Portable XBMC
#1
Is there a way to run XBMC from a single directory under Windows without having to previously install it on the machine, and without touching the registry?

The plan is to have an external USB disk with XBMC "installed" (or copied) into one directory / partition, and a full copy of my media library into another directory / partition. This way I can just plug this disk anywhere (laptop on car, another computer) and enjoy my media.

Thanks in advance and best regards.
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#2
If you pass a -p switch to the executable when you start it, XBMC will use a directory named "portable_data" in the main folder to store all the configuration data.

This is portable in the sense that you don't have to worry about the registry, everything is contained in the installation folder.

Just copy the "XBMC" folder to wherever you want to run it. Of course, the computer will need to have the proper visual c++ redistributable packages installed in order for XBMC to run.

http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMC_for_Win...le_mode.3F
XBMC.MyLibrary (add anything to the library)
ForTheLibrary (Argus TV & XBMC Library PVR Integration)
SageTV & XBMC PVR Integration
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#3
bradvido88 Wrote:http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMC_for_Win...le_mode.3F
Sorry about missing this.

bradvido88 Wrote:If you pass a -p switch to the executable when you start it, XBMC will use a directory named "portable_data" in the main folder to store all the configuration data.
This is awesome, thanks for the quick response. By "the executable" you mean XBMC after it has been installed, right? If that is the case, I guess it is implied that when you install XBMC on Windows, it only writes files to a single directory and it doesn't touch the registry or any other files it doesn't own...

Answering myself: a little more reading (http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMC_for_Win...ectX.29.3F) confirms this, so I am set to go.
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#4
So jmarshal reported back in Feb of 2010 at http://portableapps.com/node/19745 that xbmc was "portable out of the box". This may be true, but the other issue is that it must be run with the -p parameter in order for the data to be stored in the portable_data folder on the USB drive rather then C:\users\username\AppData\Roaming\xbmc . I see no way of telling PortableApps to use the -p switch.

PortableApps needs to recognize this. It would be nice if PortableApps would allow you to right click an app on the menu to access launch properties. Also helpful if the user could manually add their own apps to the menu.
HTPC: Dell Optiplex 7050 SFF i7-7700 quad-core, 3.6GHz, 16GB
NAS: Synology DS1813+ and DX513, Hybrid RAID (SHR) 48TB usable space
My Media Center | www.CaptainKen.us | www.YouTube.com/KenInGilbert
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#5
Why do you need "PortableApps" for in the first place? It sounds like it's some sort of menu system?
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.


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#6
Thanks for responding jmarshall. I'm had to assume that because you responded to this post http://portableapps.com/node/19745 at PortableApps.com that you knew what the PortableApps menu system is.

It's a USB menuing system for portable applications.
HTPC: Dell Optiplex 7050 SFF i7-7700 quad-core, 3.6GHz, 16GB
NAS: Synology DS1813+ and DX513, Hybrid RAID (SHR) 48TB usable space
My Media Center | www.CaptainKen.us | www.YouTube.com/KenInGilbert
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#7
Right - and it really doesn't support starting an app with a commandline flag? Seems like a good feature request for said menu launcher thingee.

Cheers,
Jonathan
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.


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