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Thread ID: 69222 2006-05-26 01:45:00 Linux on a pen drive jcr1 (893) Press F1
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457763 2006-05-26 01:45:00 I got a 512 mb pen drive for my birthday(lucky me :D ). I could see how useful it could be; but I wondered how much of a fun device it could be too, and I found that Damn Small Linux could be put on a pen drive - along with on a lot of other things as well.
I partitioned the drive, downloaded the embedded zip version, unzipped it into the pen drive and hey presto, it works :eek:
Its actually quite good, for such a small distro, but aside from having a carry everywhere linux distro,I wonder how I could get the best potential out of this device :confused:
jcr1 (893)
457764 2006-05-26 01:54:00 These are good also: http://portableapps.com/

But isn't there a problem with extensivly using a usb drive? If you are reading/writing to it quite often, doesn't it pack up or something?
mejobloggs (264)
457765 2006-05-26 01:59:00 They're good as a bootable disk too, if the BIOS has an option for booting from USB 2 removable drives.

I use this usb drive/pen, for flashing the BIOS'es if they need updating.

I removed the floppy altogether.

If I didnt have file sharing enabled on these 3, I could use it to transfer files as well. Altho, this may take a bit longer, than using sendto in my computer to copy files across the network.

I think with this usb pen, u can also lock a pc... plug it into a usb port, give it a password take the USB pen with you and noone can get on your PC.

All you have to do, is remember the password!
Speedy Gonzales (78)
457766 2006-05-26 05:37:00 These are good also: http://portableapps.com/

But isn't there a problem with extensivly using a usb drive? If you are reading/writing to it quite often, doesn't it pack up or something?
I hadn't actually heard that before, pity if that's the case (mind you everything wears out sooner or later; but I suppose it's just what could be considered a reasonable life span), because I don't even have a floppy drive on my computer, it came without one and I don't miss it at all. Floppies just don't carry enough data anymore.
Thanks for the link. Looks interesting :thumbs:
jcr1 (893)
457767 2006-05-26 07:05:00 These are good also: http://portableapps.com/

But isn't there a problem with extensivly using a usb drive? If you are reading/writing to it quite often, doesn't it pack up or something?

I've seen specs that say about 1 million reads/writes ... data retention for 10 years.

In my experience you tend to bend the end of the damn things and stuff up the contacts on them. Also possible that some PCs zap them with the wrong voltage...
gibler (49)
457768 2006-05-26 08:19:00 1 million reads/writes? 10 years? Wow, I could't even keep a usb drive 10 years without losing it.

Even you used it extremely intensively, and shortened it down to 2 years, it wouldn't bother me. I mean, in 2 years you can get something better for cheaper.

Not a problem then, thanks for that gibler.
mejobloggs (264)
457769 2006-05-26 21:26:00 Just another point with this. I've been reading an online article re; carrying a handheld like a Zaurus (they sound neat) versus just putting Damn Small Linux on a pen drive (as I have). The writer suggested that the pen drive option was better for reasons of cost etc. and also went on to say that taking your pen drive to say, an internet cafe or the like was safe for doing work on your sensitive stuff as when you finished one took their work away with them without leaving a trace, I wonder if there is a pitfall with this?
I know that you shouldn't under any circumstances use an internet cafe or publicly available computer for anything but basic e-mail checking etc.
jcr1 (893)
457770 2006-05-26 22:10:00 http://truecrypt.sf.net

This is a great little app which is useful for encrypting anything you want to be kept secure should you happen to give somebody else your thumbdrive for more than a few seconds (And it does happen from time to time).

Doing the fair amount of repair work that I do, I keep everything I need on there from AVG Free to Everest Home Edition to FooBar2000 and VLC to WinRAR... Everything that I need to get a PC up and running smoothly or fix a promblem should it arise.

I sadly dont have Bootable linux though, just not enough room on the 256MB Drive :(
Chilling_Silence (9)
457771 2006-05-26 23:19:00 Thanks Chill, I'll give that a try when I get back from New Plymouth, later on today :thumbs:
I find Linux to be so versatile as I delve deeper into it.
jcr1 (893)
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