Could somone try this...

[uchiha_itachi]

Was wondering if someone could try this, I am trying to put some portable software onto my usb stick. I am using portable firefox, portable the gimp and portable VLC from this site:

http://portableapps.com/

And whenever I install them, it takes absolutely bloody ages to extract and start the installation process. And even when running the apps, (portable firefox) the software is so slow. Was just wondering if anyone could try this, (those particular apps in question) and let me know if you experience the same trouble. I don't know if the usb stick is faulty, or if the software is supposed to run this slow. I only have one usb stick lying about.

Much appreciated.

[McClane]

I installed firefox earlier today on to my usb key. The installation took a minute max, probably less. It was a little slow loading up but I guess that's to be expected.

[Tomahawk]

Seems to work fine for me.. I currently have FireFox 2.0 portable installed and it works fine. Sure the initial loading time is slightly longer than the non-portable equivalent.. but once it's up there isn't a great time difference.

Also used to use other portable apps from that site and never had a real problem with speed. The extraction process can take a couple of minutes max, but shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[uchiha_itachi]

Hmm, this is strange. Just got back from my parents and tried installing firefox portable on my sisters usb stick. Worked a charm. The only difference I could tell was she had hers formatted to fat, while mine is formatted to fat32. I'm just in the process of transferring everything off of it and will format it to fat. Also gonna try another usb port too.

This is really frustrating me!!

[jamin]

Is yours a usb 1 stick and your sisters a usb 2? Could explain the massive speed difference....

[Funkstar]

it could be that your USB stick is just really slow. Some are.

[uchiha_itachi]

This is the USB stick I have:

LG 2GB USB Mirror Driver

I bought it from a market place seller on Amazon. Its advertised as usb 2.0 My sisters usb stick is usb 2.0 also. I tried formatting to fat, still no success. I tried using a whole range of different usb ports, still very slow. I had a go on the wifes iPod, and it worked fine.

So where does that leave me, faulty usb stick? The one thing which really really bugs me, is that I tried transferring files to it, approximately 6mb in size. And the transfer speed was the same as transferring to ipod. Seriously, what gives?

[Captain Fizz]

I've used (and am currently using) FF from USB Pens/HDD.
It does take longer but not massively.

Can only think of the USB Pen... You've tried different PC's, different USB Ports, different devices with the same software.
The only common device in your testing has been the USB pen - Therefore it is the only thing it can be.

[Funkstar]

see, USB 2.0 does *not* mean it is capable of 480mbps.

USB2 means it is compliant with the new spec as opposed to the USB 1 and 1.1 spec.

USB HighSpeed is what you are after. Although, even if the USB controler ship in the device is capable of 480mbps, it doesn't mean the flash memory inside it will ever reach that kind of speeds (i don't think any will saturate a USB connection at the moment).

do a little googling and you'll see the USB naming system is a complete mess

[uchiha_itachi]

Thanks for all the replies. With regards to the speed of the usb stick, I can only say that everywhere on the net it is pretty much advertised as USB highspeed. Its a shame, as transfer speeds to it of normal files are very good. Its just the running and installing of these portable apps. Nice looking usb stick, just seems to let me down where I needed it the most.