Page tested for compliance with INDUSTRY (not MS-only) standards, using the free, publicly accessible validator at validator.w3.orgAlmost everything from Sheepdog Software is supplied as self contained packages.
A few applications, notably those using 1-Wire hardware need other things. In the case of the 1-Wire applications, they need the 1-Wire drivers. But fear not...
The 1-Wire drivers come from Dallas Semiconductor, now part of Maxim. This is a major player of 25 years' standing, and I don't think that installing software from them is going to hurt you. Nor is it complicated.
Apologies... if you want to try my FarWatch application, even if you aren't going to use its 1-Wire capabilities, you will still have to install the drivers. I hope this isn't a Big Issue for you? I could re-write the application, but then I'd have to incorporate a switch, which you would have to deal with. Is it worth it? Just to avoid installing the drivers? (If yes, tell me why... and I will try to help.)
Good news: If you have access to the file, all you need to run FarWatch without using the 1-Wire features is IBFS32.dll in your Windows, or Windows\System32 folder. (If you just copy that from someplace else, don't expect all of the 1-Wire stuff to "just work"... although it may be sufficient.)
Bad news: If you are running XP, and you want to see if IBFS32.dll is on your system, you may have to edit your Windows Explorer folder options to view not only hidden files, but even un-tick an additional box: "hide protected operating system files"
Very Bad News: If you are using a 64bit version of Windows, there may be problems which I will find difficult to overcome for you. Please write and tell me of any experiences, good or bad, you have on a 64-bit system with my 1-Wire software?
At 12/08, there was a page on the Maxim site with a "select operating system" pull down, which worked well. If when you read this, that link is no longer satisfactory, start nearer Maxim's root, (http://www.maxim-ic.com/products/) and drill down into the 1-Wire or iButton pages, going into the Software Resources section.
Once you have downloaded what Maxim/ Dallas is making available, you just double click on it. It is an .msi file, which seems to work well. You will probably merely install the drivers. In the course of writing this fo you, I installed them, removed them and then reinstalled, them, simply by double-clicking on the downloaded file (three times). It handled everything intelligently, with no adverse effects as far as I have noticed. (Windows XP.)
Besides the mere drivers, you also get some small 1-Wire utilities. Don't be alarmed. Sorry for the extra stuff, if all you wanted to do was to test FarWatch... but maybe having the software in place will tempt you into the fun world of 1-Wire.
My friends say I worry too much. None of the above "should" be any problem, but maybe you, like me, have the view that the less we do to our computers the longer they run? Ah well.
Page tested for compliance with INDUSTRY (not MS-only) standards, using the free, publicly accessible validator at validator.w3.org