TechAirlines: Technology Tips

Do you carry your flash drive around with you everywhere? Ever wanted to carry not only your files, but some of your programs with you as well to use where ever you go? With CodySafe, you can carry your programs around with you, manage them in an easy to use interface, as well as launch them from anywhere. When you’re done using them, no trace of it is left on the computer.

Table of Contents

About Product
Pros and Cons
Ratings
Full Review
Final Verdict

About Product

Product Name: CodySafe Free
Version Reviewed: 1.1.0.141
Publisher: Codyssey
Price: Free (Paid upgrades available)

Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP and above
Additional Notes: Designed for removable drives
Tested using: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit and a SanDisk Cruzer 8 GB Drive

Pros and Cons

The Good

• Easily manage all your portable apps.
• Works with any portable application. No special installer needed.
• DriveDoctor helps protect your drive from spreading malware and keeps it running smoothly.

The Bad

• No built in application gallery in the free version.

Ratings

All ratings are out of a total possible score of 10 in each category. The final score is calculated using our weighted average system.

Full Review

The installation will ask where on the installation drive (usually a portable flash drive) you want downloaded portable apps to be installed in by default.

After the very quick installation, CodySafe will automatically start by opening the CodySafe Launcher, which has the list of installed applications as well as links to your Documents, Pictures, Music, and Video folders. There is also an option to eject the drive. This menu is very similar to the menu offered by PortableApps.

CodySafe Applications Launcher

CodySafe offers an online directory of portable applications. Each of these download as a special installer for CodySafe and automatically integrates into the launcher without any further action. The upgraded paid version, known as CodySafe Sigma, has a built in Apps Depot, which features more applications than the online directory.

Of course, any portable application can be installed into CodySafe. Simply install the portable app, such as those from PortableApps.com, and then open up the Control Panel by selecting Options from the launcher.

CodySafe Control Panel

From the Control Panel, select Applications Manager, then go to the Add Application tab. From there, you can browse for the application (usually an exe file). CodySafe will automatically create an AppData folder for this new application in your selected CodySafe PortableApps folder.

Add Application

Having many applications can make the menu look cluttered. CodySafe allows for grouping of the applications. If you installed a ‘Swiss Army’ suite of applications, grouping is essential.

You can set certain programs to automatically run when CodySafe starts.

CodySafe Autorun Application

An extremely useful feature is scripting. CodySafe allows users to set scripts that automatically execute before an auto run application starts as well as after CodySafe closes. This can be used in situations such as clearing the system’s DNS cache. Even if a portable browser doesn’t store any history or cookies on the computer, DNS lookups are still cached. To do this, simply add the line ipconfig /flushdns into the Post-run Script section and select Batch Script.

CodySafe supports VBScript and Batch Script

CodySafe also features hotkeys to easily show/hide CodySafe, launch an application, eject the drive, open the control panel, or open URL.

CodySafe HotKeys Options

CodySafe also includes some security features with DriveDoctor.

CodySafe DriveDoctor helps keep your drive secure and running smoothly

DriveDoctor’s primary feature is ViruSense, which protects from threats from AutoRun. Its ViruSense will detect if the drive’s Autorun.inf file has been modified since the last time CodySafe was launched and show a warning. The optional Real-Time Monitoring will give a warning immediately when the file gets modified. Many viruses can get spread with Autorun as a malicious program can be set to run automatically.

CodySafe Notification about a change in the Autorun.inf file

DriveDoctor can also automatically run Windows Check Disk to scan for and attempt to repair errors and bad sectors on the drive.

CodySafe includes a ‘Find-if-Lost’ feature which helps create a Readme file containing the owner’s contact details. If anyone finds the drive, they can use this information to return it to the owner.

Find If Lost feature of CodySafe

CodySafe automatically creates special file management folders, such as Documents, Music, and Pictures, providing easy access to these files from the launcher.

Don’t like the default look of the CodySafe Launcher? There are many downloadable themes available from their website.

CodySafe Liberty Theme

Overall, the program works very well and is very easy and straightforward to use. It does the main job of managing portable applications very well and also throws in very useful features, such as scripts. It makes good use of the Windows Aero theme to create a pleasing looking interface.

Final Verdict

CodySafe Free is an excellent tool to have on your portable flash drives. It helps you manage your portable applications in one easy to use launcher without having to dig through multiple folders. It also has useful protection against AutoRun malware. It’s a small and unique little app that we recommend you try.

What are your thoughts about CodySafe? Leave your thoughts in the comments.