WiFi Finder

Locate wireless services by a specific address, city, state, country, airport, or zip code.

Get Connected Now

RSS Feeds

Get our latest content via convenient RSS feeds.

See All RSS Feeds

Become a PCW Member

Join the community and start enjoying the benefits:

Get tech advice from thousands of PC World Members
Rate and recommend the latest tech products
Share your thoughts in blog and article comments
Get free excerpts and exclusive discounts on Super Guides

Signing up is free and easy.

23 Things to Do With a Thumb Drive

Put your USB drive to work as a portable desktop, PC recovery kit, entertainment platform, and more.

Christopher Null

Photograph: John Kuczala

Once known as simple little gizmos that were basically just modern replacements for floppy disks, USB flash drives have suddenly grown up. You can now replicate your desktop environment, encrypt files on the fly, and even rescue your PC with one of these formerly modest devices. Here are some of the coolest things you can do today with the innocuous-looking thumb drive on your desk, as well as details about some particularly useful new drives.

"23 Things to Do With a Thumb Drive" Comments

The Best of PC World

A free newsletter bringing you editors' picks and hot topics from the week at PC World. Subscribe here.

Top Selling Laptops

See the latest and most popular laptops from Dell. Visit the Shopping Center

Featured APC Accessories

APC Back-UPS ES Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
APC SurgeArrest Performance Highest level of protection for your professional computers, electronics and connected devices, as well as provides surge protection.