4 Essential Free Programs for Your USB Drive

Posted on May 25, 2010 at 5:55 am

A USB drive is one of the most versatile tools a person can have on their keychain. Not only can it store documents and pictures; it can also hold software that will run on any computer with a USB port, with no installation required. There are many software programs designed to run from a USB drive, all with different purposes. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. NirLauncher

nirlauncher

NirLauncher is not just one portable software application—it’s 100 portable software applications. If your family and friends consider you their free tech support service, this is a tool you will want on your USB drive because it contains diagnostic tools for everything from reading system crash files to deleting Windows startup programs.

NirLauncher even has an application that reveals passwords hidden by asterisks (the genius of this is instantly apparent to those of us who have been called three times in one week to reset our grandmother’s email passwords).

To view the full list of applications included in NirLauncher and download the software, visit Launcher.NirSoft.net.

2. Chrome

chrome

Google’s popular Chrome browser has a portable version designed for installing on a USB drive. If you are using a public computer that does not allow you to install software, this program will still allow you to use Chrome.

If you are using a computer that has a virus infecting Internet Explorer, this software will allow you to still access the internet to search for and download needed remedies.

The portable version of Chrome is available from Cnet.

3. Windows Live Writer

live writer

Awhile back we wrote about how to Use Windows Live Writer from a USB Drive. If you are a blogger, this program is essential for your USB toolkit. You never know when you will need to blog from a friend’s computer. This piece of software gives you the ability to blog from absolutely anywhere—even a $5-per-minute computer on a cruise ship.

4. Portable Apps Suite

portable apps

The Portable Apps Suite is an all-in-one toolkit with seven helpful software programs in one place. Favorites such as the Firefox browser and Thunderbird email client run from this suite, as well as Pidgin for instant messaging. There is also an antivirus and word processing suite comparable to Microsoft Word (AbiSoft). The entire suite of programs is just 2MB—small enough for even the most miniscule of USB drives.

So, if you do not carry a USB drive on your keychain, these software programs should be encouragement enough to start. A USB drive gives you the freedom to use any computer anywhere—your way.

» Filed Under Computer Tips

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Comments

One Response to “4 Essential Free Programs for Your USB Drive”

  1. jeff said on : May 25th, 2010 at 11:08 am

    Hello,

    One that I would like to add to the list is Liberkey.

    http://www.liberkey.com

    They have a great number of apps in one environment that will fit on a thumb drive.

    Thanks.


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