Version 16.3 (released around 2009–2010) is often considered the "Goldilocks" version for electrical engineering students. It was powerful enough to handle complex simulations but light enough that clever users figured out how to strip away the heavy licensing managers and installers. The Flash Drive Hero
: New options for wire styling (color, width) and the ability to embed various image types directly into schematic pages. 3D Viewing
Third-party portable apps are often distributed through unauthorized channels. This poses a major security risk, as these files can contain malware or spyware .
Texas Instruments offers a custom, free version of PSpice 16.6 (newer than 16.3) that is fully portable-ready. It runs without a license server and can be installed on a USB drive. The only limitation: you can only simulate circuits containing TI components (plus basic RLCs). It is completely legal and malware-free.