Mapping of virtualized set-up free applications for a computing system

Abstract

A setup-free software application and related operating techniques are described herein. The setup-free application is contained within a package file that does not appear as a program file to the computing system. When the package file is opened, the computing system virtualizes the “installation” of the setup-free application without copying application files to the actual file system and without making any modifications to the actual registry. When the setup-free application is running, operating requests (such as file read requests, registry read requests, and file write requests) are directed to the contents of the package file. Such redirection away from the actual file system and away from the actual registry enables the computing system to run the setup-free application from the package file.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for running a setup-free software application on a computing system, the method comprising:
 opening a package file that contains an executable application file, file system elements for the executable application file, and registry elements for the executable application file;
 maintaining a virtualizing mechanism for the executable application file, the virtualizing mechanism being configured to virtualize the executable application file to the computing system; and 
 the virtualizing mechanism directing an operating request from the executable application file to the package file.