JTM1051
MVM
join:2000-07-08
Moorpark, CA
|  [Tip] Make the most of your USB drive
Make the most of your USB drive
Has five steps (mini articles) on using USB drives.
1. Run apps from your USB drive.
2. Software for your USB drive
3. Back up your PC to USB
4. Get e-mail on your USB drive
5. Manage passwords with your USB drive
_____________________________________
For managing passwords I use KeePass Password Safe on a USB drive. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI | That was confusing as I thought you were talking about USB ports at first. I don't have a USB Flash drive and see no reason to have one. Why would I want one? What would I need it for? |
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howie
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-08
Little Falls, NJ
| said by Mele20  :That was confusing as I thought you were talking about USB ports at first. I don't have a USB Flash drive and see no reason to have one. Why would I want one? What would I need it for? You wouldn't want one and don't need one. 
I find them extremely useful for transferring pictures from my digital camera to my PC. Plugging the camera into the PC works but I find it awkward and slower than just popping my CF card into the USB2 reader. I also find it extremely useful for transferring files/programs between PC's.
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"I'm as sure as I can be... without any, you know, proof!" - Adrian Monk |
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lilhurricane
Crunchin' For Cures
Premium,Mod
join:2003-01-11
Purple Zone
clubs:  |  reply to JTM1051
Thanks for the tips, JTM1051  |
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vukodlak75
Nisam Ti Dude
Premium,MVM
join:2001-10-27
Beachwood, OH
clubs:
| reply to howie
I have 2 1GB "thumb" drives. I keep a bunch of security apps and pc utilites on one. I use this when I need to fix family pc's.
The other I use to transfer data between pc's at home and work, much faster and easier than always burning a cd then erasing and burning again.
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Never living, always surviving. |
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heels_fan
1.20.09 The start of Socialism
Premium
join:2003-02-07
Columbia, TN
| reply to JTM1051
We use them at work to carry our software "tools"
Anti-spyware apps, Drivers all types of NICs, USB drivers for modems, diag tools, various troubleshooting docs, anti-virus installation files, ect ect, and an occasional Mp3
--
The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready. |
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howie
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-08
Little Falls, NJ
| reply to JTM1051
I can fit 736-3.5" floppies worth of data on my 1GB CF card. These are truly matchbook sized wonders and I couldn't live without them!
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"I'm as sure as I can be... without any, you know, proof!" - Adrian Monk |
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Keizer
I'M Your Huckleberry
Premium,MVM
join:2003-01-20
| reply to howie
said by howie :said by Mele20 :That was confusing as I thought you were talking about USB ports at first. I don't have a USB Flash drive and see no reason to have one. Why would I want one? What would I need it for? You wouldn't want one and don't need one. I find them extremely useful for transferring pictures from my digital camera to my PC. Plugging the camera into the PC works but I find it awkward and slower than just popping my CF card into the USB2 reader. I also find it extremely useful for transferring files/programs between PC's. I agree with Howie! I too use a USB CF card reader to transfer my photos.
Just look how quick I was able to grab the progress shot of my 73 Camaro!
Keizer |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| reply to JTM1051
Yeah...guess I don't need one. I don't have a digital camera. I'm disabled so I don't need to transfer files between home and work. I can transfer files between my two real computers and my virtual and real ones without a USB drive. I can see where though in certain instances they would be very useful. For me though, I can think of many better ways to spend my money. (I need more RAM ....1024 is not enough to run a host box and two virtual PCs at the same time  and that's going to be $150 for two 512 sticks).
--
Around 2005 a sudden spark will catalyze a Crisis mood. The very survival of the nation will seem to be at stake.Sometime before 2025, America will pass through a great gate in history. The risk and promise will be very high. The Fourth Turning Wm. Straus |
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DFWDraco76
Premium
join:2001-02-21
Plano, TX
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to JTM1051
I use one to transfer files between work, school, & home. Most things I can just keep on my Unix account at school, except that I can't get to them from work unless I have it on my website (they block ssh & ftp access at work).
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my website: »www.utdallas.edu/~bal023000 |
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JTM1051
MVM
join:2000-07-08
Moorpark, CA
| reply to Mele20
Before USB Flash/Thumb drives I used Zip disks for years to transfer files between work and home.
The majority of new desktops and notebooks don't come with floppy drives due to the popularity of USB Flash/Thumb drives. Most brands of 128 MB USB Flash/Thumb drives are $19.99.
By your questions/comments does not appear that you read through the article. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
1 edit | I read the article. I still don't see why most users would need this. When I bought this Dell Dimension 8300 in 11/2003, I made sure to order a floppy drive. That drive has had to be replaced already due to high rusting of the ones currently used by Dell. I will have it replaced again in six months probably due to the rusting. I just also replaced a floppy drive on my older Dell. That Dell had a well made floppy drive that didn't rust for over 5 years.
I see the usefulness of the USB Flash drives if you transfer files between home and work and if you find that the easiest way to put digital photos on your computer. I am not interested in digital cameras so that is irrelevant me. I like the camera I have just fine but I do understand that lots of folks like digital cameras and this might be useful for them.
I have seen USB flash drives in Walmart and they are all at least double the price you mention and most are higher than that.
One other thing? Can you boot from a flash drive? You still need a floppy drive for that I would think.
--
Around 2005 a sudden spark will catalyze a Crisis mood. The very survival of the nation will seem to be at stake.Sometime before 2025, America will pass through a great gate in history. The risk and promise will be very high. The Fourth Turning Wm. Straus |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
| reply to JTM1051
said by Mele20 :One other thing? Can you boot from a flash drive? You still need a floppy drive for that I would think. Yes...some USB Thumb Drives are indeed "bootable".
And to continue the original subject, I LOVE these things.
In fact, it's become an obsession. Can't help it but I seemed to have started a bit of a collection. (I presently have 9 different models and sizes).
I use them for the many reasons mentioned above and then some....even carry my own Browser around and a lot of utilities to name a few already mentioned.
Like howie said, when I think about the fact that I can fit the equivalent of 356 Floppies on my 512mb Drive alone, it's truly amazing (Not to mention they are SOOOO much faster reading and writing data than a floppy).
Anyway, I've rambled too long as usual. Suffice to say that USB Flash drives are one of my ALL TIME favorite "geek toys".
Thanks for the links JTM1051 !
On to an off topic observation. Wow! I see you got rid of the number after "howie" Howie!  (I like it!)
Don't mind me, I'm a little slow sometimes.
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem. |
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fegul
Premium
join:2004-08-23
united state | reply to JTM1051
Don't forget to look through this site for more portable apps!
»www.portablefreeware.com/ |
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jp0469
JP
join:2000-12-13
Rochester, MA
| »www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?···eID=1676
Here's another similar article but with more info on booting from a USB key. I have one that boots DOS and auto runs Ghost 2003 for backups and another one that boots Damn Small Linux. »www.damnsmalllinux.org/ |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
| Thanks for the Links guys....already had the portablefreeware link bookmarked but I'm intrigued by the "damnsmalllinux" link.
Pretty cool!
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I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem. |
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Kabanos
Premium
join:2001-06-29
3 edits | reply to JTM1051
»[Info Only] MS USB Flash Drive Manager Released!
»www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta···ylang=en
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non nova, sed nove |
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NyQuil Kid
8f The Nyquil Kid
join:2001-01-06
Brick, NJ
 ·Comcast
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to Mele20
No, you can boot from a USB key as well - in fact your Dell 8300 supports that (so long as it has the latest BIOS) - there are numerous tools to make a USB key bootable.
Floppy disk is going the way of the dinosaur - simple as that.
[8F] The NyQuil Kid
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[8F] The NyQuil Kid comes into town not looking for trouble...n00bz gang up, but he ain't seein' double,...pulls and draws, his deagles two...n00bz litter the ground you know it's true. |
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PhoenixAZ
Joshua
Premium
join:2004-01-04
Phoenix, AZ
·Cox HSI
1 edit | reply to howie
said by howie :said by Mele20 :That was confusing as I thought you were talking about USB ports at first. I don't have a USB Flash drive and see no reason to have one. Why would I want one? What would I need it for? You wouldn't want one and don't need one. I find them extremely useful for transferring pictures from my digital camera to my PC. Plugging the camera into the PC works but I find it awkward and slower than just popping my CF card into the USB2 reader. I also find it extremely useful for transferring files/programs between PC's. said by Keizer :said by howie :said by Mele20 :That was confusing as I thought you were talking about USB ports at first. I don't have a USB Flash drive and see no reason to have one. Why would I want one? What would I need it for? You wouldn't want one and don't need one. I find them extremely useful for transferring pictures from my digital camera to my PC. Plugging the camera into the PC works but I find it awkward and slower than just popping my CF card into the USB2 reader. I also find it extremely useful for transferring files/programs between PC's. I agree with Howie! I too use a USB CF card reader to transfer my photos. Just look how quick I was able to grab the progress shot of my 73 Camaro! Keizer said by Mele20 :Yeah...guess I don't need one. I don't have a digital camera. I hope you guys know that hes talking about USB thumb drives, has nothing to do with digital cameras, and USB CF card readers/MemoryStick/etc.
said by Mele20 :Yeah...guess I don't need one. I don't have a digital camera. I'm disabled so I don't need to transfer files between home and work. I can transfer files between my two real computers and my virtual and real ones without a USB drive. I can see where though in certain instances they would be very useful. For me though, I can think of many better ways to spend my money. (I need more RAM ....1024 is not enough to run a host box and two virtual PCs at the same time and that's going to be $150 for two 512 sticks). I find USB Thumb drives to be easier to use than burning CDs, or using floppies. But I think the best way to transfer files, a network of course I lost my 1GB thumbdrive at school, so I find those small things easy to lose. |
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DFWDraco76
Premium
join:2001-02-21
Plano, TX
clubs:
·Verizon FIOS
·AT&T U-Verse
| I "lost" mine for a few weeks too... but it turned up, I had just accidentally tossed it in the wrong drawer after work one day. So they are definitely easy to misplace!!!
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my website: »www.utdallas.edu/~bal023000 |
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