Discover the hidden uses of USB drives

Most of us use USB drives just to store temporary files without knowing that this device can do much more.

Here are some ways users can maximize the capabilities of USB drives to make their lives more convenient.

Run mobile operating system

With a USB drive, users can carry an entire operating system in their pocket. This allows users to test another operating system on their device, use public computers without leaving a trace, and have a backup solution to continue working if the main operating system fails.

USB drives can be used to run portable operating systems

PHOTO: PCMAG

To set it up, users simply download the ISO file of the desired operating system. Then, use a tool like Rufus to format and create a bootable USB drive. Once done, access your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings, change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive, and restart your computer. Rufus also supports creating bootable drives for other operating systems like Linux.

Secure password storage and management

If you are using an online password manager or browser-based storage, using a USB drive will increase the security of your user credentials to protect against attacks and data breaches.

One simple way is to save your passwords in a text file, encrypt them, and store them on a USB drive. However, a more secure and convenient option is to use a portable password manager, like Sticky Password, which runs directly from a USB drive and is protected by a master password.

To do this, install the password manager, connect a USB drive to your computer, and configure the mobile version through the app settings. Once set up, users can securely store their login information on the USB drive and use it to autofill information on any device.

Back up important data

Many files and folders contain important data that users cannot afford to lose. A simple method of backing up is to use a USB drive. After backing up, users can remove the drive to protect their data. With the portability of the USB drive, users can easily access files on various devices.

The File History feature on Windows helps back up specific folders

PHOTO: ALL THINGS HOW

To set up a backup, users can use a third-party backup tool and select a USB drive as the destination. Additionally, Windows' File History feature also allows users to back up specific folders, with customizations such as excluding folders, adjusting the backup frequency, and determining how long saved versions are kept. If desired, users can manually back up only the most important files to optimize storage space.

Play games directly from USB drive

Users can play their favorite games directly from a USB drive without installing them on their computer, which not only saves storage space but also makes it easy to carry the game anywhere. Some games can run directly from a USB drive without installation.

Alternatively, users can move games from platforms like Steam to a USB drive and play from there. However, performance may not be as good as playing from an SSD, depending on the hardware of the computer. For the best experience, choose a USB 3.0 or higher drive and make sure there is enough free space.

Turn into a mini web server

USB drives can also be turned into portable web servers for users to develop and test websites or applications without an internet connection. This allows users to work on a local server without installing software on every computer.

To set up a mini web server, users can install XAMPP Portable directly onto a USB drive and follow the instructions. Once installed, open the server control panel and start the necessary services such as Apache and MySQL. If you are a beginner, refer to the instructions to understand the process. USBWebServer is also a lightweight, no-install option to carry a server in your pocket and access projects from anywhere.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kham-pha-nhung-cong-dung-an-cua-o-usb-185250419100828439.htm