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that's the same installer from before. did you try running it from a folder on your local C drive? because i can't get it to work right from there either. it's working properly though from the flash drive.
when i tried running it from the C drive, HostDesktop was found from a previous install, in the Recycle Bin. and my desktop folder and environment, became based off a folder in the Recycle Bin. after emptying the recycle bin...it worked from my Local C drive...but the wallpaper swapper didn't. so there is some wierdness when trying to run it from the C drive.
Try it from a flash drive though...and let me know what happens...
I think it just froze last time during installation, though. This time it did install, but it took a good 5 minutes to do it's thing.
Also, from timing it, it's taking about 90 seconds running on a new machine for the first time, then about 45 seconds to start it again each time thereafter.
And in testing, not surprisingly, some windows I had opened in Explorer closed after switching desktops. Perhaps you can detect open Explorer windows before switching desktops, then re-open them when it's done loading.
And, while I wasn't expecting it to, I was disappointed to see the icon positions on the desktop weren't saved. I think the settings are somewhere in the registry. Do you have plans handle them in the future?
Overall, though, I was still impressed with what I saw, though. While I do wish there were more features, I do like what you've done thus far.
EDIT: I've noticed significant performance reduction of portable apps when running PortableDesktop (lots of lag).
It would be nice if at least 1 more member would test and share feedback. because the issues you're explaining, i'm not experiencing. So that leaves the margin too wide of what 'could' or 'couldn't' be wrong and to properly pinpoint what to fix. Maybe your computer is overly odd...or maybe mine's is.
I never had it freeze during installation.
It takes at max 12 seconds to switch for me.
It saves my current icons positions.
The program isn't a constant running program. It just backs up about 4 reg entries, kills explorer.exe, and reopens it. So it uses 0 ram, and 0 cpu. Because it doesn't run any background process. I'm not seeing a performance decrease in my portable applications when using PortableDesktop.
Explorer folders do close though, which is the only way I could get it to switch the desktop...by refreshing explorer.exe...that's one issue that would be nice to resolve. but wondering if it could be done.
as far as slowness, the program scans the drive it's executed on, and looks for the program HostDesktop.exe...wherever that program is, is what it'll use as the desktop folder. then it'll scan the drive for pdwallpaper.bmp, and then pdmenuwallpaper.bmp....so I'm wondering if there's a 'MASSIVE' amount of files on your portable device, which is making finding the files take longer.
I'm using it on an 8g microsd card about 6 gigs filled with pictures, cab files, mp3s, doc, etc....and it only takes abt 12 seconds.
The Computer:
About 2 years old.
XP Pro SP3
133 GB Free of 150 GB space
Admin rights
~40,000 files
3.2 GHz, 2.9 GB RAM
Widescreen (1440 x 900)
Not exactly a low-end PC, for starters
My flash drive:
About 2 years old.
8GB Sandisk cruzer U3 Micro
2GB Free.
~25,000 files.
Hope this helps.
No that's not a low end machine, that's a good computer.
But there's only 1 way I can see getting around the slowness and that would be by compiling another version. Where PortableDesktop won't scan for anything...but will find HostDesktop.exe, and pdwallpaper.bmp at their, by design, designated locations.
So HostDesktop.exe will have to live at X:\Documents\Desktop\HostDesktop.exe...if it's moved to X:\Desktop\HostDesktop.exe or any other location....it won't work. That way it'll execute much faster. What's your thoughts on that solution?
Thanks for the feedback as well. The program has been downloaded abt 170 times...and no one leaving any comments leaves me not knowing if:
-It's working great
-It's plain garbage
-Not interested
I've not left comments numerous times based on one of those 3 reasons.
Whatever works, I guess. I don't mind it moving or not moving. As long as the host machine remains untouched, I'm fine with that.
I'd like to see this somehow integrated into the PortableApps.com Platform, though. By itself, it's a nice idea, but, in my opinion, it lacks functionality for it to stand alone as it's own app. That's not to say I don't appreciate the work you've put into it, but I think adding it to the platform or some other similar project would make sense. Now, if you add other features, such as a dock, or virtual desktops, or just make it a shell replacement on it's own, I think it would make it a more viable app.
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