over here http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2998 at the Portable Freeware Collection forums someone came with the idea of using Thinstall to make a program launcher so that all programs opened from it are run inside the sandbox... meaning instant portability of any application. Here's the original description:
"Thinstalled applications work by putting a "sandbox" between the program that is being run (contained onto the .exe) and the rest of the system, storing all the changes on a folder called Thinstall, located on Application Data or, if the Thinstall folder is present on the same place as the .exe, then it's placed next to the program.
But.. guess what: any program that gets executed by the app running Thinstalled gets Thinstalled too, and all the changes monitored and being sandboxed. So I had an idea. I made a simple app that asks you for a executable and runs it. And then I made a Thinstall version out of it.
So how does it work? Easy.. extract the files to any folder on your hard drive, and execute "ThinLoader.exe". Then you're asked for a program to be run (inside the Thinstall sandbox). Choose any installer, and install the program as usual. But there's a difference: The files are extracted inside the sandbox, and not directly onto the system.
And now run ThinLoader.exe again, and when you're asked for an app to run, (remember that you're browsing the contents INSIDE the sandbox), choose the program you have just installed, and that's all. Using this method you can install any application (well, at least Thinstall compatible) on a pendrive or wherever you want, and run it as usual as if it was Thinstalled but without having to get the full version of Thinstall or anything.
You can also use command-line parameters to set an app that should be automatically opened when you launch ThinLoader.exe. Just use:
ThinLoader.exe choosemain
and then you're asked for where the program is. Next time you launch ThinLoader.exe, that program will be executed directly, without being asked."
the original thinloader was made with a Thinstall pre-VMware and it has a bug with Vista's Open/Save Dialog... so I remade Thinloader using the latest Northstar Beta and uploaded it here: http://www.mediafire.com/?dmlwjyvtgty
the first time it's run on vista it takes a little while to open the dialog, but from then on it opens real quick... on XP it works fine since the first run
I have been testing it and I think it has no problem... the original autoIT code was made by iamzenitraM at that forum, so I guess that redistributing it is fine as long as I don't claim it as mine
this Thinloader not only works to make any app portable, but since the sandbox structure is plain folders, you can use to see exactly what changes are made to the disk by any program... also, a virtual registry is kept on a file so in the same way, all changes to the registry made by any app can be monitored without affecting the real one
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But the only thing is is that it doesn't exactly look fair. I'm almost sure that would be against the EULA, but I don't know where to get a copy of it. I remember somebody came by and showed that in Delphi you can redirect files using a hooking command.
IMO, it should only be used for emergency purposes (I gotta use Publisher but the files are being scanned every 1/2 hour, so I'll just thinload it and finish before 1/2 hour.)but of course that scenario doesn't seem likely :P.
Insert original signature here with Greasemonkey Script.
what EULA are you talking about?
Windows' EULA.
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
in that case, I have no idea what he's talking about or what does it have to do with Thinloader
...is the price.
At $4995(US) plus a "ditribution" fee, I don't think many OSS developers will be using it.
I hope this isn't a recommendation to use bootlegged software.
-hea
sorry, but you misunderstood
I'm not redistributing Thinstall in any way... if you actually cared to check the original link, you would see this little program is made on AutoIT and just Thinstalled afterwards... redistribution of thinstalled apps is allowed: [link to site distributing illegal software removed by moderator JTH]
Ive used this before, its pretty helpful when you want to know files that are left behind from an installer.As for thindownload, ive been there too but there really isnt anything too great, plus most of their software is out of date and needs to be updated.
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
Mahatma Gandhi,
Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)
I only used Thindownload as an example of how distribution of thinstalled apps was allowed by Thinstall and now by VMware, I didn't say anything about using what they have there
sorry, but you misunderstood
Perhaps.
I'm not redistributing Thinstall in any way... if you actually cared to check the original link, you would see this little program is made on AutoIT and just Thinstalled afterwards... redistribution of thinstalled apps is allowed: http://www.thindownload.com/
Actually, I did check the original link, where I found a couple of interesting posts, including a couple by Phobos.
If you had actually cared to check the pricing link in my previous comment, you would have noticed this little licensing description (emphasis mine):
So, your request (hope that someone will do it again using the full version of northstar after the beta expires) seems to be asking that a legitimate customer be very generous by paying sufficient licensing fees to cover distribution of other developers' projects.
Perhaps I misunderstood. -hea
yes, that request I did is valid and has been done before.
in the original Thinstall forum you could place requests for thinstalled apps
I don't know what did you see so interesting in my posts... or in those you linked
again, check how Thinstall allows redistribution of Thinstalled apps (like in [link to site distributing illegal software removed by moderator JTH])
"[link to site distributing illegal software removed by moderator JTH]
Applications
Thindownload is an independent site that offers a large amount of free software in a portable, Thinstalled version"
perhaps it's their badly written pricing page that is causing the confusion
and another member of our forums
Lead, Follow, or get out of the way.
On portable freeware some people investigated this and found that it was using a pirated copy of thinstall to package it.
cowsay Moo
cowthink 'Dude, why are you staring at me.'
Wrong, I said it on the description, I used NorthStar Beta from VMware... nothing pirated...
please, read before saying things like this
OK. Well the original version did I think. Don't apps made with the beta expire though? That was what I thought when I tried it out.
cowsay Moo
cowthink 'Dude, why are you staring at me.'
yes, they expire... I stated that on the original thread at PAC, forgot to put that here
it's still useful while it lasts tho
i am assuming that you don't want to release it here, so i am not going to bother you about paf
but...
please link a place to the source
Please search before posting. ~Thanks
...the link to the source is already in the description, it's the first link after the first two words
even better, this is the whole code:
AutoItSetOption("TrayIconHide", 1)
If $CmdLine[0] = 0 Then
$var = IniRead("T:\\thinloader.ini", "ThinLoader", "Launch", "Unset")
If $var = "Unset" Then
$var = FileOpenDialog("Choose program to launch into ThinLoader sandbox", ".", "Executables (*.exe;*.bat;*.com;*.pif)")
If @error Then
MsgBox(4096,"T:\","No File(s) chosen")
Else
Run($var)
EndIf
Else
Run($var)
If @error Then MsgBox(4096,"ThinLoader","Error executing "+$cmd+":\n"+@error)
EndIf
ElseIf $CmdLine[1] = "choosemain" Then
If $CmdLine[0] = 2 Then
IniWrite("T:\\thinloader.ini", "ThinLoader", "Launch", $CmdLine[2])
Else
MsgBox(0, "ChooseMain", "Choose the file you want to load using the main file ThinLoader.exe.")
$var = FileOpenDialog("Choose", "T:\", "Executables (*.exe;*.bat;*.com;*.pif)")
If @error Then
MsgBox(4096,"","No File(s) chosen")
Else
IniWrite("T:\\thinloader.ini", "ThinLoader", "Launch", $var)
EndIf
EndIf
ElseIf $CmdLine[1] = "run" Then
If $CmdLine[0] = 2 Then
Run($CmdLine[2])
Else
$var = FileOpenDialog("Choose program to launch into ThinLoader sandbox", ".", "Executables (*.exe;*.bat;*.com;*.pif)")
If @error Then
MsgBox(4096,"","No File(s) chosen")
Else
Run($var)
EndIf
EndIf
EndIf
I tried recreating the autoit program so that i can thinapp it, but it failed to launch when i converted it to exe.
any ideas ?
Since this topic deals almost entirely with the use of pirated software, the use of packaging software that violates the GPL/LGPL and the EULA of commercial software and had multiple links to a site that is illegally distributing said software (which I have now removed), I'm proposing that we simply remove this topic entirely.
If there are any arguments against this, please make them. If not, I will remove this topic shortly.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I suggest maybe locking the post. The discussion is pretty useless, I'm not going to spend a few 1000 dollars for an app with additional fees to create any portable app. I'm sure not even the OP would.
I think locking it is enough.
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
Delete it. It is not used or encouraged by us and has no place here.
Development Forums » Beta Testing
Tim
Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?