I have found that some public access computers don't allow you to install the software that you need to use on them. Here is a method to carry your apps along with you to the library, computer cafe, or something like that. It is called PortableApps.com, and allows you to load up one of your usb sticks to store your software on. I've tried it off and on for the last decade or so, and I would highly recommend it to anyone that wants their own software on their own person to run when machines that they are using to access systems from are locked down.

The software list that can be loaded into this USB key is very comprehensive, including all the basic stuff that you probably use regularly on your own private computer system. The selection of Portable Apps that you can load on to your usb stick is a selection of approximately 50 G of software. I would list them all here except that there are way to many to list without me feeling that that would be a form of spamming. There are over 450 apps in their software library. If you're a computer tech, this is something that should be in your "go bag."

Cheers!
-warmfuzzy

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warmfuzzy wrote to All <=-

I have found that some public access computers don't allow you to
install the software that you need to use on them. Here is a method to carry your apps along with you to the library, computer cafe, or
something like that. It is called PortableApps.com, and allows you to
load up one of your usb sticks to store your software on.

I used a USB stick with portable apps for some time at work - wrote a
novel for NANOWRIMO on a portable version of ABIWord, even!

You might be better off running TAILs or another USB-based Linux
distro, but you do need to reboot.


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On 01 Sep 2023, warmfuzzy said the following...

If you're a computer tech, this is something that should be in your "go bag."

I don't keep a dedicated stick of portable apps anymore because keeping them updated for my purposes is a major headache. However, a live distro or two with persistence is incredibly valuable and gets you around annoyances like Applocker or other application whitelisting tools if you just need room to work.

But, like everything else, it's dependent on your use case. I do security, not general tech, so I have different toolkits that I use.

As a side note, though, another area where portable apps are useful is if you can't install software on your work computer, but you have a home directory that you're allowed to use. You can stick your portable apps there and run them, assuming they don't have other controls in place to prevent that.

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On 08 Sep 2023, Greenlfc said the following...

I don't keep a dedicated stick of portable apps anymore because keeping them updated for my purposes is a major headache. However, a live
distro or two with persistence is incredibly valuable and gets you
around annoyances like Applocker or other application whitelisting tools if you just need room to work.

But, like everything else, it's dependent on your use case. I do security, not general tech, so I have different toolkits that I use.

As a side note, though, another area where portable apps are useful is
if you can't install software on your work computer, but you have a home directory that you're allowed to use. You can stick your portable apps there and run them, assuming they don't have other controls in place to prevent that.

GreenLFC ║ e> greenleaderfanclub@protonmail.com

There are some really cool PXE options out there too. If you find that this is a common need it can be really helpful to have a PXE bootable option and a nice USB - T1000 connector that supports PXE. nice quick boot and easy to keep updated.

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On 11 Sep 2023, claw said the following...

There are some really cool PXE options out there too. If you find that this is a common need it can be really helpful to have a PXE bootable option and a nice USB - T1000 connector that supports PXE. nice quick boot and easy to keep updated.

Indeed, that's a decent idea as well. Usually if I'm PXE booting it's to install Windows from my MDT server, but it's a direction to look at.

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I used a USB stick with portable apps for some time at work - wrote a
novel for NANOWRIMO on a portable version of ABIWord, even!
You might be better off running TAILs or another USB-based Linux

Yeah, as a kid I rebooted a library computer after it crashed and got in trouble from some librarian who thought I was hacking the computer. I tried to explain that I was just starting the computer after a computer failure and The Man wouldn't budge, I was told to leave the library, which I did, and that guy ruined my day. So I guess it just depends on your situation. Both options would work, its just how far can you go without The Man complaining at you. Meh.

Cheers!
-warmfuzzy

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As a side note, though, another area where portable apps are useful is
if you can't install software on your work computer, but you have a home directory that you're allowed to use. You can stick your portable apps there and run them, assuming they don't have other controls in place to prevent that.

Actually that's a really good point. I've had situations just like that, where the college I went to had a 200 T NAS of which you can store your stuff in your own folder of it, and using PortableApps was useful. I don't remember what their storage policy was except that it was on a shared 200 T NAS. So the PortableApps software would have been highly useful in that use case. Thanks for reminding me of this, good 'ol nostalgia.

Cheers!
-warmfuzzy

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There are some really cool PXE options out there too. If you find that this is a common need it can be really helpful to have a PXE bootable option and a nice USB - T1000 connector that supports PXE. nice quick boot and easy to keep updated.

Where could I pick one of those up or how do I make one?

Cheers!
-warmfuzzy

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
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Indeed, that's a decent idea as well. Usually if I'm PXE booting it's to install Windows from my MDT server, but it's a direction to look at.

Where should I begin in my studies of PXE booting? Something simple preferably.

Cheers!
-warmfuzzy

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On 06 Oct 2023, warmfuzzy said the following...

Indeed, that's a decent idea as well. Usually if I'm PXE booting it' install Windows from my MDT server, but it's a direction to look at.

Where should I begin in my studies of PXE booting? Something simple preferably.

It *can* be a bit of a black art. I recommend finding a guide for your specific use case and running from there.

In my use case I have a Windows Server 2019 install running on and old headless Thinkpad T400. It has MDT (Microsoft Deployment Toolkit) running on it. My lab environment's DHCP server sends the appropriate settings with its lease, causing the guest to seek a boot file off of the MDT server. This bootstraps the guest into WindowsPE (Preinstall Environment), where you can choose the image/task sequence to apply.

There are ways to multiboot Linux via PXE as well, but I haven't done it.

Key things - you need access to your DHCP server, a TFTP server hosting boot images, and whatever system actually has your software. Those services can all run on one server, or distributed.

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