Uses For Smaller Capacity USB Flash Drives

by on Nov 27, 2009 | 9 comments

As USB flash drives continue their trend of both getting larger capacity and cheaper, you might find yourself with several smaller devices just laying around. So what do you do with these extra 128/256/512/etc. MB devices?

Rather than throwing them away, here are a few uses I can think of:

  • Give them away/donate them.
  • Load it up with a Linux live distribution. The live environment will boot much faster from a USB device.
  • Archive/backup documents you do not intend to edit.
  • Store tax information/receipts from a single year on the device and write the year on it.
  • Archive old install files.

Are there any uses you can think of for putting these older and smaller USB devices to work?

Free eBook!

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below:

Post A Comment Using Facebook

  • Pat

    I loaded up a 128MB flash drive with family photos to use in a digital picture frame.

  • TemperingPick

    I know that you can login with a flash drive on Windows.

    http://www.rohos.com/two-factor-authentication-windows.htm

    • Mark

      I had a quick look at it but the lack of information about getting around memory problems/USB loss worries me.

      But then too much information would worry me as well :)

      No pleasing some people ;)

  • David Kennedy

    Great for a dedicated backup and archives old old files (for certain types of docs, like as you say, tax documents, etc). Stick a label on them, load them up, and throw them in a shoe box. They will probably outlive the documents on them.

  • Kyuichiro Nakamura

    I would like to try Linux.
    These days I am studying and trying to install Debian Linux on my old Dynabook SS DS60P/1N8M.
    this notebook dose not detect HDD,CD and etc.
    I need help by Linux expert.

  • Michael Klein

    I use an old small capacity thumb drive to store music albums that I play in my car using the USB input.

  • http://www.hevlacoffeeco.com low acid coffee

    I have a usb with a memory of 128MB. It is already 4 years from me. Instead of throwing it or give it to other people I use it to store some documents like resume and scanned test paper results while I’m still studying.

  • Jim Clark

    Check out http://www.pendrivelinux.com for installation procedures that give you the ability to carry Linux (i.e. Ubuntu 9.10) on a flash drive and start almost any PC with your persistant (personalized and updatable) version of Linux.

  • Jim again

    Also, check out http://www.pendriveapps.com for awsome applications that run of a flash drive.

What’s Your Preference?

Daily Alerts

Each day we send out a quick email to thousands of PCMECH readers to notify them of new posts. This email is just a short, plain email with titles and links to our latest posts. You can unsubscribe from this service at any time.

You can subscribe to it by leaving your email address in the following field and confirming your subscription when you get an email asking you to do so.

Enter your email address for
Daily Updates:

Weekly Newsletter

Running for over 6 years, the PCMECH weekly newsletter helps you keep tabs on the world of tech. Each issue includes news bits, an article, an exclusive rant as well as a download of the week. This newsletter is subscribed to by over 28,000 readers (many who also subscribe to the other option) - come join the community!

To subscribe to this weekly newsletter simply add your email address to the following field and then follow the confirmation prompts. You will be able to unsubscribe at any time.

Enter your email address for
Free Weekly Newsletter: