Friday is free software day as I go through the extensive list of free software available for Windows Mobile and bring you the ones worth installing.

Installing software is pretty straightforward. You tap the CAB file and select either Main Memory or SDMMC (Storage Card) and the default installer does the rest. But what if you do not have the option of choice? Usually this is because the developer requires the file to be installed in a specific location to ensure proper function. But there are times when this is not the case.

The Software

At during such times, CabInstl will serve you well. From SK Tools, this software has been around for quite a while, debuting in 2005 (if I am not wrong) and has not been updated since v1.4. But that has nothing to do with functionality as you will see that this software just works

Availability

You can download the file from its developers page or from PocketPCFreeware. I am not sure which version is hosted but it seems the former has 1.03 while the latter, 1.04.

Installation

For a CAB installer, it’s ironic that the file does not come as a CAB. Instead you get an .EXE file which you can just copy to any directory on your device and run it from there. Nothing fancy or complicated here.

Use

Launch the program and you are good to go. Tap on the .CAB button to choose your CAB file and then tap PATH button to choose your destination. If nothing is selected, then it would install to the default location which is usually the one chosen by the developer. If you would like to further customize the software, you can select the option to Not Delete CAB File after installation although this can easily be overcome with a registry hack. You can also choose to associate all CAB files with the software such that every time you tap on a CAB file to install, it will come up, thus saving you several taps. You could also choose to remove warning messages though this is ill-advised.

Why You Should Have It

This software was created in 2005, around the time of WM2003/SE, an era when we did not really have much choice over where files went when they were installed. Sure there were developers who gave us the option but that was not the norm.

Fast forward to 2007 where with with WM5 and 6, we now have the liberty to choose where we want our files to be installed. And if we don’t, then there is usually a good reason for that. However, if you are trying to install Eten applications selectively, you would not have a choice and the Main Memory would be the victim in this case. But with CabInstl, you no longer have to be at the mercy of those applications, should you choose to install them.

And it does not stop there. If you have an application that does not give you the option on installation location, then CabInstl will be able to solve that problem for you. It works well with my WM6 device and since it was made for WM2003, I reckon it would work for WM5 as well.

Thanks to Xavier who recommended this software from his comments in ‘So How Much Free Space Can You Get With A Hard Reset‘

Tags: free software