4 lesser-known issues I do with outdated USB drives

I’ve lots of outdated USB drives mendacity round.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

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 If in case you have an outdated USB drive mendacity round, you’ll be able to simply upcycle it and get extra use out of it. Listed here are the 4 ways in which I prefer to upcycle my outdated USB drives.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

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 must do is obtain whichever ISO information from whichever OS you want, after which use a third-party device (I favor Rufus) to create a bootable drive. For those who’re utilizing a Home windows-based pc, you will must entry your pc’s UEFI/BIOS, which will be accomplished by urgent the designated key (usually your F1 key, however verify your producer first) at startup. When you’re within the BIOS, search for a tab known as boot order, and choose the USB drive.

The method is definitely a bit easier on macOS, as you will not must obtain Rufus or any third-party packages, and might do all the course of, together with booting from the USB drive with the built-in macOS Disk Utility function. 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.

Associated

What is Linux? Everything you’ve always wanted to know

Linux is a strong working system with a lot to supply – discover out what it’s and learn how to get began.

2

Play your favourite video games

You can even retailer and run video games straight 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 simple strategy 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.

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 lots of house. I like to recommend utilizing any drive that’s licensed USB 3.0 or greater for velocity and to be sure you have sufficient house to your video games.

Associated

5 classic PlayStation games I emulate on my iPhone

With PlayStation 1 emulators now on the Apple App Retailer, it is lastly time to revisit a few of your favourite classics.

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 that you could’t afford to lose. Nevertheless, one of many easiest methods to again up what’s most vital to you, is through the use of a USB drive as a backup location. One of many main advantages of utilizing a USB drive to again up information, is that you could then entry your most vital information from wherever, due to the compact portability of USB drives.

The best means 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 will not be free and can run you $50/yr.

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

Associated

How (and why) I back up my Windows 11 PC

You’ve got bought quite a lot of choices, however one goes to be the go-to for many customers.

Create a conveyable media library with 1000’s of songs

Whereas there are lots 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 might be able to as much as 1TB or storage that you should use for a variety of flicks, 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 straightforward. You do not have to fret about carrying additional drives in your bag or fear about whether or not you will have web entry, as every thing you need to convey will be saved domestically on the USB drive.