VMware THINAPP 4.6 - MIGRATING APPLICATIONS TECHNICAL NOTE, Manual

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ThinApp User’s Guide
12 VMware, Inc.
Applications That ThinApp Cannot Virtualize
ThinApp cannot convert some applications into virtual applications and might block certain application functions.
You must use traditional installation technologies to deploy some application types.
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Applications that do not natively support the deployment operating system.
If an operating system does not support the native installation of an application, that operating system is
not a supported ThinApp deployment platform for that application.
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Applications requiring installation of kernel ‐ mode device drivers
ODBC drivers work because they are user mode drivers.

Antivirus and personal firewalls

Scanner drivers and printer drivers

Some VPN clients
Device Drivers
Applications that require device drivers do not work when packaged with ThinApp. You must install those
device drivers in their original format on the host computer. Because ThinApp does not support virtualized
device drivers, you cannot use ThinApp to virtualize antivirus, VPN clients, personal firewalls, and disk and
volume mounting ‐ related utilities.
If you capture Adobe Acrobat, you can modify and save PDF files, but you cannot use the PDF printer driver
that enables you to save documents to PDF format.
Shell Integration
Some applications that provide shell integration have reduced functions when they exist in a ThinApp
package. For example, a virtual application that integrates with Windows Explorer cannot add specific entries
to the Windows Explorer context menus.
DCOM Services that are Accessible on a Network
ThinApp isolates COM and DCOM services. Applications that install DCOM services are accessible on the
local computer only by other captured applications running in the same ThinApp sandbox. ThinApp supports
virtual DCOM and COM on the same computer but does not support network DCOM.
Global Hook Dynamic Link Libraries
Some applications use the SetWindowsHookEx API function to add a DLL file to all processes on the host
computer. The DLL intercepts Windows messages to capture keyboard and mouse input from other
applications. ThinApp ignores requests from applications that use the SetWindowsHookEx function to try to
install global hook DLLs. ThinApp might reduce the application functions.
Recommendations for Installing ThinApp
When you install ThinApp, consider the recommendations and best practices for the software.
Using a Clean Computer
VMware recommends using a clean computer to install ThinApp because the environment affects the
application capture process. A clean computer is a physical or virtual machine with only a Windows operating
system installed. In a corporate environment where you have a base desktop image, the base desktop image
is your clean computer. The desktop computer might already have some components and libraries installed.