Solved Looking for a Durable and Fast USB Flash Drive for Bootable Windows Installs


Sheikh

Sheikh

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Hi everyone,

I’m planning to buy a new USB flash drive and I need some advice. My main use case is creating bootable drives for Windows installation, and I’ll be rewriting the drive multiple times. So I’m looking for a flash drive that is:
  • Extremely durable (can handle frequent formatting and rewriting without failing)
  • Fast in both read and write speeds (to make the installation process quicker)
  • Reliable for long-term use (won’t suddenly stop working after a few bootable creations)
If you have personal experience with specific models or brands that perform well for this purpose, I’d really appreciate your recommendations.

Thanks in advance for your help!
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Ryzen 5 3500U8GBVega 8
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Huawei MateBook D15
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3500U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Vega 8
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    256GB Samsung SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security Premium

  • At a glance

    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2intel core i7 6700HQ16GBNvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Operating System
    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS73 6RF Stealth Pro
    CPU
    intel core i7 6700HQ
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
www.everythingusb.com

Best USB-C Flash Drives with USB-A Now Reach SSD Speeds

We tested six dual flash drives from PNY, Sandisk, Silicon Power, SSK, TeamGroup, and Transcend. These drives serve as a bridge between USB-C and legacy USB-A ports. With both connectors available, there’s no need for multiple drives or adapters, making it easier to transfer files across devices...
www.everythingusb.com www.everythingusb.com
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11AMD Ryzen 7 5700GMicron Technology DDR4-3200 16GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
HP Pavilion
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard
Erica6
Memory
Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Sound Card
Realtek ALC671
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
Screen Resolution
3840 x 2160
Hard Drives
SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list. OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / Mx Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    2000/500Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
    TP-Link BE9300 WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 (Archer TBE550E)
    TP-Link TX201 V1 2.5GB Lan

    Grandstream HT812 - VoIP
    ASUS DSL-AX82U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-AC68U - Mesh
    ASUS RT-BE88U Router

    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Process...16GB LPDDR5-52001x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - Type 82YL
    CPU
    13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Processor(Core™ i5-1340P)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5-5200
    Graphics card(s)
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512 GB SSD PCIe
    Mouse
    Logiteck MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    2000/500
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.


    Wireless Network: Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
    Ports: 1x 1 Novo button; 2 in 1 Audio Combo jack; Micro SD Card Reader; HDMI 1.4b; 2 x USB Type-C (TBT4)
    USB 3.2 Gen 2 DP 1.4a
    PD 3.0); 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type A
    Camera
    1x 1080P FHD IR/RGB Hybrid with Privacy Shutter and Dual Array Microphone
    Graphics
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Monitor
    14" WUXGA
    Form Factor
    Convertible Notebook
  • Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.8894 (Wifes)

    Yoga 7 2-in-1 14IML9 - Type 83DJ

    Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H Processor(Core™ Ultra 7 155H)

    Memory: 32GB LPD5X-7467

    Hard Drive: 1 TB SSD PCIe

    Wireless Network: 1x Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above

    Ports: 1 x HDMI 2.1 TMDS; 1 x Novo Button; 1 x Combo Audio Jack
    2 x USB-C (USB 4.0)
    1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

    Camera: 1080P FHD IR Hybrid with Dual Microphone

    Graphics: Intel® Arc™ Graphics

    Monitor: 14" 2.8K

    ...Where's my horse?
If you are going to buy Samsung, check their website for warranty arrangements first.
I discovered that, in my country, warranty return postage [which was to a foreign country] had to be paid for by the customer and was not refundable even though the Samsung agent agreed that the fault was theirs.


Denis
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Home x64 Version 25H2 Build 26200....
OS
Windows 11 Home x64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8037
10 years ago, the fastest I could find was a Sandisk Extreme (SDCZ80-032G-G46). I paid 14 for a 32 gb capacity.

About 18 months ago, I researched so-called "fastest" flash drives. One near the top was a Lexar M900 "jump drive". I paid 16 for 64 gb capacity.

Turns out the much newer Lexar was noticeably slower than the 10 year old Sandisk.

I'd guess the Sandisk above is out of production, but maybe they have a suitable replacement?

Moral of the story: don't put a lot of faith in online flash drive tests you might see. But you might get lucky and stumble across something.

Durability is a major crapshoot. They are all flimsy to one extent or another. As a general rule, I'd try to avoid any with a sliding mechanism that introduces another point of failure.

You may not need much capacity, so in your shoes I might buy 2 or 3 candidates and experiment.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 ProIntel 265KG Skill DDR5 2 x 16 kit 6000/36none
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Fishmill Special
CPU
Intel 265K
Motherboard
MSI Pro Z890-A
Memory
G Skill DDR5 2 x 16 kit 6000/36
Graphics Card(s)
none
Sound Card
none
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell SE2726HS
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
WD SN770 NVME 500 GB boot; Intel 660p NVME 2 TB and WD Green 3 TB storage
PSU
Be Quiet 13M 750 ATX 3.1
Case
Lancool PC-K65
Cooling
Noctua U12S
Keyboard
Logitech K120 Wired
Mouse
Dell MS-116
Browser
Chrome
Antivirus
Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes
I bought This One and it's almost as fast as a Samsung 2.5" SSD.


0000 CrystalDiskMark.webp
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26200.8875 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦25H2AMD Ryzen 7 3700XG.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦26200.8875 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 5302)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Total Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1

  • At a glance

    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    W11, always updated with latest buildsAMD Ryzen 9 9900XG.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB Kit DDR5-6000...ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 3060 V2 OC Edition 12G...
    OS
    W11, always updated with latest builds
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self-made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi
    Memory
    G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB Kit DDR5-6000 CL30 (F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 3060 V2 OC Edition 12GB GDDR6
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo CS240, Calibrated with Datacolr SpyderX
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T705 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2- SO+Archive
    Lexar EQ790 1TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe 1.4- LR& PS Workspace
    PHIXERO SSD P5000-512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4- Backups
    Seagate ST8000DM04- Photo Archive, SATA HD
    Western Digital WD2002FAEX- Generic archive, SATA HD
    PSU
    Be Quiet 850W Pure Power 12M per Pc ATX
    Case
    Phanteks XT Pro
    Cooling
    Be quiet Pure loop 2 360mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    D/L-700/800 Mbps; U/L 250/300 Mbps WiFi 7 from motherboard
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Avast
    Other Info
    Mostly used for photo retouching software & some video slideshows.

  • At a glance

    W11, always updated with latest buildsAMD Ryzen 9 9900XG.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB Kit DDR5-6000...ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 3060 V2 OC Edition 12G...
    Operating System
    W11, always updated with latest builds
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi
    Memory
    G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB 32GB Kit DDR5-6000 CL30 (F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 3060 V2 OC Edition 12GB GDDR6- From System 1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo CS240, Calibrated with Datacolr SpyderX
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T705 SSD 1TB PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2- SO+Archive
    Lexar EQ790 1TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe 1.4- LR& PS Workspace
    PHIXERO SSD P5000-512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4- Backups
    Seagate ST8000DM04- Photo Archive, SATA HD - From System 1
    Western Digital WD2002FAEX- Generic archive, SATA HD - From System 1
    PSU
    Be Quiet 850W Pure Power 12M per Pc ATX
    Case
    Phanteks XT Pro
    Cooling
    Be quiet Pure loop 2 360mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    D/L-700/800 Mbps; U/L 250/300 Mbps WiFi 7 from motherboard
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Avast
    Other Info
    Mostly used for photo retouching software, some video slideshows.
In terms of speed, the fastest drive I have is this, but it comes in capacities much larger than you need for Windows installations.

www.kingston.com

USB Flash Drives for personal, business and encrypted data needs - Kingston Technology

Kingston DataTraveler and IronKey USB flash drives provide on-the-go file storage for photos, music, video and more. They are available in both standard and encrypted security for home, school, office and enterprise organisations.
www.kingston.com www.kingston.com

For Windows installs, I use Kanguru SS3 drives. They’re decently fast, but they won’t set any speed records. I use them because they have a write-protect switch, and sometimes you may put your installation drive in a questionable machine.

www.kanguru.com

Kanguru SS3™ with Physical Write Protect Switch

The Kanguru SS3 is a SuperSpeed USB3.0, high-performance flash drive that includes a physical write-protect switch. Easily switch to read-only mode for better protection than any other USB. Purchase it today!
www.kanguru.com www.kanguru.com
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 [rev. 8893]
OS
Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 [rev. 8893]

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8894Intel Core i5 1450064GB DDR4GeForce RTX 4060
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8894
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    Seagate 4TB Ironwolf, rotating HDD archive files
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8894Intel Core i5 1440032GB DDR5Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 25H2, Build 26200.8894
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Defender Security
  • Nimo N171 17" Laptop, (Intel i3-1215U, 16GB RAM, 2TB NVMe, Win11 Pro)
    Acemagic Vista Mini PC V1 (Intel N150, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe, Win11 Pro)
    HP ENVY h8-1540t, (24GB RAM, 2TB SSD, 2TB HDD, Win11 Pro)

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 [rev. 8893]
OS
Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 [rev. 8893]
why not buy a good quality USB caddy with a 2.5" SSD or NVMe drive
that way you get speed and longevity in a single package.

best of luck Steve ..
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeRyzen 7 5825u64GB DDR4 3200Ryzen 7 5825u
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 24" AiO
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 5825u
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    64GB DDR4 3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Ryzen 7 5825u
    Sound Card
    RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP AiO
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 @60 Hz
    Hard Drives
    1TB WD Blue SN580 M2 SSD Partitioned.
    2x 1TB USB HDD External Backup/Storage.
    PSU
    90W external power brick
    Case
    24" All in One
    Cooling
    Default Air Cooling
    Keyboard
    HP WiFi UK extended
    Mouse
    HP WiFi 3 Button
    Internet Speed
    1GB full fibre
    Browser
    Edge & Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security/Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Mainly Open Source Software

  • At a glance

    Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTSi5 7200u16GB DDR4Intel
    Operating System
    Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 13" Latitude 2017
    CPU
    i5 7200u
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel
    Sound Card
    Intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13" Dell Laptop
    Hard Drives
    250GB Crucial 2.5" SSD
    Mouse
    Generic WiFi 3 button
    Internet Speed
    WiFi only
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    ClamAV TK
    Other Info
    Mainly Open Source Software
XxXxX said:
why not buy a good quality USB caddy with a 2.5" SSD or NVMe drive
that way you get speed and longevity in a single package.

best of luck Steve ..
Click to expand...

Got an example?

Thanks
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)32GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB

  • At a glance

    Microsoft 25H2 ProIntel Core Ultra 764GBIntel Integrated Graphics
    Operating System
    Microsoft 25H2 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Pro 14 - PC14250
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Integrated Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Micron 1TB SSD
i use this NVMe caddy with a 1TB intel NVMe M2 SATA 3x 4 drive.

SABRENT M.2 NVMe Enclosure, Tool Free NVMe and SATA, 10Gbps External SSD Enclosure, Reusable Thermal Pad, Compatible with 2230 2242 2260 2280 (EC-SNVE)​


i also have a USB C to USB 3.x cable that i use it to connect as a backup drive on my system.
best of luck Steve ..
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeRyzen 7 5825u64GB DDR4 3200Ryzen 7 5825u
    OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP 24" AiO
    CPU
    Ryzen 7 5825u
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    64GB DDR4 3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Ryzen 7 5825u
    Sound Card
    RealTek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP AiO
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 @60 Hz
    Hard Drives
    1TB WD Blue SN580 M2 SSD Partitioned.
    2x 1TB USB HDD External Backup/Storage.
    PSU
    90W external power brick
    Case
    24" All in One
    Cooling
    Default Air Cooling
    Keyboard
    HP WiFi UK extended
    Mouse
    HP WiFi 3 Button
    Internet Speed
    1GB full fibre
    Browser
    Edge & Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security/Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Mainly Open Source Software

  • At a glance

    Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTSi5 7200u16GB DDR4Intel
    Operating System
    Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 13" Latitude 2017
    CPU
    i5 7200u
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel
    Sound Card
    Intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13" Dell Laptop
    Hard Drives
    250GB Crucial 2.5" SSD
    Mouse
    Generic WiFi 3 button
    Internet Speed
    WiFi only
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    ClamAV TK
    Other Info
    Mainly Open Source Software
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. ❤️❤️❤️
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Ryzen 5 3500U8GBVega 8
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Huawei MateBook D15
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3500U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Vega 8
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    256GB Samsung SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security Premium

  • At a glance

    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2intel core i7 6700HQ16GBNvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Operating System
    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS73 6RF Stealth Pro
    CPU
    intel core i7 6700HQ
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Ive been using one of these for the last couple of months, so I can't say a whole lot about longevity over months or even years, but it consistently delivers well over 350 MB/s in my usage.

Movespeed USB 3.2 SSD
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro For Workstations 25H2Intel Xeon W-10855M @ 4.9Ghz32GB OWC ECC DDR4-2666 RAMiGPU: Intel UHD Graphics P630 | Discrete GPU:...
OS
Windows 11 Pro For Workstations 25H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell Precision 7550
CPU
Intel Xeon W-10855M @ 4.9Ghz
Memory
32GB OWC ECC DDR4-2666 RAM
Graphics Card(s)
iGPU: Intel UHD Graphics P630 | Discrete GPU: NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 6GB
Sound Card
Realtek Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Integrated Ultrasharp
Screen Resolution
1920*1080
Hard Drives
OS: Samsung 980 PRO 500GB NVMe
Data: Western Digital Black SN750 1TB
PSU
Dell 180W
Internet Speed
1Gbps
Browser
Edge Chromium
Antivirus
Microsoft Defender
Other Info
OpenSUSE Leap 16 VM
Zorin OS 18 VM
Sheikh said:
My main use case is creating bootable drives for Windows installation, and I’ll be rewriting the drive multiple times.
Click to expand...

Consider using:

Ventoy

Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it.
www.ventoy.net www.ventoy.net
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 10Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryTyp...NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
OS
Windows 10
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
Motherboard
Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
Memory
16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
Sound Card
IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
Hard Drives
Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
Antivirus
Microsoft Defender
Other Info
Mobile Workstation
I've been using these for the last couple of years


Of course it acts more like an external drive instead of a USB device (even though it has a built-in USB male plug) because it's non-ejectable through Explorer. Meaning right-mouse clicking it will not bring an eject option there like it would a typical USB flash drive. You have to eject through the service service tray USB icon instead, just as you would do for any external portable HDD or SSD.

I'd expect the portable device @XxXxX mentions in post #13 ejects the same way.
 
Last edited:

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)32GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Pro
    Memory
    32GB

  • At a glance

    Microsoft 25H2 ProIntel Core Ultra 764GBIntel Integrated Graphics
    Operating System
    Microsoft 25H2 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Pro 14 - PC14250
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Integrated Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Micron 1TB SSD
Make sure it has UASP and is metal. If it is fast it will get hot and the metal helps dissipate the heat. With UASP it appears as an SSD and will run faster.

I use the drive below. It will drop to hard disk speeds (400MB/s IIRC) on large writes after it's buffer fills, but is around 1 GB/s on reads, and also gigabyte sized writes. I liked this one because it is UASP so I can format it into two partitions, one small FAT32 and the other NTFS. I use the type-A and fat32 for BIOS operations. Since it is UASP, it supports TRIM with NTFS partitions. I think you are looking for something like this or similar.

No USB sized drive will compete with SSD in with lots of writing because they use fewer NAND chips and less cache.


.
 
Last edited:

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel Core i9 14900K 5800/4500 P/E all core96GB (2x48) G.skill Ripjaws 6800 MT/s DDR5Asus ROG Strix 4070 Ti OC
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Photoshop/Audio/Game/tinker
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 14900K 5800/4500 P/E all core
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero
    Memory
    96GB (2x48) G.skill Ripjaws 6800 MT/s DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus ROG Strix 4070 Ti OC
    Sound Card
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 speakers; Audiolabs 7000a integrated amp; RSL 10S Mk2 sub; Creative Pebble Pro Minimilist
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Eizo CG2730 ColorEdge, ViewSonic VP2768, i1 Display Pro calibration puck
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440p x 2
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850X 4TB nvme, SN850 1TB nvme, SK-Hynix 2 TB P41 nvme,. Sabrent USB-C DS-SC5B 5-bay docking station: 6TB WDC Black, 6TB Ironwolf Pro; 2x 2TB WDC Black HDD
    PSU
    850W Seasonic Vertex PX-850 ATX 3.0/PCI-E 5.0
    Case
    Fractal Design North XL Mesh, Black Walnut
    Cooling
    EK Nucleus black 360 AIO w/Phanteks T30-120 fans, 2 Noctua NF-A14 Chromax case fan, 1 T30-120 fan cooling memory
    Keyboard
    Keychron Q3 Max TKL with custom GMK Redsuns Red Samuri keycaps, TX Stabs
    Mouse
    Logitech G305 wireless gaming
    Internet Speed
    575 Mb/s down | 25 Mb/s up
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender, Macrium Reflect X
    Other Info
    Phangkey Amaterasu V2 Desk Mat

  • At a glance

    Apple M1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    💻 Apple 13" Macbook Pro 2020 (m1)
    CPU
    Apple M1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1600
    Browser
    Firefox
zbook said:
Consider using:

Ventoy

Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it.
www.ventoy.net www.ventoy.net
Click to expand...
Some systems do not support Ventoy (e.g. my test laptop). I usually use cmd to create a bootable usb drive.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Ryzen 5 3500U8GBVega 8
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Huawei MateBook D15
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3500U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Vega 8
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    256GB Samsung SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    ESET Smart Security Premium

  • At a glance

    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2intel core i7 6700HQ16GBNvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Operating System
    Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 21H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI GS73 6RF Stealth Pro
    CPU
    intel core i7 6700HQ
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX1060 (6GB)
    Screen Resolution
    FHD
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD + 1TB HDD
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I've tried many and my latest is Silicon Power Blaze B02 (USB 3.2 Gen 1). Excellent speed and very durable. 16 GB.

www.silicon-power.com

USB Flash Drive-Products-Silicon Power

USB Flash Drive-Products-Silicon Power
www.silicon-power.com www.silicon-power.com

Their Marvel Xtreme M80 USB 3.2 Gen 2 is even faster but the minimum capacity is 250 GB.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 7,8.1,10,11, Mint, Kde Plasma, DebianIntel(R) Core(TM) i7-6500U CPU @ 2.50GHz16 GBIntel(R) HD Graphics 520/Nvidia GeForce 930M
OS
Win 7,8.1,10,11, Mint, Kde Plasma, Debian
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6500U CPU @ 2.50GHz
Memory
16 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics 520/Nvidia GeForce 930M
Sound Card
Intel(R) Display Audio/RealtekAudio
Monitor(s) Displays
Generic Pnp Monitor
Screen Resolution
1366 X 768
Hard Drives
ST2000LM024-1EJ164
Keyboard
Eng (US)
Mouse
Sanwa Supply
Browser
Firefox
Antivirus
Avast One
Other Info
Too many laptops with different system specifications.
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