Installing programs on an external harddrive to use on other computers... questions...?

I am getting an external harddrive for Christmas, and I want to be able to install programs to the external harddrive to use on other computers, no matter where I go. Mainly at work, where of course install access is limited to administrator rights. I want such things as a good graphics program to do signs for work and other things. However, the graphics program I want to use requires registry files to work.

I can't get a straight answer from anyone when I ask how or even if it would be possible to do as I wish to do.

Will I have to install an operating system on the harddrive to install this program because of the registry? If so, what would be best (without spending $300 or more on Windows)?

Will installing an OS even work, as the processor has to boot up to that drive before it uses its registry files?

Anyone know?

Thanks for the help, and Happy Holidays everyone!

Installing programs on an external harddrive to use on other computers... questions...?panda

ok hun, heres what you need i have two USB Drives one a 1 gig and a 2 gig usb drive. on the 1 gig drive i have puppy linux to use a an operating system with apps loaded already. and the 2 gig i use for general storage and windows portabler apps, i use Pstart to luanch the items kinda like a taskbar setting

one it i have open office, an anti virus scanner, media player, portable firefox, burning software, etc