portable firefox

[awaj]

So, I put firefox on my flash drive, set it up as I want, put all the plug-ins I want on it, and go to class. I get to a computer, open up the flash drive and click on the shortcut to the one on my flash drive and I go the one the school had on their computer. is there a way around that so I use my easy to use version instead of the stripped down thing my school has?

[Sylvander]

1. So this portable version of Firefox is designed to be run by Windows, right?
(a) And the school PC is running Windows right?

(b) And you use Windows Explorer to navigate to the [shortcut to the] portable Firefox exe file [held on your Flash Drive] and "Open" that, right?

(c) And yet what ran was the Firefox exe file held on the school PC's internal storage?
That's weird if true.

2. Is it possible for you to boot a live Puppy linux CD on the school PC/
(a) If so, you could use WINE within Puppy to navigate to the portable Firefox exe file [not the shortcut to it] on your Flash Drive, and "Open" that.

(b) I just did that right now on my own PC.
The portable Firefox [designed to be run by Windows]->[therefore run under WINE] is version 2.0.2...
And the Linux version installed within BoxPup is version 3.5.2.

[Paul Komski]

click on the shortcut to the one on my flash drive and I go the one the school had on their computer
What happens if you directly open the FirefoxPortable.exe inside its FirefoxPortable folder on the flash memory drive?

http://portableapps.com/support/firefox_portable#installing

[awaj]

my understanding was that firefox itself was portable... that might be my problem... I was just installing it to the flash drive, or copying all the files over... (it works on comps with out firefox...):eek:

[awaj]

so, I got the portable version, and inside it, I add the greasemonkey app, and I check the one on the computer, and it now has greasemonkey as well... I am not concerned about version on the computer, but will my flash drive keep the plugin? (I'm going to restart the computer I'm at and see what happens and post back)

[awaj]

ok, so I think it's all good. I tried firefox when it restarted, and it was with out the app, I then tried the portable, and it had the app. (by app, I mean plugin...)

[Paul Komski]

If you don't use the portable version then the registry on the host machine gets updated. The portable version keeps everything on the flash drive.

[Sylvander]

I like the idea that you could also take your operating system with you, and use THAT favourite OS to run [installed or portable] programs that you take with you.

e.g.
1. Any chosen Puppy Linux [they're all FREE remember] can be run from:
(a) A "live" optical disk [DVD or CD]...

(b) And you can make configurations that are suited to this set of hardware or that.

(c) And you can install programs also.

(d) And (b) & (c) [to be used in conjunction with (a)] could be saved to a "pup_save" file that can be stored on say the Flash Drive [or written back to the rewritable optical disk if it isn't finalized].
There could be different pup_save files, one matched to each PC, and the appropriate one chosen [to be included for possible use along with the native programs] during the boot process [when Puppy warns that it has found various pup_save files].

2. Or you might install a chosen Puppy to a USB2 Flash Drive...
And have a different Flash Drive for each PC.
With configurations suited to that PC, and installed packages added, and portable programs held outside of the Puppy file system, but on the same or a different Flash Drive, or wherever you like.
I'm typing this right now from a Puppy loaded off a Flash Drive...
[so as to ensure that none of the partitions on my internal HDD are automatically mounted, cause I want to test the HDD]...
And I have portable programs [that I could and DO run] held on my F: partition on the internal HDD.
Also have backup copies of those portable programs in various suitably named sub-folders, of a top folder, on a partition, on an external USB2 HDD.

[jlreich]

My guess would be that booting to another OS would be against school policy. If it isn't expressly forbidden I bet it would be as soon as someone found out about it. ;)

[awaj]

I guess I could do that, but the school on half the computers i use (unfortunately, not all...) have programs I need/use like Matlab (if there's a clone of it that's free, feel free to speak up...) Maple, and a few other programs that I don't remember at the moment.

[Sylvander]

Open source alternatives:
To, for examle...
MATLAB
1. GNU Octave (http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/) and a thread with links to the PET files. (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=18095)

2. FreeMat (http://freemat.sourceforge.net/)

3. Scilab (http://www.scilab.org/)
Math-Pup (http://puppylover.netsons.org/dokupuppy/pupplets:mathpup) [thread on topic HERE (http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=190886449&t=24235)] natively includes Scilab.

[awaj]

wait, do they take matlab code? if so, awesome, if not, then it won't help me too much currently... (I'm in a class that is focusing on matlab for a couple of weeks, and the rest of the semester will be on C++)

[Sylvander]

1. "do they take matlab code?"
(a) Not my topic, but...
The GNU Octave page (http://www.gnu.org/software/octave/) says:
QUOTE
"It provides a convenient command line interface for solving linear and nonlinear problems numerically, and for performing other numerical experiments using a language that is mostly compatible with Matlab."
Is "mostly compatible" not good enough?

(b) I notice that HERE (http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=18095), shagbag said "I've only just started learning MatLab" whilst posting in a thread on how to install Octave.

[awaj]

Octave it is... I asked my teacher if she cared, and she did not, but she mentioned that Octave worked...

[Sylvander]

So what are you thinking of doing?

Running a Puppy [or 3] with Octave installed...

At home?

At school?

[awaj]

I am using it on my home computer, and I've installed it successfully in the W7 environment... I am just having problems with copying it. Any ideas if there is an easy work around?

[Sylvander]

1. "I am using it"
What is IT?
Octave?
Puppy Linux?
Firefox portable?
Could you be more explicit?

[awaj]

Octave, sorry...

[Sylvander]

1. "having problems with copying it. Any ideas if there is an easy work around?"
You are using the "IT" here also.
Are you trying to copy the Octave program to some other Windows version OS environment?
Or trying to copy the input values, or output results?
I've never even used it, nor anything like it, so you're in a better position than me.
All I can do is apply a little logical thinking...
Or ask [seemingly silly?] questions that scare up some answers from the silt at the bottom of the pond of doubt and uncertainty.

Some progress HAS been made though. :)

[awaj]

sorry, I was trying to copy in octave, and it was just what I put in and the result. I found out last night that hitting enter copies the selected text...

[Sylvander]

So is Octave doing the necessary? :)

What you require of it?

[awaj]

yes, Octave is behaving itself. Have you done anything with M-files? do you know how easy it is to run them in Octave?

[Sylvander]

1. "Have you done anything with M-files? do you know how easy it is to run them in Octave?"
What are M-files?
I have never done anything of this kind...
Just did a bit of searching on your behalf.

[awaj]

oh, thank you.