USB Ports and Flash Drives
April, 2006
USB Ports
USB vs Firewire
Our Public
Stations
Top two are FireWire
Middle two are USB
Old white* computers
have only USB (in back),
no FireWire
*white=look at computer, not monitor!
Flash Drives
Capacity varies with price:
• USB Drive 64MB
• Flash Drive 128MB
256MB
• Thumb Drive 512MB
• Pen Drive 1 GB (1024 MB)
2 GB
• Jump Drive ????
• Chip Stick Compare to:
Floppy: 1.4 MB
CD-ROM: 700 MB
DVD-ROM: 4.7 GB
Flash Drives
Using a Flash Drive
1. Insert into USB slot
2. Wait for Windows to detect and assign
drive letter.
3. Use as if it were another hard drive or
like the P drive, by its letter.
Removing Flash Drive
• Close all applications/windows that could have a file
open on it!
• Click on the tiny green arrow in the bottom right System
Tray, then click the popup words “Safely remove USB
Storage Device...”
• Wait for the popup balloon, “Safe to Remove Hardware”
• Pull drive out smoothly.
• Alternative –safe to remove when computer is OFF.
Care of Flash Drive
• Keep connector tip covered when not in
use (cap or sliding builtin cover)
Extension Cables
– we’re buying for older computers
Keep plugged in back.
Attach flash drive to front end.
Remove is same procedure!
Misc. Tidbit about USB - speed
• USB 1.1 vs. USB 2.0
• USB 1.1 max speed 12MB/sec
• USB 2.0 max speed 480MB/sec
• Firewire (1394) max speed 400MB/sec
• Always safe to plug USB 1.1 device into 2.0 slot
and a USB 2.0 device into a 1.1 slot
• our older white computers are USB 1.1, the new
black computers are all USB 2.0.