I've noticed on the boards some folks having the problem about including non-official PortableApps programs by just placing them in the PortableApps directory. Although many of these programs have been looked at and determined to run fine off of USB drives, the problem crops up that multiple EXEs in the program folder show up in the PAM. To correct this issue many have created launchers for some of these programs.
Anyway, based on some advice elsewhere in the forum, I've created these instructions for making launchers for Sophos Anti-Rootkit, CCleaner, and Spybot Search & Destroy. They all basically say the same thing but with some names switched out. If you want I can post the resulting EXEs. Can you do that on this forum??? Anyway here are the instructions. Feedback/discussion is appreciated.
Sophos Anti-Rootkit: Download the program from the Sophos site, install it on your local machine, copy it’s Program Files directory to your USB drive (into PortableApps\SophosAnti-RootkitPortable\App\), and then uninstall the program from Windows. Note you will also have to remove the space in the directory name within the App folder (since can’t handle spaces for some reason). Follow the instructions posted at https://portableapps.com/node/4742 to create a single EXE and place it in PortableApps\SophosAnti-RootkitPortable. For step 2 make the file contain the following contents and name the BAT file Sophos Anti-Rootkit Portable.bat. As described in the above post you may want to change the icon as described at http://www.hollmen.dk/content/view/16/30/. Note that after uncompressing the EXE, the command prompt window does display some other information. This doesn’t seem to matter as the program still starts.
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cd \
START \PortableApps\SophosAnti-RootkitPortable\App\SophosAnti-Rootkit\sargui.exe
CCleaner Portable: Downloaded the program (in ZIP format) from a forum post at http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?showtopic=5707 and extract its contents to a folder (PortableApps\CCleanerPortable\App\CCleaner). Follow the instructions posted at https://portableapps.com/node/4742 to create a single EXE and place it in PortableApps\CCleanerPortable. For step 2 make the file contain the following contents and name the BAT file CCleaner Portable.bat. As described in the above post you may want to change the icon as described at http://www.hollmen.dk/content/view/16/30/. Note that after uncompressing the EXE, the command prompt window does display some other information. This doesn’t seem to matter as the program still starts.
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cd \
START \PortableApps\CCleanerPortable\App\CCleaner\portable.exe
CCleaner Portable requires administrator or power user rights to run. These rights are needed for registering the required CCleaner components.
Spybot Search & Destroy: Download the program from their site, install it on your local machine (selecting Compact installation and unchecking SDHelper and TeaTimer options), copy it’s Program Files directory to your USB drive (into PortableApps\SpybotSDPortable\App\), delete the specified files (i.e., TeaTimer.exe, SDHelper.dll, blindman.exe, unins000.* files, and Includes\Startup.tnfo (same info can be found at pacs-portal.co.uk)), and then uninstall the program from Windows. Note you will have to rename the directory to SpybotSD within the App folder (since can’t handle spaces for some reason). Follow the instructions posted at https://portableapps.com/node/4742 to create a single EXE and place it in PortableApps\SpybotSDPortable. For step 2 make the file contain the following contents and name the BAT file Spybot - Search and Destroy Portable.bat. As described in the above post you may want to change the icon as described at http://www.hollmen.dk/content/view/16/30/. Note that after uncompressing the EXE, the command prompt window does display some other information. This doesn’t seem to matter as the program still starts.
blank line
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cd \
START \PortableApps\SpybotSDPortable\App\SpybotSD\SpybotSD.exe
Be sure to update the program the first time it is started as presented by the wizard (may get an error related to the blindman file – can be ignored). Also, the Registry backup is not necessary I would think. Note that after each update you can delete all files in the Updates folder except 'downloaded.ini' to save space. It appears that Spybot retains the zipped update files even after applying those updates.
Note that Spybot creates a set of folders under Documents and Settings/all users/Application data on the local machine (may also write to the Registry). These folders can be deleted after using Spybot but will be recreated with each use.
Well there it is... Have fun!!!
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Apps which update the host machine's Registry are not "portable".
Ed
Ed
And that would mean that about 90% of "portable" apps on this site are not portable...?
100% of the official apps listed on the Applications page are portable. These apps have been vetted thru the beta forum here to make sure they don't leave stuff in the registry (except for a few stray traces in the registry that the application was run on the machine. These are used by Windows and not by the app themselves.). Any other links to other software in the forums could do whatever to the registry. YMMV.
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Any win experts think we could come up with a shadow registry?
I mean not leaving traces is ok, but not being seen while your running your apps is even better.
If we had a way to route all the reg calls, and have a response go thru our shadow...
I bet the rootkits have that. I'll do some research.
Some jackass already filed a software patent for a virtual registry to thwart malware. I did not see an actual application or service, so this is likely a patent landmine. One really wonders if the patent people even have a clue at all, the way the thing is worded is so vague, how can someone patent 'routing, via a filter, a registry signal'?
sigh.
Patents are often defined as broad as possible. A patent will not be issued when the technology has been used before, i believe. Software Patents are bad as it infringes the freedom of innovation.
But besides that, PortableApps.com technology is not made to hide the fact you have used an portable application but to make it so that all settings generated, used and needed by the application are backed up to the portable device without interfering with any existing local installed applications. 'Traces' left behind are just internal Windows things and are separate from the application. For example the 'last run' registry entry. If you are in an (corporate) environment where you are prohibited using any other software than is allowed just comply and do not use any prohibited software.
A 'shadow' registry is a nice idea but only in the case of running the applications, not for trying to hide the fact that any application was used.
Luckily, in Europe software patents are not possible. They cannot exist and cannot be filed. So if you want to use such functions, you are good to go if the app is distributed from Europe
almost all apps on this site touch the registry in some way. if they actually make a change, they do roll back to the original once the portable app is exited though.
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Windows cannot find '\PortableApps\SophosPortable\App\SophosAnti-Rootkit\sargui.exe'
The listed path is the same as my folder structure. No misspelling.
Bug1: all these batches should use
cd "%~dp0"
instead of
cd \
Bug2: cd a\b\c
instead of cd \a\b\c
and start a\b\c
instead of start \a\b\c
Bug3: Well, not a bug, but empty lines seem useless.
Maybe it will help.
"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov
the "START \PortableApps\SophosPortable\App\SophosAnti-Rootkit\sargui.exe" command is being run from C:\>
It appears there is no relative drive call for the USB drive.
After trying the BUG1 suggestion above (thanks a million for responding), it now runs from:
C:\Documents and Settings\xxxxx\Local Settings\Temp\13B.tmp
Still no relative path to the USB drive.
Who asked you to "compile" it?
It's a bug of your pseudocompiler.
I remember seeing a true compiler, it would probably behave correctly, but it generated 16bit code, so executables won't work on Vista anyway, I guess all others will have the same issue.
If you really have to get an executable, you can make something partially correct:
delete the cd %~dp0 line.
Or better switch to another language.
"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov
Dawn broke on marblehead, and I realized that I could make it work with a simple, non-sophisticated batch file.
Since there will be a limited number of drive letter options for the USB drive, this simple script works just fine:
IF EXIST E:\StartPortableApps.exe START E:\PortableApps\SophosPortable\App\SophosAnti-Rootkit\sargui.exe
IF EXIST F:\StartPortableApps.exe START F:\PortableApps\SophosPortable\App\SophosAnti-Rootkit\sargui.exe
IF EXIST G:\StartPortableApps.exe START G:\PortableApps\SophosPortable\App\SophosAnti-Rootkit\sargui.exe
IF EXIST H:\StartPortableApps.exe START H:\PortableApps\SophosPortable\App\SophosAnti-Rootkit\sargui.exe
I wrapped it in an executable (.EXE), and it works just fine, including when the USB drive is assigned a different drive letter on another computer.
Again, simple but works.
The BatchCompliler at https://portableapps.com/node/4742 is a dead link now.
Does anyone still have this file?
Never mind.
This batch compiler allowed me to covert the BAT files into EXE and allowed me to use my own icon (ico).
http://www.abyssmedia.com/quickbfc/index.shtml