Software Installation - PC vs Device

regression · #1 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 08:28 PM

Hello, I hope this is the right section to post my question. My question isn't about a specific piece of software, but a general one on how software is installed.

Most software for the PPC comes as a cab you run from your device. Some software is an exe that you run from your Windows PC with your device attached. I can understand software like PdaNet that you must install from your PC, as there is a PC and device component.

However, some software, like SPB Screen Shot, doesn't have a PC component, however when I downloaded the software, all I could find is an exe to run from Windows.

Technically, is there an advantage to installing via a Windows PC? I'm not picking on SPB Screen Shot, but to me, it would seem much simpler to just give people a cab. I like to keep my PC as "clean" as possible, but I have a few programs on there I never use. They get put in the start menu and add / remove programs list when I install PPC software from my desktop.

Thanks.

**jason25** · #2 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 08:34 PM

I never really understood that either, but you can still get the cab file if you so choose to:

for me I would just navigate on my pc to C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync and go to whatever folder I want for the cab. You could also just do a search for *.cab on your C:

regression · #3 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason25

I never really understood that either, but you can still get the cab file if you so choose to:

for me I would just navigate on my pc to C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync and go to whatever folder I want for the cab. You could also just do a search for *.cab on your C:

I didn't have any cab files in my "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync" directory. If I did, wouldn't that mean I would have to run the exe (ie, installing it) on my PC?

I have tried opening the exe in a zip program like 7-zip, hoping I would see a cab, but no such luck.

Hopefully someone can chime in and explain the logic behind the different installation methods...

Thanks.

**Unknown Zone** · #4 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regression

I didn't have any cab files in my "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync" directory. If I did, wouldn't that mean I would have to run the exe (ie, installing it) on my PC?

Thanks.

"Cabs" files need to xfer to the phone and installed for there.

"Exe" files...can either be installed from the PC or the Phone it is a hit and miss.....you will know which deivce it need to be xfer to for installation/running of the program....if you get an error then it needs to be xfer install/run on the other device...vice versa.

regression · #5 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Zone

"Cabs" files need to xfer to the phone and installed for there.

"Exe" files...can either be installed from the PC or the Phone it is a hit and miss.....you will know which deivce it need to be xfer to for installation/running of the program....if you get an error then it needs to be xfer install/run on the other device...vice versa.

Thanks. But do you know the rationale for a developer to create an exe vs a cab? What are the technical considerations?

**Unknown Zone** · #6 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 10:49 PM

I really dont know the meaning behind exe/cab maybe some coding....have you done a google on it...

something like "cab vs exe"?

**jason25** · #7 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regression

I didn't have any cab files in my "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync" directory. If I did, wouldn't that mean I would have to run the exe (ie, installing it) on my PC?

I have tried opening the exe in a zip program like 7-zip, hoping I would see a cab, but no such luck.

Hopefully someone can chime in and explain the logic behind the different installation methods...

Thanks.

There should be some sub-folders under Microsoft ActiveSync, i.e. I installed Adobe PDF viewer 2.0 and since it was an exe, I needed to install via AS. I have a folder at C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\Adobe and there is a cab there now that I just transferred to my card so the next time I need to install it I can just install the cab file from my card.

gimme5 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 11:50 AM

I never really got it either. Perhaps they offer it via the PC for tech support reasons? It may be easier to just connect your phone to your PC and launch an install file for most inexperienced customers. I know when I first got a WM device years ago, I was like "cab? HTH do I install that?". I think the best is to just offer both.

BenC · #9 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 01:02 PM

It really is about the experience level and what people find the easiest way to get things done. Many people with PPC devices use ActiveStynk to sync/connect to their device. Utilizing an installation method that follows the same steps removes a level of confusion when it comes to actually copying the application to the device. Notice that after the application has been copied to the device that the option to install to main memory or the card is provided. Many places that provide CAB files do so with the note similar to, "to download directly to the device."

Thursday · #10 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 06:20 PM

Lately I have been able to right click on the exe and choose to extract with 7zip. It then extracts the contents to a folder where you will find a .cab.