WS_FTP Professional on Flash Drive?

SN3 · 06-23-2006, 01:15 PM

I am trying to install WS_FTP Pro on my flash drive, but it is not working. Any ideas on how to do this? I tried installing it with a new download (with the location of the files to be on the flash drive), but whenever I try to open it, it says that the secure loader has encountered a fatal error. Any ideas?

**John Scott** · 06-23-2006, 04:00 PM

Bump.

Zap · 06-23-2006, 04:06 PM

Can you see the flash drive when you open "My Computer"?

SN3 · 06-24-2006, 02:37 PM

DaveyBoy · 06-24-2006, 03:40 PM

Why would you wanna do it anyway, just out of curiosity?

SN3 · 06-24-2006, 04:10 PM

So I can use my ftp software anywhere.

Zap · 06-24-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SN3

So I can use my ftp software anywhere.

Are you talking about "copying" the FTP install program to a memory key or actually "installing" it to the memory key?

Copying is OK. But, installing would be problematic. There is no way to move the registry settings from computer to computer easily and most programs depend on the registry settings to function properly. And, the usb key could potentially have a different drive letter in every computer you plug it into.

SN3 · 06-24-2006, 07:10 PM

Copying does not work though. I tried copying it over but it gives me an error. I was thinking that the registry (or lack thereof) would cause the problem. Is there any way to do it? How do people install XP on a flash drive?

Zap · 06-24-2006, 08:00 PM

2 Questions...

1. What happens when you take this USB key to another computer? Same problems?
2. What happens when you plug a different USB key into this computer? Same problems?

That should help you narrow down if the problem is the computer or the USB key itself.

noob_0001 · 06-24-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SN3

How do people install XP on a flash drive?

Doesn't the flash drive have to be drive C for windows to work?

You could copy the install program to the flash and then install it to the flash drive when you need to use it. Then, just delete the directory when done using the program or deinstall the program.

Best of luck getting it working.

DaveyBoy · 06-24-2006, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noob_0001

Doesn't the flash drive have to be drive C for windows to work?

You could copy the install program to the flash and then install it to the flash drive when you need to use it. Then, just delete the directory when done using the program or deinstall the program.

Best of luck getting it working.

I assume he's wanting to store all his FTP passwords in there too, so he doesn't need to re-add them every time etc.

noob_0001 · 06-24-2006, 08:33 PM

Are passwords stored in the registery or in a file in the program's directory? Would not want passwords in a registery of a computer that I do not own.

Zap · 06-24-2006, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noob_0001

Are passwords stored in the registery or in a file in the program's directory? Would not want passwords in a registery of a computer that I do not own.

It depends on the FTP program, but I would say that most would store passwords in a file somewhere. That's not the problem, though. When that software is installed from computer-A to the USB key, computer-A will have registry entries created that are NOT portable. So, when he takes that USB key to computer-B, the registry entries are not there. If the program requires the registry entries to function (and most programs do), then it will not work.

Perhaps, the best way to solve this problem is to locate the passwords file and copy that to the key. Then, he can just install a fresh copy of the program on computer-B and copy over the passwords file.

SN3 · 06-25-2006, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noob_0001

Are passwords stored in the registery or in a file in the program's directory? Would not want passwords in a registery of a computer that I do not own.

The passwords are not stored in a registry file; they are in a file (ws_ftp.ini). Is there a way to create a psuedoregistry on the flash drive?

Zap · 06-25-2006, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SN3

The passwords are not stored in a registry file; they are in a file (ws_ftp.ini). Is there a way to create a psuedoregistry on the flash drive?

Not really.

If you can find out what exact registry entries are created when installing, then you can use registry editor to export those registry keys and then import them into the other computer.
(You would have to know exactly which entries are created, making it almost impossible.)
(And, you still have the problem of the drive letter changing with the USB key on each computer. For example, on computer-A, the USB drive letter might be F:, but on computer-B, the drive letter might be G:. That, alone, will make the registry entries invalid anyway.)

If you are just trying to keep your password settings, the best way would be to copy the install file for ws_ftp AND the ws_ftp.ini file to the key. Then, just install it to drive C:, as you normally would, and copy the ws_ftp.ini file to the correct folder after you install it on the new computer. That's likely the easiest way to accomplish that.

SN3 · 06-25-2006, 06:00 AM

Zap,

The only problem with that is I would have to install it whenever I want to use it, which defeats the purpose. I just want to be able to run it off the flash drive on any computer, without installing it. I wonder if there is another FTP program that will work on a flash drive and support SFTP.

Zap · 06-25-2006, 06:12 AM

SN3: You would have to find an FTP program that doesn't need to be installed to be used, I think. When you install software (almost ANY software) it creates (and, later, relies on) registry settings. That's just the nature of the beast when installing programs.

But, you may be able to find something to suit your needs.

1. You may be able to find FTP software that doesn't need to be installed to be used.
2. If you just want FTP access that you can use anywhere and passwords/settings are not a concern, Windows has FTP functionality built into it. You can FTP via a DOS prompt and/or you can type ftp addresses into Internet Explorer and they will work.
3. I know of a bootable CD with a compact version of Linux (called Knoppix) that might have an FTP client on it. With a little effort and research, you could alter the original ISO that creates the CD to include your passwords in the config file for the FTP program. Again, I don't know if Knoppix includes FTP software in it AND you would have to know which file the config information is stored in.

If you're stuck with the USB key idea, then you can make a USB key bootable. I haven't done it, but I know that some motherboards will allow you to boot from a USB device, so I assume someone has written software that does just that. In that case, you could make the USB key bootable with whatever O/S you can manage to get on it and include the FTP software (and your settings) as part of the bootable image. Just keep in mind that booting off of a USB key is still relatively new and not every motherboard is guaranteed to provide that functionality.

noob_0001 · 06-25-2006, 08:07 PM

How about a Java FTP program? That should bypass all the windows registery problems. I know there used to be some. Don't know how good they are.