Flash Drive Tips & Tricks wanted...

[ahhaa]

I got convinced to buy a flash drive on another thread and am having a good time with it!

Couple of Qs tho:

I kinda enjoyed the way my Verbatim self-installed itself; especially as it came with no paper instructions at all, not even something on the packaging.
Now I'm wondering if each drive installs itself uniquely, or is it a manufacturer specific driver, or a generic USB flash capability.

In other words, would it make sense to stick with one manufacturer to limit the number of drivers installed?

Also, I haven't activated the password thing yet; that's cool but I'm wondering if there's any downside besides the obvious.

Also also, it formatted itself as FAT. Is that FAT32, & can/should I fiddle with NTFS, or is there a chance of screwing up the drive?

Any other tips/tricks welcome- I gotta get up to speed on this!

[Poppa_Meth]

If you are running XP then virtually all flash drives will use XP's built in generic driver. As far as the number of drives, it all depends on how many you plug in at once. Usually when you "safely remove" the drive via the system tray icon, it's drive letter will disappear. When you plug in another drive it can generally use the same drive letter. They don't stay in the drive list when inactive in other words. When you remove one the drive letter goes away until you plug it in the next time.

[Poppa_Meth]

Oh and most flash drives seem to come formatted to FAT16 for maximun compatibility with various operating systems.

[ahhaa]

Thanks! one last thing- do you really have to use the 'Safely Remove' dealy, or is it OK to just pop it out? I got a Verbatim unit.

[b1tchm4gn3t]

I know this is probably wrong, but I just pull mine out like 80% of the time. Never had an issue yet. Im sure one day it will make me a believer when I * * * * something up!

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I know this is probably wrong, but I just pull mine out like 80% of the time. Never had an issue yet. Im sure one day it will make me a believer when I * * * * something up!

yeh, I learned the hard way.
always just yanked it out until I lost half the files I'd just put on before a yank....

[ROF]

I have never used the safely remove hardware option. I have never had a problem. You can string several drives together but just remember that each one you add is drawing added juice from your system however small it might be I have seen machines where too many USB devices or hubs connected will shut down due to overtaxing the power supply. I keep two connected plus my MP3 player at almost all times on my main system. Never had any issues with lost files. I don't say I am endorsing this practice but just telling you I have not had any problems.

[studtrooper]

I used to pull mine out without doing a saftey detach, but after I got the "Delay write error" once and tanked my homework, I've done it each and every time after that. I really, REALLY hope this is fixed for vista. Once a drive says its done writing to disk, that should be freakin' it, done, finito!

[ROF]

Once a drive says its done writing to disk, that should be freakin' it, done, finito!

Maybe that's why I don't have these problems. I always wait after a write session before removing the drive.

[kschang]

My flash drive has a flashing indicator light. Just like an HD.

[offline]

Try this:

[Poppa_Meth]

I've had a couple errors when not using saferly remove option. Sometimes windows just doesn't want to let go of it so easily.

[ahhaa]

Mr Peabody- nice properties find! 8)

OT- Rocky & Bullwinkle- yes! Just saw Undead from your part of the world- really fun for a no-budget flick. Do you need Mel Gibson backdownunder? Nobody here gets Aussie swearing (poor sod).

[offline]

ahhaa, you can hijack your own topic - no problems.
BTW Undead cost 1 million all up to make but most of the FX were done on a P3 Laptop. All editing was done with Adobe Premier.

PS: Yes the avatar is from the R&B show.. courtesy of LordSmurf (another little guy)

[studtrooper]

Wow, nice feature offline. THANX!!!

[JSB1]

For those who are afraid of losing their USB drive with sensitive data on it:
http://www.truecrypt.org/

Free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux
Main Features:
Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.

Encrypts an entire hard disk partition or a storage device such as USB flash drive.

Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.

Provides two levels of plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password:

1) Hidden volume (steganography – more information may be found here).
2) No TrueCrypt volume can be identified (volumes cannot be distinguished from random data).

Encryption algorithms: AES-256, Blowfish (448-bit key), CAST5, Serpent, Triple DES, and Twofish.
Mode of operation: LRW (CBC supported as legacy).

Conceived in 2003.

I even got some bat files to mount and unmount the drive ... pretty cool stuff.

JSB