Notepad++ settings changing

Hello,

I use Notepad++ for teaching programming. My students all have portable hard drives with a set of portable apps from portableapps. I configure all the settings for them so we all have the same setup. However, many of my students lose their settings for Notepad++ when they plug their hard drives into different computers on campus and at their homes. Why is this happening and can it be prevented? If not, can I save the settings and restore them with a script.

Thanks,

-Eric