I'm new to Portable Apps. This is my first post.
I've read a lot of material on portableapps.com, but I still don't understand how a portable app works with the Windows registry.
I'm starting with Portable Thunderbird so I'll use that as an example. I installed just the portable app itself, not the full portable apps launcher, since I'm just trying this out for now.
As I understand it, the launcher writes required things into the registry, and then launches the portable app, which is happy to find those registry entries in place. When the portable app is closed, the entries are removed from the registry as if they were never there. Is that correct?
So I installed Portable Thunderbird, ran it, and then closed it. After closing it, I still see numerous entries in the registry. Aren't those supposed to be removed when the app is closed?
Also, the instructions for uninstalling a portable app are simple - just delete the folder where it was installed. But that will leave behind all of those entries in the registry. I thought the philosophy behind "portable apps" was to "leave no trace" behind.
Is this just the way it works or is portable Thunderbird deficient in some way?
Thanks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the numerous registry entries:
Note
1. for privacy reasons, I changed my username to xxx, e.g. \Users\xxx
2. I typically download new software to \desktop\install and then install from there, so that's what \desktop\install it
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache]
"LangID"=hex:09,04
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe.FriendlyAppName"="Thunderbird, Portable Edition"
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe.ApplicationCompany"="PortableApps.com"
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe.FriendlyAppName"="Thunderbird"
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe.ApplicationCompany"="Mozilla Corporation"
------------
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache]
"LangID"=hex:09,04
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe.FriendlyAppName"="Thunderbird, Portable Edition"
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe.ApplicationCompany"="PortableApps.com"
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe.FriendlyAppName"="Thunderbird"
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe.ApplicationCompany"="Mozilla Corporation"
------------
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig\PropertyStore]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig\PropertyStore\1dd5bdc_0]
@="{2}.\\\\?\\intelaudio#func_01&ven_1013&dev_8409&subsys_10280b92&rev_1001#{6994ad04-93ef-11d0-a3cc-00a0c9223196}\\topologyspeaker/00010001|\\Device\\HarddiskVolume3\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe%b{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"
------------
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\JumplistData]
"ThunderbirdPortable"=hex(b):c7,37,42,e3,36,52,da,01
------------
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Compatibility Assistant\Store]
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe"=hex:53,\
41,43,50,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,07,00,00,00,28,00,00,00,b8,23,98,07,30,34,\
98,07,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0a,00,21,00,00,a4,58,3d,09,d2,61,d8,\
01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,28,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,20,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,10,62,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\ThunderbirdPortable.exe"=hex:53,41,43,\
50,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,07,00,00,00,28,00,00,00,50,5e,04,00,93,21,05,00,\
01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0a,00,21,00,00,a4,58,3d,09,d2,61,d8,01,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,28,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,20,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,34,55,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
00,01,00,00,00
------------
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Thunderbird]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Thunderbird\DllPrefetchExperiment]
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Thunderbird\Launcher]
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe|Telemetry"=dword:00000001
------------
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001]
"Version"=dword:00000001
"\\Device\\HarddiskVolume3\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe"=hex:bb,\
16,09,e7,2b,52,da,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00
"\\Device\\HarddiskVolume3\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\ThunderbirdPortable.exe"=hex:eb,\
7a,0a,ee,36,52,da,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00
"\\Device\\HarddiskVolume3\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe"=hex:ef,\
b9,49,eb,36,52,da,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00
------------
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001]
"Version"=dword:00000001
"\\Device\\HarddiskVolume3\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe"=hex:bb,\
16,09,e7,2b,52,da,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00
"\\Device\\HarddiskVolume3\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\ThunderbirdPortable.exe"=hex:eb,\
7a,0a,ee,36,52,da,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00
"\\Device\\HarddiskVolume3\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe"=hex:ef,\
b9,49,eb,36,52,da,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00
------------
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache]
"LangID"=hex:09,04
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe.FriendlyAppName"="Thunderbird, Portable Edition"
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe.ApplicationCompany"="PortableApps.com"
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe.FriendlyAppName"="Thunderbird"
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe.ApplicationCompany"="Mozilla Corporation"
------------
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig\PropertyStore]
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig\PropertyStore\1dd5bdc_0]
@="{2}.\\\\?\\intelaudio#func_01&ven_1013&dev_8409&subsys_10280b92&rev_1001#{6994ad04-93ef-11d0-a3cc-00a0c9223196}\\topologyspeaker/00010001|\\Device\\HarddiskVolume3\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe%b{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"
------------
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\JumplistData]
"ThunderbirdPortable"=hex(b):c7,37,42,e3,36,52,da,01
------------
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Compatibility Assistant\Store]
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe"=hex:53,\
41,43,50,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,07,00,00,00,28,00,00,00,b8,23,98,07,30,34,\
98,07,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0a,00,21,00,00,a4,58,3d,09,d2,61,d8,\
01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,28,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,00,00,20,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,10,62,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,\
00,00,00,01,00,00,00
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\ThunderbirdPortable.exe"=hex:53,41,43,\
50,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,07,00,00,00,28,00,00,00,50,5e,04,00,93,21,05,00,\
01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0a,00,21,00,00,a4,58,3d,09,d2,61,d8,01,00,\
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,28,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
00,00,20,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,34,55,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,\
00,01,00,00,00
------------
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Thunderbird]
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Thunderbird\DllPrefetchExperiment]
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Thunderbird\Launcher]
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe|Telemetry"=dword:00000001
------------
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001_Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache]
"LangID"=hex:09,04
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe.FriendlyAppName"="Thunderbird, Portable Edition"
"C:\\Users\\xxx\\Desktop\\install\\ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe.ApplicationCompany"="PortableApps.com"
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe.FriendlyAppName"="Thunderbird"
"C:\\PortableApps\\ThunderbirdPortable\\App\\Thunderbird64\\thunderbird.exe.ApplicationCompany"="Mozilla Corporation"
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Here's an easier-to-read summary of the registry entry locations:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig\PropertyStore]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\JumplistData]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Compatibility Assistant\Store]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Thunderbird]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\bam\State\UserSettings\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001]
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache]
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\Audio\PolicyConfig
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search\JumplistData]
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Compatibility
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001\Software\Thunderbird]
[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1899442248-3987296369-92046226-1001_Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\MuiCache]
The MUICache and BAM entries are normal things Windows does with every EXE you run on a system.
The TB entries for Launcher and DllPrefetchExperiment should be removed on exit. The code is still there to remove. Did you make any changes with a custom ThundebirdPortable.ini?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Ok I'll ignore the 4 MUI & 2 BAM entries. Probably the 2 \Audio\PolicyConfig entries too - added by Microsoft?
I'm not sure about the others. The "[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Thunderbird]" entry seems to be pretty explicit, and probably not created by Microsoft.
Perhaps the \AppCompatFlags\ entries are also added by Windows after it analyzes the app to see if it has any compatibility issues.
No, I didn't touch any of the files. I just downloaded ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_English.paf.exe and ran it. Then I ran ThunderbirdPortable.exe, had a quick look and then exited. I didn't create any accounts or do any setup within thunderbird.exe when it ran.
I could clean up the registry and try again, but I don't know how all of the dependencies between registry keys work. I'm comfortable editing sensitive files, as long as I know how the keys all fit together.
Can you confirm my basic understanding (I'm new to this portable stuff):
- start by running ThunderBirdPortable.exe
- ThunderBirdPortable.exe writes the registry entries
- then it runs "...\ThunderbirdPortable\App\Thunderbird64\thunderbird.exe"
- user closes thunderbird.exe
- ThunderBirdPortable.exe removes the registry entries (that it added)
Bottom line - I just want to know what it's doing, and if it's doing it correctly.
Thanks.
Ok, thanks. What OS version and bit depth are you using? (Win10 64-bit for example) It doesn't seem like you did anything that would affect anything. There could have been a more recent TB change preventing those TB entries from being removed. I'd like to recreate it and address it.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
This is a new laptop - just setting it up now. Just updated from 22H2 to 23H2 2 days ago.
BTW, when I ran the installer, I didn't choose 32-bit support, so ...\App\Thunderbird folder is empty. It's all in ...\App\Thunderbird64
Edition Windows 11 Home
Version 23H2
Installed on 2024-01-26
OS build 22631.3085
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22684.1000.0
Device name ...
Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1255U 1.70 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
Device ID 9D5A7F86-0034-4E15-A1D5-612C5C95D5AE
Product ID 00342-22239-01224-AAOEM
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display
I can confirm the Thunderbird entries are left in a standard install when run on a 64-bit Windows OS at present. Looks like the launcher is attempting to cleanup the 32-bit path key instead of the 64-bit.
I've put together a fix you can test out now. First, backup your Thunderbird Portable install to be save. Then, download ThunderbirdPortable_115.7.0_RegPatch1.zip. Open up the ZIP file and extract out the updated ThunderbirdPortable.exe launcher and replace the existing one in your ThunderbirdPortable directory. This should properly clean up the registry keys a few seconds after exit.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Ok that seems to clean up ok now. I don't see anything left other than things like MuiCache, compatibility, audio etc. Thank you.
To finish this cleanup, I'd like to delete the registry settings for the non-portable Thunderbird that I installed and then removed. Since you seem to know how to deal with the registry, perhaps you could offer some advice.
The non-portable Thunderbird registry entries seem to be clustered around 2 CLSID:
(a) for CLSID {29F458BE-8866-11D5-A3DD-00B0D0F3BAA7}
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{29F458BE-8866-11D5-A3DD-00B0D0F3BAA7}]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{29F458BE-8866-11D5-A3DD-00B0D0F3BAA7}]
(b) for CLSID {6EDCD38E-8861-11D5-A3DD-00B0D0F3BAA7}
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{6EDCD38E-8861-11D5-A3DD-00B0D0F3BAA7}]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{6EDCD38E-8861-11D5-A3DD-00B0D0F3BAA7}]
I can delete those 4 nodes easily enough. But those CLSID appear in several other places that don't refer to Thunderbird. And that's where it gets complicated with all of the cross-references. Is there a tool to delete all of the non-portable Thunderbird registry entries?
The above patch is in place in Thunderbird Portable 115.8.0.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!