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Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:25 am
by Rex2010
Hey guys, I am wondering if you guys have the experience of running apps off a USB drive. I want to put my daily used apps into a USB drive so that I can run them from computer to compter.

Do you know how I can do that? Thanks.

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 7:48 am
by hnzw_rui
Depends on the application. Some apps let you do that, some apps don't. However, you can usually find a portable equivalent for those that don't. I actually use Firefox Portable as the browser on my primary PC. I like having my apps self-contained instead of leaving traces in obscure folders.

http://portableapps.com/

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:40 pm
by Rex2010
Thanks.
The question is how can I make those apps that are not portably available run off a USB drvie?

any ideas?

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:41 pm
by Rex2010
like Ms office, Plants VS Zombies ?

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:02 am
by Darkstar
for that i believe you would have to install a virtual operating system on the USB drive.

:drinkers:

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:24 am
by hnzw_rui
Darkstar wrote:for that i believe you would have to install a virtual operating system on the USB drive.
But you'd need to install virtualization software on the PC anyway which kinda defeats the purpose. Unfortunately, for apps that won't let you install on removable drives, your only option is to look for alternatives, e.g. OpenOffice.

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:46 am
by Sttm
I used to play World of Warcraft off my usb external hdd during my more boring computer classes; so it does work, but it really depends on the app.

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:40 am
by Darkstar
hnzw_rui wrote:
Darkstar wrote:for that i believe you would have to install a virtual operating system on the USB drive.
But you'd need to install virtualization software on the PC anyway which kinda defeats the purpose. Unfortunately, for apps that won't let you install on removable drives, your only option is to look for alternatives, e.g. OpenOffice.
not really....



http://en.prayaya.com/index.html



:drinkers:

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:00 am
by hnzw_rui
Darkstar wrote:not really....

http://en.prayaya.com/index.html
Huh... Never heard of them before... It's more like a sandbox of some sort rather than full virtualization software.

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:28 pm
by Rex2010
Prayaya V3 tried.

Basically,it is virtual operaing system that allows you to launch most apps and games off a USB drive BUT not officially claimed any app and game.

To use it, you first install it on a removable device like USB drive, iPOd, or mobile HDD, or even your hard disk(I did not try it, but it seems ok.). And then you can install ware from Prayaya V3 platform.

In my opinion, it virtualizes a new Windows OS, which makes it possible for installing and running apps, managing files, desktops etc.

A few apps and games that I have tried on it: Firefox, Opera, Safari, MS office, Nero, Winrar, Virtual DJ, Skype, Plants vs Zombie, Icy Tower, Super Mario, Couter Srike, KM Player, Yahoo Messenger, MSN, Picasa. These are my daily used apps. And they work perfectly.

However, there are some that seems not working on it like Google Chrome, PhotoShop, Coreldraw.

Also I found that Prayaya V3 seems to write registry into USB but not a host computer. I think that is why it can launch so many apps and games. a good advantage is that not any trace will be left on a computer if you run it off a USB drive.

Generally, I think it is a cool ware that is worthy of a try. I like its cool interface, cool feeling switching between two systems, two desktops. However, if you just want to run common apps off a USB drive, I think PortableApps.com is enough for you. If you want to go furthur, Prayaya V3 is a good try.

Here is the official homepage of Prayaya V3: http://www.prayaya.com

Re: Run any app off a USB drive ?

Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 10:36 am
by Darkstar
Sweet! glad it worked and thanks for the synopsis