3ds max on a thumb?

[legionaire45]

Does anybody know off hand if 3ds max 8 will work if I throw it on a Flash Drive and use it on a computer at my school that meets the minimum requirements for the app? It's 11:30PM and I can't remember if that works or not D=.

[Tweek]

nope.

it'll be missing DLL's and backburner and stuff.

[JDMFSeanP]

Cant you install onto the flash drive?

[p0lar_bear]

It's very possible, but you will need to buy a couple things.

You have two choices:
One, you will need to buy either a Lexar JumpDrive Lightning II or Mercury. Both drives are preloaded with a software package called "PowerToGo" which allows you to install and run programs on your flash drive on any computer.
Alternatively, you could download and purchase a license for Ceedo (http://www.ceedo.com/), which is the same thing as PowerToGo (PTG is Ceedo, but licensed to Lexar to redistribute).

Either way, it will run you about $20-$30. After you do that, you will need to purchase another license, this time for a plugin they offer called "Argo," which is about $20 or so.

They have a list of apps that you can install and run no problem, and you can install any old program on your PTG drive, however, it won't let you run apps that aren't on their list unless you have Argo. I think the setup sucks there, but it's better than not having it. In all, you'd end up short $50 max, but you'd be able to take 3DS with you wherever you go.

I'll also forewarn you that loading times on a flash drive are longer; it takes at least twice as long for me to start up SmartFTP from my flash drive than from my hard drive.

[Cortexian]

I've seen a portable version of max 8 floating around in the internet. Only a legal download if you own the program in the first place though.

[OmegaDragon]

Maybe this might be interesting to you. (http://inshame.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-make-portable-applications.html)

Haven't tried it, so I promise nothing. Either that or you could always go with the already made Wings 3D for U3 Drives....
I also heard that Ceebo (U3 like program for USB) lets you install any windows program on the USB stick, but that it is really hard to use Ceebo.

[legionaire45]

Meh, none of the computers I was hoping to use can actually run 3ds max apparently because all of them except the CAD computers and some newish laptops (I have access to neither) literally have 2 megs of VRam -____-.

meh, I'll just have to stick to photoshop on the macs =(. Thanks for the advice though, I'll give it a shot anyway and see if the software renderer will work (although I doubt it). I'll report back with my results.

[kenney001]

i've done it. found all the Dll's it requires and set up the folder heirchy on my flash drive. The only issue i found was you need to re-activate it every time you use a fresh computer.

basically install it, use a laptop, try to run it, write down the .dll its looking for, and make a list. I believe most of them are in a documents/settings folder. Then you copy those to your flash drive, and whala.

This works sometimes, when the comnputer you are working on has the same drive letter it was isntalled on. I have, however, put GMax on it and used it at school alot, until they blocked the registry, therefore disabling my ability to activate it with the registry hack (no its not illegal).

[p0lar_bear]

I also heard that Ceebo (U3 like program for USB) lets you install any windows program on the USB stick, but that it is really hard to use Ceebo.

Ceedo is actually very easy to use; I have it on my 1GB Lightning II. The major problem I have with it is that you need to purchase a license for its Argo plugin if you want to run ANY program off of it. If you don't purchase said license, you are only able to run only certain programs that they have approved.

[OmegaDragon]

Ceedo is actually very easy to use; I have it on my 1GB Lightning II. The major problem I have with it is that you need to purchase a license for its Argo plugin if you want to run ANY program off of it. If you don't purchase said license, you are only able to run only certain programs that they have approved.

Meh, close enough.