I am recently keen on PortableApps.com and I run a lot of apps off my USB drive. and I find it very useful when i go out with a USB, I just plug my USB on any PC, I can run my favorite apps.
However, I also find that a lot of software are not portably availale, so i want to know is there any way that I can make any app portable and run them off a USB drive?
It depends on the app in question. Some load configuration from the %APPDATA% folder, others use their own folder, and others probably use completely different folders. Chances are, if you have to ask, and there's not a portable version readily available, you won't be able to do it.
Well VMware provides a program that does it, ThinApp (previously Thinstall) but basically it's simply containing a program so nothing is added to the registry and no information is saved in the Application Data folder, for example - it leaves no trace of it's execution because it the only files it needs/uses are with it's portable installation on your drive (programs store their configuration, settings, etc in these files).
With PortableApps.com I believe they might change some of the programs they provide because they are open source, but quite often you'll get "Launchers" that route where the temporary files go, so long as it goes to the same place it's installed on your USB Drive.
I find a number of applications on PortableApps are actually already portable, eg Filezilla, if you choose to store settings in the INI instead of registry, it will be portable (and not have the annoying launcher splash screen).
Others need some redirection.
14/07/2010 01:36 AM
Cowper
The Gland
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there is an easy gui system for doing it yourself (on portableapps.com) but i can't find it atm
and yes most that don't exist don't work, BUT some do. I managed to get portable Autodesk Maya (the personal learning version) and portable limewire. they both ran , but maya was laggy (not due to the pc it was running on though)
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(14/07/2010 01:21 AM)S7* Wrote: Well VMware provides a program that does it, ThinApp (previously Thinstall) but basically it's simply containing a program so nothing is added to the registry and no information is saved in the Application Data folder, for example - it leaves no trace of it's execution because it the only files it needs/uses are with it's portable installation on your drive (programs store their configuration, settings, etc in these files).
With PortableApps.com I believe they might change some of the programs they provide because they are open source, but quite often you'll get "Launchers" that route where the temporary files go, so long as it goes to the same place it's installed on your USB Drive.
And especially Senseito7. Actually i am condsidering Thinapp you mentioned. But did you ever notice its price, I am just astounded.
Howver, Yesterday I came across another virtulization ware similar to VM ware, (I am not very sure), which is called Prayaya V3 and it claims to be able to launch any app off a USB drive even those proprietary ones like MS office.
And I tried with some applicatios. It works !!! How do you think of this one, though it is good, seemingly, I doubt its legality. and you, any ideas?
Basically, it allows you to launch most apps and games off a USB drive BUT not officially claimed any app and game.
A few apps that I have tried on it: Firefox, Opera, Safari, MS office, Nero, Winrar, Virtual DJ, Skype, Plants vs Zombie, KM Player, Yahoo Messenger, MSN, Picasa. These are my daily used apps. And they work perfectly.
However, there are some that seems not working on it like Google Chrome, PhotoShop, Coreldraw.
Also I found that Prayaya V3 seems to write registry into USB but not a host computer. I think that is why it can launch most apps. a good advantage is that not any trace will be left on a computer if you run it off a USB drive.
Generally, I think it is a cool ware that is worthy of a try. I like its cool interface, cool feeling switching between two systems though actually not. However, if you just want to run common apps off a USB drive, I think PortableApps.com is enough for you. If you want to go furthur, Prayaya V3 is a good try.
If you like, I would like to release more information about using it.
(This post was last modified: 18/07/2010 07:28 PM by Rex2010.)