At first glance, this isn’t just another thumb drive—it’s a miniature construction worker, complete with hard hat, safety vest, and a friendly smile. The figure looks like something you’d keep on your desk, and that’s exactly the point. It mixes a useful tool with a playful, display-worthy shape, so people actually keep it rather than toss it in a drawer.
Most boards today give you a few decent USB connections and expect you to figure out the rest with hubs and adapters. That’s fine for casual setups, but chances are if you’re running external drives, cameras, audio gear, or other devices, you’ll run out of ports fast. The ASRock X870 LiveMixer WiFi flips that script. This board comes with twenty-five USB ports in total, which is way more than you’ll see on a typical motherboard.
The first thing to understand is that the back panel is stacked. You get sixteen ports right out of the box, and two of those are USB4 Type-C. Those are your heavy hitters: up to 40 Gbps transfers, plus display output if the CPU supports it. That kind of bandwidth makes external SSDs or capture gear run like they should.
You also get another Type-C rated for USB 3.2 Gen1 speeds and about seven Type-A ports in that same Gen1 class. That’s plenty fast for most peripherals — webcams, audio interfaces, or storage that doesn’t need crazy speed. Then there’s the legacy support: six USB 2.0 ports still hanging around. They’re slow at 480 Mbps, sure, but perfect for things like keyboards, mice, dongles, or older hardware that doesn’t benefit from more bandwidth.
Add another nine ports through the internal headers and you hit the big twenty-five.
The SurpriseRemovalOK setting in Windows is a registry value that determines whether a USB mass storage device can be safely removed without using the “Safely Remove Hardware” option. When set to 1, the system treats the device as hot-swappable, disables write caching, and allows users to unplug it without first notifying the operating system. This setting is commonly used for USB flash drives and memory cards, where users often remove devices without ejecting them through the UI.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USB\VID_xxxx&PID_xxxx\…\Device Parameters.
USB registry edits and how to clean up your Windows OS
Surprise removal, in technical terms, refers to the disconnection of a device without prior notification to the operating system. Unlike orderly removal, which involves preparing the system for safe detachment using tools like the Device Manager or “Safely Remove Hardware,” a surprise removal triggers specific system callbacks. For instance, in Windows, the framework calls EvtDeviceSurpriseRemoval before executing further cleanup and device destruction. This behavior is supported by architectures such as PCI Express and is common with hot-swappable interfaces like PCMCIA. However, surprise removals can also trigger event logs, such as Event ID 157, which indicate that a non-removable disk was disconnected unexpectedly. These events may stem from physical removal, hardware failure, software actions like VM snapshots, or driver-related issues.
Microsoft first introduced the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature in Windows 2000, marking the first OS version to officially support hot-swappable USB mass storage devices. Prior to this, Windows 95 and 98 provided only limited and less reliable support for USB, often leading to data corruption or unreadable drives. Microsoft responded to growing user feedback from the late 1990s, especially as USB flash drives and external hard drives became more common. Bootable USB Devices . Users and OEMs reported frequent issues like corrupted file systems and lost data due to unsafe removal practices.
There’s buzz in the dev and IT circles about a new type of USB drive being tested by a Southern California tech group — and it’s not your average thumb drive. Unlike traditional models, this device identifies as a Local Disk instead of a removable drive. That subtle shift could have a big impact for system builders, software developers, and security-minded teams.
Rather than acting like a typical USB memory device, this one behaves more like a hard drive — natively and consistently across all major operating systems. Early info suggests it’s not relying on software tricks or OS-specific tweaks. Instead, it’s using a controller-level hardware profile to mount as a Fixed Disk. That makes it ideal for workflows that require a genuine HDD classification, such as enterprise deployment tools, forensic environments, or OS imaging applications.
People familiar with the project say it’s especially useful for creating Windows To Go environments or installing software that demands a hard disk target. This isn’t a workaround — it’s a purpose-built piece of hardware made to behave like part of your machine, not a plug-in accessory.
Reported features include support for both USB 2.0 and 3.0 protocols, multiple enclosure styles, and compliance with major certification standards (CE, FCC, RoHS, UL). Early samples start at 2GB with scalable options beyond that — and are available in small production runs for evaluation.
For integrators, this could be a clean solution to a long-standing limitation with USB-based installations. No registry edits. No mounting scripts. Just plug, and go.
We’ve now posted the full details and official specs in our article: Nexcopy USB HDD Fixed Disk Could Bypass Removable Drive Restrictions.
USB flash drive security is a major concern these days and a significant security threat to both consumers and organizations via USB can pose a big problem for those trying to protect their computers and networks.
Thumb drives are convenient because they are small in size and fast with read and write performance making them an ideal device for moving data; however, flash drives can be abused by cyber criminals to infect computers because of their ease-of-use.
Until the Nexcopy Lock License technology was introduced the fundamental way a flash drive works is a benefit for how malware can spread, because all USB flash drives have a read and write status by default. Lock License technology reverses the state of the flash drive – the device is always write protected, or said another way: read only.
Recently, a team of scientists from Liverpool Hope University in the UK created a sophisticated USB device with all sorts of endpoint protection software loaded on the USB drive in the attempt to block malware getting onto a drive.
The Liverpool Hope University scientists said, “If the OS is not configured to restrict and promote the user’s permission on an inserted USB device, then as soon as the USB drive is inserted it can execute default auto run script that can deliver the intended payload to the computing devices and deliver multiple kinds of malicious programs such as viruses, Trojans, Keyloggers, Spyware, Remote Access Trojans (RATs), and so forth to the computing devices.”
However, what these scientist overlooked in their research is the simple fact of making the USB read only.
It is important to understand how a virus interacts with a USB device to fully appreciate the above sentence.
A virus designed to spread via USB has two main goals: First, spread any way possible via USB and second, remain undetected as long as possible. Because a virus is trying to stay undetected the malware will ping any USB device connected upon power up. Once the virus identifies if the USB device is usable, the virus will go back into hibernation. For example, if a USB mouse is connected the virus quickly determines this is a HID device (Human Input Device) and does not have memory for the virus to spread it’s code. However, a virus will ping a USB flash drive and quickly determine it is read/write and will insert it’s code onto the USB flash memory.
With a Lock License USB flash drive, the device is always write protected. This default state of the flash drive means a virus will identify the USB as read only, leave it alone, and got back into hibernation. Malware does not re-examine devices because the more active a virus is, the more likely the virus will be detected.
This is what the scientists at the Liverpool Hope University did not take into account when building their anti-malware device, is the simple fact of removing the “write” capability of the USB flash drive.
With a Lock License drive defaulting to a write protected state, means control of when the USB device becomes writable is 100% in the hands of the User. This means a User can perform all the scans and testing they require before determining the flash drive is clean and making the USB writable. The old ways of how a virus writes itself onto a USB flash drive is gone, because the Lock License USB is read only.
The Lock License technology has two unique characteristics. First, the User must enter an encrypted password to enable the write function of the USB device. Again, this puts total control back into the hands of the user for when write access is granted to the device. Second, the device is always write protected when connected to any system.
Consider the following:
A User enters their encrypted pass code to make the USB writable. Once their data load is complete the User removes the drive. At this point, when the power is cut to the Lock License drive, the default state is now read only. When the Lock License drive is connected to anything again, it is write protected and read only and impossible for a virus to write itself onto the flash drive.
This simple change of manufacturing a drive to always be in a read only state is the game changer against malware and cyber security threats via USB flash drives. Without the USB device being writable, it is impossible for a virus to spread to the device.
Closing Comment
The Lock License drive is a hardware solution. The write protection is not a software setting. There are no drivers to install or software to install. The USB flash drive will always be write protected when connected to any device, such as a Linux computer, Mac or Windows computer, a car stereo or any other host. To make the Lock License drive writable for data loading is only possible on a Windows computer.
Microsoft has not issued an official statement explaining why the FAT32 formatting option is unavailable for storage devices 32GB and larger but we’ve done some digging and came up with a possible answer.
On both Windows 10 and Windows 11, users are typically presented with formatting options for NTFS (New Technology File System) or exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table). The choice to format a drive as FAT32 is missing once the drive exceeds 32GB in capacity.
Since Microsoft has not clarified this change, it’s widely assumed that the decision was made to avoid problems caused by FAT32’s limitations—especially its inability to store files larger than 4GB. As file sizes have continued to grow over the years, this limitation has become more noticeable.
The FAT32 file system cannot handle single files larger than 4GB. This is due to its 32-bit file allocation table, which caps the maximum file size at 4,294,967,295 bytes. Regardless of the cluster size, FAT32 simply cannot address a file above that cluster size.
For users who need to store high-resolution videos, system backups, or other large files, switching to exFAT or NTFS is essential. NTFS, which is the default for most internal drives in Windows, offers better support for large files, access permissions, and journaling. ExFAT, on the other hand, was created as a lightweight, high-capacity alternative for external storage that’s compatible across multiple operating systems. But don’t format USB flash drives as NTFS as we’ve mentioned before.
We think Microsoft removed the FAT32 option for drives above 32GB to prevent user confusion and/or support issues. For example, trying to copy a 5GB video file to a FAT32 drive will result in a frustrating error message. By defaulting to exFAT, Windows helps users avoid this issue without needing to explain file system limits.
ExFAT supports significantly larger file sizes compared to FAT32. In theory, exFAT can handle files up to 16 exabytes (16 million terabytes), although real-world limits are much lower and depend on the device’s implementation. Even so, it’s more than sufficient for most consumer and professional use cases, from video production to large-scale backups.
While exFAT offers excellent cross-platform compatibility and large file support, users should be aware that some older operating systems or embedded devices might not support it natively.
The concept of a file system—the method by which data is organized and stored on a storage device—has evolved steadily since the early days of computing.
General Motors needed a file system in the 1950s to help their early computers store and organize large amounts of business data—like payroll, inventory, and production schedules. Working with IBM, they developed one of the first operating systems (GM-NAA I/O) to manage these tasks. It allowed the computer to access and manage files on magnetic tape, making it easier to run multiple jobs and retrieve information efficiently. This basic file system helped move computing from scientific use into real-world business operations.
A few years later, more advanced systems like MIT’s Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS) introduced features like named files and user access control. By the 1970s, UNIX and Multics brought in hierarchical directory structures that closely resemble the file systems we use today.
Review with pictures and video
When it comes to making a USB stick read only, or USB write protected, there are two options. The first is the original technology of using a physical switch to toggle on and off the flash drive writing. The more recent technology is a programmatical way to toggle the write protection on and off.
Great question. There are two main categories of flash drive users;
A) the home computer user and
B) the corporate / business world. The home computer user probably doesn’t care too much about making a USB read only because their environment is trusted. They know who’s had the USB and they know the computers it is being plugged into. However corporate folks definitely care about making a USB read only.
Disclosure: This post contains one affiliate link to Netac products. If you use this link, you may earn a commission at no cost to you.
They have two main reasons why
Lake Forest, CA – [June 24, 2025] — Nexcopy introduces the Lock License USB drive as a secure, modern alternative to the USB write protect switch — offering firmware-level data protection with no physical toggle. A leading provider of advanced USB technology solutions, Nexcopy is emphasizing that the Lock License USB flash drive is a groundbreaking replacement for the traditional USB write protect switch flash drive. Built on a hardware-firmware architecture, the Lock License flash drive offers unmatched security, automation, and deployment capabilities for modern business and industrial use.
For years, one USB flash drive option was a manual write protect switch for basic read-only data protection. However, in today’s threat landscape, this physical toggle is not only antiquated but also vulnerable to human error and physical tampering. Nexcopy’s Lock License USB drive redefines secure data transport and storage by offering firmware-level, controller-enforced read-only protection which is always active from the very first use.
“The USB write protect switch is simply outdated technology,” says Greg Morris, President of Nexcopy. “Lock License is built from the ground up with enterprise-level features like automatic re-locking, password-protected access, command-line scripting, and zero backdoor access — something the switch could never provide.”
Since 2008 when USB flash drives really started getting mainstream most IT folks and systems integrators leaned on USB drives with physical write protect switches to safeguard files from tampering or corruption. But that hardware toggle — while once helpful — is on its way out.
Industry insiders say a major USB technology company based in Southern California is preparing to unveil a new type of flash drive that renders the old switch obsolete. According to early chatter, the device uses firmware at the controller level to lock the drive into a read-only state by default — no manual switch, no end-user slipups, and no chance of getting flipped off accidentally.
More intriguing? Sources say the device is password-controlled, re-locks automatically when unplugged, and supports scripting for mass deployment — making it a potential game-changer for government agencies, hospitals, and manufacturing workflows where USB data security isn’t optional.
From what we’ve heard, this isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a reimagining of what write protection on a USB drive should look like in 2025. Keep an eye out for the official announcement, expected within a week or so.
It’s not just the end of the physical USB write protect switch — this marks a new standard for secure flash storage.
Editor’s note: We’ll update this post with a link once the official announcement is live.
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) today introduced System Designer for USB, a comprehensive design solution that supports the latest USB4® standards—Gen2, Gen3, and Gen4. Tailored for high-speed digital USB applications in personal computers, mobile devices, and edge AI, the platform delivers an integrated environment for modeling, simulating, and validating USB4® interfaces. By combining a smart workflow with simulation-driven virtual compliance testing, System Designer for USB aims to accelerate time-to-market and reduce design risks associated with complex multi-channel, multi-level USB configurations.
As data throughput demands rise, designers face the challenge of ensuring reliable USB communication for large-scale data transfers. The USB4® specification addresses this need by delivering speeds up to 120 Gbps and employing three-level pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM3) within the popular USB-C® connector. System Designer for USB leverages these modern standards to provide early-stage validation of signal integrity, link training, and performance, helping engineers identify bottlenecks and compliance issues before hardware prototypes are available.
Key features of System Designer for USB include a streamlined environment that simplifies the setup of multi-link, multi-lane, and PAM3 configurations through a guided, smart workflow. The solution’s USB Algorithmic Modeling Interface (AMI) modeler supports both Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) and PAM3 modulation schemes, enabling rapid implementation of high-speed USB links. Integrated compliance-test simulations automate critical validation steps, reducing design iterations, minimizing re-spins, and cutting overall development costs. Simulation-driven insights help engineers resolve signal integrity challenges early and efficiently.
First off, it’s important to know that NAND flash memory powers everything from smartphones and laptops to massive data centers and cloud storage systems. In 2025, just five companies control over 90% of the global NAND market which is a testament to the complexity, capital, and innovation needed to produce these essential chips.
In the order of global market share, let us take a closer look at the top five NAND manufacturers and with a quick dive into their company history.
Samsung has been the undisputed king of NAND flash for over a decade and the set the standard for quality. With cutting-edge V-NAND (Vertical NAND) architecture and some of the most advanced semiconductor fabs in the world, Samsung is still the leader of performance and capacity.
Founded in 1938 as a trading company, Samsung entered the electronics industry in the late 1960s. By the 1980s, it was investing heavily in semiconductors, laying the groundwork for its current dominance.
SK hynix is a newer name in the industry but rapidly grew in the NAND space, especially after acquiring Intel’s NAND business in 2021. SK hynix created the “Solidigm” business division to represent the enterprise and data center SSD business sector.
Originally part of Hyundai Group, SK hynix started in 1983 and grew into a major DRAM producer. Its NAND growth was supercharged by Intel’s exit, and their purchase of it, making Hynix a global heavyweight almost overnight. Money does talk!
Kioxia is better known as Toshiba Memory from before the change in 2019. Kioxia is credited with inventing NAND flash in the 1980s but unfortunately has not been able to capture the “high quality” component which Samsung has achieved. Toshiba…we mean, Kioxia continues to lead innovation with joint manufacturing ventures alongside Western Digital in Japan.
Toshiba, founded in 1875, spun off its memory division in 2017, which was renamed Kioxia in 2019. Despite the name change, it maintains deep roots in flash memory innovation.
Western Digital may be best known for its hard drives, but its SanDisk acquisition in 2016 catapulted it into the NAND flash big leagues. In partnership with Kioxia, WD continues to produce high-quality NAND for consumer and enterprise use.
Founded in 1970, Western Digital began as a calculator chip maker before pivoting to storage. It evolved with the market, transitioning from hard drives to solid state drives (SSDs) with strategic acquisitions like SanDisk. Western Digital is based out of San Jose California
Micron is the only U.S. based memory manufacturer with strong capabilities in both DRAM and NAND. Micron has made big strides in 3D NAND technology and offering competitive solutions for PCs, smartphones, and data centers. Micron has earned a strong reputation for high quality memory equal to the “leader” of Samsung.
Micron was founded in 1978 in Boise, Idaho. It began as a DRAM producer and expanded into NAND flash in the early 2000s, later forming (and eventually dissolving) a joint venture with Intel.
In 2025, the global NAND flash memory market is highly consolidated, with just five companies controlling roughly 92% of total output. Whether you’re saving selfies on your phone or storing enterprise data in the cloud, chances are your information is riding on memory made by one of these giants.
The estimates for this market will reach $117 billion by 2030. This is a signal that NAND flash memory will continue to be a key roll in technology products and mostly driven by increased demand for smartphones, solid-state drives (SSDs), and data center storage solutions.
If you’ve been hearing about a new technology standard called GPMI and wondering what it is, you’re not alone. So what is GPMI? To the best or our knowledge this is what GPMI is:
A group of over 50 Chinese companies also known as the “Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance,” announced this new technology called GPMI, which stands for General Purpose Media Interface.
We thought at first this was like HDMI or DisplayPort but it isn’t; although GPMI is designed to be the next generation alternative. The goal is to deliver faster speeds and more features through a single cable with a socket type everyone already has.
Right now, when you connect a laptop to a monitor, you typically need two cables: one for the video signal (like HDMI) and another one for power (like your charging cable). GPMI changes that. It combines super high data speeds with power delivery into one cable, making setups much simpler and cleaner.
It means GPMI could easily become the default protocol for anything audio and video. With support for 8K displays, high-end gaming setups, streaming devices, andpower-hungry devices, all while letting you control multiple devices with a single remote (similar to how HDMI-CEC works today).
Compared to today’s popular standards like HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and USB4, GPMI Type-B stands out by offering much higher bandwidth and significantly more power. If GPMI catches on, it could completely change how we connect and power our devices — at least in China to start, and possibly around the world later.
Just to clear up any confusion: you might have seen people mention GDMI (General Digital Media Interface), but that’s actually a mistake. The correct term is GPMI – General Purpose Media Interface.
This is exciting news for tech lovers because it promises faster speeds, cleaner setups, and future-proof devices.Here’s a comparison table between GPMI, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 2.1:
| Feature | GPMI Type-B | HDMI 2.1 | DisplayPort 2.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Bandwidth | 192 Gbps | 48 Gbps | 80 Gbps (UHBR 20 mode) |
| Max Resolution | 8K and beyond (future-ready) | 10K @ 120Hz (compressed) | 16K @ 60Hz (compressed) |
| Power Delivery | 480W | ~1–5V at 50mA (very low) | No power delivery (video only) |
| Connector Type | Proprietary (Type-B), USB-C (Type-C) | HDMI (Type-A/B/C/D) | DisplayPort, USB-C (Alt Mode) |
| Control Functions | Yes (CEC-like features) | Yes (HDMI-CEC) | Yes (Aux channel, MST) |
| Compression Standard | Unknown (likely proprietary or TBD) | DSC (Display Stream Compression) | DSC (Display Stream Compression) |
| Backward Compatibility | No (brand new tech) | Yes (with older HDMI) | Yes (with older DP) |
| Market Maturity | New (early 2025) | Very mature | Mature |
| Main Backers | 50+ Chinese companies | HDMI Forum (Sony, Intel, etc.) | VESA (Intel, AMD, NVIDIA) |
