Run any app off a USB drive ?

**Rex2010** · July 22nd, 2010, 12:14 AM

Hey, guys, do you have the experience of running your daily used apps off a USB drive?

Which is I am now trying to do. But I find that only portable apps can be run like that.

while some apps like MS office are not portably available. How can I do that?

**Rex2010** · July 22nd, 2010, 07:43 PM

solved with Prayaya. amzaing ! I just installed MS office 2003 to my USB and run it at another computer normally.

**Signa** · July 22nd, 2010, 07:50 PM

Good to know. I've not heard of this prayaya.

**HelenaP** · July 22nd, 2010, 09:05 PM

Here's what's even more amazing - no link!
Oh Thankaya Jeayusus!!

**w31n3r** · July 23rd, 2010, 12:05 AM

i'm not so sure about this. it comes with a windows (PE?) environment and works as some kind of virtual machine. besides the obvious murky licensing issues, isn't this a lot of baggage to lug about for a "portable" app? red flags ahoy...

**notbob** · July 23rd, 2010, 10:13 PM

isn't it weird that he had a problem, then 18 hours later he solved it? boy that was either really inefficient searching or a well calculated rube setup. how many people can solve their own problems? it's weird

**YWD67** · July 24th, 2010, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by notbob

isn't it weird that he had a problem, then 18 hours later he solved it? Boy that was either really inefficient searching or a well calculated rube setup. How many people can solve their own problems? It's weird

holy shit! It's ghost

**notbob** · July 24th, 2010, 10:48 PM

i'm running ubuntu off of a usb thingy right now, and it has openoffice etc. and a web browser whatsit. i can make word files or just words if i want to

**Drew Wilson** · July 24th, 2010, 11:11 PM

I am aware of the point that running apps off of a USB device like a thumb drive can shorten its life span though. Was this a valid point?

**RACKnRAIL** · July 25th, 2010, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by Drew Wilson

I am aware of the point that running apps off of a USB device like a thumb drive can shorten its life span though. Was this a valid point?

Hmmm...I've been using the same U3 Cruzer now for about 3-4 years without a hitch. I'm away from home regularly, so I run Thunderbird and Skype, mainly, from it. Even if it did die, they're cheap enough now anyways.

**Drew Wilson** · July 25th, 2010, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by RACKnRAIL

Hmmm...I've been using the same U3 Cruzer now for about 3-4 years without a hitch. I'm away from home regularly, so I run Thunderbird and Skype, mainly, from it. Even if it did die, they're cheap enough now anyways.

True enough. Given how cheap USB sticks are, even if it reduced the lifespan, it isn't really enough to offset the use value-wise. I personally know someone who was attempting to run a Windows OS off of one. Can't remember if he was successful or not though.

**Rex2010** · July 25th, 2010, 10:56 PM

Why so many disapprovals, did I do something wrong?

**w31n3r** · July 26th, 2010, 03:23 AM

you'll forgive us for being a little sceptical since we get a lot of spam around here, but since you've posted i think you're alright. welcome to the boards.

personally, my issue was and is with the software you've mentioned. something just doesn't feel right about it. it's illogical i know, but there you are. if i get the time, maybe i'll give it a go.

**Signa** · July 26th, 2010, 09:51 AM

Yeah Rex, believe it or not, there has been a lot of spam here that actually asks for help with an issue. After we responded to it, then some other spambot would jump in and say "Hey! Use this program, it's only $50!" This of course was stupid because most of the time there were free options available.

**carpefile** · July 26th, 2010, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by RACKnRAIL

Hmmm...I've been using the same U3 Cruzer now for about 3-4 years without a hitch. I'm away from home regularly, so I run Thunderbird and Skype, mainly, from it. Even if it did die, they're cheap enough now anyways.

Flash drives have a limited (10000 I think) amount of writes to a sector, but they can be read virtually unlimited times. So as long as you're not saving data to it, running apps doesn't pose a problem.