Comments on: Making use of a USB Thumb Drive

By: KIM

KIM — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:15:36 +0000

after reading what Vince Anido had to say about overwriting the data ? I have done exactly that!! Using a thumb file today(first time), has me frustrated and worried, because some data has been lost. I have asked friends, and spent time searching the internet for information, and instructions, or a tutorial about using a portable file, not much luck. Many of my senior friends have never heard about these thumb files. Maybe you can direct me to a website ,or resource, that will help to teach me, how to back-up and restore a portable file? Thank-you for taking the time to read my question, and many thanks, if you are able to help me!!

By: Vince Anido

Vince Anido — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:56:58 +0000

Are you looking for deleted files on the thumb drive, or files that were accessed by the computer?

If you’re looking for something that you opened from the drive on the computer, it’s unlikely that there will be anything unless you specifically copied it.

If you’re looking for a deleted file on the thumb drive, it’s possible that it is still there. You would need to run some sort of recovery software on the thumb drive itself. If this is the case, DO NOT continue to use the drive until you’ve run the recovery because you might overwrite the data you’re trying to recover.

There are a number of good recovery programs out there, but I don’t have any specific experience with any of them. Try a search: “File recovery”.

Good luck.

By: Roy

Roy — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 15:02:32 +0000

When a thumb drive is plugged into a computer to transfer, view or retrieve files does it leave info from those files after it is removed? I am trying to find a file and so far I am not having much luck with my search.

By: xeoe

xeoe — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 09:17:32 +0000

Actually, I have a similar arrangement, but with a SD-type card that would normally go in a camera. This particular model has a built-in USB port tucked into the body, SanDisk makes it, I can’t tell you how many times it’s saved me in just the same way you’ve mentioned, plus the added “cool factor” of sliding a CD’s worth of tech tools into your wallet — only to get a wow from a friend/client when I suddenly have 2 gigs worth of tech tools in hand!

This is the type I’m talking about…
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(1238)-SDSDPH-512-SanDisk_Ultra_IISD_Plus_USB_512MB.aspx

By: Tom Pritchard

Tom Pritchard — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:32:01 +0000

Using a program like TrueCrypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/) you can encrypt a portion of your hard drive. USB drives can be used to store keyfiles for the encryption so that files cannot be decrypted unless the person knows your password and has your USB key containing the keyfile.

By: Vince Anido

Vince Anido — Mon, 01 May 2006 18:05:11 +0000

That’s a great point that I forgot to touch on. It’s extremely convenient to just plug one of these in and grab a file from someone. This way, you don’t have to rely on someone remembering to email it to you, or remembering it yourself.

Great point, thanks.

By: Robert Banghart

Robert Banghart — Mon, 01 May 2006 17:59:58 +0000

I have started carrying one of my USB Thumb drives to all the meetings and conferences I attend. I can ask for a copy of any important presentations thereby skipping the time reminding myself to send an email request and all the steps that follow thereafter. I have found it to be a great time and brain cell saver.