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Essential Software for Thumbdrives?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the stuff-you-can-take-with-you dept.

MaufTarkie asks: "My manager just handed me a 256 megabyte thumbdrive. I already know about UnixKit for Windows and the WEP Key Generator Utility for Wi-Fi Networks, but I'm interesting in hearing what other people are putting on their drives. My drive will potentially touch a range of systems (Windows, Unix, and MacOS X), so any software is fair game. What are some essential tools I can (should) put on this?"

15 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. If you're on windows... by .milfox · · Score: 4, Informative

    PuTTY. Don't leave home without it.

    Also, a VNC client and a X server works too.

  2. My List by keiferb · · Score: 3, Informative

    Putty
    VNC (client and server)
    passwordsafe
    MS Remote Desktop Client
    Nessus

    1. Re:My List by Creepy+Crawler · · Score: 2, Informative

      UNIX/Windows Text editor
      Hex editor
      Grep
      A decent dictionary file
      My resume (backups of course ;-)
      Manuals of common equipment-or addons to equipment you know you work on
      PDF reader
      Semi-common Wi-Fi drivers (hate to not be able to network computers)

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  3. Firefox! by vandalman · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://texturizer.net/firefox/tips.html#oth_usb Don't leave home without it!

    --
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  4. sysinternals tools... by brianjcain · · Score: 4, Informative

    Everything from sysinternals, 7-Zip, VNC, PuTTY, ClamWin, etc.

    1. Re:sysinternals tools... by FFFish · · Score: 2, Informative

      Not 7Zip, use IZArc. More formats.

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    2. Re:sysinternals tools... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      IZarc is not open source. 7Zip is.

  5. unxutils by \\ · · Score: 2, Informative

    unxutils is great, doesn't require windows registry crap like cygwin does.

    also, this topic is a dupe from like.. last year or so. someone will find the url..

  6. Anti spyware by Laser+Dan · · Score: 2, Informative

    Adaware and Spybot S&D.

    I have them on my flash drive and I nearly always end up using them whenever I go to any friends houses.

    -Daniel

  7. Essentials by zaphodchak · · Score: 3, Informative

    I take a list of HTTP port 80 proxies, Firefox, several 64k, 4k, and 256b demoscene demos (i.e. Farbrausch), copies of 7-zip and UPX, a hex editor, SectorSpy, another data recovery tool,a couple of alternative file explorers, Dr. Delete and DSdel for deleting files, puTTY, a bunch of NirSoft apps, Media Player Classic, Paint Shop Pro 6, a ramdrive app, some process and services viewers, some gimmicky little password finders/revealers (i.e. stores password viewer and some asterisk-revealers) various other programs, a directory, and a little tool for changing the resolution through command line (indispensable), as well as a few other porgrams. It fits in around 40 megs, or will after I import my Firefox profile, and get it to run directly from the thumbdrive without creating a mess on the c drive. I plan to put some more stuff on there, but the secret to getting all that stuff into 40 megs is compression. Play around with settings. All the programs are UPX-ed, all the folders/archives are 7-zipped. I may change this later, but it works pretty well for now. (Caveat: Simply 7-zipping an exe will result in a lower filesize than first UPX-ing and then 7-zipping, however, you have to deal with a large decompressed filesize.) Also, remember to delete useless files, like install logs (you won't be uninstalling anything from your thumbdrive) help files (if you don't need them, they can be bulky) etc. Remember to keep a hard copy on your hard drive of the programs you put on your thumbdrive, in case you mess it up, which has happened to me a couple of times. I'll have to watch this thread to see what you guys are putting on yours. I'll be adding more stuff, mine's a 128MB, but I'm trying to pack it as tight as possible.

  8. Boot Linux from a USB stick by DocSnyder · · Score: 2, Informative
    "Swiss Army Knife" distributions like tomsrtbt or a modified Debian bootdisk fit well onto an even small thumbdrive. They are very useful for fresh installations or to make a system with fscked LILO table bootable. Larger USB sticks can take a Knoppix distro.

    On the host side, "mtools" provide easy access onto the thumbdrive. Just chgrp floppy /dev/sda, edit /etc/mtools.conf to map drive A: to /dev/sda and access the USB stick with "mdir", "mcopy" etc. like a (nowadays unneeded) floppy drive without mounting it.

  9. ultimate boot CD by Clover_Kicker · · Score: 3, Informative
    Take a look at the tools bundled in the Ultimate Boot CD.

    There's a DOS mode virus checker, some RAM checkers, Linux rescue boot disks, partition tools, HD wipers, and all kinds of good stuff.

    Hell, you may consider putting the compressed ISO on your key, 'tis only 57MB.

  10. ThumbDrive Apps - The Dirty Dozen by Llamakiller-4 · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is more aimed at those of us who always end up repairing all your non-tech friends PC's.

    1. WinImage Self Extracting images of
    a) Ghost 2003 Bootdisk, Drive imager also burns CDR, DVDR, Zip and external USB 2.0
    b) Ghost 2003 Bootdisk, Drive imager also burns CDR, DVDR, Zip and external USB 1.1
    c) Windows 98 Emergency Startup Disk
    d) Windows 98 Bootable disk with GDisk plus batch files.
    2. Mozilla
    3. ZoneAlarm Free Version
    4. AVG Antivirus Free Version
    5. Ad Aware Free Version
    6. Winsock Repair from Microsoft
    7. UltraVNC (setup to connect to your home server for everything that doesnt fit on your thumbdrive)
    8. WinZip Free Version
    9. SysInfo: Any version that doesnt req install.
    10.Registry Cleaner: ie RegCleaner, RegSupreme,etc
    11. Mp3's to listen to while working
    12. Your address book and phone list.

    There are plain reasons for each, one need only think.

    --
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  11. On mine by Yablo · · Score: 2, Informative

    CDEX
    IRFanView
    Winamp
    iTunes
    FireFox w/AdBlock and various other extensions
    Some music
    Assorted pictures
    Spybot & AdAware
    XP SP2
    DefilerPak
    Novell VPN client
    Citrix client
    Farbrausch demos
    PuTTY
    and the all-important XEvil

  12. Tiny Apps by sysadmn · · Score: 2, Informative

    Windows users should also see www.tinyapps.org.

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