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Questions tagged [usb-drive]

A USB drive (or USB flash drive, or thumb drive, or memory stick, or pendrive) is a portable device for storing data that includes a flash memory and has and integrated USB interface, thus can be connected to USB ports. Use this tag for questions regarding storage drives that connect using a USB port.

A USB drive (or USB flash drive, or thumb drive, or memory stick, or pendrive) is a portable device for storing data. It includes a flash memory and has and integrated USB interface, thus can be connected to USB ports.

USB drives have small enough size to be easily carried around in a pocket or in a key chain and modern USB drives (as of 2023) range in storage capacity from 8 GB to 2 TB.

They are usually used for:

  • Transferring data
  • Storing and backing up data
  • Booting operating systems (Live USBs)
  • Installing operating systems

Related:

1548 questions
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How do I tell if a USB thumb drive is USB 3.0?

I have a bunch of thumb drives, and many of them don't have any writing on them to indicate that they are USB 3.0. In Ubuntu; how can I ascertain if they are USB 3.0 when I plug them in?
Anon
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USB drive not recognized after Erase Disk

I was trying to create a bootable USB to install Lubuntu using Startup Disk Creator and I accidentally tapped on the "Erase Disk" option. Now Ubuntu 12.04 doesn't seem to read my USB drive anymore. I tried using GParted but it doesn't seem to…
Muhammad
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Optimize Ubuntu install on USB-drive for longer life

I've got an Ubuntu installed on an USB-drive for portable use. It's a regular install and not a live USB. Needless to say, it's a Flash-based storage and only 16 GB. What can I do to extend its life? N.B. Currently my main PC is missing a HDD so the…
Oxwivi
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Is there a good file-copying tool?

The copy dialogue is stuck at 0 seconds left... Whenever I try to copy big files to my USB pendrive (in any format), it always stops at the last moment. It finishes after a long time. I searched Ask Ubuntu for similar Posts and got many, but none of…
Severus Tux
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formatting USB Flash memory for ubuntu ext4

A new USB Flash memory viewed in Disk Utility has Partition Type FAT and Type is also FAT. I want to use this device for my tar backups and I have no need for portability to Windows so I decided to click on Format Volume to convert it to ext4. The…
H2ONaCl
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4 answers

How to install programs on USB stick?

I have Ubuntu on pen drive. I was wondering why there is an installation app on the desktop. Is that for installing other programmes like chrome browser? When I click this, will it not install on my hard disk? Because I now use Windows as operating…
frako
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3 answers

How can I relabel my flash drive?

Currently it looks like:
TheXed
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6
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3 answers

FakeFlashFraud (f3) - what are the different types of counterfeits?

f3probe: Bad news: The device `/dev/sdd' is a counterfeit of type limbo. In the manual of f3probe, there is no description of any types of counterfeit media. What are the other types than limbo, and where are they documented?.
neverMind9
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Ubuntu 16.04 LTS - USB flash drive doesn't appear in the launcher

Please,can someone help my to understand why a TDK USB flash drive doesn't appear in the launcher. I formatted it with "disks"utility and when I plug it in,I can see it (in disks utility). But I need to copy same files into the USB and if it doesn't…
ubu16
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USB Drive not mounting

I am 90 % sure the drive is fine :-( - Was copying data from it yesterday. Lent the drive from a mate to copy data, now it can't be found, plugging in and out no change - AAAHHH he is going to KILL me. Please help :-)
user23063
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USB stick appears as "read-only file". How can I make it writable?

My USB stick turned out to be read-only. I want it to be writable. I've tried many ways to fix it, but it's not working out. root@vk:~# mount -o remount,rw '/media/vk/C84D-2766/' mount: /media/vk/C84D-2766: cannot remount /dev/sdb1 read-write, is…
vamshi krishna vk
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Cannot format USB flash drive after creating Ubuntu installation disk

I have a problem with my USB flash drive. I created an Ubuntu 16.04 installation on the drive using the Ubuntu standard tool to "Create a Bootable Disk", and now I can't format this USB drive. When I delete the Ubuntu installation from this drive it…
Sklerozz
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how do i make an exact duplicate of a flash drive for backup purposes

I currently have Ubuntu MATE installed (full install) on a flash drive. How do I make an exact copy of the flash drive for backup purposes? Because I'm getting scared about the eventual inevitable failure of the drive.
Thomas Yun
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My Passport Essential external usb 3.0 drive runs at usb 2.0 speed

0 WD My passport drive plugged into a (blue) usb 3.0 port. I mount it and it transfers at about 14MByte/sec. Under windows 7 (I have dual boot) it transfers at about 120 to 230 MByte/sec on the same port. lsusb listing is: Bus 008 Device 004: ID…
Robert Key
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getting usb 2.0 running in virtualbox 4.3

Have version 4.3.10 of virtualbox installed, but i cant find the extention pack for this version, is it avalable? if not what can i do to get usb 2.0 up and running? am in desperate need of this being done. everytime i try to enable it it gives…
Charles Hockenberry
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