Using flash drives

[jaberwok]

Recent experience tells me "do not work directly on files stored on a flash/thumb/USB drive".
Stuff gets lost so copy them to your HD first then copy them back again.

[.chad]

ouch! flash drives are great for installing things like firefox though

[Buffeldrek]

normally those flash drives have a pretty good reputation on that matter - and in a couple of years our harddrives will be replaced by those things.

[rclayton]

I have not had any problems working directly on a flash drive. In fact I find it to be very fast with respect to file access. The only caution I have is, make sure that you use the icon in the task bar to "Remove Hardware safely" before pulling the flash drive. This will commit any file writes to the drive before pulling it, failure to do so can result in the dreaded "Windows Delayed Write Failure" error which will cause data loss...

[Robert.Hall]

I have not had any problems working directly on a flash drive. In fact I find it to be very fast with respect to file access. The only caution I have is, make sure that you use the icon in the task bar to "Remove Hardware safely" before pulling the flash drive. This will commit any file writes to the drive before pulling it, failure to do so can result in the dreaded "Windows Delayed Write Failure" error which will cause data loss...

I agree completely. Do not pull the drive from the port without hitting the remove icon.
I have seen some of my files get corrupted.

With thumb drives, are the following items still hazardous:
Sunight, hot/cold environments, magnets, etc.

Do we still have to treat them like floppies?

[Opie]

I have not had any problems working directly on a flash drive. In fact I find it to be very fast with respect to file access. The only caution I have is, make sure that you use the icon in the task bar to "Remove Hardware safely" before pulling the flash drive. This will commit any file writes to the drive before pulling it, failure to do so can result in the dreaded "Windows Delayed Write Failure" error which will cause data loss...

Removing the flash drive while still active can also damage the flash drive leaving it useless.

[jaberwok]

I ALWAYS use "remove safely...." but still have experienced problems lately.

[Wanderer]

I ALWAYS use "remove safely...." but still have experienced problems lately.

I used to have some problems with my flash drive sometimes, but, only on my Windows 2000 (sp2) laptop, no problems with the XPpro desktop or Win98 laptop.

[cgkoretoff]

The students here at the college I teach at use them all the time without problems. I agree with other posts to "safely remove hardware". I learned that with my first flash drive.

Being sort of a "techie", one of my drives is in my watch. Only 512mb, but still a hit with my students.

I found that the drives are more durable than old style floppies. I have sent one of mine through the washer and dryer. I do not recommend this treatment, but am glad to say it still works.

We are using ACAD 06 on XP Pro, Ser. Pk. 2

[Avatart]

Being sort of a "techie", one of my drives is in my watch. Only 512mb, but still a hit with my students.

I have 1Gb on my phone, that can really freak people out when you tell them you are accessing AutoCad drawings on your mobile!