Categories

  • No categories

Archives

Google

Google
Web www.barmala.com

Yahoo

Portable Apps

» Windows » Software

 

 

Global Access

Some years ago the buzzword Thin Client came up. One of the ideas was that the user gets his used desktop, data and configuration everywhere no matter which machine he currently uses. This should be achieved by installing just a few common components (X-Server, Browser, Java Engine) on every system, and everything else resides on a globally accessible network drive. Network drivers however, aren't accessible always and everywhere with the required performance, security and reliability. A different concept therefor is to use a USB memory stick to store data configuration and programs.

Portable Apps

Many applications use complex installation procedures. Programms are installed under Windows in %ProgramFiles%, while user data resides in %HomePath% and the configuration is stored under %AppData% or in the Registry. Not every application can be patched with reasonable effort to install everything on the stick. Those applications which have been successfully converted, are called “Portable Apps”. You find them in the Links section at the end of this article.

Since these applications do not appear in Windows' start menu, a “Launch Pad” program exists where the programs installed on the stick can be registered. Portable Apps don't raise specific requirements to the stick, except that they need sufficient memory space and performance.

U3

The Launch Pad idea can be further enhanced: Special U3-compatible memory sticks expose themselves to Windows not as a single removable disk, but rather as two drives: A removable disk and a CD ROM. If Autostart is activated for CDs, the launch pad starts automatically when you insert the stick and appears as icon in the taskbar. U3 applications in contrast to portable apps are registered automatically in the launch pad.

Limits

Many applications are not developed originally as “Portable Apps” but rather are repackaged by third party developers. Some applications still access resources of the local machine, and if a portable product opens a network connection, a personal firewall may be triggered..

Security

If the storage medium does not only transfer data, but also programs between different machines, the risk raises, to catch a virus from a foreign machine or to infect another machine. If the other machine is already infected by a “Trojan” or “Key Logger” stored password can be compromized. The password protection of a memory stick does not work like a Smart Card. Once opened, all good and evil programs can access the data. See also: Safe Portable App-ing.

Links