Hack Your USB STICKS

What did you last use a USB stick for? We’re guessing it was probably to transfer files between PCs. While these mini storage drives are perfect for this kind of task, they’re capable of so much more.

Over the next few pages, we’ll dig deeper into the inner workings of your humble USB stick than ever before. You’ll discover ways to use them that you never considered, as well as learn secret tricks to better organise your sticks, diagnose problems and protect the files stored on them from prying eyes.

You’ll need to use some powerful tools to carry out these hacks – from hidden Command Prompt tools built into Windows to programs you can download for free. As with all advanced tools, we recommend you make a full backup of all your important files before trying them (files stored on your USB sticks, as well as your PC’s hard drive).

As always, we’ll cut through the jargon and walk you through every stage step by step, highlighting any specific areas where you need to be extra careful.

Best of all, most of the tips work even with small-capacity USB sticks, so you’ll be able to put even old flash drives to good use. In fact, once you’ve come to realise their full potential, we reckon you might be tempted to buy some faster, bigger sticks – and as we reveal on page 52, they’re now cheaper than ever.

We’d also love to hear how you use your USB sticks. Email your top tips to letters@computeractive and we’ll publish the best.

RECORD TV TO A USB STICK

In Issue 598 (page 53) we revealed the best TV set-top boxes for recording live TV. While these offer some great features, they come with a hefty price tag (starting at £166). There is a cheaper alternative. Depending on the model of TV you have, you might be able to record programmes using nothing more than a USB stick.

First, check that your TV has one or more USB ports. This won’t necessarily mean you can record to a USB stick – some TV sets will only let you play media from a USB stick (see our following tip) or install firmware updates. Refer to your TV’s manual or manufacturer website to check whether it supports recording to a USB stick.

Alternatively, just grab an old USB stick and test it out for yourself. This is what we did with our Sony Bravia KDL-55HX853 (a relative dinosaur in TV terms, dating back to 2012). Bear in mind that video requires plenty of storage space. With our Sony TV, we used a 32GB