". Similar to issue #51778.

@kindlenotoriko4 on X ↗ · 8 Oct 2026
Problem
Hi Tibo, Codex for Windows v26.1002.7124.0 is broken in elevated sandbox mode. Even basic PowerShell commands and Node REPL fail with setup refresh had errors / os error 32 on node_repl.exe.

@wang396531955 on X ↗ · 8 Oct 2026
Win
After rolling back to version 26.930.7945.0, I ran SANDBOX_TEST_OK via PowerShell and successfully got exit code "0". This resolves the Windows sandbox compatibility issue in the newer Codex version.✅

@ShunzhangL72968 on X ↗ · 8 Oct 2026
Problem
After updating to the latest Codex 26.1002.7124.0, OS error 32 sandbox failure occurs repeatedly.

@ShunzhangL72968 on X ↗ · 8 Oct 2026
Problem
Hey Tibo. dot can message its Codex tasks but can't run commands on PC with error “setup refresh had errors.” Local chats work, but dot can't reach them; “unsupported placement format version 1.” Restarts and updates haven't fixed it. Any ideas? I've got logs.

@ultracrepids on X ↗ · 8 Oct 2026
Problem
26.1002.52244 completely broke my windows elevated sandbox. I had to spend time rolling back to start working today. Love improvements, but not the regressions that come with them.

@ChetBrittingham on X ↗ · 7 Oct 2026
Problem
@Tibo, please prioritize this Windows Codex regression. Computer Use/Browser Use fails after the latest update with trusted Node process exited unexpectedly and sandbox os error 32 on node_repl.exe. Multiple Windows users report the same issue: openai/codex#51590.

@Eddycen on X ↗ · 7 Oct 2026
Problem
Tibo, Codex on Windows is completely blocking my work. The sandbox fails on node_repl.exe with error 32. Please prioritize this.

@tilekonnyaku on X ↗ · 7 Oct 2026

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Codex app ↗
7 Oct 2026 · ChatGPT / Codex

Corrections

Changes to this theme

11 Oct 2026, 12:04 UTC

“Windows helper startup failure” was merged into this theme: JEV judged them the same problem.
8 Oct 2026, 13:56 UTC

Renamed from “Sandboxed commands blocked on Windows” to “Windows sandbox command failures” as more people described it.
8 Oct 2026, 12:25 UTC

“Sandbox regression after update” was merged into this theme: JEV judged them the same problem.
8 Oct 2026, 12:25 UTC

“Local chats unreachable from dot” was merged into this theme: JEV judged them the same problem.

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X thread: 2769 replies to the promise post collected (4 Oct 2026 – 26 Oct 2026): 2555 placed in a theme and 214 set aside as off-topic or unsafe. X replies are found by search and each one is checked against its public post on X. Last read: 26 Oct 2026, 23:46 UTC. Not every reply is read.

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