Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Futility is persistent.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


               

USB OS

 Operating System on a stick
  (+4, -2)
(+4, -2) 		  [vote for,
against]

I'd like to see computers come with either an OS on a USB flash drive (non erasable) or some kind of memory stick. The essential components of the OS (aka like: Windows "gumball") would be impossible for a virus or malware to corrupt because the OS is not rewritable on this device.

Data and OS customizations (screensavers, wallpaper ad nauseum) would be susceptible, but the days of reloading the OS would be long gone. An added advantage would be you could pop in any OS (linux, Mac, lindows, HP basic, Windows 3.1, etc) to run those systems with your present data (assuming some standard Disk formatting is done).

If you wanted to download the latest version of Linux and play with the kernel to make it smaller or bigger then you could save it to the disk by inputting a user encrypted code, so a virus wouldn't be able to access and alter your new system without asking you to input the code for it.

(If you add new hardware with new drivers they could ask you to input your code so it can be written the OS drive and never deleted by a virus again)

Sorry if this has been thought up already it seems like an obvious solution.

—Willie333, Sep 29 2005

Knoppix Boot your PC into Linux - From CD http://www.knoppix.net/
I'm certain it'd work if you simply copied the CD onto the USB too [Dub, Sep 29 2005]

(?) How to run Linux from a USB drive http://os.newsforge...08/1522251&from=rss
[Worldgineer, Sep 29 2005]

(?) Puppy Linux http://www.goosee.com/puppy
This should work too. [kaeru, Sep 29 2005]


Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.



Annotation:







       "The essential components of the OS (aka like: Windows "gumball") would be impossible for a virus or malware to corrupt because the OS is not rewritable on this device."   

       Tried this on the original Macs. It was lost by the Mac SE. It's been thought up, and shown to be impractical.
—Almafeta, Sep 29 2005
   

       Knoppix'd probably do the trick
—Dub, Sep 29 2005
   

       Knoppix - Sweet. thanks Dub
—Willie333, Sep 29 2005
   

       WTAGIPBAN = Wasn't That A Great Idea Posted By A Newbie. (save y'all from having to search it yourselves).
—xaviergisz, Sep 30 2005
   


 

back: main index
business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle