How much does running applications on a flashdrive ware down the flash memory? Is the flash memory only used when saving documents, or when running applications? If someone can explain the whole process it would be really helpful.
I already tried using the Search but wasn't able to find anything if it has been posted already. I know someone made a thread about iPod but this concerns flashdrives.
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Too many variables. Which flash drive? Which app? Used for how long? Which USB standard? What pc? What OS? etc.
Flash drives like hard drives get used and wear out. It's inevitable, like death and taxes. Better to use the device to it's fullest to satisfy your needs and desires and plan on replacing it some day. When? Who knows?
But, noone has reported their flash drive has failed using PortableApps so far. [g]
Ed
Ed
I have a 1 GB Kingston and a Sandisk 4 GB U3.
Lets say I was running.. Firefox Portable on them. Does the data transfer back and forth do much harm. Or OpenOffice. What about antivirus programs, or Spybot? On Windows Media Center; which I doubt will make a difference.
Yes USB ware down like harddrives, over time. But will running applications like OpenOffice take a huge toll on it?
Ive been using portable apps for a while now running OpenOffice.org constantly. I am still using my original drive and have had no problems at all.
Yes it will take a toll on it, but in all likelyhood your going to break/lose the flash drive LONG before it wears out.
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Linux: Because rebooting is for adding hardware
I've owned flash drives for about 7 years now, my first flash drive was a 32MB one. that one, after 7 years of use, still works. and I used to use that thing a lot. it now sits as an emulated 98SE boot disk for troubleshooting purposes, I can boot a PC off of it and the PC think's it's a boot floppy, works like a charm.
I've only ever had one flash drive die on me without me doing something to it, I'm I'm pretty sure that was windows corrupting it, not bad memory.
It's not rocket science.
Copy the contents to a dated folder on a hard drive somewhere or stack copies up on a re-writable CD-ROM.
It can greatly minimize the damage done by a loss or failure.
I guess they're built to take heavy toll then
Of course keep backups. Everything can fail, who knows when. =x
Thanks everyone for the help
Appreciate it.