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2 questions: flash drive & burning

15 years ago

What exactly is a flash drive? My step mother in law mentioned that she had one but didn't say too much other than she puts her pics on it. If that's the case, could you erase your pics (like mine are in Kodak EasyShare) afterwards to free up space on computer? Can music files be put on it too? Is it like something to use to back up your files then you could put it back on your computer (or a different one) when or if needed?

Never done this before but I had considered trying to burn pics/slideshow to a cd for my mom for Mother's Day. She doesn't have a computer but does have a dvd/cd player that I got her a couple of years ago at Christmas. But that wouldn't work would it? I mean, you need a computer to be able to play that? My Windows XP does not have a dvd burner; but does have a cd burner, which the last time I tried using that (Roxio) for making a music cd, it would keep looking like it's working then would just quit saying something was wrong with the disc I was using (new ones)...ended up giving up on it.

Thanks for info!

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Comments (6)

Pooh Bear
15 years ago
A flash drive plugs into a USB port and shows up in
My Computer as a removable disk drive. You can use it
just like you would use a hard drive. They are very
handy for moving files from one computer to another.
Sizes go all the way up to 64 gigabytes.

Sometimes called a jump drive or a thumb drive.
Small enough to carry around in a shirt pocket.
My 8 gig drive could go on a key ring.

Pooh Bear

Here is a link that might be useful: Flash Drive - Wikipedia
bpgreen
15 years ago
I wouldn't use a flash drive as my only backup, though. Not too long ago, somebody posted a question asking what to do if they snapped the connector off and it had their only backup of something.
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that is the whole point you use the image program to capture the image before something happens, then should you have any issues with the pc you simply reload the saved image and you are back to the time the image was taken just like a snapshot so you do want to do the occasional image backup so you have somewhat recent images. That way you are not just backing up your documtents and files you are also backing up your entire windows operating system fully updated and all your settings etc. You never want to wait till it is too late to do any type of backup. If you had to do a regular re-install that would mean you would need either your windows cd or the recovery cd that will bring it all the way back to how it was when you bought it which means you would need to do a LOT of updating of the operating system, redo all your settings then go through all your files and data and insert them in. Imaging is the fastest way to go and much easier in the long run. I use my external drive only when I need it I do not leave it connected. It can be left connected if you choose to do it that way. I use ADRIVE online storage, they provide 50Gig free storage over that you purchase. http://www.adrive.com/
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each thumb flash drive will say what it holds for example it might hold 4 gig or 8 gig or less or more. It depends on what type files you will be storing, picture and video files are very large so will take up much more room than just text or document files. go to the folder of the files you want to backup to the thumb drive and right click on it and choose properties it will tell you exactly how much is contained in that folder so you would know you need a flash drive that is big enough to hold that much at least. I think 4 gig is a nice size and they are fairly inexpensive. I buy 4 gig Kingston drives at Big Lots all the time for $12. You can buy them at walmart, best buy, or any stores that sell electronics and computer stuff. I stick with the name brand ones like Kingston, San disk, corsair etc. Here is the link to some over at buy.com Results Within Our Stores general guide for using one Overview of How to use a USB Flash Drive
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this is the best place I have found for answering any questions regarding anything ipod or itunes related. The Ilounge forums. http://www.ilounge.com/ go there click on forums and ask, they will probably be able to help you. I avoid all things ipod and itunes related!
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Your idea of using 2 thumb drives makes perfect sense. Then you always have 2 backups up to the point of the older copy. Not too much would be lost. Kingston has a respected name so you are doing good there too. Flash drive, thumb drive, memory stick all similar. However I have 2 what I call thumb or flash drives which are a one piece thing you simply plug in a USB port. I also have one which has a removeable memory card the same as those used in digital cameras. This also uses the USB port of course, I am not sure if it has any advantages over the one piece drives. We'll see what others think on the matter hopefully.
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genes
15 years ago
Just as an add on. When using any of those USB storage devices and you want to pull it out, make sure you use the (Safe to disconnect hardware) icon down by the clock. Green check mark.
Otherwise, you run the risk to damaging the "thumbdrive" or the USB post
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
I have lots of them, I use them all the time. You can put files or pics or what ever you want on them from your computer to save or to transfer from one place to another, I use them to move certain files from one of my computers to another.
I also have one I carry that has all my portable apps on it so if I go somewhere and need to use a pc, I just stick my flash drive in and I have my firefox on it set up just like I want it, and lots of other applications even antivirus programs are made for portable use.
They are some what fragile so you have to take care of them, I have a nice padded wallet made just for them I bought to keep them together and protected.

as to your question about burning pictures to cd for her to view on her player there are a lot of variables there, if you use the right type of cd if she has a player that will play that type of cd if her player will play picture files, in some cases yes it can work.
grandms
15 years ago
If her player plays both DVD and CDs, you should be able to burn the pictures to a CD. Not all players play both formats, however. Mine only plays DVDs.
susieq07
15 years ago
I burn DVD's CD's all the time, I use Windows Movie Maker for slideshow's I have made a DVD of Xmas decorating added xmas music burned and sent to family, also added a greeting from us..and also have my photo's on a flash drive and online at a free storage box..I also have burned doz.'s of music CD's 80min on each all done for Free from various websites I've found, and they are full wavs not midi's..the first CD I made of photo's came in very handy for our ins. company after a hurricane did damage to our home & our Rv.. I had the before & after photo's to show them..note: the DVD-R play's in more players (older ones) then the newer DVD+'s do and if you use a DVD R or CD R you can only write/burn once, the CD or DVD RW is a re-write and you can do over again..

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