General Advice on the use and care of USB Memory Sticks

Whilst the use of a Memory Stick is far more reliable than a floppy disk, like most aspects of computing there are certain things you need to be aware of:

1. Avoid contact with extremes of temperature, magnetic fields and liquids

2. Label your memory stick with your contact information

3. Remember to take it with you when you leave

4. Use memory sticks as a method of transportation only, do not rely on this as your only method of storage and backup.  Information Services recommend the use of your networked H drive for important data.   

Don’t forget: memory sticks are relatively cheap, your data may not be!

5. Confidentiality – Data on a lost memory stick can easily be read by others.

6. Corruption of the data can occur if the device is not removed correctly and may render the device unusable in the future.

7. Some USB sticks have a small write-protection switch on one side. If you are having problems saving, check this switch and try again.

8. Do not use encryption software that needs to be installed on the PC (if you have used your memory stick at home and have problems using it on a Cardiff University workstation, this may be the cause).

9. Do not partition the memory stick, doing so may cause you to lose your network connection.

10. Electronic material is protected by copyright in the same way as any other literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work.  Therefore it is an infringement of copyright to download or copy from a CD, database, electronic journal or web site without the permission of the copyright holder.