Is it possible to extract the contents of a paf.exe file, copy it to a folder on a desktop computer, and run it from there? It is possible to run these apps directly on XP and above?
New: DesktopSnowOK (Jan 6, 2025), Platform 29.5.3 (Jun 27, 2024)
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You should not extract the files. They are portable installers. Self-extracting installers with extra logic in them to move files around, update installations, etc within the portable app directory you select to extract to only.
The installers and apps will run on Windows 2000 and higher except where indicated (some apps are XP and higher only).
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Yes, it is simple to do so. However: don't extract the contents, just run the installer, and tell it to install wherever you want. We recommend X:\PortableApps, with X being any drive you choose.
Note that if you use the PortableApps.com Platform, and install it to C:\, the icon and label will change for your C:\ drive to the PortableApps.com logo and label.
[Edit: John beat me to it]
In addition: Don't install it to your "Program Files" folder, as some apps will stop running in portable mode then.
To avoid the C:\ icon & label change just delete the autorun.inf file. Then put an icon on your desktop for start.exe that should be in your C:\ directory.
As John and Gord have said, you can put them on C:
However, don't put them on your desktop, because your desktop is actually a folder that is several folders deep, and excessively long file paths can cause problems with some apps (esp. OpenOffice and LibreOffice).
My personal setup is to install the platform into a subfolder of C:, rather than directly into C:. Then I use the platform to install the apps.
I've been running that layout for the last 5 years, since the first versions of PortableApps, and it's always run perfectly.
I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.
to make you life a bit easier grab the platform installer and then install it to c:\PA (this bypasses a couple problems)
then load your apps from the platform
for each program you want to run directly do a copy > paste SHORTCUT to a folder on your desktop (btw as mentioned before start.exe in the c:\PA folder runs the platform)
if you ever want to convert this to a flashdrive install then just do a copy of the whole c:\PA folder
Why would you install to C:\PA rather than C:\?
I am a Christian and a developer and moderator here.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
When you install the platform, it has 2 folders (Documents, and PortableApps) and 2 files (Autorun.inf and Start.exe) at the root level of the install.
These get thrown in with all the other files and folders in the root of the C: drive. It makes it harder to find them with Explorer, and harder to copy them all if you need to.
On a USB drive, it makes sense to put it in the root - you are less likely to have other files and folders, and on an OS that supports AutoPlay, you can start it when you plug it in.
On your hard drive, though, it makes more sense to keep it all in one place. In addition, it allows you to have several installations side by side - useful if you want to separate the apps into different platforms, or if you beta test the platform, or if you develop themes...
And despite the warnings that I have heard that it's "not recommended" to install it to a subfolder of the root, I have never had any problem with the platform or any official PA.c app because of it.
I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.
I do this too and wonder why it isn't recommended - it would save so much wasted time reading posts about c:\program files not the right place and paths too long and spaces in folder names and by time wasted by users not being able to get things working, as well as the advantage of keeping things tidy.
I run PA in a hard drive partition ... can't get much tidier than that ... runs same as on a portable drive/usb/whatever ... but faster
Yeah I do that too, and I run them in a virtual Truecrypt drive as well...
BUT for users not familiar with creating a second partition or using virtual encrypted drives, Solanus and I are suggesting installing to a folder, e.g. C:\PA is better than C:\ for the reasons Solanus gave. Hopefully Chris and/or John will chime in.
It is no problem as long as it is stored in a folder like C:\PA as its name is short enough. Some apps (maybe only OpenOffice/LibreOffice) choke on longer paths, especially with subfolders like "C:\folder1\folder2\folder3\PortableApps.com" as they consist of a complicated folder structure that breaks a limit of path lengh hard coded in the base app itself. There's nothing that can be be done about it as long as the base app has this restriction.
Installing in special folders like "Program Files" is another limitation as some apps detect that they are installed in that "reserved" folder and stop running in portable mode despite being told so via some settings. John could give further information on that - afair Chrome or Gimp were affected by that, by I am not shure for that.
As this behaviour is hard coded in these base apps, too, these reserved folders should not be used. Maybe some time the installer could detect it and prevent installing in these locations or give a warning.
I agree. I would also classify the Desktop, My Documents, and any of the Libraries folders in W7 as "special" folders that should be avoided - Windows does a few funky things with those folders.
I made this half-pony, half-monkey monster to please you.