Windows sandbox repeatedly fails with helper_unknown_error: setup refresh had errors

What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?

26.901.20858

What subscription do you have?

ChatGPT Plus

What platform is your computer?

Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26200.0 x64

What issue are you seeing?

Codex repeatedly fails before it can read or edit repository files with:

windows sandbox failed:
helper_unknown_error: setup refresh had errors

This has happened at least 4 consecutive times.

The problem occurred both in a long-running Codex task and again after creating a completely new task with clean context.

A normal sandbox execution failed before reading the target files. I then explicitly authorized a single elevated apply_patch containing the complete patch payload and only the five approved paths, but that also failed before reading the first file with the same helper/setup refresh error.

No repository changes were applied.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

Feedback ID: 01a066fa-e20c-7c50-b66a-1c0f0bdbb9a9

What is the expected behavior?

Codex should initialize the Windows sandbox successfully, read the authorized local repository files, apply the requested scoped edits, and allow subsequent diff validation without failing during sandbox/helper setup.

Additional information

The failure appears to occur before repository command execution, not because of the repository contents.

Starting a new Codex task did not resolve it.

An explicitly authorized elevated apply_patch also failed before reading the first target file.

I avoided trying additional write mechanisms to prevent unintended repository modifications.

The ChatGPT feedback report above includes diagnostic/browser logs.
Reproduction details:

1. Open Codex on Windows.
2. Open a local repository task.
3. Ask Codex to read/edit a small explicitly scoped set of files.
4. Codex attempts to use the Windows sandbox.
5. Execution fails with:
   helper_unknown_error: setup refresh had errors
6. Retry in a brand-new Codex task.
7. The same failure occurs again before the target file is read.

This has reproduced at least 4 consecutive times.

The issue occurred both in a long-running Codex task and in a newly created clean task.

An explicitly authorized elevated apply_patch also failed before reading the first target file.

No repository changes were applied.

The failure appears to occur during Windows sandbox/helper initialization, before repository command execution.

Start with the Windows sandbox/helper initialization path and the diagnostic/browser logs from Feedback ID 01a066fa-e20c-7c50-b66a-1c0f0bdbb9a9. Confirm the failure occurs during setup refresh before repository command execution; done means repeated sandbox initialization, scoped reads and edits, and subsequent diff validation succeed.