Submit portable freeware that you find here. It helps if you include information like description, extraction instruction, Unicode support, whether it writes to the registry, and so on.
synopsis wrote:... a free tool to delete files blocked by something you do not know. LockHunter is useful for fighting against malware, and other programs that are blocking files without a reason. Unlike other similar tools it deletes files into the recycle bin so you may restore them if deleted by mistake.
Testing notes:
I only tested the 32-bit version on Win7. Version tested was 3.1.1
Steps: Uniextract, run either Lockhunter,2 (the 32-bit version), or lockhunter,1 for 64-bit.
Status: Portable, not stealth. There are very few settings to save but, like several other programs I've tested recently, there are a few incidental window settings saved to \HKU\Software\Lockhunter and a minor logfile to C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\LockHunter,2\LockHunter,2.log.txt
Portable version
Per many user requests we have added a portable edition of LockHunter. It’s also supplied in the form of installer but it allows to install the program to an external drive (or even to a cloud drive) and then use it on any computer. The portable version stores its settings in a configuration file (rather than the registry) and save log file to the folder of its executable. It doesn’t have an integration to Windows Explorer and as installable version requires administrative permissions. It will run on both Windows 64 bit and 32 bit (though, there are less than 5% of our users are still on it).
This our first experience with portable software so your suggestions or notes on how can we improve it are very welcome.
[LockHunter] portable version is supplied in form of installer and it can be installed to an external drive (or even to a cloud drive) and then be used on any computer. What are the differences between portable and installable verions:
The portable version stores the settings (LockHunter.ini) and the log file in the folder of its executable
The portable version doesn't integrate into Explorer (right click menu "What's locking this file")
In order to unlock, delete or rename a file with a portable version you must run the program from the flash drive. Just browse "LockHunter Portable" folder and launch LockHunter32.exe or LockHunter64.exe depending on what OS type you have (32 or 64 bit, nowadays it's 64 bit).
Note! The portable version still requires administrative permissions.
If you do not need to support 32-bit, I would recommend downloading the installer as the installer doesn't include the 32-bit version of the app. Next use Universal Extractor to get the app's files and navigate to the extracted directory. Lastly, create an empty LockHunter.ini file. This should make LockHunter portable and stealth.
====================== 'LockHunter' Version History =====================
Legend:
[+] - Added, [-] - Fixed, [*] - Improved/Changed, [i] - Information
Version 3.4.2 (Apr 26, 2021)
[+] HighDPI support added
[+] Portable version added
[*] End User License Agreement added into the installer
[-] An error displayed when program was maximized on previous start
Version 3.3.4 (Nov 29, 2019)
[+] Ability to choose multiple files for unlock\delete
[+] Ability to drag-n-drop files\folders to the program window
[+] Improved the UI, it's made in ModerUI style
[+] Added an ability to view and manage files to delete on restart
[*] Improved performance of locking process scan
[-] GDI objects count grows with each UI refresh
[-] The icon in the Explorer context menu had white background, now it's
transparent
[-] If asked to delete directories on OS restart it falsely reported they
were deleted, while actually it didn't that
[-] The process list didn't always scroll with mouse wheel
[-] "Delete selected processes from disk" function always displayed false
result even if file was deleted
[-] In WinXP in some cases "Cannot open service control manager" was
displayed
Changes from 3.3 beta 3:
[*] Progress bar is displayed on search for the locking processes
[*] "Menu..." link is replaced by "Hamburger" icon
[-] The process list didn't always scroll with mouse wheel
[-] Wrong processes displayed on non existing path (ver 3.3 bug)
[-] "Thread error" message was displayed in some cases (ver 3.3 bug)
[-] "Delete selected processes from disk" function always displayed false
result even if file was deleted
[-] In WinXP in some cases "Cannot open service control manager" was
displayed
Version 3.3 beta 3 (Released on Sep 23, 2019)
[+] Improved the UI, it's made in ModerUI style
[+] Added an ability to view and manage files to delete on restart
Version 3.3 beta 1 (Released on Mar 18, 2019)
[+] Ability to choose multiple files for unlock\delete
[+] Ability to drag-n-drop files\folders to the program window
[*] Improved performance of locking process scan
[-] GDI objects count grows with each UI refresh
[-] The icon in the Explorer context menu had white background, now it's
transparent
[-] If asked to delete directories on OS restart it falsely reported they
were deleted, while actually it didn't that
Version 3.2.3 (Released on July 19, 2017)
[+] Now command line returns non zero exit code in case of unsuccessful
operation.
[+] "delperm" command line switch added.
[-] On some configurations the program stopped displaying its UI
[-] It was impossible to select a locked file from the open file dialog
('file in use' error)
[-] The program displayed a wrong message on command line "delete" command
[-] Incorrect order of "kill" command when called with "delete" switch
("delete" called before "kill" which lead to inabilty to delete a
blocked file)
[-] A message may display even when the program called with "silent"
command line switch
[-] The program displayed success message on deletion failure of a folder
[-] Some minor interface glitches in classic Windows theme fixed
[-] Command line may lose some parameters when run from non-elevated
environment
Version 3.1.1 (Released on Nov 22, 2013)
[-] In case if the UAC is disabled and the program is running under non
administrative account it doesn't start
Version 3.0.2 (Released on Sep 22, 2013)
[+] Deleting files at next operating system restart
[+] Displaying more information
[+] Auto check for upgrades
[+] Multimonitor support
[+] Ability to copy information to clipboard
[+] Unified installer for 32 and 64 bit
[-] Files with non latin characters could not be deleted
[-] A "Canvas does not allow drawing" error might happen on frequent
refresh
[-] Small Windows 8 graphical issues were fixed
[-] A not existing process might be displayed
[-] Path field didn't accept quoted file or folder names
[-] A click sound was heard when press Enter key in the path field
[-] Explorer and other file managers could be crashing on unloading
shell extension .dll
[-] Technical error might be displayed in some cases on file unlocking
Version 2.0 beta 2 (Feb 18, 2012)
[-] The process list displayed garbled on Windows 7 64 bit with Aero
theme enabled.
Version 2.0 beta 1 (Jan 26, 2012)
[+] Command line support
[+] Copy & rename actions added
[+] Various UI improvements
[+] Unloading DLLs from the locking processes
[+] Full Explorer context menu integration
[-] No more "DeleteFile failed;code 5" error on reinstallation
LockHunter
[-] The locking processes continue displaying even after successful
unlocking
Version 1.0 Beta 3 (Apr 27, 2009)
[+] The first public version of 64\32 bit file unlocker
Midas wrote: ↑Thu Sep 05, 2024 4:48 am
These are the files produced by the portable executable -- the extracted installer has only one main executable, instead of the two shown here:
As I mentioned above, the installer doesn't include the 32-bit version. The portable one does, which is why you see two executables in the portable version. Most users do not use Windows 32-bit any more, so that's why I recommend the installer.
