Since the lifetime of the NAND flash memory is quoted as between 10K and 100K write cycles, and I see the little LED flashing even when I'm not aware of doing anything to cause thumb drive access, the question naturally arises:
How long are these drives expected to last before the first bits start failing?
I know that I'm supposed to do backups regardless of the storage medium, but this is my first time out with a flash drive so I'm rather curious.
Also,
In a modern flash drive, does the flash memory controller remap storage addresses to equalize the write activity across the drive?
I just bought a PNY Attache 2GB model, and I'm wondering if I should expect it to rock solid for at least a few years.
Just fishing for some data from the trenches to get a comfort level with the technology...
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The flash lifetime as quoted by most flash drives is 100,000 to 1,000,000 writes. Most modern drives use wear leveling (equalizing writes across the drive). Most older ones do not. Some newer ones do not. Most do not say in their specs.
The apps posted here have as many things done to them to reduce writes as possible (with the exception of disabling cookies within Firefox Portable as that impacts usability). If you enable certain options (form data saving, history) it increases writes. If you use certain extensions (anything with session management or crash recovery), it increases writes.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Does anyone know the life expencity of a 2GB 1in portable USB hard drive?? I baught one recently and I am wondering how long it will last. I also find it heats up, could this eventualy be a problem.
Check the specs for the drive. They vary.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
doesn't say, its a noname brand.
Then, no. No one can give you much of a clue as to how long it will last.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I have one of those too (a no-name)
Try checking with the dealer. They may be able to give you an approximation.
----
R McCue
PortaBlog Home and My Website
And before anyone complains about the grammar, I'm so jetlagged that my
hands aren't even in the same time zone...
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
If you're feeling adventurous... you *could* open it up. Since it's a no-name, you don't have to worry about a warranty
If you find out the model number of the drive inside (it's probably some name brand since there aren't many manufacturers) you could look up the spec sheet for it.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
'Cept mine's one with like a plastic outer cover.
I'll give it a try when I get my new one (SanDisk Cruzer Micro).
----
R McCue
PortaBlog Home and My Website
And before anyone complains about the grammar, I'm so jetlagged that my
hands aren't even in the same time zone...
"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate."
My drive does have a warenty. It did brake and the inside I think it said it was a maxtor 2.2GB ATA drive but i am not shure. I got it replaced and don't want to open it up
Like any drive, you can count on it dying. So be prepared.
Either when I make a some new updates or whenever I remember I make a backup. To make a backup I select everything in the drive. Then de-select the contents of some of the larger folders. The result being, I get the folder (so I remember what I had) but it doesn't take a year to copy it to C: then zip it.
I then just name it USB.9.27.06.zip, leave it on my hard drive, send a copy to another USB drive.
Plus my USB drive has a lifetime warranty (haha!) so when it does die, I get to mouth off to and fight some people via 1-800 numbers.
Damn, I'm verbose... all in all, I think the system is good and I feel safe with it.
Speaking of life expectancy, what's the best way to save downloaded files to my drive? Download it to the local HD then move it to my drive or dl directly to my drive?
Now, if the answer is directly to the drive, then portableapps are downloaded to the drive (so it writes to it) then it is installed (writes to it again), then the installation file is deleted (again written on).
If the answer is to DL to HD and then move, then I would like your help. I'm trying to create a batch file to use with PStart. The idea is to setup PFF (and whatever else program) to DL to c:\downloads\, then with the bat file, move all files to my drive (using %portabledrive%\downloads\), wait until finished, then delete c:\downloads\. I get stuck trying to make the bat file wait until it finishes moving the files. Thank you.
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." -- Robert Frost
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: baby ain't mine." -- Adam Holguin