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

ab1kenobee said:

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:

Try Geek Uninstaller and let me know, if it performs better.

DaddyG said:

3) A large number of Portable Apps can be installed in just a few minutes via Copy and Paste.

There will be present, but not "installed". If you want to use them, you have to register them or select to open desired file types to open it with, so in the end it might take even longer. I backup ini/reg entries of installed software and upon reinstall, I just apply them and all settings are done, like:

Code:

reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView" /v "UseRegistry" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "ShowToolTips" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "StartupDirectory" /t "REG_SZ" /d "%UserProfile%\Desktop" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "StartupIn" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "2" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "OnlyOneInstance" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "PathSave" /t "REG_SZ" /d "%UserProfile%\Desktop" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "SavePosition" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "ShowSaveDlg" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f

But for the fun part, even when XnView is installed, it can not be set as a default app, so installed apps are not always a guarantee, that everything will work.

DaddyG said:

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

Yes, this is the biggest advantage of portable apps, especially for those, you do not have to register in order for them to work. I have tons of portable apps like that, I either run them directly or via WRT.

A correction to the above.

Many applications has built in support for running in portable mode. Even applications that require a license. And yes, you must provide your own keys for those apps. Doing it any other way is illegal.

What comes to system security, the OS security stays absolutely intact and those apps that has not been designed to run in portable mode are still unmodified. They are just put in a sandbox which improves security even more.

You find all kinds of suspicious portable apps also, that has modified binaries, but those are completely illegal and should be avoided at all cost.

Stick with PortableApps.com and it's converter and you're safe. Either you can turn an app to portable or you can't. If you can't, then find another solution and move on.

DaddyG said:

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

Howdy, Billy:

I appreciate the additional practical reasons you utilize PORTABLE APPS.

This is what I had in mind... but wanted up-to-date confirmation since it's been several years since I last researched this topic.

I found: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/create...le-apps-cameyo... the last paragraph states the following:

Among the different app virtualization tools, Cameyo is good, if not the best. Thinapp is better but comes at a cost. If you do not wish to pay for creating portable apps, you should give Cameyo Application Virtualization software a try. P-Apps too is free and it to helps create a portable version of any software.

Any comments comparing these app portable virtualization tools or any others with PROS and CONS?

• Cameyo

• Thinapp

• P-Apps

Thank you much!

~ Alan

bo elam said:

Hi Alan, I also like to keep my system clean but I do it differently than how you do it. I avoid installing programs in the real system. When I get a new computer, I only install programs (portable or regular) I use on a daily basis and dont install anything else or remove anything unless there's a problem or a conflict between programs, which is rare for me. For example, I bought my W10 last July 8th, by the 10th, I had installed the few programs I use on a regular basis and haven't changed anything since. The only programs I have uninstalled in this computer are the ones that came with the computer. My computers are clean of debris. I dont install antiviruses, scanners, nothing, that litters the system. I keep the computers static.

When I want to try or test something, I install the program in their own sandbox (Sandboxie), and keep the installation for as long as I want it. Sometimes I keep the installation for a few hours or weeks, depends on what I want. This is not portable but the end result works out about the same. When you install a program in a sandbox, the installation diesnt touch the system, files, registry.. When you want to get rid of the installation, you just delete the sandbox, no need to uninstall anything.. Right this moment I have Irfan view, DL Now and Flash installed in their own sandbox. I am using this programs like if they were in my system but their installation don't touch anything in the system. No debris.

Bo

Howdy, Bo:

Your post introduces the option:
SANDBOX vs. PORTABLE APPS

Food for thought... I'm well familiar... Have not used a SANDBOX app in many years...

I have recently used both Win RESTORE POINT... or a DISK IMAGE restore... to disappear a software install.

Will have to get back to you on this one.

Thank you much!

~ Alan

TairikuOkami said:

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Try Geek Uninstaller and let me know, if it performs better.

There will be present, but not "installed". If you want to use them, you have to register them or select to open desired file types to open it with, so in the end it might take even longer. I backup ini/reg entries of installed software and upon reinstall, I just apply them and all settings are done, like:

Code:

reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView" /v "UseRegistry" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "ShowToolTips" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "StartupDirectory" /t "REG_SZ" /d "%UserProfile%\Desktop" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "StartupIn" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "2" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "OnlyOneInstance" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "PathSave" /t "REG_SZ" /d "%UserProfile%\Desktop" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "SavePosition" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "ShowSaveDlg" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f

But for the fun part, even when XnView is installed, it can not be set as a default app, so installed apps are not always a guarantee, that everything will work.



Yes, this is the biggest advantage of portable apps, especially for those, you do not have to register in order for them to work. I have tons of portable apps like that, I either run them directly or via WRT.

Howdy, TairikuOkami:

Appreciate your BIG effort on this post!

1. I will check out Geek Uninstaller.
It's simple to test how thorough an uninstaller is when I test their results to view orphans left behind:

1. Registrar Registry Manager
2. RegSeeker
3. Everything
(see links above)

2. I don't backup files (ini/reg entries)... instead I utilize Windows CREATE RESTORE POINT and Minitool Partition Wizard to create backup images... from my experience safer, simpler, and faster. Have not yet run into one hitch (problem).

3. My current (2) top portable app prospects are Google Chrome and Webroot Antivirus.

I will contact Webroot Tech Support today to confirm whether Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete can be successfully run as a PORTABLE APP.

• This is a good case in which I would not SANDBOX this app because it's a paid subscription and both the app and tech support have proven themselves to provide excellent service and protection.

Thank you much for the extra effort and time you put into this post!

~ Alan

slicendice said:

A correction to the above.

Many applications has built in support for running in portable mode. Even applications that require a license. And yes, you must provide your own keys for those apps. Doing it any other way is illegal.

What comes to system security, the OS security stays absolutely intact and those apps that has not been designed to run in portable mode are still unmodified. They are just put in a sandbox which improves security even more.

You find all kinds of suspicious portable apps also, that has modified binaries, but those are completely illegal and should be avoided at all cost.

Stick with PortableApps.com and it's converter and you're safe. Either you can turn an app to portable or you can't. If you can't, then find another solution and move on.

Howdy, slicendice:

Appreciate the viable points you're making:

• Legal implementation of portable apps

• Avoid modified binaries

• Sandboxing hardens system security

• Safety provided by implementing PortableApps.com converter

I will be creating an Evernote Portable App NOTE compiling the many valuable and practical pointers made in this thread by ALL.

Thank you much!

~ Alan

slicendice said:

Stick with PortableApps.com and it's converter and you're safe. Either you can turn an app to portable or you can't. If you can't, then find another solution and move on.

Howdy, slicendice:

I just visited Portable App Directory and identified the high-priority apps I will first use:

- 7-Zip Portable
- Audacity Portable
- Google Chrome Portable (Freeware)
- PotPlayer Portable (freeware)
- VLC Media Player Portable
- LibreOffice Portable
- PDF-XChange Editor Portable (Freeware)
- ccPortable (Freeware)
- IObit Uninstaller Portable (Freeware) - Note: I have the PAID version
- Iobit Smart Defrag Portable - Note: I have the PAID version
- Q-Dir Portable (Freeware)
- TeamViewer Portable (Freeware)


Below is a preliminary HIGH-PRIORITY list of apps that I'd like to use as PORTABLES not currently listed at PortableApps.com:

- DNS Watch
- Evernote (I subscribe to PAID version)
- herdProtect Anti-Malware Scanner
- Iobit Advanced SystemCare 11 PRO (I subscribe to PAID version)
- Iobit Smart Defrag 5 PRO (I subscribe to PAID version)
- Iobit Uninstaller PRO 7 (I subscribe to PAID version)
- MiniTool Partition Wizard
- Registrar Registry Manager
- RootsMagic
- Sandboxie
- Unchecky
- Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete 2018 (I subscribe to PAID version)

I'm looking forward to Power User comments and recommendations.

THX. ~ Alan

MiniTool provide their own portable version.

Although MiniTool simplified the installing process, the features of portable partition manager keep coincident with Partition Wizard Free Edition, because it comes right from the latter one. What you can find in Partition Wizard Free Edition also appear in the portable version...

https://www.partitionwizard.com/part...ion-magic.html