If you're like me you bought a USB Flash Drive with only a vague idea of what you would be using it for. Maybe you just wanted to be able to keep some documents or program installers with you. Did you know that you can actually take your entire computer with you on your flash drive?
Perhaps that an overstatement, but it's not far from the truth. You can keep not only your documents with you, but entire programs, that will run from directly from the flash drive on any windows XP/2000 based computer without installing them. They're called Portable Apps, and there's a huge variety of them. Also worth mention are Portable Operating Systems, the most popular of them being Damn Small Linux. However, this is more a niche application, and will not be further covered in this guide.
What benefits do portable apps offer? There are several. You are able to access your programs, with your settings and preferences wherever you have access to a computer, without having to install or download anything. Your bookmarks, extensions, emails, buddy lists, office suite, media player, and more, right in your pocket. This guide will outline some of my favorite programs and resources for portable apps!
Web Browser: Portable Firefox
- Export your current firefox bookmarks by accessing the Bookmark Manager in firefox (Bookmarks->manage bookmarks) and clicking file->export.
- Download the Portable Firefox Installer
- Unpack it to your flash drive.
- Run the Firefox.exe you just unpacked
- import your bookmarks file and install your favorite extentions and you're good to go!
Email Client: Portable Thunderbird
- Download the Portable Thunderbird Installer, and install to your flashdrive
- To copy your settings to Portable firefox you'll need to copy all files in the following directory: C:Documents and Settings[user]Application DataThunderbirdProfilesdefault.??? (maybe be different if you installed the program somewhere other then the default location) and copy it to the same folder on your flashdrive
Media Player: Portable VLC
- Download the installer, install to your flash drive and enjoy!
Office Suite: Portable Open Office
- Everyone's favorite M$ Office alternative is ready to go wherever you do! Just as before, download, install to your flash drive and enjoy.
Instant Messanging
- You have two options here. The easiest is Portable Gaim, which, like before, you simply download and install to your flashdrive. For those who, like me, prefer Trillian, you're in luck. Simply download the latest version of Trillian, install it to the flash drive, and then follow the instructions.
Portable Start Menu: PStart
- PStart is a neat little utility that lets you make a customized start menu for your flash drive. You add the programs that you want and at a click they're there. Download
UPX
-
UPX is a really handy little tool that allows you to compress .dll files. This allows you to save a nice bit of room on your flashdrive. Download and unzip both the tool and the GUI to the same directory on your hard drive (or flashdrive if you really want). Run the upxshell.exe and browse the folders of the programs installed on your flash drive. DO NOT PACK ANYTHING EXCEPT DLLs!! Packing .EXEs will result in them ceasing to work. You'll find that portable open office, and certain other portable apps have already been packed.
These are just a few of my favorite apps, though there are many more! The following links are excellent resources for portable programs of almost every de scri ption so dig around and build up a suite of apps tailored to your preferences!
Thanks to all the programmers who's hard work went into creating these excellent free applications and the sites that brought them all together!!
