Flash Drives
By Wayne Maruna
I‘ve been writing mostly computer-related articles for the Taberna Tribune since early in 2004. The article for October of that year was on what were at that time called Pen Drives, but are now more commonly called Flash Drives. These small storage devices were pretty new in 2004, and they’ve proven their value to the extent that despite technological advances, they are still in common use today. Their storage capacities and speeds have improved markedly over the years, but their fundamental mission remains unchanged. They are a secure, convenient, and highly portable medium for storing and transferring data. Yet I still frequently come across people who have little knowledge of what flash drives are and what they are used for, so a review would be in order.
First of all, flash drives are small. They are sometimes referred to as Thumb Drives because they are similar in size to a thumb. Their purpose is to store data, usually data files as opposed to system files, though it is certainly possible to load an entire Linux operating system onto a flash drive. Some people load image files of their system onto a large capacity Flash Drive, but an external hard drive is generally a better choice.
Flash drives connect to a computer via a USB port. These may be USB 2.0 or USB 3.0/3.1 ports, with the latter providing much faster transfer speeds. When purchasing flash drives, spend the few extra bucks for the USB 3 drives.
In addition to getting faster over time, flash drives have become far more capacious. Most flash drives are sold in 8, 16, or 32GB capacities at the time of this writing, but it is possible to purchase 64GB, 128GB, and even 256GB flash drives. Despite differences in capacity, flash drives are mostly about the same physical size. Prices of flash drives have plummeted since 2004, to the point where I have now seen 16GB drives for as low as $6, 32GB for as low as $10, and 256GB drives starting at $45.
I’m often asked what one does with these. Probably the most common use is for backing up data files, primarily photos. I plead with people to purchase an external hard drive and install backup imaging software to run system backups on a regular basis, but generally my pleas fall on deaf ears. At a minimum, people should back up their data files – pictures, videos, and documents – because those can’t be replaced. Music collections can be replaced, but with difficulty and generally at an expense. How much space do you need on a flash drive? That depends entirely on how much data you have to back up. Use your Windows File Explorer or similar utility for a MAC or Linux machine to get a sense of how much data your files consume, and choose accordingly. If you don’t know how to do that, a 32GB flash drive should suffice in most cases. Flash drives are also excellent tools to use to copy files from one machine to another, a practice we used to call ‘sneaker net’ because you’d walk files from one machine to another.
Flash drives come in a wealth of designs, colors, and brands. I prefer to stick with reliable brands from companies like Sandisk, PNY, AData, Patriot, or Silicon Power, as examples. I’ve also had very good luck with Staples’ store brand. I have one Sandisk flash drive on which I have kept and updated my Quicken backups for over 15 years! I’ve had flash drives that survived trips through the washing machine when I mistakenly left them in my pants pockets. But I’ve had lousy luck with some off-brand multi-packs. Flash drives use solid state memory chips, so the only moving part is the mechanism which covers and protects the insertable part of the unit, and those come in many configurations as may be seen in the accompanying photo.
I own a few dozen flash drives ranging in size from 512MB (the old Sandisk for Quicken) to 128GB. Many contain bootable programs used to start a PC without going into Windows. These are mainly used in servicing client PCs. Two contain ‘live’ Linux versions, which means I can boot directly into Linux and take a test drive before installing to a hard drive. A few contain data and program files, including the one I use the most, my ‘tool kit’ full of utilities and programs I use when servicing client machines. I also maintain a duplicate of my tool kit drive as protection against loss. Additionally I have two that I use to transfer files from one machine to another, which I often use when setting up new client machines. I keep a bagful of flash drives in my car as they contain my music files by genre.
Flash drives are easy to use. Plug one into a USB port, preferably a USB 3 port, identifiable by its blue plastic ‘key’ or in some cases an SS marking (for Super Speed) on the side. Use File Explorer to copy files or folders from the computer to the flash drive or vice versa. If you plug in a flash drive containing photos, Windows will usually pop up a window asking if you’d like to copy the photos to the hard drive. With experience you’ll find the process to be simple. Mark the flash drive with a label so you can remember what is on it. The flash drives in the photo have been identified with labels from my Brother label machine.
Flash drives are an easy way to not only safeguard your data, but also to carry pictures or files with you when you travel. Light, small, and very reliable, they are just as valuable as when they first rolled out over fifteen years ago.