You’ve used USB sticks to transport files between computers and back up files. But did you know about the other uses for a USB stick? You can use one to lock and unlock your computer—just like in the movies.
You can also use a USB flash drive to quickly connect to a wireless network on all your PCs, increase your computer’s performance, or even run a web server—directly from the USB stick itself.
Here are several cool things to do with a USB drive.
1. Use a USB Flash Drive to Lock/Unlock Your PC
Do you want to lock and unlock your computer with a physical key, like they do in the movies? With the PREDATOR tool, you can. It’s available for Windows 10,
PREDATOR turns a USB flash drive into an access control device—a key for your computer. When you leave your PC, unplug the USB stick and your computer will be locked. When you return, plug it back in and your computer will be unlocked.
It’s like using the Lock function in Windows, but you don’t have to type your password when you return.
PREDATOR is available in three editions:
– Home Edition – $10, no support
– Professional Edition – $15, no support
– Professional Edition + 1y Support – $30, 12 months support
2. Run Portable Apps Anywhere With a USB Flash Drive
One of the oddest things about software is that it usually needs to be installed. With portable apps, however, that isn’t the case.
Portable apps and games can be easily copied to a USB stick, then run from any suitable device. This is usually a 32-bit or 64-bit PC. Browsers, email tools, messaging apps, and games can all be run from a USB flash drive.
It’s a particularly useful solution if you’re keen to keep a selection of apps close to hand to use on any PC that might be nearby. This might be in a library, or even a cyber café at a holiday resort.
Check our list of the best portable apps to find a host of cool things to put on a USB stick.
3. Increase Performance With ReadyBoost
If you have a slow hard disk drive in your computer, ReadyBoost can help speed things up. When you enable ReadyBoost for a drive, it acts as a hard drive cache, caching frequently used files. If it’s faster to read from the USB stick instead of your HDD, Windows will read the flash drive cache instead.
You won’t see much of a performance boost if you have a 7200+ RPM drive. If you have a solid-state drive, Windows won’t let you use ReadyBoost because the cache will be slower than your SSD.
To enable ReadyBoost, right-click a USB stick in Windows Explorer, select Properties, and use the options on the ReadyBoost tab. Windows will only let you enable ReadyBoost if your USB stick is fast enough, so you might see these options grayed out for some devices. ReadyBoost also requires a flash drive with at least 256 MB of free space.
4. Back Up Your USB Drive With Win32 Disk Imager
If you’re using your USB flash stick for many purposes, it might be useful to back up the contents. An easy way to do this is with Win32 Disk Imager.
Although Win32 Disk Imager is usually used to write bootable disk images to flash drives, it can also create images. Simply install and run the tool, insert the USB stick, and select a destination and name for the Image File. Click Read to clone the disk contents.
5. Store Vital Travel Documents
If you travel often, you’ve probably mislaid documents. Visas, booking confirmations, even passports can easily go missing. Packing papers in the wrong bag can lead to problems if baggage handlers make a mistake.
One of the most important things you can put on a USB are your travel documents. Simply slip it into your wallet or bag and carry it with you. It might even be worth scanning your passport to provide immigration with the information they need to conduct background checks if your passport has gone missing.
