Making instalations portable

Is there any interest in a simple tutor about how to make instalation programs portable ? I found the how to create your own boot cd, well "own" many use Chris his script, so technically were are only the decorators haha But now we can add our own programs, so more freedom of thought. So on the learning track saw some info about how to make programs portable. Might be a nice addition to the project, to get more freedom in which tools we can put on the WinBuilder.

I found one free program and one commercial tool that should be able to do it. So can write a tutor about it so others can give it a try as well.
But asking if that is wanted as that is not PE, but what we put on the PE 

If you are willing to offer your time to help with anything that makes things easier for other users feel free to do so. 

I would be very interested.
for the last few years I have been leaning heavily towards Papps with my builds.
It shortens my PE build time and size if I don't have to include my favorite apps into build.
The Papps are easily updated, and work for x86/64.

@Passie, "Are you proposing to make (instalation programs) portable, or (fully functional programs) portable".
In a PE Environment, this is pretty much a moot point, next time you boot, your right back where you started....
What would be nice, is to have the Papps remember things like last used folders/files, views, preferences
Show us what you got, I would love to learn and help to integrate into builds...

Regards.
RoyM

For Bob and Roy and the rest of the readers off course.

Okay here is a simple tutor on how to make programs that you normally need to install "Portable".
I'm in the learning process myself to learn how to do this, so haven't succesfully done this yet.
So just sharing what i'm learning about it my self.

I first got drawn to giving this a try when i saw this video on youtube by Britec09 a person that makes many computering tutors.
Never heard about this tool before, but searched it and started to give it a try.
I make music, so my goal is to try to make Emagic.Logic.Audio.Platinum.v5.3 portable.
Apple bought it in 2003 so since then no more updates for the PC version, but 5.3 works on W10, 5.5.1 does not, thats the last build.

But first learning where the limits are in doing this, so starting with some simple tools, like Audacity.
Audacity already has a portable version, so should be do-able. And Virtual DJ and Fruityloops run portable too.
Would love to make Propellorheads Rebirth303 portable as well, but that only runs on winXP, not on 10.
But for this tutor i simply write down the steps to follow as the tutor shows, after you can try your own tool of choice.

Basic proceidure:

A] You scan the registry, so the tool can see what changes there are in your registry later.
B] You install the software, on a machine that does not have many programs installed.
These programs that make this are portable, so might be possible to do this in WinPE.
In there nothing is installed, so should be easy to catch what your installing on your WinPE.
Have not tested that yet doing this test on a computer that does have a lot installed, just to make the step by step.

How to Make A Portable Application For FREE-Britec09 Jun 2, 2017, 5m52s
youtube  -  watch?v=GoZJ8wipREM

Tools to use;

Builder to get: Evalaze Free 2.0.0.13

You can no longer get a free version from the author his page but search the net
I am not allowed to give links so have to do search on name, Evalaze or Evalaze Free
I found these 3 versions on the net, tutor uses Evalaze Free 2.0.0.13.

Evalaze Free 2.0.0.0 Portable
Evalaze Free 2.0.0.13 Portable
Evalaze Free 2.2.1.1 Portable

Can't find the one the tutor used, GetDataBack Simple Data Recovery 1.02
so using: GetDataBack Simple Data Recovery 5.01

  How to: 

01) Click Evalaze_Free_2.0.0.13.exe to start the portable tool
02) Choose the language you want to use
03) Accept licence agreement
04) Start Wizard and info screen closes
05) Wizard will guide you info, next
06) Give your to do tool it's name, And i keep Save [Capture] to folder as is
07) Select Scan Range [2.2 does not have that function] Here you change disc if you install on D.
The scan will detect and thus catch your instalation, so has to point to hd you install to.
Click, Next

08) Close all active programs and click next to let the program scan your computer.
I think it would be handy to do this in WinPE as there nothing is installed.
I think you can install a program in WinPE, did it ones by accident and tool worked.
Will have my browser on and defender, so that might be why it probably will not work for me.
Would most likely be done in Virtual windows, VMWare or VirtualBox that is free
But i will instal "GetDataBack Simple Data Recovery 5.01", in this test

So extracting the rar before the scan starts, so it wont record my extraction.
Now click next

09;16 Start scan-09;21 End scan
As said running system, so will take less time on clean machine !

09) "Select Setup" button and go to your to install tool to start instalation
Run the complete instalation and let the tool start, then close the tool
Or run addon installs and do setting changes and then close the tool.

10) Click next
11) Now the program wants to do a "post scan", Next

09;27 Start-09;37 Scan Finished,

12) Now you see a list of the files that are "recorded"
De-Select Uninstaller if it is selected, as you wont need that, Next

13) Select, "Make Aplication Portable",
The sandbox-directory is located within the directory of the aplication.
The aplication can be executed on each compatible system while the session-data
is written in the sandbox. So the data remains in each session on each system, 
where the aplication is executed

And select "Delete Sandbox After Exit", Next.

14) Output Location, and save project file, next

09;52 Builder started-09;52 Completed, fast so.

15) "Open output folder" and there you see the "portable aplication"
Drag it to your desktop.

16) Exit Evalaze, Close it, and uninstall the software from your computer

17) Go to your desktop and right click open as administrator.
A sandbox activator box comes up and then the program should start

 

  I get the sandbox, then i see a folder gets created on my desktop.
Hear the computer working hard, but tool screen wont start
So or later or tomorrow i will do another tutor using a different program.
But that program works in the same way only has more settings.
So this is a good training tool since its a free version, hope your build works.

If not another chance with the next tutor about it. 

Okay so you will get 3 ways to do it, this being the easiest way by far !

Simplest Way, Option 2: Universal Extractor

And here a 2nd way to do it, that works like a charm for me, and takes seconds only.
And worked on "GetDataBack Simple Data Recovery 5.01", where the previous attempt failed.

Tool to get: Universal Extractor/UniExtract Portable 2.0 Beta 4b

⚫ The thumpapps version works, just grabbed it and used it.
Search: UniExtract Portable 2.0 Beta 4b thumbapps

⚫ Official site of the tool and latest update R1
Search: Universal Extractor 2 bioruebe

⚫ More:
Search: Universal Extractor 2 v2.0.0 Beta 4 neowin

⚫ Info:
Search: First look at Universal Extractor 2 ghacks

  How To 

1) Extract your paf, and move the portable app to where you want to use it
2) Go inside the folder "UniExtractPortable", Right click run as administrator on UniExtractPortable.exe
3) Click through the options untill the small box is only left
Next time you open it only the small box is shown.

4) Select the "Extract function"
5) Browse to the program you want to make portable on the top box
Lower box shows the destination, will be next to the installation in a folder using the same name

6) Click ok, left side bottom next to clock on windows you see it working
7) Look in the folder where you have the instalation exe and see the folder
8) Go in the folder, right click open as administrator and as you see it will run

Tested with 2 programs both worked like a charm

The video to see this proceidure
Create portable versions of software with Universal Extractor
youtube  -  watch?v=wk11kUoCzDg

⚫ Original release also including source code
Search: Universal Extractor legroom

The original motivation behind this project was to create an easy, convenient way to extract files from various types of installation packages without the need to remember arcane command line switches or track down separate utilities to handle the unpacking.  Over time, and with the encouragement of its many users and the fine folks over on the MSFN forum, it has evolved into a mature and very capable unarchiving utility that many, including myself, find indispensable.

⚫ Here you can find an unofficial update to the original version
Universal Extractor v1.9.22.Unofficial Repack Edition appnee

Next reply tomorrow i'll show that 2nd tool that is much like the first option.

Greets, Passie.

Regshot2 is good for taking before and after snapshots of both registry and changed files

Indeed Bob the proceidure is much like Regshot2

I will add the last 2 tools i tested and give my conclusion:

Cameyo, free

Here another small tool that does the job in 5 simple steps.
Think this one might even be part of the portable apps collection.
Found a commercial page about it as well, but used version is free

Version tested:
Cameyo 3.1.1446

Here the 5 simple steps by using Cameyo

1) Start Cameyo choose "Capture an instalation", ok
The tool starts scanning the computer for a "SnapShot of pre instalation"

2) Install the tool you want to make portable

3) after install, close the tool and next [install done]
Now post instalation scan starts

4) Succesfully build in My Documents\Cameyo apps

5) Go to the folder and run the tool

Works for me.

VMWare ThinApp

This is the commercial tool among them

Used version in the test:
ThinAppPortable_5.2.3-6945559 Portable

1] Right click "setup_capture.exe", run as administrator
2] Next to Run a pre-scan
3] Advanced scan location to record D disk, click "Prescan"
4] Install the program you want to install, let it start, then close it
5] Postscan on ThinApp to see the difference after you installed your tool
6] Scan shows what it has found and you can de-select uninstaller and extras you dont want
7] Next, Next
8] whi is allowed to use it "Everyone", Next
9] Full write access, next
10] Use profile, next
11] No do not send information
12] Name of the tool and destination location, next
13] Save, to build the portable version

14] I got 2 errors in the log, but does not get canceled, next
15] Build on advanced settings page
16] 2 min and complete, Finish will close the tool and open project folder.

How to Make Any Application Portable
youtube  -  watch?v=-1QDBFRvqbg

--== Conclusion:==--
Lol, this build failed on me as well, So the free tools do a better job !

1) Universal Extractor, simply extract any install exe, and it is portable
2) Cameyo, If you need to add addons to the tool, simply install them after the tool, or register the tool, before post scan and the portable tool be build as registred.
3) ThinApp, did not work for me, but liked the option of settings, which HD to record, which is lacking in Cameyo
4) Avalaze, did not  work for me.

So i wont be using 3 or 4 which are the commercial tools, since they are taking more time. And why use commercial tools ones the free tools do a better job ? But i will most use Universal Extractor as that is by far the number 1 in this test. Cameyo is a handy tool for if you want to install addons to your program. I have made my beloved Logic portable already and it looks like it works fine. But will do another version using Cameyo to install 10 or so free software synthesizers after installing the main program. Then i should end with 1 portable program that has 10 preinstalled software synthesizers in it as well. In the extracted version i can simply drop my dll based synthesizers in the VstPlugins folder and drop wav soundkits in the software instruments folder. Explained this so you see the extra value it has to use Cameyo in certain cases. But i be doing 99% with Universal Extractor.

Hope my learning experience taught you readers the things i learned as well, as hording knowledge for ourselves does not help anyone. Thus i try to share what i learn with the communities that gave me new knowledge, so their gift is apreciated in some way, instead of me using their gift and not giving anything in return. I am not rich, so donations of cash is not my thing, thus my donations come in this way, by sharing the knowledge.

Tackled this bump on the road, so now back to the WinBuilder to see if manualy entering my info into PStart will fix the info disappearing, as that info is important for when i need to update an older version with a newer one. Else i would not care about the listing of WinBuilder since all i want is the programs to be shown at All Programs. But as said for updates i need to see that index else i would not know which line i had to delete-replace if updating some programs ;)

PS I forgot to do one test, doing that now.
Putting Cameyo on a usb stick
Starting WinPE on my 2nd laptop
USB stick in 2nd computer, and Instalation files of 1 Sequencer and 10 VSTi Software synthesizers.

On the PE i will run Cameyo while installing the sequencer and addons.

Lets see if that is possible inside the WinPE Environment, to link all of this back to the usefulness of WinPE.

Will edit conclusions if test is done 
I EXPECT that i will need to do this in VMWare Player or in VirtualBox, because i'm going for a big one and that would mean i need more then 10 GB on the virtual system of PE. So figure i'll be hitting the limit, while trying this. But never tried never known, so will give it a try anyway to see. Will try the Sequencer with only 2 small ones. Build that, then uninstall and do it again but then installing the big addon. Then i know if it is possible for merging small programs into 1 portable tool ;) I do not expect it to pick up on drag and drop of dll Vsti, but got some free ones like that who do not have an installer. After instalation i will drop a couple of them in my VSTPlugins folder, where the sequencer sees them. Then start up the sequencer that will then load the drag and drop addons. And that might generate some registry keys that the install recording can catch.

I use VstPlugins for this, but you can do this with other addons obviously that the program will see if you start it. THAT is why i explain this and add this to the test. Cameyo should be able to do this and if it does then we can pre load our own made portable tools with addons. The reason this is important is because i tried AOMEI PE Builder portable and it would not give an output. I figure it does not give an output because the portable maker did not take in account that the PE Builder also needs the WinPE image that you are asked to download ones you build a PE with AOMEI. So doing this test with that in mind, as i figure i should be able to make the portable version of AOMEI PE Builder work properly if i add the files to the portable app. Will make it 600 MB, but then the choice of make x64 or x86 should work on the portable app. You obviously can't download it ones you made it a portable app. But could try to do that as well, to test it. As the download.ini i can edit and change that to let the tool look for the image inside the root directory of AOMEI PE Builder. That is not a hack but AOMEI teach this on their own webpage if you want to put the images on a drive for slow PCs. You can read that on the question mark when your asked to download that image during build.

So there are some reasons for trying this ;)

Also try SFXConstructor to create the portable app

@ Bob, I was fiddling around with makesfx.exe, to try to create a one icon version of the portable tool that Universal Extractor makes. Can even add your own icon on it that way and pack all folders into 1 single exe, that will run on double click. But Cameyo does this already, it makes it a 1 icon portable tool, and if your program has more then only an exe to start with, then Cameyo automatically creates a boot menu that you choose what to start from, very neat. And we can edit what is inside the 1 icon afterwards. Explaining that next.

WinBuilder could be packed that way as well btw 

Cameyo, Superb function

I could not let Cameyo send the output to my USB Stick, as there is no option for controls in recording state.
When you start it then you can open "things" and edit, not tried that yet.
But now i am testing a 5th one that is free and that has these wanted settings.
It is not a portable tool so made it portable using Cameyo
Cameyo even gives a nice boot screen to or open help or the tool.

But ones you make it using Cameyo then you get 1 single icon instead of a folder, nice for some.
I like to be able to get to the folders of my portable tool as i need to add samples, add and save songs.
But made Enigma portable and testing it in the PE now

Enigma Virtual Box B.cameyo.exe

1) Enter Input File Name = Tool you want to make portable, thus install now.
2) Enter Output File Name = place where result gets stored - Bingo
3) Wont run, tried installed version same problem, on real Win10 same problem
Says get new version files corrupt
So enigma is not the solution, nice setup though, no need to install, it installs into the tool instead of windows
But has bugs

Cameyo edit an existing package setting when you start it

Nice as that gives Cameyo his folder structure, might find a settings in there lol
You find backups of all other programs you made there as well in VOS
C:\Users\YOUR Name\AppData\Roaming\VOS\Cameyo\PROG\%Program Files%\Cameyo

The general idea of "Edit a package" is that you can see the full folder structure.
You can edit the boot settings and various other settings like leave no trace after you run the tool.
It also arranges the amount of access you have to certain folders
Very handy to edit the end result

1] You browse to file system, program files, your tool, related addon folder
2] On the top of the box you see a green arrow, click it to import folders
3] Only downside is that you have to do it folder after folder, no way to select various at ones
But nice way to keep the program in 1 icon and still being able to edit the inside

Ones your ready you get asked the question, save changes
I did not see anything happening when i added the extras, now i know why.
It starts adding the files when you save it, so then you hear the files really being added
Started as 73 mb program after save 996 mb

So Cameyo is a superb tool !

As for Catching an instalation within the PE boot environment:
It works well on normal sized programs
When you install software and have to restart to finish the instalation or end go back to win.
Then go back to windows as as soon as you turn off the PE then all installed software is gone, as Roy explained at the start.

But it worked to cancel the reboot, start the program, load the extra added Virtual Synthesizer,
Add the registry info and the other started and loaded its reg file.
All of that was recorded as i am not asked to put my key in if i start the synthesizers now.

Thus it works, i added the addons on running Win10, so can make it portable on PE and add addon on the real computer

Boot [X:]\Program Files [x86], this is where your installed programs go on PE.
The size of X is only 470 mb

So not much room to work in, my first try ended in blinking screen and memory low popup
And that was only having 150 mb in use, but after building the recorded portable, that is 300 at least.
So it works but if you want to build huge portable programs like i am going to do, the Virtual windows.
On virtual windows you can create huge hard disk space and are able to restart while your installed tools are saved.
So VirtualBox or VMWare player are better free solutions to do this
But on single small programs off course you can do that within PE :)

But think i dealt with most points that readers might have questions about and added some to it hahaha
So now i know how to make any program portable and so do you.

Hope it helped to expand the opertunities for the readers to make even more use of WinPE, and now as testing centre instead of always being the rescue work horse 

One last thing i'm going to try after rolling a big one haha.
Trying to fix the portable version of AOMEI PE Builder, figure that was created by a group that upload portable apps, but it does not contain the x64-x86 image file or driving part of creating a PE. So i will try if i can load that exe inside Cameyo and edit what is inside the tool. Then i'll add the x64 and x86 images and change the ini file so PE Builder portable can find the files without needing to download them, which it can't as it is a 1 icon exe, so no place to download it too. Will edit if that worked later after i tried it and obviously managed to build the basic iso using it as portable instead of the instalation i used to create the isos i tried ;)

Would be Grand if we would be able to edit our WinBuilder projects like this, then we would not have to create a new iso after every update we do to our product.
Hope this workflow inspires the developers to have a look if they can use that part of the source code of Cameyo, if it is still open source ;)

AOMEI PE Builder:
Cameyo: Failed to open package. API error FAILURE

So nope i can not edit the portable app that FC P created, I will however try to create my own portable version using Cameyo, as i want to know if this is possible or not.
IF i get it working in a proper way then i'll explain how to so you can create your own if you want to, am not sharing it here as the forum is not to get such tools as far as i know even if that PE Builder is free. So testing that now ;)

SFXConstructor is not the same as making a normal SFX EXE.  It is a complete portable app creation/compression tool that is perfect for PE (Not only do we want portable but we want small as well..)

http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=2494.0

and in the same thread this post for folders containing more than one EXE that you want to be able to manually execute on demand

http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=2494.msg26990#msg26990

Tried Evalaze in Win10PESE and it worked fine.
Ran a problematic S3 Video driver control apps, and it installed and ran fine.
I know from experience that trying to capture registry entries should be done from a PE if at all possible.

I have played with Cameyo in the past, perhaps I will give it another go.

@Passie, Increase your X:\ size in \Build\2-Shell & Config\FBWF
Or, use Bobs very own, http://theoven.org/index.php?topic=2466.0
(Of course you must have plenty of RAM).

Also I see you are building x64, When you run your apps,
make sure to have a swapfile, you will see a speed improvement, especially with programs like you are using.

Put this in a .cmd and run at startup to create a large swapfile to be used by your programs.
This is using Olofs x64 version of Swapadd. If pagefile.sys is on FAT32, don't go over 4G.
ECHO OFF
cd /d %~dp0
swapadd.exe C:\pagefile.sys 1G 4G
@ECHO Setting Page file c:\pagefile.sys 1G 4G
ECHO ON
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management" /v PagingFiles /t REG_MULTI_SZ /d "c:\pagefile.sys 1024 4096" /f
Exit

Bob - The SFX tool i downloaded with a bit already, but need some more time with it to work with it. The other topic will be interesting to give a read, that is what i want to do. Put a shell around the folder so only 1 icon is the tool, but not an installer only a packer that starts the exe when you click it. Had one that did that think that is the makeSFX tool, that even loads the icon of the starting program, So then it looks like the original, would be handy if i start to use extractor more lol

Roy - Thanks for the tip, downloaded it and put it in the tweaks folder, indeed had to be made non in yet. But i seriously better do what i want to do in VMPlayer or Virtual box. 1 synthesizer is already 4 gb and that does not include sound kits lol. So my sequencer in the end will probably be 40 GB or so. I think i have a lot of ram with my 16 gb and ssd but do not think my ram could handle such abuse haha Took 16 for virtual computering as i first had to work on XP worked on 5.5.1 and that does not run on Win10. Later found i could downgrade a bit and use 5.3. So now not using VM that much anymore. Made mac run including the newest logic. But love my old pc version more, been working on that for over 15 years. On XP i was limited to max 1 gb ram as the 5.5 version saw all above 1 gb as negative ram. Now i can use my full 16 gb, so no complaints about speed. Swap file i never edit, virtual memory we did use to edit in musician land. But no longer on ATARI where i started lol So do not know much about the swap file

First i had 2 fails, so if you only care about functionality, then scroll to the end, if you want to learn from my made mistakes and see how you can fix non working portable apps, then here is a day of debugging, cos at times we just have to be stuborn to get things working properly hahaha

Creating a propper functioning portable version of AOMEI PE Builder;

Preperation:
Open a folder on your computer and go to view, options, Change folder and search options
Tab view, Select; Show hidden files, folders and drives

First you need to create an ini file.
It gets created when you click download during the building process, when you need to download the image.
It shows you where the image was downloaded to
We will change this location, So we will just create our own ini.

0. Download AOMEI PE Builder 2.0

Preparing the receive structure of the images:

A. Open notepad
B. put this code on your notepad

[ISO_X86]
WorkPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\Source\x86
[ISO_X64]
WorkPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\Source\x64

C. Save As,,,,,
C1-Browse to my documents, you can't save directly to the system folder
C2-Give it the name: DownloadPath.ini
C3-Save the ini file

START

Okay the ini file is ready, Target downloaded, now we can start

1) Start Cameyo, "Capture an Instalation", and let it scan your system, then blinking light starts
2) Install v2.0 and de-select put shortcut on desktop, no need 4 that.
3) Go to my programs and start PE Builder, next
4) Now we get the screen where we need to download the creating environment
I pick the 64-bit version for this build, next

5) Add tools, i do not add anything now, next
6) Export location, i select ISO, and let it save to my desktop, next
7) It starts downloading and creating the basic build
8) Build finished,
9) Now doing 3-9 again now choosing the 32-bit version
10) Finished, now checking where the Creating Environment ended up, lol
Right click C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\DownloadPath.ini, do Edit

The ini file gives us the location of where the images were saved
Not such a nice location as temp gets cleared by cleaners

[ISO_X86]
WorkPath=C:\Windows\TEMP\PB Download\x86
[ISO_X64]
WorkPath=C:\Windows\TEMP\PB Download\x64

11) We can edit this but it wont let us save, so to my documents.
And copy the DownloadPath.ini

12) go to C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\DownloadPath.ini
Right click on the old ini and delete it

17) In C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\ you do paste
To paste the "DownloadPath.ini" you just copied to replace it

18) You need Admin permission to move this folder, do continue
19) Now go to C:\Windows\TEMP\PB Download\ and copy the x64 and x86 folders
20) Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\
A. Right click create new Folder, name it: Source
B. Go inside the folder to do paste, x86 and x64 now are moved in

The build is big enough with both 64 and 86 in so

21) I see C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\ampe.iso
That is a micro version of the boot cd, so lets delete that one, 400 mb less

DONE !

22) Now lets go to the poor Cameyo, who has been recording all this haha
Releave him and let him know Instal is done, so he can finally do his post scan

23) Build and in My Documents\Cameyo apps, you can find the build
AOMEI PE Builder 2.0 Portable-PROPPER is born. 1.13 GB

24) I change the name of the build exe to AOMEI PE Builder 2.0 Portable

25) Now for testing i shut off the internet on my test laptop
To be sure he does not start to download the images.
So lets see if the ini will do its job

26) Start the tool and create the cd, just leave it on download 32 or 64 bit
It wont download again as net is off, but if you de-select it, no choice between 32 or 64 bit

55% in the build so passed the download, thus could find the image, but now an error lol

FileInformationClass=33, Event=00, ApcRoutine=0000000
Unknown FileinformationClass type!

Tried it again but nope, would not know how to fix that.
So giving option 2 a test

⚫ Second try !
Now we are going to build a bare bone, and load it after it is build

A. Copy the folder "Source" and paste it in your My Documents
C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\Source

B. Uninstall AOMEI PE Builder 2.0

1) Start Cameyo "Capture an instalation", Prescan starts
2) Install AOMEI PE Builder 2.0
3) Do post scan
4) Build 154 MB version, same as the one on the net

The last one i could not edit, so could not fix, this one i can edit, so lets try to fix it.
But first giving it a spin to see if i end up at the point where he needs to download the image again
I will first create a copy and call it Virgin, as a backup file

Failed to download WinPE creating environment, please check if internet connection is on.

Okay giving that a try, turning internet on to see what happens, 600 mb in the host system by a portable app i guess lol

At 15% he now hangs a bit, then starts to download the image
At 55% the error again.

FileInformationClass=33, Event=00, ApcRoutine=0000000
Unknown FileinformationClass type!

⚫ Third try

Okay time for the hero, Universal Extractor 2

1) Start Extractor, browse to the location of PE Builder installer.
2) Do your magic and extract it
3) Open the folder of the extracted now portable version
A. My Documents, copy Source folder and DownloadPath.ini
B. Paste in the Portable folder we just created, so into the program
4) Uninstall the installed version, shut off internet
5) Lets run the thing

6) Again he wants to download the images, so does not see the ini
Looked at the ini and see that the tool brings it back to

[ISO_X86]
WorkPath=C:\Windows\TEMP\PB Download\x86
[ISO_X64]
WorkPath=C:\Windows\TEMP\PB Download\x64

[7] So if i just put the folders x64 and x86 in those folders, then it runs 100% and very fast as well.
But it is dirty as then you got to keep 600 mb in temp
The ini should have fixed that, but the program changes the ini file constantly

8] Okay lets try this, not calling it "Source" folder, but "PB Download"
A. Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\
B. Change name of the folder
C. Change the "DownloadPath.ini"

[ISO_X86]
WorkPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\PB Download\x86
[ISO_X64]
WorkPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI PE Builder 2.0\PB Download\x64

9] Start PE Builder, and do you hear it ? Opera i hear singing hahahaha
We have succes, builder does not change the ini and deleted temp files
So now all needed files are inside the portable tool folder

And now that i have invested so much time in it,
Got to test Sfx to make it a 1 icon portable next, but it runs perfectly if you follow the above method.
And it even looks like it runs a heck of a lot faster as well.
So if you want to have the tool as portable, now you know how to build it and have it functional 

The SFX part, RePacking after extraction:

Indeed Bob his tool can do the trick for Ultimate Extractor

Get: 7z SFX Constructor v4.4 Portable

The functions:

Source folder, select the folder that includes the extracted portable program
Extract to; not used

Selected: x86/x64
2x: I figure that creates a 64 and a 32 bit version ,I did not select that one as i read the system will use the one it has,
Icon picks up the icon of the install program, nice, and can add some info to it
Selected are: Index and run

Save into folder: a folder inside the packer program

Project password area is a bit weird to me, password is normal obviously
But i first build one that had Compress SFX Module on, and Compress Icon
Ended as 685 mb, uncompressed 1,02 GB

Then i turned both off to see how much more size i would get, as the tool does open very slowly.
But then i get the same size of the packed aplication, so looks as if the compression buttons are not working.
Or they are always on ;)

Unpacked the program starts in 3 seconds, packed in 46 seconds

So i personally would like to be able to use a less extreme compression rate.
Between 3 seconds seeing a starting screen and 46 is a lot of time.
To me size is not the most important thing, more into practicality, so fast start of program.
I will not put these huge kind of programs on a boot cd anyway.
But instead i put them on a different usb drive and run most of my tools direct from usb.
Only using the boot cd to start a WinPE, then go to my computer, usb tools stick and do my thing.
So it is no problem for me if the program is a lil big, got a 256 gb stick so room enough for tools ;)

The given points are no critique but you asked for input on one of the topics, so motivated my thoughts.
Would love a function without compression or less that lets the tool start quicker.
That would be an improvement for me at least, on small programs there might not be such a time gab.
But on this build the compression lets the user wait a bit too long imo
Then people start to fear it will or has crashed lol

But we get what we are looking for, a 1 icon portable program, so thanks Bob, great job