Solved Are portable apps preferable, even for non-portable use ?

[Clairvaux]

Some software publishers or authors offer both portable and installable versions of their products. (Kee Pass is one of them.)

Is it advisable to systematically prefer the portable version, when running it from a fixed drive and not a thumb drive, according to the logic that if it's possible not to write into the registry, it's better not to ?

I often try new software, and I'm concerned about long-term stability. I install and uninstall a lot, using Revo Uninstaller Pro. But I've come accross people advising not to use Revo or other fancy uninstallers, just to stick to the product's own uninstaller or the Windows function.

Also, I have set C-Cleaner to a daily auto-run. In the past, I used its registry cleaner quite regularly. But some people say it's better not to clean the registry at all.

So I figured the more applications could stay away from the registry, the better. Is this a correct assumption ? Are there any drawbacks to portable apps ?

 

[beret21]

HI
I have been using a lot of cleaning softwares too . Registry as well as junk cleaners.
Registry cleaner to me is a good thing as it removes the useless leftovers of programs that are left by their regular un-installer or some deleted files.

ANS1 > I recommended to clean registry as it improves performance and reduce junk in resgitry . So if portables apps dnt have or create these junks in registry then ur assumption is right and i m at your side too because " u dont need to re-install every software when u replace OS as it will work as it is if its PORTABLE "

ANS2 > Portable softwares are better then installed ones .

Above are the answer given as a user , i have used many portable softwares never had any issue just benefits

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So I figured the more applications could stay away from the registry, the better. Is this a correct assumption ? Are there any drawbacks to portable apps ?

Most of the apps I use don't offer portable versions.

Functionality and ease of use would be my primary considerations. If portable and installed versions are identical in that respect, I'd probably lean toward portable.

But I don't shy away from applications if they don't offer a portable version. I normally use Revo to uninstall and don't obsess over some odd fragments that might be left in the registry.

I've never been able to tell the difference between a "clean" registry and one that hasn't been cleaned.

Yes, fragments offend my sense of order and I acknowledge the compulsion to clean. But I don't act on it. If you can't resist the impulse, then YOU WILL clean the registry regardless of whether it's sensible. No one would expect you to resist the irresistible.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

Portable apps have the advantage is that they can run from a USB stick and don't need installing - so they are probably HATED by I.T depts. in work places.

However a lot of Portable apps are breaking licensing rules such as "Portable Photoshop" which is found on a lot of torrent sites - so choose the portable app so that it doesn't break any copyright rules.

Note also that things like registry cleaners etc IMO should be avoided

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Clairvaux]

If you can't resist the impulse, then YOU WILL clean the registry regardless of whether it's sensible. No one would expect you to resist the irresistible.

Actually, I'm not that type. I can certainly be persuaded not to fix it if it's not broken. I'm about to do a clean re-install of my PC, because the way it behaves is definitely not normal, and it's such a pain that I'd like to delay the next re-install as much as possible... But I can certainly relate to your offended sense of order.

I think it's a Macrium Reflect hotline tech who told me once using Revo Uninstaller was not a good idea, and given the way imaging software gets deep into the system, he had some authority over the issue. But I still use it, because regular uninstallation too often leaves a mess all over the place.
________

Clairvaux

 

[Clairvaux]

I normally use Revo to uninstall and don't obsess over some odd fragments that might be left in the registry.

Revo (Pro edition) has three settings for registry cleaning during uninstallation, going from "safe" to "advanced" (and maybe one more : "don't do anything to the registry beyond what the regular uninstaller has already done"). Any recommendations as to which is the best ?

 

[Callender]

Portable vs Install

Personally I'll use portable versions for anything that doesn't need to run all the time. Portable apps do need to be checked to see if updates are available.

In some cases I've added a portable app into my start up folder when I want it to launch on startup.

 

[Clairvaux]

Personally I'll use portable versions for anything that doesn't need to run all the time.

Sorry, I don't understand the logic.

Portable apps do need to be checked to see if updates are available.

No difference there with installed applications, right ? I use the portable version of Kee Pass, and it checks automatically for updates each time it's launched.
________
Clairvaux

 

[Callender]

Updates

Personally I'll use portable versions for anything that doesn't need to run all the time.

Sorry, I don't understand the logic.

Portable apps do need to be checked to see if updates are available.

No difference there with installed applications, right ? I use the portable version of Kee Pass, and it checks automatically for updates each time it's launched.
________
Clairvaux

My thoughts: If a program needs to be left running the whole time and also installs services and drivers then I'll always install it rather than use the portable version. Other than that I mostly use portable apps when possible.

Updates: I'm forgetting my habit of instantly blocking the connection if an app attempts to connect to the internet for any reason when it doesn't need to including sending usage statistics as well disabling any auto update process. I've always preferred a manual update check even for windows updates. The only auto updates on my machine are virus definition updates.

 

[jambon316]

PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives
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[Clairvaux]

Thank you for your thoughts on this issue.

For what it's worth, and taking them into account, here is what I have resolved to do after my next clean reinstall :

• Use portable versions of applications I've selected whenever they are available, provided they are offered by the software publisher himself, and not by some third party who might have tweaked them in an inappropriate manner, or failed to update them in order to keep them working properly.
  
  
• Stop doing regular registry cleanings with tools such as C-Cleaner, whose targets are difficult to connect with uninstalled software, and as such might do more harm than good (although C-Cleaner's registry tool is supposed to stay on the safe side). Keep on using C-Cleaner for daily scheduled wipes of other files, for speed and privacy concerns.
  
  
• Continue to install new software with the traced mode of Revo Uninstall Professional (version 2.5.9), which is supposed to undo exactly what it has done, whenever one chooses to uninstall (although Revo has some irritating flaws, such as showing ghost installations of older versions which have been in fact superseded by newer installs, or not being able to address the case where the software's own uninstaller prompts for a reboot in order to finish the process, cutting short the Revo uninstall cycle).
  
  
• Continue to use, nonetheless, the "deep", "advanced" and therefore "not safe" uninstall option of Revo, which (I reckon) offers a clear enough vision of whatever leftovers you may choose to delete, be it folders, files or registry keys.
  
  
• Start using the free (and not portable...) version of Sandboxie whenever trying installable software for the first time. Although it is cursed with an incredibly toyish, ugly and clunky user interface, it automatically wipes all traces the new software might have left when exiting, while allowing one to save useful files which might have been created or modified by the application being tested. I used it to test the poorly documented transition between Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe (payed for and activated software) and the two Money Plus Sunset versions (freeware in effect, but Microsoft does not say so), and it worked like a charm.

Finally, here are three portable (and free) tools that I will "reinstall", so to speak, and that I recommend without reservations :

Everything by Voidtools : a barebones file search engine which indexes all files by name only (no content search), at lightning speed. This is an essential complement to Windows 7 dual, too-clever-by-half own search tool.

Kee Pass by Dominik Reichl : a password manager which grows more intelligent by the day, and which I would gladly pay for. It's a key part of my setup, and I use it as a repository of all sorts of critical information : software licence numbers, and so on.

Sync Back Free by 2BrightSparks : a file-and-folder type of backup tool, which I use in association with the more comprehensive, imaging-type Macrium Reflect Professional (another commendable product), in order to save certain critical files such as browser favorites or Money Plus account files. If you don't need features such as backup of open files, incremental backups or intelligent synching (available in the paid-for versions), the last free version 6 of Sync Back is an incredibly versatile and user-friendly solution. The links to the portable versions are somewhat hidden. Here is a related forum page.

Cheers,

Clairvaux

 

[andrew129260]

Another option, use a virtual machine.

Another option: use regshot. regshot | Free System Administration software downloads at SourceForge.net