USB Flask Drive usage?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian
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Brian

Hi -
I just picked up a UPS Flash Drive - to take files back and forth between
a laptop and a desktop that I can't network (corp IT security issues). Can
anyone make some suggestions as to how best to do this? Can I safely use
the files right off the USB Drive - just edit them in place, so that the
files don't really exist on the 2 computers? Are they safe for this?
Is it better to use the USB Drive just to move files back and forth, then
have to synchronize them somehow?
Thanks!
Brian
 
Brian said:
Hi -
I just picked up a UPS Flash Drive - to take files back and forth between
a laptop and a desktop that I can't network (corp IT security issues). Can
anyone make some suggestions as to how best to do this? Can I safely use
the files right off the USB Drive - just edit them in place, so that the
files don't really exist on the 2 computers? Are they safe for this?
Is it better to use the USB Drive just to move files back and forth, then
have to synchronize them somehow?
Thanks!
Brian
Click to expand...

Hello, I use a memorex thumb drive to go between my office computers
and home. I transfer the new and updated files from my thumb drive to
both computers as often as I think about it. It is safe to use the files
right off the portable drive. I have had no problems in the 6 months I
have been doing it this way.

I have no data on the longevity of these devices but I am not trusting
it to live forever. I also know of no way to recover data from a flash
drive in the event of a failure. I always make copies of the files to
both computers. It just depends on whether you would be comfortable with
the loss of any of your data. Since the things seem to be solid state
devices, I am guessing they should be long lived. But I can't take any
chances with losing my files so I back them up frequently.

The transfer rate of these things is slower than a modern network
connection and therefore considerations must be made for the size of
files that you must back up and how often. I have a 256meg drive and it
can take several hours to transfer the total contents of the flash drive
to the hard disk of one of my less modern computers. My work is
currently occupying 239 megs of the capacity of the thumb drive.

Good Luck
Art Leonard
 
Brian said:
Hi -
I just picked up a UPS Flash Drive - to take files back and forth between
a laptop and a desktop that I can't network (corp IT security issues). Can
anyone make some suggestions as to how best to do this? Can I safely use
the files right off the USB Drive - just edit them in place, so that the
files don't really exist on the 2 computers? Are they safe for this?
Is it better to use the USB Drive just to move files back and forth, then
have to synchronize them somehow?
Thanks!
Brian
Click to expand...

I'd trust the USB drive to store the data, but I wouldnt trust myself not to
lose the drive. They're very small.

As hard drive access is unbelieveably quick compared to relatively slow usb
drive access, I prefer working with the files on the hard drive and copying
the data to the usb drive.
 
Hi -
I just picked up a UPS Flash Drive - to take files back and forth between
a laptop and a desktop that I can't network (corp IT security issues). Can
anyone make some suggestions as to how best to do this? Can I safely use
the files right off the USB Drive - just edit them in place, so that the
files don't really exist on the 2 computers? Are they safe for this?
Is it better to use the USB Drive just to move files back and forth, then
have to synchronize them somehow?
Thanks!
Brian
Click to expand...

They can safely be edited in place, or you could copy them to
local HDD, or keep them in a zip file, make a compressed
Drivespace image, or any alternate method you want. Just be sure
that if you're writing a large file back, that you wait till it's
finished writing before removing the flash drive from the USB
port.
 
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