Install apps on removable drive?

[enclosure]

I think I remember reading about a way to install apps on removable drives (USB keys, external HD's) so that you could take the drive with you, and run the apps wherever you went. Anybody know how to to this?

 

[imported_jediknight]

I don't think that's possible in most cases.. because most apps will install stuff in the registry, and won't run properly/at all without this information.
Unless, of course, you figure out where the registry entries are stored (best guess is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE, but it's technically possible for an app to put junk anywhere in the registry) and copy those to your external hard drive as a .reg file.. just add that to the registry of the computer you want to run the app on.

If anyone has better ideas, I'd be glad to hear it..

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: jediknight
I don't think that's possible in most cases.. because most apps will install stuff in the registry, and won't run properly/at all without this information.

I agree with you.

 

[enclosure]

I'm *almost* positive that somebody came up with a way around this problem, just can't seem to figure out where I saw it. I think it shipped with some external USB drive or something.

 

[ttown]

there's a thing called "active disk" from io-mega

LINKY

it's only compatible with a limited number of apps, though
I looked into it a while ago but decided it wasn't for me. The computer(s) you take your drive/usb-thingy/cd/dvd also has to have the active-disk "technology" installed on it for it to handle the application.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: enclosure
I'm *almost* positive that somebody came up with a way around this problem, just can't seem to figure out where I saw it. I think it shipped with some external USB drive or something.

Not without admin rights and/or custom software on each machine.