With 8 GB flash driving available for under $ 20 and 32 GB drives edging into the mainstream , nobody can blame you for shelving former USB stick . But there are a surprising number of uses for those rickety , sub - gigabyte keychains .
There are nearly dateless way to lend a USB spliff out of retreat , and they ’re not just gimmicks : virtually all USB sticks , 32 MB USB 1.1 dinosaurs included , can be repurposed into anything from a lifesaving troubleshooting tool to an entire portable OS . Here are your good options :
reverse it into a physical “ key ” for your computer
For security freak or the extraordinarily genuine - minded , Vista has build up - in software toconvert your USB winder into an actual keystone , such that your PC wo n’t boot without stimulate it inserted . It might not be idealistic if your key may be old enough that it is likely to go wrong on you , if you have a tendency to lose midget things , or if your laptop computer only has one or two USB port to begin with , but it definitely pop the question a special kind of peace of mind . For Macs , Rohos basically does the same affair , but at $ 30 , it ’s not particularly recession - well-disposed .
https://lifehacker.com/windows-vista-tip-enable-bitlocker-with-a-usb-drive-234459
instal a portable bone
This is actually simpler and less esoteric than it vocalise — install a broad regalia of Linux systems is pretty easy nowadays , and will more importantly net you a amply functional screen background that you could take with you wherever you go . Lifehacker lately assembled auseful comparisonof popular USB - able Linux distribution , in which they recommend the fantasticUNetbootinor creating the bootable Francis Scott Key in the first berth . It ’s worth noting that two of these distros will shape on samara at less than 128 mebibyte capability ( DSL is just 50 MB , total ) and all transmit a legitimately utile mountain range of apps .
https://lifehacker.com/battle-of-the-thumb-drive-linux-systems-5069054
Use portable apps to make a pocket-sized user visibility
Most free package now comes in a portable variety show , mean that at least under Windows , platform that usually pass their tentacle into your user visibility and registry can be set up whole — exploiter data include — onto a USB reefer . All you do is enter the pin and receive the want .exe , and you ’re good to go .
The most obvious advantage to this is profile portability — in other words , your portableFirefox(orOperaorChrome ) is n’t just the app , it ’s your dearie , story , user predilection and cookies too . Theportable version of Pidgin , a multiprotocol IM plan , can have your explanation data , transcripts and setting . Most of these installations are quite modest — Firefox is just 8 MB , for good example — so you could build an extensive user profile on all but the oldest Key .
https://lifehacker.com/portable-chrome-puts-chrome-on-your-thumb-drive-5045439
The very best one - stop shop for portable apps is the , well , aptly namedPortableApps.com .
produce a knock-down troubleshooting toolbelt
Portableantivirusand filerecovery appsare convenient , but a USB key fruit can be loaded up with much more powerful software . Ultimate Boot CD for Windowsis a sort of software nostrum which , in addition to including a excerption of Windows maintenance apps , carry a authentic hoarded wealth trove of low - level troubleshooting syllabus , made approachable by booting into a sort of irregular “ Windows Lite ” background . It can manage saucer deletion and partition , package and hardware diagnostics and a huge variety of lifesaving convalescence functions . Despite the “ CD ” part of its name , Ultimate Boot CD for Windows can be stretch onto a USB key , though it involve a Windows installation disc from which to construct the aforementioned “ Windows Lite ” environment . If you do n’t extend Windows but still desire a basic DOS - based rooms of computer hardware diagnostics and disk tools , thevanilla Ultimate Boot CDhas youcovered .
Convert it into a tiny SNES , Genesis , MAME , etc .
imitator are diminutive , and most ROMs are even tinier ; a USB key , no matter the size or fastness , can belike harbor more vintage cabinet game than you’re able to find the clip to play . Many popular emulators issue forth in a portable flavor , so your display context , salvage games and cheat will keep abreast you everywhere . Without the indigence to establish anything , this potentially opens up work , school day or other public PC to most pre - PlayStation gaming . Popular portableNES , SNES , Game Boy , Genesis , andarcadeemulators . As for read-only storage , that ’s on you . ( Pro tip : GOOGLE ) .
Carry a portal to your home computing gadget
Virtual connection Computing ( VNC ) go more complicated than it is — it just lets you see and control your figurer covert remotely . Whatever group O you prevail ( Windows , Mac OS X , Linux ) , VNC server are simple to typeset up and , if configure right , plenty secure . While many provide vane interfaces to be accessed through a web web browser , they ’re almost always clunky , Java - based monstrosity . A simpleVNC client(download the binary archive reading ) will pack your setting , run responsively and offer more timbre , swiftness and transference options than its bastard HTTP brother , transporting a domicile data processor ’s desktop to wherever you come about to be .
Donate it to charity
If you ’re some kind of ingrate who does n’t see the potency in any of the above options ( or you ’re just a good , charitable person),InVineo , a non - profit technical school outreach organization will find someone who does . They’llgladly takeyour 64 megabyte Cruzers and institutionalize them to develop countries to be used in schools or local governments .
Hat gratuity toLifehackerandPortable Apps .
Dealzmodo Hacksare intended to help you sustain yourcrippling contrivance dependance through tight multiplication . If you come across any on your own that are especially useful , send it to our tips strain ( Subject : Dealzmodo Hack).Check backevery other Thursday for complimentary DIY illusion to catch one’s breath young life into computer hardware that you already own .
https://gizmodo.com/zero-cost-gadget-upgrades-for-the-next-great-depression-5059598
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