I work for a company that has nothing to do with graphics, but at various times needs graphic images created or manipulated for use in presentations etc.  Due to the contractual stranglehold that the company has entered into with the IT provider only the provider can install programs on the companies computer.  The company won't authorise the installation of a graphics program because of the cost the IT provider will charge for a program that will only get "ocassional" use.  I have just started using the 3D program Blender which runs from a USB flash drive without the need to write to the registry (which is blocked to me as I don't have administrator rights) so this gets around the restrictions mentioned above.  So my question is doeas anyone know of a Photoshop type program that runs similarly to Blender: i.e. runs from a flash drive without writting to the registry?  The program does not have to have a huge range of features, it just needs to run in the envirionment I've described.. 

Hi Keppel, I'm not 100% sure, but you could try Gimp. I know it runs under Ubuntu and you don't have to install Unbuntu to work, it runs right from the CD.  It's free, but like I said I'm not 100% sure.

I don't know if it will work, but you might take a look at GIMP. It has the advantage of being free.

Attached Link: GIMP Portable

Thank you both for the GIMP tip.  I tried GIMP many years ago and at that time it required a hard drive, root directory installation which would not have helped my situation but on your suggestion I just had another look at it.  After a bit of a search I found a portable version of GIMP that goes through an installation process but installs onto a flash drive.  Just finished trying it out and it worked on the company computer without a hitch, so thanks again for your help.

If anyone else is interested this is where my search led me.  

http://portableapps.com/suite

This site has portable versions of free, open source programs under the General Public License.

Thanks bobby, beat me to the post.