Portable Software. This program will explain what portable software is, how it can be used, and where it can be found. This is an advanced level technology

Portable Software

Portable Software

This program will explain what portable software is, how it can be used, and where it can be found.

This is an advanced level technology class that assumes you have experience using computers and the Internet.

Portable Software

If you have a cell phone, please set it to silent mode so as not to disturb the class.

If you must take a call, please step outside the library to avoid disturbing others.

Portable Software

What is it?How it works

Where to find portable software

How to install portable software

Portable Software: What is it?

Portable software refers to software that can be used on different computers.

In the past, a software program could only be used on the computer it was installed on.


Although many programs use less than 100MB of space, until recently that amount of space was only available on a computer’s hard drive.


However, removable media available today, such as USB flash drives, typically have more than 1GB (1,000MB) of space.


Not all programs can be run from an external source. Software programs must be modified to allow them to run from a USB flash drive.


The computer a USB drive uses to run portable software is called a “host computer.”


When software programs are modified to run from a USB drive, they are Operating System specific.

This means portable software for Windows computers will not work on a Linux or Macintosh computer.


Although the host computer used for portable software must have the operating system the portable software is written for, the portable software itself can be installed on any type of USB drive.

Using portable applications on a USB drive does not affect the host computer.

Likewise, any files created are saved on the USB drive by default, rather than on the host computer.


The USB drive can also be used as a regular external storage device, even while using portable software on it.


Portable Software is available both as a pre-packaged collection of applications, or as individual applications.


Just as a computer should have up to date anti-virus software running, USB drives should also have up to date antivirus software to protect it from malicious software which may be on the host computer.


Pre-packaged collections of portable software include anti-virus software.

Portable anti-virus programs are also available to install individually.


Portable Software

What is it?

How it worksWhere to find portable software


Portable Software: How it works

Portable software installed on a USB drive can be accessed by connecting the USB to a compatible computer.


Portable software is available for Macintosh, Windows, and Linux computers.

For the purposes of this class, we will be demonstrating how free portable software can be used on a Windows computer.

Once the USB drive is plugged into the USB port on the host computer, it will appear as an external storage drive in MyComputer.


To access the portable software, simply navigate to the software files on the USB drive.


Another way to access the programs is through the launch menu provided with a pre-packaged collection of software.


When a program is started, it uses the resources of the host computer.



How quickly the application opens and runs will depend on several factors, such as the size of the program, the speed of the USB connection, the speed of the host computer, and how much memory the computer has.


Large and complex programs like word processors and photo editors may run slower than they would if installed on a computer.


Any changes made in the portable applications will automatically be kept on the flash drive with the portable application.


Documents and files created will also automatically be stored on the flash drive unless the location is changed when the file is saved.


Files and documents saved on the flash drive will only be available to view or edit when the flash drive is plugged in to a computer.

This means when you save something on the flash drive at one computer, it will be available when you use the flash drive on another computer.


Portable software programs work the same as they would on a regular computer. When you want to stop using a program, click the “x” in the upper right corner to exit.


It may take up to a minute or two for the program to completely exit.

Once all programs on the flash drive have been closed, the flash drive can be removed by clicking on the icon in the system tray on the task bar and selecting “remove media.”


If you are using the portable software through its Launch menu, choose the “Stop” and “Remove media” options from its menu.


We will now provide a demonstration of typical portable software using the Portable Apps Suite collection of software:

Firefox

ABIWord

Portable Software

What is it?

How it works

Where to find portable softwareHow to install portable software


There are two types portable software:

Proprietary (usually costs something)

Open Source (usually no cost)


Two sources of proprietary software are:

SanDisk U3 SmartDrive software: software and an automatic launcher that comes pre-loaded on SanDisk USB drives.

USB Software on TechRepublic: Software that can be purchased and downloaded to your USB drive

http://software.u3.com/softwarecentral.aspx?skip=1

http://software.techrepublic.com.com/

Where to find portable softwareU3 Smart Drives: the good, the bad, and the not so bad

The base software acts as a launcher, with a convenient graphical interface for the other portable applications

It does not work on all computers

U3 Software can only be run from the U3 Software launcher (the base software)

Once removed, the U3 base software cannot be put back on the USB drive.


One of the best places to find open-source software for USB drives is

PortableApps.com.

http://portableapps.com/

Where to find portable softwarePortableApps Suite software: the good, the bad, and the not so bad

It acts like an application launcher, with a graphical interface for all the other applications.

It doesn’t always work

It is not required in order to run the other portable applications

It can be put on any USB drive

It can be easily removed and reinstalled


Other sources for open-source software for USB drives include:





These sources do not include “launchers” like the PortableApps Suite.

Portable Software

What is it?

How it works



How to Install Portable Software

The process of installing portable software is similar to installing software on a computer.


Portable software must first be downloaded from the Internet using a computer.

The software may be saved to either the computer or the flash drive itself.


The software must then be installed on the USB drive.

The installation process can be started by clicking the “Run” button on the download dialog box.


Once the installation process begins, the program will automatically select the location for the program to be installed.


It is important to make sure, during the installation process, that the location is set to the USB drive.

If the downloaded program was saved on the flash drive, it will automatically select the flash drive as the destination.


If the software program was downloaded to the computer’s desktop (or My Documents folder), it will select the computer’s hard drive as the destination.


If this is the case, the destination must be changed to the flash drive location during the install process.


Once the installation is complete, the application is ready to use.

The downloaded file used to install the application can then be deleted.


Once the application suite is installed, other portable applications may be installed using the options on the Launcher.

The Launcher will look for portable applications that have been downloaded.


Other portable applications may also be installed individually on the flash drive as well, but will not be accessible from the Launcher.


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Portable Software