Windows 7: How do I update portable programs and maintain settings I've changed ?

I have a few portable programs on my computer. How do I update them without losing any settings etc. that I have changed? Do I move ".ini files" and/or ".cfg files" and/or "whatever" out of the old version of the program and into the new?

Hi jackwhite, welcome to Seven Forums.
If you open your portable app, their is usually an option to check for updates on the 'Help' tab.

Thank you Roderunner.However it is not the updating per se but the keeping of settings that I am wondering about.For example if I check for updates within Ccleaner portable it opens the Piriform website where the latest portable version is available as a zip file with no installer.But if I replace the old version with the new won't the settings be returned to default -unlike "ordinary" non-portable programs that install over the previous versions and retain settings.I have never updated any of the portables I have, so excuse my ignorance!Do I have to extract the files that contain the configuration settings from the old version and move them into the new version's folder?

The portable apps I use are Audacity & PDFXCview, they require re setting if an update is made. Whereas Firefox portable retains my settings. You could try putting them in the same location as the old version or open the folder and keep the .dat & .ini files.

Thank you Roderunner.PDFXCview garners positive reviews on portablefreeware.com -it looks interesting.I note what you say about the .dat files ;they might well be involved in the settings profile,then again, who knows with .dat files?Maybe I should just experiment but I am somewhat cautious at times.It's interesting that the portable versions of Audacity and PDFXCview don't retain changed settings but Firefox does.Anyhow, the question remains!