No matter if it's installed or not, a firewall will detect a port scan. If
you need to test for a specific port, you could set up a computer outside
the firewall with a web or telnet server listening on the port you're
checking for. Then from a web browser just enter:
http://ip-address:port
or
telnet ip-address port
Word of warning. Since "The program needs to be usable w/o an installation",
I'd guess you don't have administrative rights to install software, which
probaly means it's a company computer. Port scanning is easy to detect and
trace back to the computer it came from. Firewalls log that sort of thing
and set off alarms when a specified criteria is met. Better read your
computer usage agreement and prepare to get your walking papers if you get
caught!
....kurt
If the port is open to outgoing traffic, you should connect.