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1. Backup the current Portable-VirtualBox installation on your USB drive. e.g. G:\PortableApps\Portable-VirtualBox
2. Download the latest version of Portable-VirtualBox and copy it into G:\PortableApps.
3. Executing the downloaded file Portable-VirtualBox_v3.0.8-Starter_v4.0.0-Win_all.exe will bring up the dialog box below.
4. Click on the “Download Installation file of VirtualBox” button to download the VirtualBox installation file.
   
5. When the download has completed the path of the VirtualBox installation should be filled in.  Check the “Extract the files for a 32-Bit/64-Bit system” checkbox based on your system and click on the “OK” button.
   
6. A new directory should be created in G:\PortableApps\Portable-VirtualBox.  Inside the directory execute Portable-VirtualBox.exe and the VirtualBox installation will be extracted in G:\PortableApps\Portable-VirtualBox\app32.
7. From your backup Portable-VirtualBox copy all the files inside \data\.VirtualBox into the new directory G:\PortableApps\Portable-VirtualBox\data\.VirtualBox
8. When the copying has been completed you can run the newly upgraded version G:\PortableApps\Portable-VirtualBox\Portable-VirtualBox.exe

A while back the security department at work started to monitor our PCs more tightly which meant that I had to be more caution of what software I installed (including Google Talk…I probably shouldn’t be using Google Talk at all, but old habits are hard to break. ).  Google Talk doesn’t have a portable version available for USB storage, so I decided to go with a portable version of Pidgin (a multi-protocol instant messaging client that supports Google Talks, MSN, Yahoo!,etc…).

Configuring Pidgin to work with Google Talk

1. Download and install the latest version of Pidgin
2. Open Pidgin and click on ” Add…”
3. From the drop-down box choose XMPP as the Protocol.
4. For Username enter your GMail username only (NOT the full email address).
5. For Domain enter gmail.com
6. For Password enter your GMail password.

Pidgin Add Account

In the “Advanced” tab:

1. Check “Require SSL/TLS”
2. Check “Force old (port 5223) SSL”
3. Enter for 443 for “Connect port”
4. Enter talk.google.com for “Connect server”
5. Click on “Save” and you are done.

Pidgin Advanced Settings

Skype is a software that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet (VoIP). A monthly subscription for unlimited calls inside Canada or the United States cost $2.95USD/month.  Unfortunately, incoming calls can’t be received in Canada because it doesn’t support phone numbers for VoIP.

I use Skype a lot at home (helps me reduce my mobile phone bill) and at work (since I have many conference calls without any headset).  At work I opted to use an unofficial portable version that can run on an USB drive.

Setting up Portable Skype

To begin, an already installed version of Skype on the desktop computer is required.  Please note that Portable Skype only works with version 3.8 and lower. Archive versions of Skype can be found at FileHippo.com.

1. Download PortableSkype.zip, a launcher program that help runs the actually Skype application.
2. Extract the zip file into your portable apps directory. e.g. G:\PortableApps\PortableSkype
3. From the desktop installation copy C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe to the Portable Skype directory G:\PortableApps\PortableSkype\skype

Skype can now be run from the USB drive by executing G:\PortableApps\PortableSkype\PortableSkype.exe

A while back my workplace’s information security department decided to increase the security of our PCs.  The increase in security meant my computer was more locked down with some administration privileges removed, and was being very heavily monitored.  Not wanting to through to all the approval process to install free/open source software which aren’t company standards, I decided to create a virtual machine so I can still have my sandbox to play with.

VirtualBox is an open source software from Sun Microsystems that allows a “guest” operating system to run on top of an existing “host” operating system.  A portable version is available at http://vbox.me, giving you the ability to create a virtual machine on a portable drive.

Creating a Virtual Machine

Creating a virtual machine with VirtualBox is very intuitive, just click on the “New” icon and go through the “New Virtual Machine Wizard”

Sun VirtualBox

New Virtual Machine Wizard

After you have completed the wizard you will be presented a screen with all the details of the virtual machine you just created.  I’ve created a Windows XP virtual machine.

Windows XP Virtual Machine

To install the operating system onto your virtual machine.  In the “Details” tab, click on the “CD/DVD-ROM” settings and check off the “Mount CD/DVD Drive” check box.

CD/DVD-ROM Settings

Insert the installation disc of the operating system in your ROM drive and click on the “Start” icon to being the installation.

Installing Windows XP

After the installation has completed un-mount your CD/DVD drive or change the boot sequence in VirtualBox before starting your virtual machine again, and you are done.

Running Windows XP Within Windows XP

So far I haven’t managed to find a Remote Desktop client for Windows which can be installed on a portable drive. This might be a bit of inconvenience if you are trying to remote desktop from a public terminal that is locked down. After doing a bit of searching, I have a easy way to have Remote Desktop working on your portable drive.

For Windows XP:

1. Go to the directory C:\Windows\System32
2. Look for the files: mstsc.exe, and mstscax.dll
3. Copy the 2 files to your portable drive.

That’s it! To run the Remote Desktop client just execute mstsc.exe on your portable drive. If you have a U3 portable drive you can add a shortcut to your launchpad menu refer to the blog U3 and PortableApp.

This solution is not perfect as it leaves behind a file and some registry information in the client’s computer.

The file could be found at

%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\Default.rdp

The registry entries can be found in

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\