BootIt is a Lexar based utility to flip the Removable Media Bit setting of a USB drive.  What this means, is you can take a Lexar drive (and many other brands) and make it appear as a Local Drive on your PC rather than Removable Storage.

This is absolutely necessary if you are looking to partition your USB drive or try some trick hack like run your iTunes from a USB stick.

The RMB or Removable Media Bit is present on all flash drives, but whether the Lexar utility can flip it is something of trial and error.  Although it goes without saying…and I’ll say it anyway…the utility works with Lexar drives, everything else, use at your own risk.

Flip your bit BootIt is a freeware program.  Download it here. (more…)

Back in July 2007 I made a USB tutorial post about putting WordPress on a stick.  Shortly there after, several visitors emailed me indicating I had too much time on my hands and it really wasn’t worth the effort.  But how do I disagree!

Even in the past year, WordPress has gain momentum in the blogisphere and becoming the #1 blogging platform.  Even Alexa, a fairly decent gauge on web traffic ranks WP as #26 in most popular sites.

Given this information, I’ve seen more and more website - not blogs - use the WP platform to create their static website and webpages.  So for those SEO and web designers out there, putting WordPress on a stick allows them to demo the site to clients, run SQL runtimes for testing and troubleshooting and isolating their web environment during development.

A good example is my RSS Filter website: FilterMyRSS.  Take a look at the source code, you’ll see the script which runs the utility along with supporting pages and blog entries…all based off WordPress.

I do agree the masses wouldn’t care about putting WordPress on a stick, but if the web is your bread-n-butter it would probably be smarter for you to know how - than to not.

Install WordPress on a stick tutorial.

Today LifeHacker syndicated a short description on how to place a Wiki on a USB stick…and I thought…hmm interesting idea. So digging into things a little deeper it seems no more complicated than putting WordPress on a stick. But I think most of you would ask, why? The reason would be for off-line edits, organizing or remote access where there is no internet connectivity or you are in a facility which limits your access (schools & gov’t agencies).

Here is the web page from the MediaWiki website which gives you all the juicy details on placing a wiki on a stick.

One of the most common problems with USB drives is the plastic casing getting cracked and breaking apart.  It’s a shame that such a cheap piece of plastic might encourage some to drop another $20 or $30 on a new device.  Of course fixing the plastic is never going to work as a long term solution - just a stop-gap.

Instructables has a nice USB tutorial on taking a UFD and turning it’s case into a nice, customized wood piece.  Sure you could buy a fancy wood drive made from material carbon dated back 600 years or more, but sometimes making your own stuff is much more satisfying.

The USB tutorial displays 12 steps from start to finish with a list of equipment you’ll need, but after reading through the tutorial, I think a dremel would replace most of the tools required.  And we all have one of those.

So get going and as Eric would say “go build something…”

Link to USB tutorial lesson.

With “going green” such a big trend right now you might find yourself wanting to put a little green in your workspace - and no, I don’t mean that green. The following is a video USB tutorial on taking some supplies from around your office or home, LED lights and some USB power to create your very own USB LED Greenhouse.

Video is 3 minutes.

Instructables posted a great little USB hack for turning an old VHS tape into a glowing USB hub.  I like this mod because it takes an old, out of date medium, puts some retro lighting in there which creates a modern day device I can use everyday.

Instructables also brings up a good point with hubs getting smaller these days, it’s more likely you’ll lose it behind your desk.  Having a honk’in big VHS tape solves that problem.

So what is this USB tutorial all about?  Well, in short, you will destroy an old VHS tape, cut out some through-holes for USB ports and power.  Secure some LEDs for effect and reassemble everything to impress your buddies.  Since this outline isn’t enough to start or finish the project, jump over to Instructables for the full low down.

Waterproofing your USB drive is a good preventative maintenance procedure as you never know when it’ll end up in the wash. Below is a video on how to use epoxy and little skill to waterproof your UFD. Enjoy this USB tutorial: