This post is a big, public “thank you” to the folks behind PortableApps, a suite of open-source software (including Firefox and Thunderbird) that have been modified for use on removable media.
As you know, my HP notebook recently became unusable due to a motherboard problem. The data on the drives was fine, though, so I purchased a couple of external 2.5 inch hard drive enclosures to hold the notebook’s hard drives. I installed the PortableApps suite on the main drive and moved my Thunderbird profile over to the PortableApps installation directory. Started up the PortableApps version of Thunderbird and was able to access all my mail and everything. Whew! I had backups, but this lets me use the latest and greatest stuff without changing anything.
Now I can take my drive to any computer, plug it into the host computer’s USB port, run the PortableApps console and access my email. A nice, simple solution while I figure it what to do to replace my laptop.
You are right PortableApps Suite is very useful and gives you a facility to use your browser profile anywhere
Yeah, very cool software solution. I also used it for a while, but I gave up on it. Firstly, for the limitations of having everything run from a USB. E.g. trying to create profiles on Firefox portable. Secondly, similarly as the one above, everything is a bit slow on PortableApps. But I hope that all this will change as time passes. Good idea anyways
Good points, I don’t have the best data recovery procedures in place, but this makes me re-think my ways of saving information.
Never heard of PortableApps before. I’m definitly going to have to check it out.
Also, it’s a good idea to have battery backups. I’ve had computers crash or even die and lost everything. I learned the hard way that backing up information is a good idea.
I have a 2007 HP desktop which had a total motherboard failure Dec 08. Fortunately I had bought the extended coverage from Radio Shack and they got it repaired at no cost to me. Radio Shack ended up sending it back to HP to have the mother board replaced.
This is the 4th HP desktop I have had over the years and the first time I’ve had any problem at all. Is this a sign of declining quality control at HP?
Portable apps are indeed more usefull than the “full”, installable counterpart version. It makes me wonder why small developers are capable enough to produce such usefull applications when the “original” developer makes an application that needs to be installed and hooked to operating system in order to work.
PortableApps sounds interesting, I must give a try. Are there any other advantages except portability? ;]
Thankfully I haven’t had the need for something like PortableApps up to now but it sounds like just the ticket in the event of hardware failure (provide you have the all important data backed up!).
Going to take a look at it now so that I’m up to speed on how to make use of it when the inevitable death of a PC next happens.
Yeah man… I love portable apps. I hope that the guys from portableapps will not stop from doing this. They are unique.
I always come back to portablefreeware.com for this reason: it’s always the first google link for the free version of Faststone Capture — my favorite screen capture program.