IMHO, The best portable file manager - Total Commander.

[Shtriter]

As I have said, I believe that Total Commander is the best file manager for Windows.
Features:
Two file windows side by side
Multiple language support
Enhanced search function
Compare files / synchronize directories
Quick View panel with bitmap display
ZIP, ARJ, LZH, RAR, UC2, TAR, GZ, CAB, ACE archive handling + plugins
Built-in FTP client with FXP (server to server) and HTTP proxy support
Parallel port link, multi-rename tool
Tabbed interface, regular expressions, history+favorites buttons
New: Thumbnails view, custom columns, enhanced search
Visit this page for more.

But the best feature - is pluggins. There are 4 different types of pluggins. There are pluggins for file comparison, file-system manedement, networking, registry editing, uninstallation, task management and many, many other!

There are even special editions/pluggin packs.
My favorite is Total Commander XP & Plugins Pack

[itsnaogo]

Does it write any settings to the registry?

[Shtriter]

Does it write any settings to the registry?

Well, i don't know it for sure...

But what I do know, that it uses at list 2 ini files: main.ini for general settings and ftp.ini for built-in ftp client settings, though filenames can differ cause TC supports command line keys for both of these files...

As far as I know only installer does (I mean TC XP. The other packeges are not worth installaton...). It also writes some archivers to %SYSTEM dir, but never had problems with running it on another PC even with no user rights.

Total Commander XP was set up on my usb-stick about 2-3 years ago. Curent version was installed almoust 1 year ago (27/08/05) and works fine!

All pluggins also workes fine on any WinPC. Of course, if Admin had disabled changes of registry, it would be hard to use RegEditor, Services, Uninstaller (that are installed in basic version of TC XP!) and Autoruns...
But that is not a bug IMHO. And that doesn't mean that if you are prohibited to use WinTaskManager you can't use TC TaskManager, that provides some extra features such as Visibilty/Opacity changing, Top most and so on. PS Services have olso 1 intriguing feature - you can manage (re/start, stop) services of other PC!!!

Standart TC XP includes also very useful apps such as portable img viewer Imagine that was TC pluggin firstly, portable but powerfull text editor AkelPad (I have already described it...) And PowerPack contains also portable freeware CD Burner! PS: As far as I know, all listed pluggins are freeware.

I haven't mentioned TC smart file manipulation. For me it's easier to say what TC doesn't support (but can supported via pluggins!) - I don't know weather it supports data integrity and changes detecting. And all other functions, listed in Folders/Files section, including Attributes, Backup and Restore, Compression/Decompression, Disk Space, Duplicate Checkers, Encryption/Decryption(via archs), File Comparison Tools (Excellent implementation!), Complete File Management, Integrity Checkers, Search and Replace
Synchronization Tools..., are supported!

If you still have some doubts or have some questions - mailme!

[cmmehl]

Correct me if I'm mistaken - but my reading of their website is that this program is shareware, and costs 40 SFR (not quite cheap ...) to register.

This site here, on the other hand, is called the portable freeware collection, right?

In this light, I'd rather see this thread in the Portable Payware Discussion Forum, which - unsurprisingly - is definitely underpopulated

Cheers
Chris

[Andrew Lee]

I concur. I have moved the topic to "Portable Payware Discussion".

[tripex]

Yes, Total Commander is portable once installed, but lacks the auto resume function.

CU
Andreas

[tripex]

What? It just can't do it. The author of Total Commander has admitted this fact.

CU
Andreas

[roddersg]

I'm not a total fan of Total Commander, although I own a copy. I find the twin windows a bit distracting and there are just too many configuration settings to tinker about.

However, If I had the time, probably I might get it to jump through hoops.

I have been using ACDSee v2.4 for a long time and still seem to like it. Although ACDSee has now moved to v10, v2.4 has everything beat and I especially like to way to add descriptions to each file.

However, it is pretty old and long in the tooth. I can make it portable, but I loose my license key and it doesn't handle unicode languages.

Anyone in the same boat as me?

[m^(2)]

(...) and there are just too many configuration settings to tinker about.

Configurability it the best thing about TC
And (for me) the reason to leave every other file manager after 20 minutes of testing, because I can't set something important.

[portackager]

I've been using Total Commander Ultra Prime for a few days it's very nice. Even found some good freeware programs included in the bundle.

http://www.tcup.pl/

[panting portable]

I've been using Total Commander Ultra Prime for a few days it's very nice. Even found some good freeware programs included in the bundle.

http://www.tcup.pl/

Yeah I use this version of T. commander
bye the way - Total commander whilst not being officially FREE. in effect is because you only get a nag screen on startup but it never stops working. If you use autohotkey or some other macro prog. or maybe a bat file it would be possilble to get around the nag screen.

[m^(2)]

I've been using Total Commander Ultra Prime for a few days it's very nice. Even found some good freeware programs included in the bundle.

http://www.tcup.pl/

Yeah I use this version of T. commander
bye the way - Total commander whilst not being officially FREE. in effect is because you only get a nag screen on startup but it never stops working. If you use autohotkey or some other macro prog. or maybe a bat file it would be possilble to get around the nag screen.

But it's illegal.
However, the author said that
-if you can't afford the purchase
-don't try to circumvent the nag screen
it's fine for him that you use it.

[ChipsNHotSauce]

(...) and there are just too many configuration settings to tinker about.

Configurability it the best thing about TC
And (for me) the reason to leave every other file manager after 20 minutes of testing, because I can't set something important.

I find that humorous because one day I felt like trying TC out and most of my time was spent on configuring everything/testing plugins, because frankly the default settings just didn't suite me, I don't recall ever actually using like it was intended

[m^(2)]

(...) and there are just too many configuration settings to tinker about.

Configurability it the best thing about TC
And (for me) the reason to leave every other file manager after 20 minutes of testing, because I can't set something important.

I find that humorous because one day I felt like trying TC out and most of my time was spent on configuring everything/testing plugins, because frankly the default settings just didn't suite me, I don't recall ever actually using like it was intended

There are some prepackaged suites that make it easier and faster. I started with one and tweaked to the max. Actually well beyond recognition.

But as to one thing I changed my mind.
TC configurability, while clearly above average, could be much better. Especially when it comes to UI.

[joby_toss]

Total Commander 9.0 beta 1 is available now!
http://ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?t=44181
Impressive set of new features!
E.g.

• Vertical button bar (can be disabled via Configuration - Options - Layout) (a la FreeCommanderXE)
  Rubber band selection mode when using left mouse button selection, (who would ever thought?)

Amazing update!

Edit: very good instructions on how to run TC in portable mode - http://ghisler.ch/board/viewtopic.php?p ... 7d3#308813