USB
-
Blog
How to clean install Windows 11 from ISO without USB
Performing a clean installation of Windows 11 typically involves creating a bootable USB drive. However, there are scenarios where using external media isn’t an option, perhaps due to hardware limitations, lack of access to a USB flash drive, or personal preference. In this situation, you can install Windows 11 by mounting the ISO file to File Explorer and launching the…
Read More » -
Blog
How to Update Your TV’s Firmware With a USB Drive
You likely update devices like your smartphone or laptop fairly frequently. (Perhaps you’ve put the latest one off a little longer than you should.) But how often are you updating other types of devices, like your TV? Despite how routine and simple your TV use may be, it can be important to keep the tube, like other devices, updated to…
Read More » -
Blog
Best antivirus for USB and external drive scanning
Threats on USBs and external drives pose serious risks because they’re often able to bypass traditional network-based security. This allows them to quickly spread between devices, particularly in schools and offices, where a single infected USB or external drive could compromise an entire network. Threats can include autorun malware, worms, trojans, and ransomware, leading to serious issues, including data theft…
Read More » -
Blog
How to clean install Windows 11 from USB
A clean installation of Windows 11 using a USB flash drive offers several key advantages over an in-place upgrade or system reset. This process involves wiping the hard drive and installing a fresh copy of the operating system, which helps ensure optimal performance, stability, and a clean slate free of existing issues. While Microsoft officially recommends performing an in-place upgrade…
Read More » -
Blog
I just gave my old laptop a major Wi-Fi 7 speed boost with these USB adapters — here’s how
My favorite notebook of all time is an HP EliteBook Dragonfly from 2019 that goes where I go, regardless of whether it’s cross town or across the globe. Despite its age, it still has lots of power, a bright touchscreen, excellent Bang and Olufsen audio and a 7 hour battery life. Its dark blue machined aluminum case makes for a…
Read More » -
Blog
6 USB Drive Uses You’re Missing Out On
Most of us use USB drives for temporary file storage, but they can do much more. You can boot an operating system, store and encrypt passwords, automate critical data backups, and more. If you have a spare USB drive that you only use for storage, here are some other ways to make the most of it. 1 Run a Portable…
Read More » -
Blog
How to backup Windows 11 to external USB drive
To create a full backup of Windows 11, open the “System Image Backup” settings in the Control Panel, click “Create a system image,” select the backup external storage destination, and start the backup process. You can also use the “wbAdmin” command to create a Windows 11 backup with Command Prompt. UPDATED 3/17/2025: On Windows 11, creating a full backup to…
Read More » -
Blog
Recent Windows updates make USB printers print random text
Microsoft says that some USB printers will start printing random text after installing Windows updates released since late January 2025. The known issue affects Windows 10 (version 22H2) and Windows 11 (versions 22H2 and 23H2), but according to an update to the Windows release health dashboard, the latest Windows 11 24H2 is not impacted. “After installing the January 2025 Windows…
Read More » -
Blog
How to create bootable Windows 11 USB with Command Prompt
UPDATED 3/5/2025: You can use Command Prompt with the DiskPart tool to create a Windows 11 USB bootable media, and in this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete the process. On Windows 11, you can create a USB bootable media with several tools, including the Media Creation Tool and popular third-party tools like Rufus and Ventoy. However, you can…
Read More » -
Blog
How to create bootable USB drive for Windows 11 with Rufus (2025)
UPDATED 1/27/2025: Rufus is a free tool for quickly creating a bootable USB flash drive to upgrade or clean install Windows 11. The utility works similarly to the Media Creation Tool. However, you can also provide an existing ISO file or download the files directly from Microsoft servers. Unlike the Microsoft solution, Rufus not only allows you to create a USB…
Read More »