[S-99]

Here's my view of sandboxie and portable apps. Sandboxie you can use with anything. Portable apps there might not be for the program you're looking for.

But, here's the big thing if you're really looking for something easy to do. You can turn any app you want into a portable app as long as you install it on mobile storage. Go to someone elses computer and install your application you want onto like your sd card or something (change their registry, or do this in virtual machine). Then bring said sd card back to your computer and run you're new self made portable app.

[The E]

Which breaks down in the face of applications that use the registry extensively.

[karajorma]

Here's my view of sandboxie and portable apps. Sandboxie you can use with anything. Portable apps there might not be for the program you're looking for.

While that might be true it would be pretty silly to run Sandboxie for something which did have a portable app simply to avoid using the registry.

[jr2]

Make the app you want portable if it isn't...

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/11322-Portable-App-Creator

[MachManX]

Wow, great responses!  I'm glad I asked this question because I never knew Sandboxie existed.  Very interesting application.  Now all that remains is to email them and ask if the program "sandboxes" registry changes or not.  Thanks! 

Registry is not the only thing that slows down Windows, so a registry cleaner and/or defrag may not be enough.  It really does come down to the software developers and how they handle their uninstalls.  The problem is when there is a program you need to install but comes with a crappy uninstaller, well, you're at the discretion of the developer.  I prefer being at my discretion and this sandboxie program may be the answer I've been looking for.

[Fury]

On the topic of virtualization, VMWare ThinApp is a ready made solution.

Sure it is 6000-9000 dollars, but it does work and does do what is wanted.

Buh?
http://www.virtualbox.org/
No need to pay hefty buck for something you can get for free.

Registry cleaning apps like RegCleaner or CCleaner aren't usually worth the risk that they screw something up. System registry is delicate piece of work and all it takes is one screwup from registry cleaner app to cause problems. Most often you can't even reliably point said problems to a reg cleaner. You're better off without said apps. Especially since registry is so obscure you can never be sure it's fixed without windows reinstall. Assuming you even know a problem is caused by screwup in registry.

Also. I honestly do not believe reg cleaners have any real benefit if performance is your concern. Not beyond placebo effects anyway.

[S-99]

Also. I honestly do not believe reg cleaners have any real benefit if performance is your concern. Not beyond placebo effects anyway.

Agrees

[headdie]

reg cleaners help if you know what you are looking at, they bring up a handy list of potention problems that you can say yes or no to, but the key is knowing what you are looking at , the registry should never be modified unless the person doing the modification is certain of the effect they want and that the change they are going to make will achieve that and have a good idea of the other effects it might have.

[jr2]

Now all that remains is to email them and ask if the program "sandboxes" registry changes or not.  Thanks! 

It does.

[Klaustrophobia]

in general, registry cleaning doesn't have a huge effect, but i HAVE seen a few cases where something like 5,000 errors were returned.  that CAN be a noticeable change.

[S-99]

In reality, what happens when someones cleans out their registry? Ok, you just made windows lose all memory of that adobe photoshop trial version you had installed a year ago. No loss or gain of speed by getting that out of there.

Ultimately, cleaning the registry is only handy for those who are actually having problems because of it. If you run a tight computer like i do, then you're unlikely to have any problems arising from the registry. Then again so called "computer experts" who run windows and claim they run a "tight computer" usually do dumb things like running as administrator all the goddamn time; for them taking a look at the registry is perhaps a good idea (a lot of these "computer experts" also don't know how to diagnose problems well at all).

What's the other reason for doing it? Not much of one, unless you just feel like having no more entries of previously installed software gone for ****s and giggles; or if you're a little dumber, then you get the placebo affect.

Ultimately, this topic has been a great exercise of thought on such mediocrity as the windows registry. We've all exchanged ideas and furthered one very good argument. But, now i see it going towards the area of the dumb side.

[MachManX]

Now all that remains is to email them and ask if the program "sandboxes" registry changes or not.  Thanks! 

It does.

Very nice! 

S-99, this topic has also allowed me to learn of a program that suits my needs as well

[S-99]

cool