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7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] - Phones - Nairaland

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7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Ayebaeapretai(f): 8:51am On Jun 13, 2019
We’ve all used USB sticks to transport files between computers and back up our files, but there are other cool things you can do with a USB stick. You can use one to lock and unlock your computer—just like in the movies.

You can also use a USB flash drive to quickly connect to a wireless network on all your PCs, increase your computer’s performance, or even run a web server—directly from the USB stick itself.

Here are several surprising ways you can use a USB flash drive.

1. Use a USB Flash Drive to Lock/Unlock Your PC
Do you want to lock and unlock your computer with a physical key, like they do in the movies? With the free PREDATOR tool, you can! PREDATOR turns a USB flash drive into an access control device—a key for your computer. When you leave your PC, unplug the USB stick and your computer will be locked. When you return, plug it back in and your computer will be unlocked. It’s like using the Lock function in Windows, but you don’t have to type your password when you return.

When you unplug your USB flash drive, your open windows will minimize, and your screen will go dark—plug it back in and your screen will turn back on.

Download: PREDATORfor Windows

2. Run Portable Apps Anywhere
One of the oddest things about software is that it usually needs to be installed. With portable apps, however, that isn’t the case. Portable apps and games can be easily copied to a USB stick, then run from any suitable device. This is usually a 32-bit or 64-bit PC. Browsers, email tools, messaging apps, and games can all be run from a USB flash drive. It’s a particularly useful solution if you’re keen to keep a selection of apps close to hand to use on any PC that might be nearby. This might be in a library, or even a cyber café at a holiday resort.

3. Increase Performance With ReadyBoost

If you have a slow hard disk drive in your computer, ReadyBoost can help speed things up. When you enable ReadyBoost for a drive, it acts as a hard drive cache, caching frequently used files. If it’s faster to read from the USB stick instead of your HDD, Windows will read the flash drive cache instead. You won’t see much of a performance boost if you have a 7200+ RPM drive. If you have a solid-state drive, Windows won’t let you use ReadyBoost because the cache will be slower than your SSD.

To enable ReadyBoost, right-click a USB stick in Windows Explorer, select Properties, and use the options on the ReadyBoost tab. Windows will only let you enable ReadyBoost if your USB stick is fast enough, so you might see these options grayed out for some devices. ReadyBoost also requires a flash drive with at least 256 MB of free space.

4. Make Backups With Win32 Disk Imager

If you’re using your USB flash stick for many purposes, it might be useful to backup the contents. An easy way to do this is with Win32 Disk Imager.

Although Win32 Disk Imager is usually used to write bootable disk images to flash drives, it can also create images. Simply install and run the tool, insert the USB stick, and select a destination and name for the Image File. Click Read to clone the disk contents. When you need to restore the disk image, simply browse to the image and click Write.

Download: Win32 Disk Imager for Windows

5. Store Vital Travel Documents
If you travel often, you’ve probably mislaid documents. Visas, booking confirmations, even passports can easily go missing. Packing papers in the wrong bag can lead to problems if baggage handlers make a mistake.

One solution is to save all travel documents to a compact USB flash drive and carry it with you. This might even include scanning your passport, if only to provide immigration with the information they need to conduct background checks if your passport has gone missing.

6. Install Almost Any Operating System
Bootable USB disk images of operating systems can be used to install a new OS on your PC. For example, Windows 10 users can create a bootable USB installer disk using a dedicated tool. In the event of a problem with the operating system, this can be used to recover or even reinstall Windows.

Similarly, all manner of Linux based operating systems can be installed from USB. Many offer a live environment, giving you get a feel for the OS which runs direct from USB before installation. It’s even possible to create a USB installer disk for macOS.

7. Stay Secure Online With Tails Live Operating System
Alternatively, you might be looking for an OS that you can run from USB to keep your online activity private. The solution to this is Tails, which unlike standard operating systems, preserves your privacy and anonymity. No logs are kept on the operating system. Meanwhile, state of the art cryptographic software encrypts your files, emails, and instant messages, while internet data is routed via Tor.

Each time you use Tails on your USB flash drive, it starts a whole new session, retaining no data. This helps to enhance your online privacy and security—just be sure to use secure passwords!

6 Likes

Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Archaic: 8:56am On Jun 13, 2019
Wow!!! Thats cool but how do you turn a usb drive to a wireless reciever?
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Nobody: 8:57am On Jun 13, 2019
Informative and educative
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by BrainEya(m): 3:04pm On Jun 13, 2019
Let me book space incase this crawl to frontpage
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Nobody: 4:36pm On Jun 13, 2019
Informative
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by IdeeEsperanza(m): 6:34pm On Jun 13, 2019
Interesting... Thanks
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Nobody: 6:46pm On Jun 13, 2019
Fsc 103

Year one university computer course knowledge undecided
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by sparog(m): 7:10pm On Jun 13, 2019
Saltybear:
Fsc 103

Year one university computer course knowledge undecided

And so what?

Some of us that didn't study computer science didn't know all this, so it's either you appreciate the Op or keep your mouth shut

4 Likes

Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Nobody: 7:13pm On Jun 13, 2019
sparog:


And so what?

Some of us that didn't study computer science didn't know all this, so it's either you appreciate the Op or keep your mouth shut

Have you eaten today at all? undecided
No wonder you are so angry !
Buhari is really dealing with you guys there o grin
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by sparog(m): 7:38pm On Jun 13, 2019
Saltybear:


Have you eaten today at all? undecided
No wonder you are so angry !
Buhari is really dealing with you guys there o grin


Ode grin

As usual you don't have anything meaningful to say but vilify Buhari

Useless lowlife

3 Likes

Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Nobody: 7:48pm On Jun 13, 2019
sparog:



Ode grin

As usual you don't have anything meaningful to say but vilify Buhari

Useless lowlife

Vilify buhari? You actually do not understand what that word means do you?

Such a stupid boy

Go and read your books dummy

[img]https://media1./images/a53be6cc904e63941709e5f7eae8f4e1/tenor.gif?itemid=3393233[/img]
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by sparog(m): 7:51pm On Jun 13, 2019
Saltybear:


Vilify buhari? You actually do not understand what that word means do you?

Such a stupid boy

Go and read your books dummy

[img]https://media1./images/a53be6cc904e63941709e5f7eae8f4e1/tenor.gif?itemid=3393233[/img]

Teach me what it means fool

cheesy

It's folks like you that act like u know stuff but actually don't know shit

Una plenty for nairaland cheesy grin

1 Like

Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Nobody: 7:54pm On Jun 13, 2019
sparog:


Teach me what it means fool

cheesy

It's folks like you that act like u know stuff but actually don't know shit

Una plenty for nairaland cheesy grin

This kid is such a dummy grin grin grin

Wow .. how stupid are you really?

Wait how old are you? I suspect between 13-15 years right ?

[img]https://media1./images/2b34166f97e77eadbfdf8cd78ca7c5ce/tenor.gif?itemid=4936718[/img]
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by sparog(m): 7:57pm On Jun 13, 2019
Saltybear:


This kid is such a dummy grin grin grin

Wow .. how stupid are you really?

Wait how old are you? I suspect between 13-15 years right ?

[img]https://media1./images/2b34166f97e77eadbfdf8cd78ca7c5ce/tenor.gif?itemid=4936718[/img]

I'm old enough to call you son

grin
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Nobody: 8:14pm On Jun 13, 2019
sparog:


I'm old enough to call you son

grin

Truly You are an astronomical dummy grin

[img]https://media1./images/2b34166f97e77eadbfdf8cd78ca7c5ce/tenor.gif?itemid=4936718[/img]
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by sparog(m): 8:51pm On Jun 13, 2019
Saltybear:


Truly You are an astronomical dummy grin

[img]https://media1./images/2b34166f97e77eadbfdf8cd78ca7c5ce/tenor.gif?itemid=4936718[/img]


You taught me well cheesy grin

I learnt from you
Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by IceTrice01: 9:44pm On Jun 13, 2019
Saltybear:


Have you eaten today at all? undecided
No wonder you are so angry !
Buhari is really dealing with you guys there o grin

Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by Nobody: 9:46pm On Jun 13, 2019
[quote author=IceTrice01 post=79306619][/quote]

[img]https://media1./images/a53be6cc904e63941709e5f7eae8f4e1/tenor.gif?itemid=3393233[/img]

Buhari is trully the dumbest president ever

He looks like a dehydrated agama lizard on crack

1 Like

Re: 7 Uses For A USB Stick You Didn’t Know About [KNOW HOW] by femi4: 6:18am On Jun 14, 2019
Archaic:
Wow!!!
Thats cool but how do you turn a usb drive to a wireless reciever?
Insert the male end of your USB flash drive to the USB port on your wireless USB transmitter. Connect the USB end of your wireless USB receiver to an available USB port on your PC.

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