How-to: Properly Use USB Flash Drives
In this guide, we learn the proper way of using (and ejecting) USB drives (also known as thumb drives, usb sticks, flash drives, etc.). USB flash drives can be a great assistive technology tool, as they allow users to store and save data digitally, making that information accessible to a wide variety of apps and programs. In fact, many assistive technology apps allow you put their software onto a USB stick so that it can be used on any laptop or computer. While USB drives are a great way to keep your data mobile, but there are a couple things you’ll want to keep in mind to ensure that your USB device stays healthy, and that your data is protected.
Let’s get started!
Section A. How to copy data onto a USB stick
1. Insert the USB stick into a USB port.
2. Locate the file that is to be saved onto the USB stick.
3. Right click on the file and hit “copy”.
4. Open Windows Explorer. If you are unsure of how/where to find Windows Explorer, click on the windows/start button located on the lower left corner of your screen, type in “Windows Explorer” and hit enter on your keyboard.
On the left hand side of the window there will be a section called “Computer” which will list all of the hard drives associated with your computer (for example the C: drive is located here). Under that list you will see your USB stick. It will be titled something along the lines of “Removable Disk”, “Removable Storage”, “Store n’ Go” etc.
Hint: If you are not sure which item is your USB stick, right click on it, and select “properties”. Near the middle of this new window, it will read “type: Removable Disk” if it is a USB stick.
5. Left click on the “Removable Disk” listed under the “Computer “section to open it. Here you will see previously saved files if you have already saved something to your USB stick. If you haven’t saved anything, this section will be blank.
6. Right click anywhere in the blank section of this window and hit “paste”.
7. The information will now copy from your computer onto your USB stick. Once the information has finished copying, go back to Windows Explorer, and right click on “Removable Disk” (or “Removable Storage”, “Store n’ Go” etc.) ,and hit “Eject”
8. You may now remove the USB stick from the USB port.
Section B. How to copy data from your USB stick onto your computer
1. Insert the USB stick into a USB port.
2. Open Windows Explorer. If you are unsure of how/where to find Windows Explorer, click on the windows/start button located on the lower left corner of your screen, type in “Windows Explorer” and hit enter on your keyboard.
On the left hand side of the window there will be a section called “Computer” which will list all of the hard drives and other storage locations associated with your computer (for example the C: drive is located here). Under that list you will see your USB stick. It will be titled something along the lines of “Removable Disk”, “Removable Storage”, “Store n’ Go” etc.
3. Left click on the “Removable Disk” listed under the “Computer “section to open it.
4. Right click on the file you wish to copy from your USB stick and hit “copy”.
5. Using Windows Explorer, open the location or folder where you wish to save the data.
6. In any blank area of the main window, right click with your mouse and select “Paste”
7. The information will now copy from your USB stick onto your computer. Once the information has finished copying, right click on “Removable Disk” (or “Removable Storage”, “Store n’ Go” etc.) ,and hit “Eject”
8. You may now remove the USB stick from the USB port.
