diff --git a/codex-rs/windows-sandbox-rs/src/conpty/mod.rs b/codex-rs/windows-sandbox-rs/src/conpty/mod.rs
index 54d1f34281..99499e1c8c 100644
--- a/codex-rs/windows-sandbox-rs/src/conpty/mod.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/windows-sandbox-rs/src/conpty/mod.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 
 use crate::desktop::LaunchDesktop;
 use crate::proc_thread_attr::ProcThreadAttributeList;
-use crate::winutil::format_last_error;
 use crate::winutil::quote_windows_arg;
 use crate::winutil::to_wide;
 use anyhow::Result;
@@ -28,6 +27,7 @@ use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::PROCESS_INFORMATION;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::STARTF_USESTDHANDLES;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::STARTUPINFOEXW;
 
+use crate::process::format_create_process_as_user_error;
 use crate::process::make_env_block;
 
 /// Owns a ConPTY handle and its backing pipe handles.
@@ -138,14 +138,15 @@ pub fn spawn_conpty_process_as_user(
     };
     if ok == 0 {
         let err = unsafe { GetLastError() } as i32;
-        return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
-            "CreateProcessAsUserW failed: {} ({}) | cwd={} | cmd={} | env_u16_len={}",
+        return Err(anyhow::anyhow!(format_create_process_as_user_error(
             err,
-            format_last_error(err),
-            cwd.display(),
-            cmdline_str,
-            env_block.len()
-        ));
+            cwd,
+            &cmdline_str,
+            env_block.len(),
+            si.StartupInfo.dwFlags,
+            EXTENDED_STARTUPINFO_PRESENT | CREATE_UNICODE_ENVIRONMENT,
+            use_private_desktop,
+        )));
     }
     Ok((pi, conpty))
 }
diff --git a/codex-rs/windows-sandbox-rs/src/process.rs b/codex-rs/windows-sandbox-rs/src/process.rs
index 1571bb8ccf..569f47455b 100644
--- a/codex-rs/windows-sandbox-rs/src/process.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/windows-sandbox-rs/src/process.rs
@@ -4,26 +4,26 @@ use crate::proc_thread_attr::ProcThreadAttributeList;
 use crate::winutil::argv_to_command_line;
 use crate::winutil::format_last_error;
 use crate::winutil::to_wide;
-use anyhow::anyhow;
 use anyhow::Result;
+use anyhow::anyhow;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::ffi::c_void;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::ptr;
-use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::GetLastError;
 use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::CloseHandle;
-use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::SetHandleInformation;
+use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::GetLastError;
 use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::HANDLE;
 use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::HANDLE_FLAG_INHERIT;
 use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
+use windows_sys::Win32::Foundation::SetHandleInformation;
 use windows_sys::Win32::Storage::FileSystem::ReadFile;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Console::GetStdHandle;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Console::STD_ERROR_HANDLE;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Console::STD_INPUT_HANDLE;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Console::STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Pipes::CreatePipe;
-use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::CreateProcessAsUserW;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::CREATE_UNICODE_ENVIRONMENT;
+use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::CreateProcessAsUserW;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::EXTENDED_STARTUPINFO_PRESENT;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::PROCESS_INFORMATION;
 use windows_sys::Win32::System::Threading::STARTF_USESTDHANDLES;
@@ -55,6 +55,34 @@ pub fn make_env_block(env: &HashMap<String, String>) -> Vec<u16> {
     w
 }
 
+pub(crate) fn format_create_process_as_user_error(
+    err: i32,
+    cwd: &Path,
+    cmdline: &str,
+    env_block_len: usize,
+    si_flags: u32,
+    creation_flags: u32,
+    use_private_desktop: bool,
+) -> String {
+    let mut msg = format!(
+        "CreateProcessAsUserW failed: {} ({}) | cwd={} | cmd={} | env_u16_len={} | si_flags={} | creation_flags={}",
+        err,
+        format_last_error(err),
+        cwd.display(),
+        cmdline,
+        env_block_len,
+        si_flags,
+        creation_flags,
+    );
+    if use_private_desktop {
+        msg.push_str(" | private_desktop=true");
+        msg.push_str(
+            " | hint=try setting `windows.sandbox_private_desktop = false` if this machine cannot launch sandboxed processes on a private desktop",
+        );
+    }
+    msg
+}
+
 unsafe fn ensure_inheritable_stdio(si: &mut STARTUPINFOW) -> Result<()> {
     for kind in [STD_INPUT_HANDLE, STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE, STD_ERROR_HANDLE] {
         let h = GetStdHandle(kind);
@@ -135,18 +163,17 @@ pub unsafe fn create_process_as_user(
             );
             if ok == 0 {
                 let err = GetLastError() as i32;
-                let msg = format!(
-                    "CreateProcessAsUserW failed: {} ({}) | cwd={} | cmd={} | env_u16_len={} | si_flags={} | creation_flags={}",
+                let msg = format_create_process_as_user_error(
                     err,
-                    format_last_error(err),
-                    cwd.display(),
-                    cmdline_str,
+                    cwd,
+                    &cmdline_str,
                     env_block_len,
                     si.StartupInfo.dwFlags,
                     creation_flags,
+                    use_private_desktop,
                 );
                 logging::debug_log(&msg, logs_base_dir);
-                return Err(anyhow!("CreateProcessAsUserW failed: {err}"));
+                return Err(anyhow!(msg));
             }
             Ok(CreatedProcess {
                 process_info: pi,
@@ -176,18 +203,17 @@ pub unsafe fn create_process_as_user(
             );
             if ok == 0 {
                 let err = GetLastError() as i32;
-                let msg = format!(
-                    "CreateProcessAsUserW failed: {} ({}) | cwd={} | cmd={} | env_u16_len={} | si_flags={} | creation_flags={}",
+                let msg = format_create_process_as_user_error(
                     err,
-                    format_last_error(err),
-                    cwd.display(),
-                    cmdline_str,
+                    cwd,
+                    &cmdline_str,
                     env_block_len,
                     si.dwFlags,
                     creation_flags,
+                    use_private_desktop,
                 );
                 logging::debug_log(&msg, logs_base_dir);
-                return Err(anyhow!("CreateProcessAsUserW failed: {err}"));
+                return Err(anyhow!(msg));
             }
             Ok(CreatedProcess {
                 process_info: pi,
@@ -198,6 +224,44 @@ pub unsafe fn create_process_as_user(
     }
 }
 
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::format_create_process_as_user_error;
+    use std::path::Path;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn create_process_error_includes_private_desktop_hint() {
+        let message = format_create_process_as_user_error(
+            5,
+            Path::new("C:\\workspace"),
+            "cmd /c dir",
+            42,
+            256,
+            1024,
+            true,
+        );
+
+        assert!(message.contains("private_desktop=true"));
+        assert!(message.contains("windows.sandbox_private_desktop = false"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn create_process_error_omits_private_desktop_hint_when_disabled() {
+        let message = format_create_process_as_user_error(
+            5,
+            Path::new("C:\\workspace"),
+            "cmd /c dir",
+            42,
+            256,
+            1024,
+            false,
+        );
+
+        assert!(!message.contains("private_desktop=true"));
+        assert!(!message.contains("windows.sandbox_private_desktop = false"));
+    }
+}
+
 /// Controls whether the child's stdin handle is kept open for writing.
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 pub enum StdinMode {