I've read the "How it works" page, but it didn't give an actual answer to someone who is a bit more 'tech savy' than your average person. I'd like to know how a program is changed to bypass the Windows Registry, and other things that tie a program to a single computer. Any answers?
New: NAPS2 (Feb 24, 2025), Platform 29.5.3 (Jun 27, 2024)
1,100+ portable packages, 1.1 billion downloads
No Ads!, Please donate today
Visit the Community page
Join our forums
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Subscribe with RSS
Follow us on BlueSky
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on Twitter
Essentially:
-The Registry: Backs up original program's registry keys (if any), puts the portable program's registry keys in, runs the program, when the program closes, collects the keys, stores them in a file, and puts back the original stuff (like a temporary workspace).
-Appdata: A redirect to make the program think that appdata is the data dir.
Other than that, those are the two main ones, explained as briefly as possible. 8)
Insert original signature here with Greasemonkey Script.
Thank you for this great information.It really was a great help in understanding those.
Strandkorb
Paul Finn
Easy. A program has to be programmed to use the Registry. They don't do that automatically. A lot of programs are "inherently portable" which means they don't leave anything behind, by design. A lot of freeware is done like this.
Pretty much all software was originally portable, I think. It wasn't until later that programs were tied to a single computer, and only very recently that those ties were strictly enforced (see: Activation, Windows Genuine Advantage).
But to take something that does require registry keys? In short, it sandboxes the program. Makes it think it's installed when it isn't. Registry keys and disk writes are routed somehow. I don't know the exact technical way of saying it, but I understand it pretty clearly.
See Chris's PortableApps.com Launcher, the .ini it comes with kinda explains things.
NathanJ70, you should note in your sig that the quote is from Doctor Who's "Voyage of the Damned".
Ed
It's 79 - I just hit 30, I ain't only a year from 40
and this board imposes a limit of 256 characters for a sig. I know, because I was just over that and had to remove a space or two to make it fit. Just changed it to the LOST numbers anyway, sort of a mockup of how they look on the screen. Anyway, anybody who didn't know what "Tenth Doctor" meant could have looked it up. It would be as obvious to anyone in the UK as "Captain Kirk" is to Americans, I think, though. And I've found a lot of Americans know Doctor Who as well. I thought I was fairly unique for watching it, but quite a few people I told about it said they've seen at least one episode on what's now SyFy or BBC America at some point. Great episode, anyway, and the alternate ending from the Season 4 finale was great, even though they didn't show it.
It's 79
Oops!! Sorry.
Typo.
We get Doctor Who on our local PBS station, and the SyFy (formally SciFi) and BBCA networks. The past 5 (6?) seasons have been on SyFy and the series has now moved to BBCA. This past summer all 3 stations have had the series on weekly and have had periodically 12 hr marathons. SyFy is trying to hang on to what it once had and BBCA is trying to get us to watch the last 4 David Tennant specials before the new Dr. Who series starts. So far they have shown us 2 of them.
PBS and SyFy are HD channels but the BBCA is not here.
So yes, we on the other side of the pond, know about Dr. Who.
Sorry you changed your sig.
Also sorry for highjacking this thread.
(And yes, I watch Lost also)
Ed
"Pretty much all software was originally portable"
On the VIC20, in lil plastic ROM carts...:]
I don't think that portable applications are all effective because as far as I've experienced, there were applications that not that give satisfaction to the users and sometimes will never work properly.I wish portable applications were tested carefully before releasing it to the public. Wish there would be a solution to this.
[probable spam link deleted by mod Tim]
spam? I've been using them for over 2 years and the officially released one have had no problems (mod, feel free to delete my comment if above IS spam ;))
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
I think the majority of users, however are satisfied with their PortableApps. Do you think that if we didn't like them, we would still get 100 MILLION downloads? Don't get me wrong, I know there are some apps that just aren't the same when they're portable but I don't think that they could (legally) get any better then they already are.
The portable apps on this site typically go through a period of beta testing.
The beta testers are us - you, me, everyone that wants to help.
Any constructive criticism is accepted.
Sometimes, of course, the problem may be with the original app, and has nothing to do with making it portable. In that case, you need to go back to the original developer and send your bug reports there.
If people did nothing but wish, nothing would get done - but you can help improve things. You say you have experienced issues with apps. Well, the best thing you can do is to send a detailed (polite) bug report back to the developer.
I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.
u guys really got patience to be constantly dealing with this "i wish this, i want this" crap