A USB flash drive, also known as a USB stick, USB thumb drive or pen drive, disk key, disk on key, flash drive, memory stick or USB memory, Is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface. The data stored can be effortlessly rewritten and easily removable. USB flash drive can store important files and data backups, carry favorite settings or applications, run diagnostics to troubleshoot computer problems or launch an OS from a bootable USB.
Compared to floppy disks, Flash drives are manufactured to be portable, they usually come in small, finger friendly sizes that are easy to carry about therefore making them totally mobile. Most weigh less than 30 grams .
As of March 2016, flash drives with anywhere from 8 to 256 GB are frequently sold, and less frequently 512 GB and 1 TB units.
Video Source: Beginners Guide to Using a USB Flash Drive – Ask a Tech #70
How to Use USB Flash Drive and Tips
If the operating system is WindowsXP / Vista / Win7 / Linux / PrayayaQ3 or Apple, then plug the USB flash drive into the chassis front panel or USB interface on the host back, the system will automatically recognize it. If the system is Windows 98, you need to install the USB Flash driver on your PC. The drivers can be found on the supplied CD-ROM or on the manufacturer’s website.
The first time you use a USB Flash Drive on a computer (when you plug the USB Flash Drive into the USB interface), the system sends out a beep, and then reports “discovery of new hardware.””. Wait a minute, it will prompt: “the new hardware has been installed and can be used”. (sometimes also may need to restart) then open the “my computer”, you can see out of a hard disk icon, name is the brand name of USB Flash Drive, such as Kingston, name show KINGSTON.
There are some tips about use USB flash drive following:
- USB Flash Drive generally has protection switch of written, do interface switch with USB Flash Drive working state before plug USB Flash Drive into the computer.
- USB Flash Drive has a working status indicator, when plug the USB flash drive into the host interface, if the lights flashing, indicating that the data can be read and write. Some of the USB Flash Drive are still working after the system copy progress bar disappears. It is forbidden to unplug the USB Flash Drive when the read and write status lights are on. The USB Flash Drive must be pulled out before the read / write status indicator blinks.
- in order to protect the motherboard and USB interface, prevent deformation to reduce friction, if there is no requirement for copy speed, you can use the USB extension line. the line is the thicker , the better. But no more than 3 meters, otherwise it is easy to errors when copy data. Note that,if the USB extension line of USB1.1 (USB2.0 Full Speed), it will be very slow.
- The principle of USB Flash Drive and hard disk is greatly different, do not defragmentation, otherwise affect the service life.
- USB Flash Drive may have viruses, to scan antivirus before insert the computer
- Do not plug the USB Flash Drive into the computer before started up, if not the computer will doesn’t be start.
