1.This is a bit off topic, but I have often wondered why some windows programs require Windows Registries and some work completely without this. What causes a software author to cross the line that requires those registry entries and all the complications that go with it?
2. USB pens can be a lifesaver. A year ago we needed a particular software program to run for Field Day and although I had the program on my computer, we needed to put it on some other ones and of course no more floppy drives. USB pen to the rescue. Had never used one before. 3. Speaking of OS and USB pens, this may be one of those times to consider using one of the Linux distributions that has been specifically designed for this kind of media. The amateur radio software quantity and quality seems to finally be getting better on Linux although it still has a long way to catch up to MS OS software. 73, Rick, KV9U Dave Bernstein wrote: >Bob did not suggest a docking station, Sal, he suggested a second >hard drive. I have used his recommended solution with my IBM T42P >laptop, and it works extremely well; one can swap "identities" in the >time required to terminate Windows and reboot; the physical drive >swap takes a few seconds. > >With respect to your claim that "The USB PEN drive will work on >almost every computer provided that the programs were correctly >installed", I suggest that you (carefully) open the Windows Registry >editor and examine the Software sections of HKCU and HKLM -- you'll >find that DX Atlas, DXLab, Ham Radio Deluxe, LotW, and QRZ all >maintain settings there. Other popular digital mode applications may >as well -- I don't have Digipan, MixW, or MultiPSK currently >installed on this PC, and my examination was cursory. There is no way >to "properly install" any of DX Atlas, DXLab, Ham Radio Deluxe, LotW, >or the QRZ CDROM callbook in a way that makes them pen-drive portable. > >There are web pages that list pen-drive portable applications, e.g. > >http://pendriveapps.com/ > >and > >http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/369/656 > >but I've found no mention of digital mode amateur radio applications >so far. Establishing such a list would be helpful, but I suggest that >an application only be added after > >1. its author asserts that the application is pen-drive portable > >2. someone actually tests the application in a pen-drive portable >configuration > >It would also be useful to compare performance in a pen-drive >configuration vs. a hard-drive configuration. > > 73, > > Dave, AA6YQ > >
