Windows 10: View Poll Results: Your Recommended Brand of Bootable USB drives to install Windows

Based on experience, what are the most/more reliable brands of USB (aka thumb drives) to use to create installation media, recovery media, WindowToGo, etc? (I have the Education version from Dreamspark Premium). Any size recommendations?

My observations:
-Lexar is frequently on Sale
-I thought I heard PNY was or used to be good
-Kingston I have heard both opinions (but avoid Data Traveler II USB 2.0) silver metal version. I had issues with that one, but I think Rufus solved it.

From other threads, I have noticed that some may or may not be compatible, or may require a lot of work to get them to function and 'boot from USB' / bootable USB dive.

The other question is have any of you noticed that USB 2.0 is more reliable as far as compatibility for this specific purpose than USB 3.0?


Your input is much appreciated!



System Specs:
ASUS X555UA (F555U) Laptop
Windows 10 Home 64bit v1607
Intel i7-6500U 2.50 GHz 6th gen processor
8GB of RAM
ESET Smart Security 9

:)

 

Upgrading Internal HDD to SSD

Charlie,

I have just performed exactly what you are trying to do.

Upgraded to Windows 10, then replaced the traditional HD with and SD.

I fully recommend doing the clean install as this will give you the best results, i changed from 2:00 minutes start up time to 5 seconds!

It was not easy at all, even more due to my computer a dell xps 15z does not recongnized the bootable USB media. But if your computer does recognizes Bootable usb media the steps would be:

1.- write down all of your current installed programs and utilites.

2.- Write down your product keys or licence numbers for future install.

3.- Create the bootable USB drive for windows 10 clean install, as the previous post recommends.

4.- Perform clean install.

5.- If your SDD came with special software install it now.

6.- Install previous software you still wish to keep.

Your computer should be better than new.

 

How to burn an ISO file on DVD?

Instead of a DVD, I recommend creating USB for installation.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create...

 

I have bunch of Kingston drives I've used to install Windows with. Data Traveler II's, G3 's. No issues here. I use Diskpart to create my bootable install drives.

 

I have bunch of USBs, all sizes and kinds and it doesn't really matter which. Using USB3 when possible for speed and a Linux distro with tools. Also using some SD and micro SD cards with USB adapter. Easier to store but somewhat slower.

 

A poll is pointless really. The real point is if the device is sold much cheaper than the average going rate for a branded device, then it is probably inferior or worse a fake. You get what you pay for.

 

Not only that but where they were made from . I seen 2 identical sticks everything was the same but only one difference, one was made in China and the other USA

 

And the inferior one was from where......?

 

At you sure it wasn't just assembled in the USA? USB Flash Drives Made in America

 

Ok, I think I get the message. I hope it was not pointless. Some memory is good, some may not be so good. Good point about the origin. I got a Lexar that was on sale, USB 2.0 just because it was a financial constraint. We'll see. I am sure it will do fine.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

It's more complicated when/if you want to make Windows to Go. There are just few certified for it.

 

Also speaking from Experience *, with RAM memory in general, two brands I don't trust are Kingston and PNY, and I'm really not so fond of Lexar. But Sandisk has always been rock solid for me. My current SSD is a Sandisk, after a PNY SSD crashed after only one month of service and the company (PNY) where I bought the SSD refused to replace it. My Sandisk SSD has been running for over a year now and it still at 100% useful.

Kingston is at the top of my Sh** list, because they buy a lot of memory chips that have failed final testing by companies like Micron. All the ram I've had to throw in the trash can over the past ten years has been Kingston. It may start out working OK, but then fail later on, and leave a computer disabled or seriously limping.

Lexar? I bought one Lexar flash drive "ON SALE" and it didn't say on the package whether it was USB 2.0 or USB 3.0.
I asked the salesman (at Office Depot) what speed it was and he said it was USB 3.0, but when I got it home and tried it out, I discovered it was only 2.0, and I promptly returned it to the store. That ended my experience with Lexar. *
* I will no longer buy any Flash Drives that are NOT USB 3.0 (at least).

Cheers Mate!
*Cool

 

Yes, that's why I bought it. Its an SD50 16GB USB drive, on a good sale. Turns out its made in China but what isn't.

Yes, those WindowsToGo drives are not cheap. I guess the security and high risk required with executive's activity requires some complexity. I would want to use some secure form of a USB drive for that too if I were using it for proprietary info and to avoid malware. Kingston seems to recently have acquired Ironkey. Ironkeys are HIPAA compliant (most of them I think).

They are cool.

 

Yeah, maybe so since everything is made in China. But the thing with the Chinese products some places use better material over others, so again it depends on the Chinese company . And I'm not just referring to usb products, in general I mean