Flash Drive Files

[DavidOH]

Here is a short list of computer programs that I carry on my flash drive.

http://portableapps.com/
AiRoboForm
FoxitReader
FoxyTunes
Cryptainer
Pidgin
TrueCrypt
UltraShredder
UnitConverter
DSClock
DownloadThemAll
IrfanView
WinZip
VLC media player
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Thunderbird

Most if not all of these can be found at:
http://www.download.com/

Oh, and they are all FREE! *Shareware or Freeware!

You may want to compile a list of personal documents that you would take with you to so you will always have a back up copy.

Drivers Licence
Social Security Card
Birth Ceterficate
Local Maps
Family Photos
Auto Licence Numbers/ Registration
Work History/ Job application
Perscriptions

Emergency Phone Numbers:
Doctors, Family, Friends, Sheriff, Poisen Control Center,
Tow Truck, Bank, Lawyer, Work, Schools, Dentist, Insurance Agent, Pharmacy
Everyone's Cell Phone, Home, and Work Numbers

I also carry this:
http://www.aclu.org/police/gen/14527res20020304.html

http://www.aclu.org/racialjustice/racialprofiling/15865pub20040714.html#attach

Read it online here: http://www.aclumontereycounty.org/rights_police.html

[OzarkMtnDaredevil]

David. That's some awesome info and links but... for us semi-computer-literate, can you recommend a site that gives instructions on how to do this? I bought a FD with that intent and know how to plug it in... it's just the transfer of info that frustrates me. What will a 128 MB stick hold?

Rob

[DavidOH]

I have portable Apps Suite Lite on my 128 stick.

35MB download, *Free Space Needed: 100MB installed
Recommended Device: 256MB+ devices

That's about all that it will hold.
Plus many Notepad or Word Documents.
Text files don't use much space.
All of the programs were easily installed and seemed familiar, so using them was no problem to me.

There are 1Gb (1000 mb) sticks for $7 so I wouldn't buy anything smaller.

This might help with the install: Initial Setup
http://theinfobox.com/index.php?title=Portable_USB_Apps

Here is a podcast that you can listen to on your computer: http://dnpconsulting.com/podcast/?p=3
(boring to me, but may be a big help to newbies)

Here is another one This should really help:
http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/05/06/how-to-set-up-and-use-portableapps-on-your-usb-thumb-drive/

[CarolAnn]

Rob -
Watch the sales and get a one GIG stick for about ten or fifteen bucks. I got some for work - 2G for $19.95 on sale. That is a HUGE amount of "anything" that you can store on a little flash drive the size of your thumb.

When you plug it in, (Most PCs have a USB port or two right on the front now, but you should at least have one on the back where it will fit) - your computer will see it as just another drive, like your C drive. You can save files to it or install software to it just like any location on your hard drive. Then, just unplug it and take it with you in your pocket. Some are made like a key chain. There are lots of neat little features now.

A 128 MB stick is more suitable for storing a few documents, picktures or spreadsheets than software; it's just too small to save much.

[DavidOH]

Here is about the best deal I have seen because it currenly has FREE shipping:
~$12.49 Delivered to you.
Crucial Gizmo! 2GB Flash Drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148153

Their 1Gig sticks are $6.49 *( Plus $5.99 Shipping!)

[homesteadingnky]

Office Depot has a 4 GIG on sale now for $25 and an 8 GIG for $40. I'm using my MP3 player that is also a 1 GIG flash drive and I'm amazed at what I can put on there. Can't imagine the 8 GIG. Their 1 GIG is $8.

[Red_Diamond_Ranch]

I have a few of these Flash Drives. Some are used as backups for important docs. Some I have Live Linux operating systems on. For these you don't need even a hard drive on a computer for them to work. I plug it into any computer computer that has an internet connection, turn on the computer and it automatically finds and makes the internet uplink and writes only to to flash drive. Cool stuff and it's free.