Mike
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Yet another work in progress ...
One of the things that I have been looking into is a way to overcome the limitations of working from only one specific computer -- A way to work from anywhere on any computer and still have access to the same software and files.
The best solution I have found is a USB drive system. This method involves placing all the software and files that you work with on a USB drive, using it on your personal computer, and carrying it with you when you travel to work on another computer.
This system is desirable because it does not rely on the host computer for anything but the operating system and peripherals that may be attached. No files are written to the host computer and all files are written back to the USB drive.
There are some accommodations in terms of the software. First it must be either written or converted to save settings to a self contained folder instead of to a folder on the host computer as is usually done.
Second it must not make entries into the Windows registry. The Windows registry is where a list of programs installed on the computer are stored. This tells the Windows operating system which programs to use to open specific files.
Instead, the programs are listed or "registered" on the USB drive itself. Each portable or converted program knows where to write that data because the code has been modified to change where the preferences and registry entries are made.
There are several different projects that seek to do this today. The two most successful ones are PortableApps.com and winPenPack. It is necessary to run the portable programs under an "umbrella" application that takes the place of the Windows Start menu and the Windows registry.
I prefer the winPenPack package because it supports many more programs at this time that Portable Aps. Com. Also the launch interface is better because it supports grouping types of applications together in folders. PortableApps.Com only supports a complete list of programs without grouping them in folders.
While either project is credible and trustworthy it seems that winPenPack supports a much larger range of programs and almost exclusively supports open source programs. The advantages of open source to improved security and their availability at zero cost make this a very appealing choice.
A 16 Gb or 32 Gb USB drive will offer plenty of storage for all the programs and files you will use for quite some time. To find out more about winPenPack go to the website: http://www.winpenpack.com/en/news.php
