| Author | Message | ||
     Jvarga77 |
I haven't noticed any threads concerning the USB drives that can be moved between computers. I'm looking into getting one for work and am wondering if any of our resident computer guys have any input. Just looking for recommendations and opinions. TIA James | ||
| Buelluk |
The bigger they are the cheaper they - that way you can take all the trade secrets with you in one place when you leave! | ||
| Seanp |
You can get a 80 GB laptop hard drive and a USB 2.0 cradle pretty cheap. It's small, (about 0.5 inch by 2.5 inches by 4 inches) and it holds a lot of information. And if you format it right, you can put two partitions on there, (one OS partition, and one data partition) and since some computers will let you boot from USB, you can actually boot off of it. It's very useful - I had one in Iraq, and I was able to carry around all of the install files for Windows XP, Windows 2000, Office XP, Norton AntiVirus, and lots of other programs that people needed installed on their computers at various times. Go to www.pricewatch.com, click on "Drives - Hard" in the middle of the screen, then click on "USB Pocket 80.0 GB" in the left column, and you will see quite a few options. Sean | ||
| Dsergison |
for the little "jump" drive sticks make sure to get one with usb 2. just because it's faster. | ||
| Jvarga77 |
I am looking for one of the little "jump" drive sticks. I should have clarified. Can you run a program right off of that drive? | ||
| M1combat |
It would depend on the program... At the least I would imagine that you would need to install the software on both systems on the jump drive so that the registry settings are correct. It may also be a good idea to set the drive letter to something that won't move around "J" seems appropriate. Right click "My Computer", choose "manage" and go to "Disk Management". That's in XP... 2000 should be pretty close to the same, but I haven't used a 9x OS in a while (thankfully). I Linux you would need to mount the drive wherever you would like it to be. If you're running Linux, I'm sure you already know how to do that... If not, RTFM  . | ||
| Dsergison |
you can run pretty much anything that you don't have to install. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
depends on the size of the stick, and the OS of the computer. I had a 512mg Lexar stick that I could swap program install files with depending program size. 98 and ME wouldn't allow me to install from it, but XP has no issues. With one exception, all the comps in the house are now up to XP. That one exception will be the garage/shop computer and it will be 98se for simplicity and ease of interface with some of the tuning programs that don't seem to be set up for XP use yet. I may make a swapable harddrive cage in it so if I do need to run an XP program I can swap to my OS drive out of my large tower.(15gb that has nothing but XP on it) | ||
| Jvarga77 |
The computer's I'd be switching between are all running 2000 Pro or XP. I don't think the program needs to be installed, as I just copied the entire folder to a disc and copied on the other computer and it seems to be working fine. The folder size is only about 20mb or so... | ||
| Scitz |
Running a program from a portable drive will depend on the application. Some applications when installed in Windows will also copy files to the Windows System folder and create links in the Windows Registry. Some programs are created to run from a self contained folder. Needing a portable drive is a good excuse to buy an iPod or and iShuffle. Both these devices will carry music and data. I have a 40gb iPod I store data and music on, I have not tried listening to it while I ride though. Of course these may be overkill for what your needing. | ||
| Jvarga77 |
an iPod may be a bit more than I need at this point, though that is an option I had not considered. I believe the portable drives can be used with just about any computer without any software being installed. Is this the case with an iPod as well? Thanks all of you for the information you have provided me with. Think I'm going to hit up the mall tonight and check some of these things out. | ||
| Southern Marine |
This is what you need, the bonzai jump drive. Just buy a 1gb sd card or cards and insert. I have a camera and a palm and they use the sd card, gonna get me one of these and presto, instant jump drive, multiple uses.  | ||
| Scitz |
Yes, if you use the iPod on a PC you can take it to any other computer and Windows will recognize the drive. The iShuffle is the size of most thumbdirve and comes in 512mb and 1gb, $99 and $149. I work as a computer tech and use mine to carry applications and documents from home and work. Lately I've been downloading talk radio shows and lectures to listen to while I'm walking around at work. I also have a Bonzai drive and I like it because you can remove the SD card and use it in other devices like your camera, no more using the lame camera software to download your pics. The only problem I have with it is that sometimes when I plug it into the computer it doesn't always read the disk and I have to pull the SD card and put it back in. The card slips out a little when your carry it around. I'm use to it now and just before I use it I re-seat the card. | ||
| Biofilter |
Jump drives are awesome I use the same one for work and school. I picked up a 512mb one from radio shack for 45 with a 20 mail in rebate. U can get jump drives with a pretty good size for pretty cheap theses days. They even have watches with built in jump drives now. If you have any more questions just ask. I deal with this stuff everyday | ||
| Polekat |
Another choice.... IOGear USB 2.0 Universal Memory Card Reader - Writer ( SD & MMC Flash Cards) - GFR202SD Make sure the usb device is USB 2 high speed for quickest read write times. This is a sd card reader, It should be available in a number of places and at different prices. I think. You can add or remove sd cards for unlimited storage. (Message edited by polekat on April 15, 2005) | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Hey Southern, good to see you man, hows it going? You are overseas again right? If so keep your head down and be safe man! | ||
| Captainplanet |
I have one like southernmarine shows above, but it uses compact flash cards. I think the reader was only about 20 bucks from buy.com. The cf cards are relatively cheap as well. I think I paid about 50 bucks for a 512mb card 6 months ago. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
psst..Capt  that is a compact flash/CF card in the pic, do you mean secure data/SD cards? They are also available for XD cards and sony memory sticks. | ||
| Blake |
Sean, I would like to mate a laptop drive externally to my Dell Inspiron 5000e and be able to Ghost my internal drive to it and thus have a swappable situation where if my internal ever cratered, I could simply replace it with the external. Help a brother out and tell me what to do. Dell Inspiron 5000e (4-1/2 years old) Windows 2000 Professional Pentium 750 MHz (1) 40GB IBM Internal NTFS HDD (1) USB Port I also have a PCMCIA card that provides an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) port. Seems to me every computer should come with a redundant HDD system, or at lease that should be an option. I don't understand why it isn't, at least not with the big name commercial PC manufacturers. | ||
| Blake |
Sorry, topic highjack... James, I've been using a 1.0 GB USB memory stick by SanDisk. It's called the "cruzer mini 1.0 GB" and it is a wonderful tool to have. It makes sharing really large files or large amounts of files too easy. I'm still waiting for the day when we can rid ourselves of the spinning mechanical drives. They are just WAY to inexpensive for the chip people to catch up. But it wasn't long ago that a 1GB HDD was WAY more expensive than the $90 I recently paid for the 1 GB USB memory stick. It truly is amazing to me what is now generally available on the retail consumer computer market. | ||
| Starter |
I went shopping for a 1Gb USB2.0 memory stick and ended up coming home with a 15Gb laptop drive in a USB2.0 case. It actual cost less. As Seamp said, they have massive storage, aren't too big and are instantly recognised as a removable HDD. I'm yet to get mine to boot an OS at startup but working on BIOS for it. The best thing I've found is when friends get virused out I just take it over and upload all their software again in a flash without the need for heaps CDs. | ||
| Mmmi_grad |
I use the crucial GIZMO 128 mb stick cost me 28 bucks off ebay NEW about 2 years ago does usb 2.0 and 1.1 . With xp and 2000 no sweat just plug it in the OS will auto see the drive and you can run install programs right from the usb drive. (Message edited by mmmi_grad on April 17, 2005) | ||
| Josh_ |
Blake, I didn't check to see if that laptop will allow booting from USB, but way to do it is a USB device + Symantec Ghost to either create image files of the laptop drive onto the USB or duplicate the laptop drive to the USB. If the BIOS allows booting from USB, you could pull the internal drive and just use the USB. It won't be as fast (or as portable) tho. Great for backups. Remember, if you want a USB drive and have a digital camera, the largest card your camera will take + a card reader is often cheaper and much more useful (since the card will work in the camera) than a dedicated USB drive. | ||
| Jvarga77 |
Thanks for all of the information. I decided to go with the iPod Shuffle, since it plays music. When at the Apple store, decided to go with an iPod Mini as it was 4x the storage for $50 more. I'll just keep my USB cord in my briefcase and I can connect to any computer. BTW, the guy at the store said that if the battery on the shuffle dies, you lose all files on it. I think this is a load of sh*t since the jump drives have no power until plugged into the computer. Can anyone verify if this guy knew what he was talking about? thanks again for all the information!! James | ||
| Blake |
My Palm loses all files when it dies. Josh, So though I might not be able to boot from the USB drive, I could run Ghost using it, and then be able to swap it into the laptop and boot from it there? COOL!!! All I gotta do is purchase the right cradle that will accept a HDD that is compatible with my laptop? Where do I send my money! | ||
| Blake |
Help. Do I need to buy the applicable HDD and then a USB cradle to hold it or will one of the combo drives at http://www.pricewatch.com/h/prc.aspx?i=26&a=4286 work okay. I have no idea if a laptop drive is fairly generic or if I need a specific model/configuration of laptop drive. The first one was a 30GB Samsung that cratered after 2-1/2 years. Dell replaced it under warranty with a reconditioned IBM 40 GB drive. It has been in service now for 2-1/2 years. When I bought the computer I also bought an external 30 GB HDD that uses the IEEE1394/Firewire connection via PCMCIA card, but it was problematic/unreliable in that I could not get Ghost to work and the computer kept losing communications with the external HDD. Maybe I should try again. But what would be killer would be the scenario in my post above, so that if my HDD cratered I could simply replace it with the Ghosted version from the USB cradle. Someone, tell me how, please. Help!  | ||
| Ethanr |
On the iPod Shuffle, you shouldn't lose any data if the battery goes dead. I've drained mine completely a number of times and haven't had to reload it after recharging. | ||
| Jarhead |
Blake, one of those combo drives will work fine. As far as your Dell Inspiron is concerned, a USB drive is a USB drive. Win2k will pick it up fine. I have my 40gig USB partitioned into 3 logical drives and it works like a charm. As far as Booting from the USB, I have never been successful with my Inspiron laptop, but I haven't tried that hard, nor have I ever used Ghost. | ||
| Jarhead |
Jvarga77 you will love the Ipod. I have the 20gig for music, its Great! I havn't used it for mile storage yet, let me know how it works. | ||
| Polekat |
Sandisk mini cruzer 1 gb size only $67.50 http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?refer=cnet.com&id=1002085 | ||
| Southern Marine |
Blake, check this out, nice and easy, not only can you use it to upgrade and or "ghost", but you can use it to slave a drive if needed. We use it over here for multiple applications EZ-GIG | ||
| Spike |
I've been using a Lexar 1gb jump drive secure at work recently. I haven't tried to run a program directly from it, I use it mostly for installing software on customer's PCs during on-site visits. One thing worth mentioning- I was unable to use the "secure" function on windows 98 machines. The secure function merely allows you to protect a portion of the drive with a password. If you're only on XP machines it's not a problem, but if you're going to use any 98 machines it's best to leave the secure function turned off. Mike L. '04 XB12R | ||
| Blake |
Jarhead, I'm ignorant. What I'm wondering is will any ol' notebook HDD that I choose for the USB cradle also work as an internal drive for my Dell Inspiron 5000e? Are all 2.5" notebook PC internal HDDs compatible, or do I need to purchase a specific made/model. David, That's the stuff! Can I use the 80 GB version and will the 80 GB HDD also work as an internal HDD in my Dell Inspiron 5000e should I need it to do so? Related question. How long does a full disk cloning take for 40GB HDD, and does it take that long on future cloning updates or will it be quicker? No big deal either way, I'd just run it once a month or so and use my 1GB stick for backing up current work files. Just curious. | ||
| Josh_ |
Depends on how full it is, whether you have USB 1.1 or 2.0, speed of each drive, etc. 10-20min per full Ghost. I've been told some of the new versions of Ghost can make updates to the .GHO files like a incremental backup, but I have not tried them. and again, you can make the "slave" mirror the master, or just store copies of the master as .GHO on the slave (or both if you have the space). If you don't need a case for the slave and would like to Ghost to laptop or desktop hard drives look at this guy: http://www.dansdata.com/rdriver.htm Here's a couple cool cases for Desktop PATA and SATA drives http://www.dansdata.com/sntboxes.htm You'll need to find out from Dell (or a harddrive reseller) if the inspiron will take any 2.5" drive. If not you'll need to get the specific one and hope it works with these 2.5"->USB converters. |
