XnView Software

1. start portable edition
2. select 'Portable' for settings location
3. `C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP` is created with Thumb.db, XnView.db, xnview.ini
4. close XnView
5. reopen (it has forgotten that I chose Dark theme so I change it), Settings > Paths > Configuration = Portable
6. close XnView
7. `xnview.ini` timestamp in the portable folder has been updated, but not the one in user folder

delete everything and try again
make sure you have write access to the application folder

rotbus19 wrote: Thu May 29, 2025 1:51 pm 1. start portable edition

Which download link?

rotbus19 wrote: Thu May 29, 2025 1:51 pm 2. select 'Portable' for settings location
3. `C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP` is created with Thumb.db, XnView.db, xnview.ini

I can't reproduce, you should have an old xnview.ini

I just tried it again. Same issue.

> you should have an old xnview.ini

I don't understand. Do you think I have an `XnViewMP` in my `Roaming` folder from a previous install? No, I deleted it. The portable install is creating an instance in my `Roaming` folder even when I specify 'Portable'.

i can't reproduce. I have a win10, without folder C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP, i unzip XnView on C:\Users\XXXX\Desktop, start it, choose portable, and xnview.ini is created in C:\Users\XXXX\Desktop\XnViewMP

OK, more detail:

I have C: and D: drives. D: for data and downloads, C: for Windows, programs and User data

1. I download https://www.xnview.com/download.php?fil ... in-x64.zip to "D:\Downloads"
2. I extract zip to "D:\Downloads\XnViewMP"
3. I have removed "C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP" from my 'standard' install ("C:\Program Files\XnViewMP")
4. I run "D:\Downloads\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe" which starts the 'Startup Wizard'
5. I now see a new folder has been created at "C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP" before I have specified where I want this created

Does that help? I'm on Win11.

rotbus19 wrote: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:19 pm 4. I run "D:\Downloads\XnViewMP\xnviewmp.exe" which starts the 'Startup Wizard'
5. I now see a new folder has been created at "C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP" before I have specified where I want this created

so, it creates empty folder, and not

rotbus19 wrote: Thu May 29, 2025 1:51 pm 2. select 'Portable' for settings location
3. `C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP` is created with Thumb.db, XnView.db, xnview.ini

rotbus19 wrote: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:19 pm 5. I now see a new folder has been created at "C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP" before I have specified where I want this created

yes XnViewMP folder is created but no .ini or .db

> yes XnViewMP folder is created but no .ini or .db

No, "C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\XnViewMP" contains Thumb.db, XnView.db, xnview.ini

However, I didn't mention in the last step that I was switching to Dark theme in the Startup Wizard - that is the crucial difference.

Without Dark theme = no files in folder. With Dark theme = files are created.

However, the folder should not be created at all if the user is selecting portable install.

Thanks to your detailed description I can reproduce the problem.

xnview wrote: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:18 am you should have an old xnview.ini

Not anybody would go and check if it exist somewhere or understand what's the implication. That's why I suggested to include an .ini file and maybe some other DB files in the ZIP distribution.
Doing so would prevent unexpected interaction with a standard installation on the machine. If one use a ZIP distribution for a portable use it's probably to use XnView on a machine that is presumed not having it installed and/or with a specific configuration, data displayed, sort, play options, 2nd screen (slideshow with own settings - I did so Just a week ago).

This problem is supposed to be fixed in XnView MP 1.9.2. Please check and confirm the bug fix here.

Confirmed fixed. Many thanks.