4 lesser-known issues I do with outdated USB drives

I’ve a number of outdated USB drives mendacity round. A budget storage resolution is most well-known for being a straightforward method to retailer Phrase docs and PDFs, however they will accomplish that rather more.

Do you know that with a USB drive you possibly can create an encrypted locker for all your passwords? In case you have an outdated USB drive mendacity round, you possibly can simply upcycle it and get extra use out of it. Listed here are the 4 ways in which I prefer to upcycle my outdated USB drives.

1

Experiment with a conveyable OS

Study a brand new OS akin to Linux with a USB drive and endurance

Linux Mint

Putting in a bootable OS on a USB drive is a breeze. All you will must do is obtain whichever ISO information from whichever OS you want, after which use a third-party software (I want Rufus) to create a bootable drive. When you’re utilizing a Home windows-based pc, you will must entry your pc’s UEFI/BIOS, which could be carried out by urgent the designated key (sometimes your F1 key, however examine your producer first) at startup. When you’re within the BIOS, search for a tab referred to as boot order, and choose the USB drive.

The method is definitely a bit less complicated on macOS, as you will not must obtain Rufus or any third-party applications, and might do your complete course of, together with booting from the USB drive with the built-in macOS Disk Utility characteristic. You will nonetheless must obtain the OS ISO information to your USB flash drive, after which plug the drive in and entry the Disk Utility software.

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2

Play your favourite video games

It’s also possible to retailer and run video games instantly on a USB drive

Nintendo

Along with storing and operating an OS from a USB drive, you are able to do the identical factor along with your favourite video games. It is a straightforward method to journey along with your favourite video games, and it lets you run video games on a pc with out having to put in video games on a number of computer systems.

It’s also possible to simply transfer video games from Steam to your USB drive and play them instantly from there. Nevertheless, you will want a USB drive that’s each quick and has a number of house. I like to recommend utilizing any drive that’s licensed USB 3.0 or larger for velocity and to be sure you have sufficient house in your video games.

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3

Automate file backups

Do not lose crucial information

Google / Pocket-lint

There are extra methods than ever to again up vital information and folders which you can’t afford to lose. Nevertheless, one of many easiest methods to again up what’s most vital to you, is by utilizing a USB drive as a backup location. One of many major advantages of utilizing a USB drive to again up information, is which you can then entry your most vital information from wherever, due to the compact portability of USB drives.

The simplest method to do that is to make use of a third-party backup program. I personally have been utilizing Arconis True Image to do that, however remember that Arconis will not be free and can run you $50/yr.

On each Home windows and macOS, you possibly can at all times manually backup information through drag and drop from the file tree, however if you would like the flexibility to rapidly and robotically backup information to a USB drive, you will need a third-party program.

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Create a conveyable media library with 1000’s of songs

Whereas there are a number of high-tech methods to create a private media library — akin to making a NAS or Plex server — one of many easiest methods to create a conveyable media library is with a easy USB drive. Now that there are USB drives in the marketplace which can be able to as much as 1TB or storage that you need to use for a variety of films, music, and e-books to take them wherever with you.

It is an effective way to have the ability to entry your media from a number of computer systems, and it makes touring along with your favourite media simple. You do not have to fret about carrying further drives in your bag or fear about whether or not you will have web entry, as all the pieces you wish to carry could be saved domestically on the USB drive.