I have been backing up three seperate floppies weekly. One is 'my docs' which I update by choosing "yes to all" when asked 'do I want to overwrite. The second is password etc material I do not want in my pc but still need to uodate and back up. The third is a $ category I'd prefer to keep seperate + requires updates + backup. Floppies are on the way out and I was thinking of a flash drive. When I back up to the floppies I can use individual disks + they are inexpensive - I replace them each month. Cd's are a bit more expensive. I do have cd-rw's but I don't trust their intergrity after many times written to.
I'm not familiar with flash drives but wonder if you can write to one with seperate categories like I mentioned above and each week just isolate, update, and back up the sepeate categories.
This way I would have one backup media containg three sepeate categoties, each of which could be updated individually. By the way ,is there a flashdrive that does not need software so you can plug it into any 2.0 usb port and read, update and save? I'm thinking if I used 3 floppies before and had a lot od=f room to spare a 750 mb flash drive would be good.
Hope this is clear enough and thank you

 

A flash drive looks exactly like a disk drive. You can set subdirectories etc.

Any WinXP PC will accept them. A win98 PC will probably need a driver installed. Don't keep the dirver on the flash because when you need it you can't get it off the flash.

 

Are you talking about the small 1"x3" flash drives? You can write anything to them, then put it in your pocket..

 

Subdirectories - that's what I was trying to articulate. Thank you.

 

Yes.. You can make Sub-directories on them..
I keep different programs, utilities, pics, etc. on mine and keep it in my pocket..
If I'm working on a computer for someone, I just plug it into the USB port and I have all my tools right with me.. I got my last one at Circuit City.. 1 gig Kingston for $20..

 

It's what I need. Thank you

 

I have a zip drive on my desktop in my office, back up my company on that as well as a 1 gig thumb drive, which I keep in my truck. Fast, accurate, over writable. I have lost data on floppies before, and have a piece of tape over the opening just to remind me not to use it.

 

I am familiar with zip drives but you use the term thumb drive - is that the same as a flash drive?

 

Hello: Grampy Pete

Buy a flash drive. It's what you need based upon descriptive needs and intended usages in your initial posted question. You'll be glad you did.

Terminology aside, thumb drive, flash drive or using any other description, consider them to be all a like. Any term is ok. They are all USB connected. No special software needed.

Just insert it into USB port and wait. Tiny LED light on the flash drive will blink. Shortly there after, a window opens. Window can be dragged open to size needed. Window will look exactly like the "My Documents" folder.

Drag and drop what needs to be saved into the window. It's that simple and easy. Once done, remove drive. Can be reused many times and will over right any existing saved item, just like a zip drive, etc.

In the near future, if not already, on laptops and soon all computers will have them pre-installed as one of the internal drives. They are that good and fast. I already have several flash drives. Work like a charm...

 

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Be sure to shut it down first.. Usually, I right-click on the drive in My Computer, then click on eject..

 

thanx for the tip - my directions call for clicking on the eject button , seeing the 'safe to remove' disappear then unplugging. This'i gb PNY does everything but fly.

 

If you're using XP, there is an icon in the lower right bar that has a green arrow on it. Click it and it will list the drives you have, such as PCMCIA or thumb drives. Click the appropriate drive, and it will disable it and allow you to remove it without shutting down.

 

Yes I found that to be true - thanx for the information.