Usb Flash Drives/Memory Sticks/Usb Sticks

[barry1010]

Whatever you want to call them.
I have lots of them, with various files, data, bootable programs and tools - all very useful.
How do identify yours? It brings back the nightmare of the cassette tape and VCR days, working my through loads of tapes looking for the one I want, only to find I've recorded over half of whatever it is I wanted to watch or listen to.
So I need your organisational tips, please - it's not my strong point. I sling them in a tub convinced I will remember that the Windows recovery stick is the red one and back up holiday photos are the green, but I don't.

[JimF]

Just name them like you would any other drive. Right-click the drive in Explorer and set an appropriate name

[barry1010]

Thanks, Jim, but I meant without popping them in the PC. Is there a way of externally labelling them with confidence that the label won't fall off?

[JimF]

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[-SharonA-]

I use a sharpie.

[Buenchico]

Use a sticky label but then wrap a strip of Sellotape around it.

[barry1010]

Thanks all. I had tried sticky labels but they don't seem to stay stuck to the sticks - I'll try the sellotape over the top.
I had to Google 'sharpie'.

[fbg40]

I'm with Sharon on this one - Sharpie.
FBG40

[barry1010]

Do Sharpies write on metal and plastic?

[-SharonA-]

Barry, they write on everything. The only thing is lack of space. So you have to abbreviate or shorten. My music sticks are labelled: Jazz, soul, funk etc.

[PsalmEquipt]

Physically organizing my USB flash drives has been impractical thus far as I'm continually repurposing them. What has worked for me is to clone the drives as .pmf image files using DiskGenius free software (www.diskgenius.com). I back them up on a 1 TB USB hard drive.

At least one reviewer on Amazon says that nylon cable labels are working for him. I may change my approach and try the self-adhesive cable labels since they appear easier to replace.

[joko]

attach keyrings - many drives come with a little hole

if not find a spot you can screw in a tiny picture hook loop screw

or stick on a picture hook sticker.

Or with a knife, scrape a groove around the edges, tight some string very tight around it, so it stays in the groove & attach a keyring to that.

or, depending on the size & shape of the drive, you can buy little lip balm lids, that have a plastic loop on, these are usually soft plastic & can often be squeezed onto the drive firmly