To save on the internet and synchronize data and files on multiple computers, we have seen, in the comparison post between Cloud Drive and online storage services, a considerable number of alternatives ranging from the good old Dropbox to the new Google Drive and Skydrive from Microsoft. Even Dropbox is not the most generous in terms of free space offered (2GB at registration), it still remains the most popular thanks to many integrations that allow you to take advantage of the service for various purposes.
An additional possibility, absent for other programs of the same type, is the portable version of the Dropbox synchronization program that allows you to keep a copy of the files on the internet and also on the USB stick, usable on any computer, even without installing the official client .
To understand how useful it can be, we need to make a small summary.
Dropbox allows you to access the same files from other computers using the client or via the web.
Through installed client, you can synchronize the folders so that they are always available and the same, on all the PCs used, whether they are Windows, Linux or Mac and also via Android or iPhone.
Having a portable Dropbox client has the advantage of not having to install the application on all computers and being able to access files even on non-own PCs (such as that of a friend) or public ones.
The portable version does not have the limit of an account configured for each machine and allows you to access multiple accounts other than the same PC .
In this way, theoretically, you can also synchronize 3 or 4 free accounts simultaneously, on the same computer, to have more and more space available.
The DropboxPortableAHK program is a portable Dropbox for USB sticks and computers, which does not require installation.
Thanks to a wizard and the fact that it is also in Italian, it is rather easy to use.
After the download, extract the client and launch it to enter the configuration menu.
In the second screen a connection test is performed to verify that the PC is connected to the internet.
In the third you can choose the location of the folder where the synchronized files will be saved.
In the fourth one you can choose to copy or move the files from the Dropbox folder, which already exists in case the official client is already installed on the computer.
In this way, in synchronization, the files already present in the web space will not be re-downloaded from scratch.
The sixth tab allows you to activate some plugins such as, for example, the protection of the folder in case the USB stick is detached from the computer used and the Dropbox encryption with password.
Finally, on screen 8 you need to download the configuration files by clicking the central button and you can choose a notification icon that will be displayed near the clock at the bottom right.
If everything has been correctly configured, you can end the Dropbox portable installation process in the last tab where you can create a new account or use an existing one.
If you have many files saved online, you can choose selective synchronization, choosing only the ones you need at the moment.
This configuration procedure must be done only the first time and all information is saved in the same folder as DropboxPortableAHK which can be completely copied or moved to a USB stick or an external Hard Disk .
The files, after the first synchronization, are stored in the chosen folder and always remain identical to those saved on the internet.
To configure a second or third Dropbox account and use it simultaneously on the same computer, simply extract the DropboxPortableAHK.zip file again into another folder with a different name and repeat the configuration procedure.
DropboxPortableAHK can be downloaded from the download page, it's free, in Italian and only for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, 32bit and 64bit.
There may be some bugs in its use that bring some errors, but in the end everything should work correctly.
