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2.7.08
published on 10/24/06
Vassar Technology Today: Extras Online
Matt Leung 
Managing Editor
Extras Online contains additional tips, links, and information to supplement the printed Vassar Technology Today column.
Run programs from your USB flash drive
This method leaves the operating system to operate from the hard drive and transfers program files to operate from the USB flash drive.
The first step is to move the files of your selected programs from the hard drive to the flash drive. In Windows, the location of program files is in the folder named “program files” in the hard drive (usually the “c” drive). In Mac, the location is in the folder named “applications” in the hard drive (also usually the “c” drive).
For example, to move Microsoft FrontPage onto a flash drive, in the “program files” or “applications” folder, copy the “Microsoft FrontPage” folder onto the flash drive.
The next step is more difficult, requiring modification of the registry, a database file maintained by the operating system to keep track of vital information such as the location of programs. This modification to remap the paths of programs onto the USB drive should be left to the expert hands of a third-party application. Usually, partitioning programs such as Symantect’s Partition Magic (http://symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/overview.jsp?pcid=sp&pvid=pm80) or the Mac’s iPartition (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/ipartition.html) include a utility to redirect the path for programs to a new drive. For Windows, the free application LinkChanger (http://downloads.zdnet.com/download.aspx?docid=222625) can also make this modification.
Of course, to avoid having to deal with the registry you can instead uninstall your programs and reinstall them onto the flash drive, but this is generally not recommended unless the size of the program is small.
Run your operating system from your USB flash drive
This method, in a way, is the reverse of the previous method: After you get you computer to run off the flash memory, if there is not enough space left for program files, you can install your programs in a different location, such as in another flash memory or hard drive.
For Windows: Information Week contains an article with detailed instructions on booting Windows XP from a USB flash drive:
http://informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=177102101
For Mac: Apple does not recommend running your operating system from a USB drive:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106474
However, this is possible, and you can try at you own risk. Below is a page with instructions on booting a Mac from a USB drive:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20061017084322177
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Alumnae/i posters are strongly encouraged to include their class year with their name. The maximum length for comments is approximately 100 words; longer responses should be submitted as letters to the editor to misc@vassar.edu. More information about our letters policy can be found on our Policies page.
