How to Create Portable Applications With VMware

VMware specializes in virtualization products and solutions. Most VMware programs are geared toward running a virtual machine on a server, workstation or laptop. VMware ThinApp uses the same virtualization technology, but for individual applications. ThinApp is designed to make an application portable. A portable application created using ThinApp won't modify the underlying operating system files and doesn't require installation to run. ThinApp creates a portable application by first scanning the computer before you install the application, then again after you install the application. It uses the differences to create the portable application.

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" menu, then "All Programs." Open the "VMware" folder and click the "ThinApp Setup Capture" program.

2. Click "Prescan" to scan the computer before installing the application you want to make portable. Wait for ThinApp to finish scanning the system. The program will display "Install Application" when the scan completes.

3. Install the application you want to make portable. Leave the "Setup Capture" window open in the background. If the application requires setup after installation, be sure to complete the setup before continuing back to the "Setup Capture" window.

4. Click the "Postscan" button to run a new scan after installing the application. ThinApp will compare the new and old scans to create the portable application.

5. Enter a name for the ThinApp and a location to save the resulting file when prompted. The portable application can be run on any computer without installing or modifying the operating system.

Tips & Warnings

• For the best results, use a "clean" operating system to create the application, which is one that has as few other applications installed as possible.

References

• VMware: ThinApp User's Guide