I had not anticipated that the specifics in the GOTD build (which are registry dependent) would disable portable mode. If I had thought of it, the portable mode thing would never have been mentioned!

I am right now working on a fix for this. And those who email me in near future (or already have emailed) will get a fixed executable just like I promised in comment #28 :)

...

For those interested about using Launcher, please see:
http://www.microsystools.com/products/launcher/help/launcher-windows-system-tray/
http://www.microsystools.com/products/launcher/help/launcher-add-file-shortcuts/

...

For those complaining about the price of 29$ of the normal [Pro] build, please remember Launcher also exists in a freeware edition.

Quote: "Those of you with Win7 may need this program or something similar to get a grip on the bizare interface that Microsoft thinks is clever."
----------

Windows 7 has a much better workflow than XP, to the point where there are so many front-ends to XP to make it look and feel like Vista or 7. Windows 7 users have a far better interface than has ever been available in the PC world to date. Anyone who thinks Windows 7's interface is bizarre has not given much effort to find out what it is all about, and/or to learn it.

This being said, having tried out this software on offer, I cannot fathom why it can make life any easier than what it is with any Windows version prior to XP. For this reason, I cannot say I would recommend it unless you are having serious problems learning to use Windows.... even then, I would firstly recommend taking a course in Windows.

Being able to audition software like this and other offerings is what Giveawayoftheday of the most valuable for. Many thanks to the staff and the participating developers !!

To effectively compete against freeware launchers, a paid program must offer features that users want & that freeware fail to include.
A partial list of the multitude of freeware launchers available includes:
Article comparing a number of well known freeware launchers
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-program-launcher.htm
Best Free Program Launcher
Updated 19. September 2011

7APL – Windows 7 Application Launcher
http://programming-designs.com/projects/7apl/

7stacks
http://alastria.com/software/7stacks/

8start Launcher
http://www.8start.com/

Alaunch other freeware at link also
http://www.alistairgeorge.com/

Advanced Launcher
http://www.alentum.com/alaunch/

Appetizer
http://app.etizer.org/

ASuite
http://sourceforge.net/projects/asuite/

AutoRunnerX and AutoRunnerU
http://www.usb-stick-software.de/tools/autorunnerx/en/index.html

Circle Dock
http://circledock.wikidot.com/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/circledock/

CodySafe
http://www.codyssey.com/products/codysafe.html

Colibri
http://colibri.leetspeak.org/

Coolkeys
http://www.simpletools.co.in/

DeskBug
http://chesterway.co.uk/deskbug/

Desktop Manager BBox
http://www.bainsoft.com/product/desktop-manager.html

dlinkz
http://www.dlinkz.com/

Executor
http://www.executor.dk/

Fast Launcher
http://www.dvasoft.com/

FCorp - File/Folder Launcher
many other freeware apps at fcorp link also
http://fcorpsoft.tk/
alternate dl link== http://www.freewarefiles.com/File-Folder-Launcher_program_58573.html

FSL Launcher
http://fsl.sytes.net/launcher.html

geek.menu
http://geek-menu.sourceforge.net/

GNOME Do
http://do.davebsd.com/

HotKeyz, Hotkeyz Portable
launcher plus other features
http://www.skynergy.com/

jetToolBar program launcher
http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/jettoolbar/

Key Launch
http://www.konradp.com/products/keylaunch/

Lacuna Launcher
http://www.appsapps.info/lacunalauncher.php

LaunchBar Commander
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/LaunchBarCommander/index.html

LaunchDock
http://www.pulsarsoftware.net/

MadAppLauncher
http://sites.google.com/site/madapplauncher/

Microsys Launcher
http://www.microsystools.com/products/launcher/

MouseExtender - launcher for Windows
http://me.codeplex.com/

Object Dock
http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/

Oolauncher
http://oolauncher.deskangel.com/

Open Menu+
http://sciactive.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=39

Personal HotKey
http://www.wieldraaijer.nl/others.html

Portable Application Launcher V3.1.2
http://www.download.irohde.de/en/launchv3

Portable Start Menu
http://www.aignes.com/psmenu.htm


Pretty run
http://delphistep.cis.si/prettyrun.htm

Program Starter
http://www.ab-tools.com/en/software/programstarter/

Promptu
http://www.promptulauncher.com/

Pxax Daemon-other freeware at link also
http://products.pxax.com/

Qsel
http://www.horstmuc.de/wqsel.htm

radial menus
http://sourceforge.net/projects/radialm/

Risingware Fast Start Genie
http://risingware.com/en/risingwareStarter.html

RK Launcher
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rklauncher/#

RocketDock
http://rocketdock.com/

SE-TrayMenu
http://se-soft.com/en/Products/TrayMenu/

Selector (other free hotkey apps here also)
http://www.favessoft.com/hotkeys.html

Sh'elf
http://www.xworks.ca/shelf/index.html

Shortcuts Pool
http://www.whitecloudsoft.com/launchcenter/index.html

Signo
http://main.kerkia.com/tools/default.aspx

SlickRun
http://bayden.com/SlickRun/

SmartStartMenu™
http://www.smartstartmenu.com/

SpeedMenus
http://www.squal.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=27

sTabLauncher
http://www.stablauncher.com/

Startway
http://sourceforge.net/projects/startway/

Svift
http://lmadhavan.com/software/archive/

SWAZZ TOOLKIT
http://www.mazzic.net/software/swazz_12.htm

SyMenu
http://www.ugmfree.it/SyMenu.aspx


ToolBox v2.85
http://www.cylog.org/utilities/toolbox.jsp

TrayBar
http://www.nimation.nl/traybar/

TrayLauncher
http://code.google.com/p/traylauncher/

Typhoeus Hotkeys
http://www.tommcclean.org/hotkeys.html

ubSpawn
http://www.unitedbytes.de/go.php?site=ubspawn

UpStarter - many other freeware here also
http://www.tightcannon.co.uk/
Publisher's Description at freewarefiles
http://www.freewarefiles.com/UpStarter_program_58954.html
Program to start your favorite applications. The right hand panel has some pre-set Windows stuff. The left hand panel has 16 buttons which can be set to run your favorite Applications.

WinBar
http://sourceforge.net/projects/winbar/

Windows 7 Application Launcher gadget http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=7eb0c316-b3d1-416e-bff4-5b7ed53ebe11

WinShortcuts
http://www.midlinesoft.com/winshortcuts

Winstep Nexus
http://www.winstep.net/nexus.asp

XWindows Dock
http://xwdock.aqua-soft.org/
----------------
freeware launcher for MAC
Quicksilver
http://www.blacktree.com/

Some old DOS users like me may remember XTREE, from Symantec. It's replacement program, not from Symantec, called "ZTREE" is available for free (with popup reminders if you don't choose to pay $29.95 for registration). It is a terrific file management app that lets you do all kinds of things, including launching any program I've come across. Check out http://www.ztree.com As far as I know, Kim is still offering free lifetime updates, too.

If the developer for LaunchMate had pursued that launcher utility, then LM would be THE "category-killer" for such utilities. Its from the '90s, and still its flexible categories/file/utility shortcut buttons are efficient-to-use. Do a Search to find it, and just check it out. Why no other programmers have taken off on this abandonware, I'll never know (hint, hint!!).

Looking at this offering's screenshots, its but a window for various shortcuts, yes? Nope, I like LaunchMate's hidden-window setting, along with colored buttons/text. Making a visual selection is even faster than typing in, or reading a list of selection, imho. thanks, anyway!

#37 comment? You're not talking about "Rocket Dock" are you?

Question: What's the best way to find & start your apps? Answer: There isn't One. You [hopefully] find what works best for you. Microsoft's Metro [win7 mobile & win8] is one choice, Windows' Start Menu is another, and then you have all the launchers, desktop apps, & start menu alternatives out there, including today's GOTD, the Micro-Sys Launcher. Today's Micro-Sys Launcher sits on the taskbar & via the right-click menu lists the apps you've added to it, organized in folders if you like. Like the regular shortcuts you place on the desktop you can add arguments [optional switches that control how an app behaves when started, e.g. Notepad.exe "MyText.txt" will start Notepad with MyText.txt opened], set an app to run as admin [win7], start minimized, in a window, or full screen, & run from a folder you set. Launcher additionally has the option to start an app Hidden, though you can't assign a Hot-Key the way you can with the shortcut on your desktop. Some launchers are easier than others to set up, & with Drag/Drop the Micro-Sys Launcher makes that process Very easy. But some launchers also work portably, giving you a menu for the apps &/or contents on the USB device where they're stored, & for that today's GOTD only works partly -- adding items on a USB stick could get a bit tricky [USB drive letters change so you may have to use special paths], & Micro-Sys Launcher stores it's license info in Windows registry, so using it portably on a PC/laptop where it's not been installed means it's unregistered. The help file, a set of html files, tells you how to modify "muc.ini" so Launcher stores all other data in it's program folder for greater portability.

Installation adds the "Micro-Sys Software" program folder with 94 files, 35 folders, ~3 MB -- set to work portably that folder holds 96 files, 42 folders, & still ~3 MB without any app shortcuts added. By default folders are also added to My Documents & User App/Application Data, with 2 app keys & an uninstall key added to Windows' registry. There are no different 32/64 bit versions, & apps started via the Launcher run under the Launcher's process, though that shouldn't cause any problems. Setup & Activate.exe seem to work fine in everything from XP to the win8 dev preview. I thought that maybe having more than one copy installed, & then setting them to work portably, I might make different collections, e.g. one for Graphics & one for Video, but that wouldn't work.

I try to keep Windows' own Start Menu well organized, so *to me* it's not a big deal & the only launcher I regularly use is the one from portableapps.com -- you have the PortableApps folder, folders with the .exe to run go in that PortableApps folder, & when you start the PortableApps launcher ["Start.exe"] those apps are automatically added to the menu. There are more options like categories [think of the folders in your Start Menu], but that's essentially it, making it nice for removable media from CDs to USB sticks. And while there's nothing wrong with the Micro-Sys Launcher context menu, IMHO the PortableApps launcher is nicer looking than most. But if you think starting your apps from a right click menu might work well for you, give Micro-Sys' Launcher a try.

I have been using Cylog ToolBox for as long as I can remember - they recently added some new features to the original which is a user friendly, easy to configure and one time 'click' for any and all programs,drives or folders...I have tried pretty much every quick launch tool that comes my way and just cannot match this one.

Another options is Quick Pop Menu by Micheal Uno. It is a simple version of the brilliant Quickcliq. Quickcliq is a power users delight.

For the rest of us Quick Pop Menu is a neat app to get your apps.

http://michaeluno.jp/en

It is Portable, Freeware, for Windows 2000 or later.

Question ??

Do anybody remember a menu launcher that is activated by holding
down the mouse wheel and making a downward gesture? It is very similar to Quick Pop Menu and Quickcliq.

Those of you with Win7 may need this program or something similar to get a grip on the bizare interface that Microsoft thinks is clever. But those of you lucky enough to have Win XP wont need any of this as everything is immediately to hand and nicely organised. There are freewares available to convert the Win7 front end to XP. That is a much better option.

XP SP3.

(I did not read through the help.)

Missing the ability to sort a listing.
If I drag a directory of 36 .exe's into a "Folder", appears they show up in the the order dragged. Ability to sort, after the fact would be nice.

Mouse scroll does not work on a long listing.
You must use the up/down arrows (at the top, bottom, of the list). Less convenient when you have a long list.

Though the list does maintain its relative position when re-opened (instead of jumping to the top). Makes it easier to re-invoke a last used program. (Perhaps there should be some key, shortcut to re-invoke a last used program.)

A manner to interactively enter command-line parameters would be nice. So I could start my brower, SeaMonkey, but do it in Safe Mode, with the command-line parameter, so: SeaMonkey.exe -safe-mode.

Settings are stored (hard-coded) at \user\current\My Documents\Micro-Sys\Launcher\*.

I suppose the portable version (much preferred) would alleviate that.

The ability to hide & or move the 'Launcher menu' itself. Would think it better at the top of the list (as you're more likely to access most used items towards the bottom?)

There is an Elevate, Run as admin, but perhaps a method to do that interactively - like holding down the Shift key?

If you make a change & go to close without saving, it does prompt you. Good. (Save button should be grayed out if there is no reason to save.)

Would be nice to have the ability to open a folder in an application (like a file manager) rather then just Windows Explorer.

Stores a files at; \user\current\Application Data\Micro-Sys\Launcher\lcs\user.msd. Not sure what that is for/does?

Does what it says. Don't see anything particularly wrong.

I've used Control Runner as a program launcher for years now. Honestly, I couldn't live without it. It's the only launcher I've ever seen that uses icons on tabbed pages so that you don't have to run the mouse through complicated menus just to find the program you want to launch. It costs $30 and is worth every penny, in my opinion: http://www.momsoftco.com/controlrunner.htm

Hi., I have installed as a portable, and working well....

XP 32Bit Machine here. ( I don't bother with win 7 64 bit customization anymore, It's a mess and I will always hate win 7. )

I see a someone has already mentioned TLB (True Launch Bar) but I have since the DOS days used an asm 32 source code called tools.zip
(it moves around on the web, but I found it currently here)
win32assembly.online.fr/files/Tools.zip

For several years, I used gkrellm and just the launcher.dll plug-in (AS A SHELL REPLACEMENT)

Then one day, I met FLB (Free Launch Bar)
www.freelaunchbar.com/

I thought wow this is nice, then I tried True Launch Bar (TLB), and found while it does everything FLB does, it was too cluttered for my taste, So I went back to FLB.

So I try this program out, it installs, works, but however you want to slice it, the reality is, I am already back to my blessed FLB.

To the Author/Coder - Sorry, I give it good points for trying, but maybe un-clutter it somehow. Have a look at the above examples I showed you to better understanding of why I keep going back to FLB.

To the USERS - Use what works.

Peaceout

Well after downloading and playing with the program for a bit I am wondering why I would fork out the money for this program over the many free launch managers out there. There doesn't seem to be anything to set this one apart from its competition. That and the fact that this is basically a crippled version (no portable support unless you contact the creator) makes me wonder why I should cough up the money to this company.

Sorry Mr. Schulz but in today's economy you really have to stand out from the competition in order to pry the money out of our wallets/purses.

One of the best features of Linux is a very flexible UI that includes multiple task bars to stash launchers & other useful goodies.

The True Launch Bar offering from here a while back brings all that to Windows and everything else just sorta pales in comparison, including this, the Mac dock clones, keyboard launchers, etc. If you own it, you probably know what I'm talking about. If you still have it through the offering here but haven't used it because it is confusing, try again. If you weren't lucky enough to get/save it the last time it was offered here, perhaps GAOTD will offer it again.

Personally, I've used TLB for at least 10 years and it is the first thing I put on a new system. Everything else is a waste of time.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will try take note.

#3 I have not heard of this problem from anyone else. Sure you downloaded the GOTD build?

#7 Launcher GOTD is installed in already regged mode which indeed locks the "Name ID" field.

For those having problems getting portable mode to work. Please email me. The GOTD build does not work in portable mode, and I will do my best to rectify this problem to those who contact me (!) I am truly sorry about this oversight :(

For those who do not need a program Launcher and/or using an alternative. Thanks for your feedback. I will see if there are any features I need and can implement :) Otherwise it is true this program was originally created back in ~1999 where the need was much greater :) All that said, there are still many people who like to use various Launcher utilities for a variety of reasons.

Downloaded and installed but it's way to complicated for me!

I LOVE my launcher! FSL by Freesoftland (http://freesoftland.sytes.net)
I divide it into tabs - apps, games, media, photo, design, system, utilities, GOTD, etc.... I can always find the shortcut immediately.

I mostly use FARR for this sort of thing. Simple, fast, powerful if you want to mess around with aliases and such.

@Ben - Not being able to figure out why a launcher might be more useful than the Start menu's search function...FAIL.

#20 Raive, thanks for the tip - while I often use shortcuts, I did not know about this!

As far as I'm concerned, the only key reason to use any launch utility is if you are autostarting a CD or USB stick that you are moving from computer to computer - the built-in Windows Start Menu does not know of these temporary programs, so you set up a program launcher that only knows of these temporary programs. If you set Vista & 7 to search out these USB drives, you do not reserve drive letters for each individual drive, and you use a multitude of drives, you can end up confusing windows (system & repeated temporary applications) over time, so using an autostarted launcher is safer in these cases.

That said, many people use the PortableApps platform as the base for USB flash drives, and the default launcher they supply is usually quite sufficient (yes, you can add your own entries to non-PortableApps apps you add).

Otherwise, if you are happy with Windows' Start Button, All Applications & Search, there is no need to use this type of utility.

I was unable to edit muc.ini (http://www.microsystools.com/products/launcher/help/program-launcher-portable-usb/)...I have uninstalled the program.

@ben, yes I really do put shortcuts on the desktop. How many times do u launch a program that u use frequently. I launch it once, and it can stay open all day. So 1 click to minimize, click to launch. Big deal

Easier alternative :
Pin Program to Taskbar. to start it, press Windows key + number according to arrangement of pinned items.

Nice offering but I'm left wondering why you would spend money on this if it wasn't a freebie just for one day.
Much prefer to use FARR (find and run robot) which has been around for years and doesn't cost a cent.
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/findrun/

Free and really helpful: Fast Launcher (http://www.dvasoft.com/fast_launcher/). And it deserves its name!

#13 "You use a utility to launch your applications through a menu"

....not only applications (which can be categorized) but also Drives/Files/Folders and URL's ... all immediately accessible by holding down the RH mouse button and dragging it down the screen. Drag it up the screen accesses 9 individual clipboards and drag it left accesses a memo pad.
Quicker to use the search function in the start menu ? I think not.

#4 : many thanks bettersafethansorry, it is even betten than PStart !
Great app !

One more freeware - PortableStartMenu (http://www.aignes.com/psmenu.htm). It eats about 1mb of RAM! Launcher Pro memory consumption is about 10mb.

@arthur lee Are you kidding? Do you really put shortcuts to programs you use often in the desktop and minimize all windows every time you want to launch them? Wow. Ever heard of Quick Launch? Or about pinning elements to the taskbar? Or pinning items to the Start Menu? Or the Start Menu'"most often used programs" list? Or the Start Menu's Search function?

@bettersafethansorry You use a utility to launch your applications through a menu when you could just use the Search function in the Start Menu and launch them faster? FAIL.

I also prefer Launchy (over this). It's free and it's a must-have for "keyboardians".

I cannot fathom why u would need any launcher. If it is a program u launch often, put a shortcut on yr desktop. Very rarely, use file explorer and open the .exe.

I will give it a try. Just downloaded it. But I have some questions. You mensioned that we can run it from a memory stick: "...from portable media such as USB sticks." - But how? I´m not a specialist and I don´t know how to put this program to my USB-Stick. Do I just copy the exe - file and activation file on it and it runs? Or is it the "Micro-Sys" folder which was created on my document - folder? Please give me some help, because I´m lost. Thanks in advanced.

On the surface, this seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist and is perhaps one of those utilities that would lie dormant on most machines as people are likely already comfortable with how to launch the features that they use.

No, it's an app launcher. Think of app launchers as "advanced Start menus that you can configure and launch via hotkey or mouse click"... As far as launchers go, however, there are MUCH better freeware alternatives available, like QuickCliq, Mouse Extender, True Launch Bar and Launchy (which is more search-keyboard-oriented than using icons).

Check out one of those apps. I remember trying out this program a few years ago after I stumbled upon it, and I wasn't very impressed at all, even for an app launcher back then.

I have Win7 64-bit. I was not able to validate because the Name ID was frozen (ie, At the blinking cursor in first line, my keystrokes didn't fill in the Registration Form). Hence, I can't try it.

I don't understand why one would use this kind of program. When I want a program to run I launch it. Sometimes one program can launch another, for example, when a browser launches Adobe reader to see a file the user clicked on.

But aside from that, I can only think of one other need to have one program launch others, and that would be to have programs run automatically at certain preset times. In this case, we would use a scheduler. We wouldn't call it a program launcher.

Is this just another scheduler program?

Free excellent alternative: PStart
http://www.pegtop.de/start/

OK so this is free today which makes my following comment somewhat irrelevant but do the advantages of the Pro version over the free version really justify the asking price?

So far as launchers go I have tried a great many,including the free version of Launcher, and this one,I'm sorry to say,does not get out of the starting gate.

For sheer ease of use I now run a combination of two launchers.
For lesser used programs - I use TrueLaunchBar - as given away on this site. Really just a glorified version of MS's quick launch bar

For my main launcher I now use the brilliant Quickcliq
http://apathysoftworks.com/software/qc
Lightweight and portable (the programs database is contained within its own portable folder) and accessible from anywhere on the screen via a mouse gesture. IMHO truly indispensable.

Be nice if it worked, clicking launch from within app gives you a 31 day trial

A better and free solution!
http://www.launchy.net/

Win7x64 works fine but seems useless to me. Probably better for Vista / Xp users (if there are any still out there..)Uninstalled - thanks anyway..