Visual Basic 6 on a USB Key?

[Pc_Madness]

Anyone know if its possible? I know it makes use of the Registry, so it may not be...

[trisuglow]

Are you asking if you can install VB6 on a USB memory card and run it from there?

I don't see why this wouldn't be possible, although it's almost certainly going to be a lot slower than an internal hard-drive. I don't think you'd just be able to plug it into a PC and go though, you're correct about the registry - each PC you wanted to use it on would need to register the dlls etc. in order for it to work.

[Pc_Madness]

More like just copying the VB98 folder onto the usb key and running it.

It will run from the Key without any problems, but thats on a system with it installed..

[Wokawidget]

Welll yea...coz the dlls will be installed on your HD. So when you run the EXE windows will look at the DLLs on your HD, not the USB pen drive. This would be the same for most applications.
Thus, if the PC doesn't have VB6, then it won't have the dlls location in memory

Woka

[David.Poundall]

Can you imagine the isues this would bring up regarding differing registered OCX's between machines - Nightmare.

[dglienna]

I thought you could put the needed files in the folder, as the pc will look there first. I'd think that it would be even faster.

[David.Poundall]

But you would still have to register OCX's and Dll's on each machine though.

[RobCrombie]

Wokawidget,

Semi related question.
I note that most of your apps use DLLs
I rarely ever give my user an Install version, I just give them the exe.
With SGrid-2, I gave them a 'once only stand alone installer' (attached to one of my other posts).

Can your DLL just be placed in the same folder as my exe, and not require P&D to install it ?

[Wokawidget]

The DLLs I use would need to be installed using an installer, or manually using the:

regsvr32 "C\Program Files\Woof\vbGrowl.dll"

I think this can be shelled from inside VB:

Shell "regsvr32 ""C\Program Files\Woof\vbGrowl.dll"""

Can that be done? I've never tried. It's something very close to that if it's not. But I know the above regsvr command can be ran in DOS prompt.

regsvr32 "C\Program Files\Woof\vbGrowl.dll" -u

To uninstall.

WHy don't you use an installer?
They are VERY usefull, and you cannot 100% guarrentee the computers have the correct components installed on them.

WOka

[RobDog888]

I thought you could put the needed files in the folder, as the pc will look there first. I'd think that it would be even faster.

But you would still have to register OCX's and Dll's on each machine though.

Yes, but like also posted you would have multiple registered versions of the dlls/ocxs which would create a dll hell.
Not to mention that some are in the "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared" folder.
I highly doubt that VB could be placed on a jump drive and it would work.

Now for other smaller less complex programs this may work, but with the requirements like Woka pointed out.

Also, location of the dlls does not increase/decrease performance since the location is stored in the reg.

[RobCrombie]

WHy don't you use an installer?
They are VERY usefull, and you cannot 100% guarrentee the computers have the correct components installed on them.

I avoid complexity like the plague.
I went through the 16 bit to 32 bit upgrade PIA with Crystal Reports and other controls. I swore never again.

So I don't use 3rd Party controls, and I even avoid MS's VB Pro controls(the non-intrinsic ones). EG Avoiding problems like the ComCtls version changes.

Thus there is never 'DLL Hell' with my pgms.

I do make an exception for the SGrid-2, as it is just too good to ignore.

I am also incorporating User Controls (.CTLs) directly into my projects, as 'I can have my cake and eat it too'' with those.

[dglienna]

Hmm. I guess it would have to be installed before it would work, and then uninstalled afterwards. Thanks.

[Wokawidget]

I avoid complexity like the plague.
I went through the 16 bit to 32 bit upgrade PIA with Crystal Reports and other controls. I swore never again.

So I don't use 3rd Party controls, and I even avoid MS's VB Pro controls(the non-intrinsic ones). EG Avoiding problems like the ComCtls version changes.

Thus there is never 'DLL Hell' with my pgms.

I do make an exception for the SGrid-2, as it is just too good to ignore.

I am also incorporating User Controls (.CTLs) directly into my projects, as 'I can have my cake and eat it too'' with those.

An installer make DLL hell = DLL heaven.

Espescially one like Inno Setup, like in my sig. That's free. Have to learn a little to use it. But VB comes with the P&D wizard. I know it's not bril...na, in fact, don't use that, it's pants. Gave me loads of problems. Visual Studio Install isn't bad.

Once you have your setup package setup, it's a walk in the park after that.

Look at all the little projects I have.
It makes my life SOOOO easy.

I don't think anyone here would say it's a good idea not to use one.

Woka

[Pc_Madness]

I thought you could put the needed files in the folder, as the pc will look there first. I'd think that it would be even faster.

Yeah, thats what happens, its just a matter of finding out which files are needed and copying them to the key.

Atm, I get the splash screen, but it says "Unexpected Error; quiting"

It refers to it as "Working Model Edition" on the splash screen (its actually Learning edition), so it may be a case of the registry keys being missing, so I'll give that a try tomorrow.

[namrekka]

Also an other problem. An USB-key is not a harddisk but a flash-ram device. Those devices can be written ca 1000~10000 times. So watch out with files who are written often. They must be moved to hardisk.