Can someone tell me about portable apps
- Thread starter wigster
- Start date
It depends on the portable app, but usually if they provide a portable version then it just runs from clicking on the exe and there is no other software required. The only thing you do have to do is extract the files so you're not running them in a zip/rar archive.
I think sometimes when someone says portable they mean that it'll run on different platforms, rather than it'll run from a flash drive, so that's the only reason I could imagine they're telling you to install it.
I think the couple of videos I watched was telling you to go to the website portable apps.com and install their software in order for you to run portable apps, that's why I was getting confused.
Ah, I see. I was thinking of portable versions of software like CPU-Z and HWINFO which you can just extract to your flash drive and double click the exe.
Ok so would it be better to use that site and install their software or just use the portable versions of the software ie Gimp/VLC etc..
I have no idea about that site, how trustworthy they are, or what they do exactly, but I'd definitely prefer using official portable versions where there are available.
Yes I was wondering how trust worthy they really are, Hopefully someone will pop in and say they have used their platform and apps.
looking at some websites like Gimp they point you towards the portable apps website if you want to use a portable version of Gimp.
looking at some websites like Gimp they point you towards the portable apps website if you want to use a portable version of Gimp.
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Associate
That's just for apps you download from their site as they would require the launcher to be installed on the drive itself
Anything from a site that has a separate "portable" version of the application in question can just be extracted (because those are normally some kind of compressed archive) to the drive and run without issue or any other program.
I understand now, at first I didn't know the site was seperate I thought it was just hosting the portable apps. So what it comes down to is if that site can be trusted
Soldato
PortableApps as a front-end to portable apps has been around for a very long time and I used to use them exclusively for a long while, but do not work on/maintain multiple machines in quite the same way anymore
It is a handy way of keeping your portable apps up to date, and allows you to search their catalogue to download app, all of which are, of course, portable
It is a handy way of keeping your portable apps up to date, and allows you to search their catalogue to download app, all of which are, of course, portable
This takes me back a number of years!
I did use to use them quite a lot. Was helpful having portable versions of both Chrome or Firefox with common favourites handy for work. That was when my job was basically working between sites/offices and not having a laptop. I basically used a pen drive with the "portable" apps in a folder and ran them directly off the USB drive.
But I will still download a standalone/portable version of an application if it's available on a website to save any unnecessary installations on a machine.
Back then I mostly used the https://portableapps.com/ website to get any apps.
I did use to use them quite a lot. Was helpful having portable versions of both Chrome or Firefox with common favourites handy for work. That was when my job was basically working between sites/offices and not having a laptop. I basically used a pen drive with the "portable" apps in a folder and ran them directly off the USB drive.
But I will still download a standalone/portable version of an application if it's available on a website to save any unnecessary installations on a machine.
Back then I mostly used the https://portableapps.com/ website to get any apps.
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Thats great might start using that platform for the portable apps.
Man of Honour
I still use a number of portable apps:
I keep downloaded tools and stuff on the 2nd SSD and shortcut to start menu from there for easy access. Save directory browsing.
I keep downloaded tools and stuff on the 2nd SSD and shortcut to start menu from there for easy access. Save directory browsing.
Soldato
It wasn't to install ThinApp so you can make your own portable apps, was it?
Man of Honour
The "installer" on portableapps.com for portable apps isn't n installer, it just unpacks the portable app directory to wherever you want it unpacked, that's all really. It should not be called "installer" as it can confuse people.
No it was a video of putting apps on a flash drive but it was for portableapps.com, There is quite a few of them.
Same as Nade mentioned above, I also prefer / use portable versions if available from developers mostly to keep Windows as clean as I can. If not I get any I need from portableapps.
It just keeps Windows as clean and convenient after Windows reinstalls / refresh and just need to add shortcuts folder back to taskbar or start menu.
The other plus is that you can have several versions so can go back to an earlier version if for any reason new version is not compatible or buggy.
I also find some none portable apps can run fine if you install, copy the program folder to another location and then uninstall the app. They may need a specific .net client installing but work standalone fine.
Likewise with drivers. If I can unpack the setup file then I’ll browse to the inf file. Most of the time it’s just a zip file with inf anyway.
It just keeps Windows as clean and convenient after Windows reinstalls / refresh and just need to add shortcuts folder back to taskbar or start menu.
The other plus is that you can have several versions so can go back to an earlier version if for any reason new version is not compatible or buggy.
I also find some none portable apps can run fine if you install, copy the program folder to another location and then uninstall the app. They may need a specific .net client installing but work standalone fine.
Likewise with drivers. If I can unpack the setup file then I’ll browse to the inf file. Most of the time it’s just a zip file with inf anyway.