4 lesser-known issues I do with previous USB drives

I’ve numerous previous USB drives mendacity round. A budget storage resolution is most well-known for being a simple method to retailer Phrase docs and PDFs, however they will achieve this far more.

Do you know that with a USB drive you’ll be able to create an encrypted locker for your whole passwords? You probably have an previous USB drive mendacity round, you’ll be able to simply upcycle it and get extra use out of it. Listed below are the 4 ways in which I prefer to upcycle my previous USB drives.

1

Experiment with a conveyable OS

Be taught 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 have to do is obtain whichever ISO recordsdata from whichever OS you need, after which use a third-party software (I favor Rufus) to create a bootable drive. For those who’re utilizing a Home windows-based pc, you will have to entry your pc’s UEFI/BIOS, which will 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 have to obtain Rufus or any third-party packages, and may do all the course of, together with booting from the USB drive with the built-in macOS Disk Utility function. You may nonetheless have to obtain the OS ISO recordsdata 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

You can even retailer and run video games straight on a USB drive

Nintendo

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

You can even simply transfer video games from Steam to your USB drive and play them straight from there. Nevertheless, you will want a USB drive that’s each quick and has numerous house. I like to recommend utilizing any drive that’s licensed USB 3.0 or greater for pace and to be sure to have sufficient house to your video games.

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3

Automate file backups

Do not lose essential recordsdata

Google / Pocket-lint

There are extra methods than ever to again up essential recordsdata and folders that you would be able to’t afford to lose. Nevertheless, one of many easiest methods to again up what’s most essential to you, is through the use of a USB drive as a backup location. One of many major advantages of utilizing a USB drive to again up recordsdata, is that you would be able to then entry your most essential recordsdata from anyplace, because of the compact portability of USB drives.

The best 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 bear in mind that Arconis isn’t free and can run you $50/yr.

On each Home windows and macOS, you’ll be able to at all times manually backup recordsdata by way of drag and drop from the file tree, however if you’d like the flexibility to rapidly and robotically backup recordsdata to a USB drive, you will desire a third-party program.

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Create a conveyable media library with hundreds of songs

Whereas there are numerous 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 available on the market which might be able to as much as 1TB or storage that you need to use for a variety of flicks, music, and e-books to take them anyplace with you.

It is a good way to have the ability to entry your media from a number of computer systems, and it makes touring along with your favourite media straightforward. 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 things you need to carry will be saved domestically on the USB drive.