Moving files from one computer to another, particularly big files, can be a bit tiresome. If the computers are linked to each other in a network, then it is usually quick and easy to transfer directly or through some form of centralised storage, typically a server computer. However, where the computers are not linked, the fastest and most convenient transfer method might be the “sneakernet”.
Files can be transferred via email, but this involves the additional hassle of creating the email with attachments, waiting for it to upload to the mail server, and then downloading the email on the other computer and saving the attachments. Much more common these days is the use of a memory stick – simply copy the files onto the stick, unplug it, walk over to the other computer (hence the term “sneakernet”) and plug the stick in, and then either copy off the stick or open the file directly from the stick.
Memory sticks, aka USB stick or flash stick, are plug-and-play devices that come very close to actually being plug-and-play. Buy, beg, borrow or steal one and plug it into any USB port your computer has, and within a few seconds you will have a new storage area. For Windows users, another 'drive' is added to the list, eg. where the hard-disk is C-drive, the CD/DVD drive is D-drive, then the USB memory stick would become the E-drive. Linux and Mac users will see a desktop icon similar to when a CD or DVD is inserted, and can just click on the icon to display the memory stick contents. Whatever the operating system, the memory stick is available to store files just like a hard-disk. Copy, drag-and-drop or save files direct.
One thing to be wary of though is that USB memory sticks may need 'flushing' before unplugging them. In order to speed things up, the computer may cheat by not actually writing files onto the memory stick but instead just remembering what needs to be written. If you unplug the device before this data is 'flushed' out of RAM onto the device, you may lose data. If you want to be certain it is safe to remove, then make sure the device is ejected ; right-click the icon in Linux and Mac and select “Eject”, or right-click the tiny USB icon in the bottom right of Windows' task bar and follow the prompts to “Safely remove”.
USB memory sticks are cheap, lightweight, robust and available everywhere. They suit just about any computer and operating system, and come in a range of storage capacities from just a few hundred megabytes up to approaching double-digit gigabytes. Some come with encryption software that will ensure the contents cannot be read if the stick is lost or stolen, and some even have security components such as fingerprint scanner for extra safety. They are so convenient everyone should have one.
One final caveat. If a computer cannot read the contents of a memory stick, it may suggest that you format it (ie. completely wipe it irretrievably of absolutely all data) – proceed with caution, and be sure that the contents were not created by a different operating sytem which is why the computer cannot read them eg. trying to copy files created with a Mac onto a Windows computer.
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