computer system info utility image
Rolando
How can I install software on External hard drive so that it works on any computer? As if I take it to one computer and plug the hard drive to the computer via USB and open the program from the external hard drive on that computer.
Thank you for your help.
Answer
Normal software normally gives problems when you use it on a different computer, because it usually keeps certain parts it needs on the computer you install it with, like for instance registry settings, even when you would install this software to an external hdd. Software that doesn't have this restriction is called portable software. Some newer software is designed to be portable, but there also may be software not indicated as portable that factually is portable just because it's self-contained, meaning it only needs it's own files and no installed extra's like the registry settings i mentioned. Some software can be made portable with a simple configuration-change like for instance choosing to keep it's initialization file in it's own installation map.
A nice collection of free portable software can be found here:
http://portableapps.com/apps
Below site also has some (i think) portable usable (although it's hard to be sure when it's not indicated to be portable that it wil work on all pc's because it may have hidden dependancies like standard windows dll's or registry settings) utilities like a cool system info utility:
http://www.mitec.cz/
A good example of selfcontained and therefore portable software is the utility photoview on mitec.cz. This utility has limited documentation but it can be used to explain the principle of selfcontained software and also why one shouldn't to quickly asume software is completely portable when not indicated to be portable. In the case of this utility i thought i read something about it being portable but i can't find it anymore, but given it's simplicity i think it's reasonable to assume it's portable, at least for the biggest part. Maybe the preferences may get lost when you use it on a different computer, not sure. When you download this utility and extract the zipfile you get basically 2 relevant files: photoview.exe and gdiplus.dll. Photoview.exe is the main programm-file, and gdiplus.dll is a library with functions used by photoview.exe. This gdiplus.dll file is normally also present in the c:\windows\system32 map so it normally could use that dll instead of the one kept in it's own map (when both are present the one in the map with the utility is used). But if you would happen to use this utility on a computer that hasn't gdiplus.dll it wouldn't work unless you keep that dll in the same map as photoview.exe.
PS: there is a slight difference between portable software and software that wil work on different computers. Take for instance the utility photoview i mentioned earlier. IF this utility would write some comfigurationsettings to the registry (i don't know) you wil loose those settings when you use it on a different computer, but that's not a big deal. However by doing so the utility would alter the host-computer, and portable software is supposed not to be doing that. Now is this potential registry alteration also no big deal but one should keep in mind that using a not explicitely portable utility on another computer can leave tracks on that other computer. Also using portable applications on computers that are not yours wil significantly enlarge the risk of a viral infection. 1 method to counter this is to use the portable software on a write-protected medium but then it of course can't safe any info like configuration settings.
Normal software normally gives problems when you use it on a different computer, because it usually keeps certain parts it needs on the computer you install it with, like for instance registry settings, even when you would install this software to an external hdd. Software that doesn't have this restriction is called portable software. Some newer software is designed to be portable, but there also may be software not indicated as portable that factually is portable just because it's self-contained, meaning it only needs it's own files and no installed extra's like the registry settings i mentioned. Some software can be made portable with a simple configuration-change like for instance choosing to keep it's initialization file in it's own installation map.
A nice collection of free portable software can be found here:
http://portableapps.com/apps
Below site also has some (i think) portable usable (although it's hard to be sure when it's not indicated to be portable that it wil work on all pc's because it may have hidden dependancies like standard windows dll's or registry settings) utilities like a cool system info utility:
http://www.mitec.cz/
A good example of selfcontained and therefore portable software is the utility photoview on mitec.cz. This utility has limited documentation but it can be used to explain the principle of selfcontained software and also why one shouldn't to quickly asume software is completely portable when not indicated to be portable. In the case of this utility i thought i read something about it being portable but i can't find it anymore, but given it's simplicity i think it's reasonable to assume it's portable, at least for the biggest part. Maybe the preferences may get lost when you use it on a different computer, not sure. When you download this utility and extract the zipfile you get basically 2 relevant files: photoview.exe and gdiplus.dll. Photoview.exe is the main programm-file, and gdiplus.dll is a library with functions used by photoview.exe. This gdiplus.dll file is normally also present in the c:\windows\system32 map so it normally could use that dll instead of the one kept in it's own map (when both are present the one in the map with the utility is used). But if you would happen to use this utility on a computer that hasn't gdiplus.dll it wouldn't work unless you keep that dll in the same map as photoview.exe.
PS: there is a slight difference between portable software and software that wil work on different computers. Take for instance the utility photoview i mentioned earlier. IF this utility would write some comfigurationsettings to the registry (i don't know) you wil loose those settings when you use it on a different computer, but that's not a big deal. However by doing so the utility would alter the host-computer, and portable software is supposed not to be doing that. Now is this potential registry alteration also no big deal but one should keep in mind that using a not explicitely portable utility on another computer can leave tracks on that other computer. Also using portable applications on computers that are not yours wil significantly enlarge the risk of a viral infection. 1 method to counter this is to use the portable software on a write-protected medium but then it of course can't safe any info like configuration settings.
How to recognize and get rid of bloatware on a new computer?
paul l
I bought a new compaq computer that reviews say is OK for a cheap computer. But it said that one of it's negitives is that it has got to much bloatware.
Answer
By "Bloatware" I take it you are referring to the productivity and trail software the manufacturer added on to it? You also have to realize, Bloatware is a term used today for regular programs that have been made with the extra HDD space and massive RAM PC's are being made with or can be upgraded to accommodate. These aren't junk programs but made without size constraints.
To get rid of any program on your PC/Laptop you can utilize the Add/Remove Program feature under Control Panel (START - Control Panel - Add/Remove Program). Simply find the program you want removed and uninstall it.
That's always the first step. After you are done make sure you have a registry cleaner (CCleaner is a really good one, yes there are two C's. It is a free download/usable from CNet). This will get rid of the left over bits that can play havoc with your system over time. Also, do a "Search" for any word/phase or manufacturer information on your system. If it is found, delete it and then empty the garbage bin.
That was actually the easy way. Now for something a bit more time consuming:
If you have your OS reinstall disc, keep it handy. You're going to want to copy over all files, pix, vids, and docs you wish to keep and put them on a removable/external HDD. Now, with the OS disc, reinstall the OS, however this time you will not upload any of the extra's from (usually) a separate CD. If the upload asks you to do a full install automatically (they always say that's the easiest or "recommended")and also gives you the choice to do a manual install (where you pick and choose which extra programs to upload) choose the manual upload. Once you are done with loading only the OS and whatever extra utilities you wanted, you'll have a blank slate to put all the programs you saved on the removable HDD back on your system.
With the second option you'll have the peace of mind that your system will run faster (depending what's going at start-up) and have more HDD space.
I do hope this was helpful info for you.
Good luck
By "Bloatware" I take it you are referring to the productivity and trail software the manufacturer added on to it? You also have to realize, Bloatware is a term used today for regular programs that have been made with the extra HDD space and massive RAM PC's are being made with or can be upgraded to accommodate. These aren't junk programs but made without size constraints.
To get rid of any program on your PC/Laptop you can utilize the Add/Remove Program feature under Control Panel (START - Control Panel - Add/Remove Program). Simply find the program you want removed and uninstall it.
That's always the first step. After you are done make sure you have a registry cleaner (CCleaner is a really good one, yes there are two C's. It is a free download/usable from CNet). This will get rid of the left over bits that can play havoc with your system over time. Also, do a "Search" for any word/phase or manufacturer information on your system. If it is found, delete it and then empty the garbage bin.
That was actually the easy way. Now for something a bit more time consuming:
If you have your OS reinstall disc, keep it handy. You're going to want to copy over all files, pix, vids, and docs you wish to keep and put them on a removable/external HDD. Now, with the OS disc, reinstall the OS, however this time you will not upload any of the extra's from (usually) a separate CD. If the upload asks you to do a full install automatically (they always say that's the easiest or "recommended")and also gives you the choice to do a manual install (where you pick and choose which extra programs to upload) choose the manual upload. Once you are done with loading only the OS and whatever extra utilities you wanted, you'll have a blank slate to put all the programs you saved on the removable HDD back on your system.
With the second option you'll have the peace of mind that your system will run faster (depending what's going at start-up) and have more HDD space.
I do hope this was helpful info for you.
Good luck
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