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Essential Software for Thumbdrives?
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?"
PuTTY. Don't leave home without it.
Also, a VNC client and a X server works too.
Putty
VNC (client and server)
passwordsafe
MS Remote Desktop Client
Nessus
http://texturizer.net/firefox/tips.html#oth_usb Don't leave home without it!
Devise, Repair, Solve, Build
Everything from sysinternals, 7-Zip, VNC, PuTTY, ClamWin, etc.
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.
-puTTY - terminals should be available on any Unix-ish or Mac-ish comp., but in case you're in an Apple store (where Terminal is locked off), maybe a Mac SSH client, too
-Firefox - shameless self-promotion: here's my quick, easy, robust way of getting Firefox to work on a USB drive: Firefox@York. Note that this not only allows you to have extensions (which some portability how-tos don't), but you can use the same profile for the Mac, Windows and Unix versions of Firefox (diff binaries, same profile).
-Adaware and Spybot. Maybe a ClamAV or AVG installer
-Useful links - I have Trend Micro's "House Call" online virus scan, Windows Update, www.whatsmyip.com, etc.
-Perhaps a POP3 or IMAP client like Thunderbird? Or even a full-fledged PIM, depending on size
-A list of CD keys for all your software
The next thing to go on my drive will be Open Office. Only one binary (I think), since it's Java-based, but getting it down to size and getting it to understand that it's on a portable drive will be the challenges.
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.