When I plug in the thumb drive that I have the PortableApps suite loaded on, I get the usual "Auto Run" Windows Dialogue box, which opens the initial Primary Folder of the "Drive."
In that drive window/folder I have a series of sub-folders, an Icon for starting PortableApps as well as two folders named "Docs" one has a PortableApp icon on it and contains what I suspect is the information, data & programming for each of the programs contained in the App, seeing as when I open up the first click of it that is what I see... Although I've not gone any further into the folder for fear of messing with the function or features of the Apps.
I also have a Doc folder which appears to be "Storage" for music, video, etc. again for the Applications in this suite.
What my question is in a nutshell, there is also a notepad doc named "Auto Run" with four lines of code in it, which appear to be commands to start PortableApp... but since its just sitting by its self, and I have to manually press the "Start" button located in this folder too; What exactly is that notepad doc for? Was it part of the installation process, and is no longer needed? Or is it part of the "Button" I press to get PortableApps to launch? Basically, can I delete this file? I just want to clean up the drive, and if this is just a remnant of the installation process and no longer needed, I'd like to remove it.
I tried to use the "Chat" window to get some assistance on this question but I'm running out of time this morning so I thought I'd post a quick question on the way out and check back later to see if I've gotten any replies...
Thanks, John
newbie to this whole "Open Source" deal...
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is the file that is responsible for the first entry in the "usual Auto Run Windows Dialogue box". It is responsible that, if autorun is enabled (Win XP and earlier), you just have to hit enter once the autorun window appears to start the PortableApps Menu.
If you dont use autorun, you can delete it but then you have to open the drive in explorer and double click the "StartPortableApps.exe" to start the menu.
So yes it is still part of the Menu and not something left over from an amcient world
And the autorun thing doesnt have anything to do with open source, lots of usb menus or even portable harddisks use it. It just became unusable one win 7 stopped supporting autorun for security reasons.
Oh and welcome here in the Forums
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
the autorun.inf file is also responsible for the drive name (label) and icon that show in Explorer for the flash drive. Both of these are configured using that file, even in Windows 7.
I'm running on a Windows 7 Pro 64 Bit tower/ with the Suite installed in a 4GB Thumbdrive; at home while I work out the cobwebs and get a handle on the Apps, before I start bringing it out into the world so to speak.
So if I get this right, that code in the auto-run note pad file "Is" part of the start-up on Windows systems running XP or earlier, and would actually function to open the app instead of having to use the "Button" that I have to with my Windows 7 system. I plan on using it at School in the computer lab when I'm there doing research or printing docs for course work. Although there is no rule against doing "personal" stuff either, I'd rather not have my research/activities logged as such. Given the behavior of most other Students, my activities are benign at best considering I'm an Adult College student, getting back into the Grind.
So it would appear that I ought not mess with it, and in fact the notepad code will actually function in the older systems at school, unlike my Upgraded Home system; Great
Thank You for the warm welcome & the info... both are much appreciated, and I'll be around from time to time. As I get more of a handle on this Open Source deal maybe help out too... John