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How to Use a Thumb Drive
How to use and remove a thumb drive from your computer
Thumb drive many names
Jump Drive
Thumb Drive
USB Flash Memory
Memory Key
Key Chain Memory
Pen Drive
Mass Storage Device
A thumb drive
Requires a USB port, and it is plug and play, typically does not require any special software
Behaves like the old 3.5 computer discs. Information can be easily taken on and off
Used mainly to transport information to and from one location to another
Usually has a neck strap—use it they are easy to lose
Byte is used to indicate the storage capacity of memory cards, computers etc. Large amounts of
bytes are indicated as kilobytes, megabytes and gigabytes
A kilobyte equals 1024 bytes
A megabyte (MB) equals 1024 KB bytes
A gigabyte (GB) equals 1024 MB
A terabyte is 1,024 GB
In simple terms, a kilobyte equals 1000 bytes, a MB equals 1000 KB and so on
A thumb drive size can be 256MB to 12GB
Insert a thumb drive into your computer
1. Plug your thumb drive into any USB port on your computer (front or back but if you have one in
the front of your computer it may be easiest to access)
If this is the first time using the thumb drive wait a few seconds once you plug it in
Look at the lower right side of computer (near your computer’s date a time) a text bubble will
appear and say something to the effect that ‘new hardware has been found.’
You shouldn’t have to do anything but watch. This typically takes about 3-5 minutes to work the
first time, and then just start using the thumb drive. The next time you use your thumb drive on the
computer it should be faster.
Remove a thumb drive from your computer
I recommend these steps EVERY TIME you use your thumb drive on any computer. The reason is
this, you think you are finished writing information to your thumb drive or to your computer from
your thumb drive but if you aren’t, you will lose the information.
Option 1
Turn off your computer, it is then safe to remove your thumb drive
Option 2
1. Look at the lower right bottom of your computer monitor near your date and/ or time clock. A
special icon appears only when you plug a thumb drive (or external storage device) into your
computer. It looks like a green arrow pointing to the left:
2. Left click on the icon
3. You may have one option or many to choose from. Left click on the correct USB Storage Device.
4. Wait until you see the text bubble below. It is then safe to pull your thumb drive from your
computer
If you do not see this text bubble you have not disengaged your thumb drive correctly and must
start over
How do I know my thumb drive letter?
Sometimes you may have a lot of removable storage
attached to your computer and not know which is your
thumb drive as in the example above.
Select ‘My Computer’ Note: you will only see your
thumb drive when it is plugged into your computer
Typically, it is found under
‘Devices with Removable Storage.’ Look for the associated drive.
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How to use and remove a thumb drive from your computer
Thumb drive many names
Jump Drive
Thumb Drive
USB Flash Memory
Memory Key
Key Chain Memory
Pen Drive
Mass Storage Device
A thumb drive
Requires a USB port, and it is plug and play, typically does not require any special software
Behaves like the old 3.5 computer discs. Information can be easily taken on and off
Used mainly to transport information to and from one location to another
Usually has a neck strap—use it they are easy to lose
Byte is used to indicate the storage capacity of memory cards, computers etc. Large amounts of
bytes are indicated as kilobytes, megabytes and gigabytes
A kilobyte equals 1024 bytes
A megabyte (MB) equals 1024 KB bytes
A gigabyte (GB) equals 1024 MB
A terabyte is 1,024 GB
In simple terms, a kilobyte equals 1000 bytes, a MB equals 1000 KB and so on
A thumb drive size can be 256MB to 12GB
Insert a thumb drive into your computer
1. Plug your thumb drive into any USB port on your computer (front or back but if you have one in
the front of your computer it may be easiest to access)
If this is the first time using the thumb drive wait a few seconds once you plug it in
Look at the lower right side of computer (near your computer’s date a time) a text bubble will
appear and say something to the effect that ‘new hardware has been found.’
You shouldn’t have to do anything but watch. This typically takes about 3-5 minutes to work the
first time, and then just start using the thumb drive. The next time you use your thumb drive on the
computer it should be faster.
Remove a thumb drive from your computer
I recommend these steps EVERY TIME you use your thumb drive on any computer. The reason is
this, you think you are finished writing information to your thumb drive or to your computer from
your thumb drive but if you aren’t, you will lose the information.
Option 1
Turn off your computer, it is then safe to remove your thumb drive
Option 2
1. Look at the lower right bottom of your computer monitor near your date and/ or time clock. A
special icon appears only when you plug a thumb drive (or external storage device) into your
computer. It looks like a green arrow pointing to the left:
2. Left click on the icon
3. You may have one option or many to choose from. Left click on the correct USB Storage Device.
4. Wait until you see the text bubble below. It is then safe to pull your thumb drive from your
computer
If you do not see this text bubble you have not disengaged your thumb drive correctly and must
start over
How do I know my thumb drive letter?
Sometimes you may have a lot of removable storage
attached to your computer and not know which is your
thumb drive as in the example above.
Select ‘My Computer’ Note: you will only see your
thumb drive when it is plugged into your computer
Typically, it is found under
‘Devices with Removable Storage.’ Look for the associated drive.
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