Using a USB Flash Drive (a.k.a. pen drive, jump drive, thumb drive)

Inserting the USB flash drive

NOTE: If your computer is running Windows 98, you need to install the driver for the USB flash drive. The package should contain a CD and installation instructions.

 

  1. Insert the USB flash drive into a USB socket on your PC. The first time you insert a USB flash drive it will take 15-20 seconds for Windows to recognize that new hardware has been installed. Wait until the messages disappear from the screen.
  2. Windows Explorer or My Computer will show the flash drive as a new Removable Disk with its own drive letter.

Working with files

The USB flash drive works just like a floppy disk or another drive. You can drag and drop files onto it, save, delete, read, write, or copy files.

IMPORTANT: Before removing your USB flash drive, close all files on the drive. Wait for the LED (green light) on the drive to stop blinking.

Safely Removing the USB flash drive

  1. Double click the Unplug or Eject Hardware button in the right hand corner of the screen. It is the icon with the green arrow.
  2. Select USB Mass Storage Device. If you have wireless networking, be careful not to select that!

 

 

 

  1. Click Stop. The Stop a Hardware device dialog is displayed.

  1. Click OK. A message is displayed telling you it is now safe to remove the USB Device.

  1. Pull the USB flash drive out of the USB port.