If your drawer is spilling over with old, outdated USB drives, you should know two things:
1. You’re a hoarder, and there’s help out there just for you.
2. Those USB drives are still useful!
Here are five hacks you can use to breathe life back into your old USB drives.
1. Store a backup operating system in case you, or someone you know, become the victim of spyware and viruses.
While my friends are savvy enough to stay away from harmful websites, my teenage relatives own computers that are positively pestilential with viruses. The only cure is to wipe them entirely, which – especially when they’ve lost their original copies of Windows – can be a daunting task. Fortunately, you can store Windows or Linux on your USB drive and use the operating system to reboot the afflicted computer. Sadly for the teenagers, their files full of Grumpy Cat pictures will be deleted in the process.
2. Use them to run open-source, portable Apps without having to download the software on your computer.
3. Transform your USB Drive into the ultimate computer protection device.
Download the Predator security app or similar software onto your thumb drive and it becomes the key to your computer. Without the USB stick plugged into the port, your PC won’t boot.
4. Create a Troubleshooting Tool Kit
Portable antivirus and file recovery apps can easily be placed on a USB drive, or download the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows which features a variety of troubleshooting programs and maintenance applications. These handy USB Toolkits would make a great gift for that special person in your life who keeps calling you every time something goes wrong with his or her computer.
5. Game the System – by downloading game system emulators.
Even an ancient USB stick with very little memory can handle most vintage console games. Once your game system emulator is downloaded, you can plug the USB stick into any computer and play the game directly from the drive. No need to install anything!