QUESTION: Efficacy of Running Portable Apps on Internal Hard Drive ?

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  1. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #11

    Hi there

    SSD's don't ever need any fragmentation fixes - no moving parts -- the whole disc works like a 2D array (map like the X-Y co-ordinates) so any address is just as reachable as any other in the same time frame. With an HDD if bits of file are scattered all over the HDD then you have rotational delay to reach the bits of the file, read time etc.

    That said though -- in over 30 years of using Windows I can honestly say I've never found defragging a drive has ever resulted in any significant improvement whatsoever - and these days with much larger HDD's with bigger caches fragmentation is not an issue -- The OS can pre-read a lot of data into the HDD's cache which eliminates a lot of the delay with having to access all the chains in a file - the algorithms for pre-fetch and read are very sophisticated these days.

    Windows 3.11 !!!!! Still works on a VM.

    QUESTION:  Efficacy of Running Portable Apps on Internal Hard Drive ?-win311.png

    If you feel the need to defrag a disc - it's a lot quicker to simply image it with something like Free Macrium (Image - not CLONE it) , optionally reformat but not necessary in fact and then restore.

    Just my take on this -- others might have different experiences but from a technical point these days with the modern W7/W10 type of Windows OS'es from a technical standpoint I can't see what defragging really buys you.

    As for portable apps - these are usually done to avoid "installs" - but beware as people often use these to get round "Locked down PC's" where you can't install your own software -- corporate PC's for example are usually locked down.

    To create some portable apps there are often things written that bypass all the ususal rules of windows so be careful if installing and using these.

    However there's no reason why any of these would cause any more / less use on a Disc than a normal app -- usually the app is read from the storage device into memory and then executed - only if you have a severe shortage of RAM should it need to access the disc a lot -- editing programs like photoshop etc - especially video editing will need a lot of "scratch space" --that's a different issue - but usually there are settings in the program where to allocate that and it's only used as temporary or wok storage and is dispensed with when you end the application.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 128
    WIN 10
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Jimbo:

    I think I have been DISUADED by Members to pursue utilizing PORTABLE APPS copied to the SSD or HDD.

    I do have to take issue with you in regards to DEFRAGGING: daily defragging has made a huge performance improvement on my:
    • 2010 Gateway EC5801u laptop
      500 GB HD (Model ST9500325AS - 5400 RPM 8MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s).


    My intent in starting this thread was to determine if PORTABLE APPS have gained main stream acceptance for replacing standard installation requirements... however Member responses have much dissuaded me from pursuing this direction.

    Thank you ALL for your comments on this issue.

    Unless someone offers a very different approach... this issue is now RESOLVED.

    THX. ~ Alan
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4,666
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1 Build 19043.1151 (Branch: Release Preview)
       #13

    No, please do install portable apps if you want to. I have about 20 I use but don't want to install permanently on the system
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 128
    WIN 10
    Thread Starter
       #14

    slicendice said:
    No, please do install portable apps if you want to. I have about 20 I use but don't want to install permanently on the system
    Howdy, slicendice:

    From your perspective... what would be the BIG ADVANTAGE to running Google Chrome as a portable in your opinion... with the caveat that I want to make the following PRIVACY settings?

    command line switches
    * --disable-background-networking
    * --disable-component-extensions-with-background-pages
    * --dns-prefetch-disable
    * --no-pings
    * --disable-logging
    SOURCE | malwaretips.com/threads/google-chrome-iridium-dragon-and-iron-browsers.74381

    disabled the following options:
    * Suggestions for navigation errors
    * Address bar suggestions
    * DNS pre-fetching
    * Phishing and malware protection
    * Usage statistics and crash reports
    * I've also disabled the GoogleUpdater
    SOURCE | https://superuser.com/questions/1711...s-iron-privacy |

    THX. ~ Alan
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4,666
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1 Build 19043.1151 (Branch: Release Preview)
       #15

    ab1kenobee said:
    Howdy, slicendice:

    From your perspective... what would be the BIG ADVANTAGE to running Google Chrome as a portable in your opinion... with the caveat that I want to make the following PRIVACY settings?

    command line switches
    * --disable-background-networking
    * --disable-component-extensions-with-background-pages
    * --dns-prefetch-disable
    * --no-pings
    * --disable-logging
    SOURCE | malwaretips.com/threads/google-chrome-iridium-dragon-and-iron-browsers.74381

    disabled the following options:
    * Suggestions for navigation errors
    * Address bar suggestions
    * DNS pre-fetching
    * Phishing and malware protection
    * Usage statistics and crash reports
    * I've also disabled the GoogleUpdater
    SOURCE | https://superuser.com/questions/1711...s-iron-privacy |

    THX. ~ Alan
    Advantages:
    1. The biggest advantage is that it does not mess with your Windows registry.
    2. Another advantage is that you can move it around.
    3. Third advantage is that you can take it with you and does not require any network syncing services to keep your bookmarks and settings up to date (since it's the only copy of the app you use)
    4. Fourth advantage is that it can be easily backed up and restored in case of total system failure or portable app corruption.
    5. Final advantage is that it won't use any computer resources other than the HDD space taken while it is not in use.


    There are probably even more advantages, and there are probably many disadvantages too, but I can't think of any right now.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 128
    WIN 10
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Hello, slicendice:

    You sure some excellent advantages.

    I would like to read more about advantages and disadvantages.

    Do you have some sources that you might refer me to?

    THX. ~ Alan
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,666
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1 Build 19043.1151 (Branch: Release Preview)
       #17

    ab1kenobee said:
    Hello, slicendice:

    You sure some excellent advantages.

    I would like to read more about advantages and disadvantages.

    Do you have some sources that you might refer me to?

    THX. ~ Alan
    Thanks!

    I am sorry, I don't have any direct link to reliable sources that talk about advantages and disadvantages. But you should take a look at this site where you can find tons of information: Home of PortableApps.com

    I would however want to add one disadvantege to the list of pros and cons: Some apps might need a driver or service installed. With portable apps this might not always be possible, especially if we are talking about true portable apps. Because of this missing driver or service, some portable apps will be somewhat limited. Usually these apps are however huge applications that has been designed to be installed on a system in the first place. Example: Photoshop needs some services to being able to work with RAW images. Since this service is missing in a portable version, you can not work with RAW images when using portable apps.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 655
    Windows 10 Home
       #18

    ab1kenobee said:
    I would like to read more about advantages and disadvantages.
    Hi Alan, I dont have any good sources for you to read but an advantage I find of using Portable apps is how easy is to get rid of the program when you dont want it anymore, you just delete the installation folder and that's it. You don't have to look in AppData or anywhere else for folders of the program. I dont install many programs to keep the system intact, to avoid changes and thats something you get by using portable versions of your favorite programs. I adopted the portable versions of Libre Office, Foxit PDF Reader and CCleaner. The place where you want to go to get your portable apps is portableapps.com (link posted by slicendice), nice clean site.

    Bo
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 128
    WIN 10
    Thread Starter
       #19

    Howdy, Bo Elam:

    Appreciate your post.

    I have the same thoughts in regards to the potential practicalities as yourself and slicendice... however I wanted to confirm if my understanding is correct... or determine what has changed in regards to the efficacy of using PORTABLE APPS for internal drive purposes... beyond USB portability.

    Over the years I have become a competent and UNINSTALLING softwares well beyond the native Windows Uninstaller capabilities.

    Maybe some Forum Members can benefit from this...

    I use the following now to perform clean uninstals (without creating secondary problems):

    1. I start with using Advanced SystemCare 11 PRO Uninstaller

    Next I use to dedicated (and safe) registry cleaners to remove the balance of ORPHAN reg lines that Iobit does not clean out:
    2. Registrar Registry Manager
    3. RegSeeker
    4. Next: (Search) Everything to remove all APP FILES from the disk.

    Now I have a clean UNINSTALL.

    Next I will use:
    5. CCleaner Free for 1st stage orphan cleaning...
    6. Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete - UTILITY for 2nd stage orphan cleaning...
    7. Next: Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete - One Care - 3 stage disk cleaning.

    Now I virtually have a NEW computer operating at MAX performance (not including Windows tweaks).

    I hope this proves helpful!

    In the meantime... I'll be exploring PortableApps.com.

    THX. ~ Alan


    P.S. I have no affiliation with any of the above mentioned software companies... I've just been using each of them for years now and have confidence in them.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 31
    Windows 10
       #20

    Hi there

    I run a very large number of portable apps on my D Drive..
    1) Obviously Antivirus, Firewall and resource draining programs such as Photoshop need to be installed as normal on C Drive.
    2) I'm sick though of installing a huge number of programs on C Drive especially when i have to reformat and reinstall Windows.
    3) A large number of Portable Apps can be installed in just a few minutes via Copy and Paste.
    4) My portable apps are mostly made up of those I don't use regularly ie Burning Software, Video or Audio Converters, Wave Editors, Bulk Name Renamers, File Unlockers, PDF Readers, LibreOffice, YouTube Downloaders etc etc
    5) You can make your own portable apps with Cameyo. Google it. It's OK for making portable apps out of simple programs.

    I can't recommend portable apps enough.

    Billy
      My Computer


 

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