Which Programs Can Be Installed To Usb ?

I want to install and run some programs from a device on a USB port, an HDD or flash drive.

How can I find out which programs will do this ? I know that many of the 'platforms' (e.g., PortableApps; there others I understand) available to do this have a 'download' list of programs which are designed to enable you to download and install the program. But what if the program is not on the platform's download list (e.g., Double Driver install file, DriverBackup! )? Does it imply that it is not possible to run that program from a place other than the Programs/My Programs directory(folder) [e.g., MS Office, photoshop] ?

Can you run .exe files (e.g., coretemp, DriverMax) from anywhere (if they aren't a further download and install wizard !?

Dumb_Question
3.March.2017

 

Any program that has a 'portable' version, or zip file that doesn't need installing.
http://portableapps.com/

 

If the program is a non-install one and simply runs when you click the exe (like Nirsoft programs do), you can run it from any device: desktop of computer, USB stick, or external hard drive.

Nirsoft: http://www.nirsoft.net/

Portable programs sites:
http://portableapps.com/
http://www.winpenpack.com/en/download.php
https://www.pendriveapps.com/

 

Thank you Max, and plodr especially for answering one part of my question so clearly.

Re progams which need installation, are there none except those listed on the portableapps website ?

Dumb_Question
3.March.2017

 

Only programs that do not 'install' into the system itself can be used from an external drive.

 

Thank you, Max. How do I know which they are, apart from the .exe files discussed above ? Sorry to be so stupid.

Dumb_Question
3.March.2017

 

The PortableApps.com Platform is a great start.
http://portableapps.com/download
You can install any portable program but, it will require some manual configuration.

Try something like Portable Start Menu or SyMenu.
http://aignes.com/psmenu.htm
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/symenu.html

Also, just for fun, create your own portable applications using a program like Cameyo.
http://www.cameyo.com/

NB It wont work with all applications - forget about 'making' Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop portable...

 

There are several programs to 'visualize' apps see link .
Still they are not 100%, I know last I messed with them you could not get MS Office to work, it would need to be activated each run.
If you install VMWare you can run it in Unity mode, it kinda of shares apps.

 

Thanks foogoo.

One of the links I followed in my searches mentioned cameyo as a program 'to create your own portable apps', but I did not follow it up.

Another warned that MS Office and Photoshop, for example, were to deeply embedded in the OS to be portable. What my question has evolved into now, is 'how can I tell which programs are portable and which are not, and how can tell ?'.

Obviously some are known-portable, such as those listed on the portableapps site, and all stand-alone .exe programs.

Dumb_Question
4.March.2017

 

That's all back to front.
First decide what actual programs you want to run from an external drive, then look for them.
Many developers make signed 'portable' versions. You need to do your own research based on what software you want.

 

Here's a 'short' list of portable programs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_portable_software

 

Thanks Max, that's what I want to, sorry to expressed myself so clumsily. Thanks for the other list, Eldon. I hadn't come across that one, and I couldn't find the site which had two other platforms for portable software again, and I can't remember whet they were.

Dumb_question
4.March.2017

 

http://portableapps.com/download
http://aignes.com/psmenu.htm
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/symenu.html

 

Thank you Max.

Dumb_Question
4.March.2017