Make ALL applications portable -- is this feasible?

yankleber · 12 Jan 2017

At least once in a year I wipe Windows completely from my computer and do a whole fresh install with format just to find a surprisingly enhancement in the performance. Although the whole process doesn't take more than a half hour there is still all the pain of reinstall the applications that can take hours and after that several days until you have everything tweaked properly to the level of a comfortable work environment.

Recently I have told of an application called 'Cameyo' that supposedly allows you to make ANY application portable. I was thinking if it would be really possible to use this tool on ALL and ANY application (even complex ones such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and also studio recording DAW that uses VST plugins) in order to keep them apart from the OS.

The idea is that a full system reset wouldn't take more than the necessary time to reinstall only Windows itself since the applications would be immune to the process.

May it work?

Barman58 · 12 Jan 2017

The best way to do what you want to is the use system imaging, It's a proven technology used in the commercial computing area.

For a free option you can use Macrium Reflect Free

Simply install windows and set up the basics as you need them - create an image and store it somewhere safe

Install all your apps, make an image and store it somewhere safe

When you wish to re-install windows use macrium to restore your system - fully working as the day you saved it - and the thing is this works for every app and program

If you have a major update you can update the images although to keep bloat to a minimum you really need to follow the full procedure

The restore process takes a lot less than the normal install and setup and there is no messing with copyrighted software, and the software will accept updates correctly

yankleber · 12 Jan 2017

Thank you very much for this valuable tip, Nigel!

:)

I downloaded the app and performed a full backup of my system. I have reinstalled it around one month ago so it should be good to go on a restore. Let's see how it behaves the next time I need a restore. I also made the boot tool with a pen drive I had laying around.

Callender · 12 Jan 2017

RE: Cameyo. I've tried it and ditched it straight away as I could never get it to work. Same goes for Evalaze.

See Cameyo review here:
Cameyo V3 - Application virtualization, not this time

I keep several system image backups regularly created using Macrium Reflect and just restore a working image in the event of problems.

yankleber · 12 Jan 2017

Good to know, Callender, thanks for the input!