A small USB drive can be an essential part of a laptop kit. In many CustomVectors systems, it holds the operating system that you use every day. If you are used to plugging in a USB stick only to copy files, this arrangement can be unfamiliar.
The most important point is simple: if your kit runs from its supplied USB system drive, leave that drive inserted while the laptop is on. It is part of the working computer, not an installer to put away after the first start.
What “USB-based” means
The operating system provides the desktop and the environment in which applications run. On a USB-based kit, that system lives on the supplied USB drive instead of relying on the laptop’s internal drive as its system storage.
For a concrete example, I prepare the Standard kit’s Dell Chromebook 3180 with Linux Mint on a 128GB SanDisk USB 3.1 drive. The laptop’s original internal eMMC is available for additional file storage. Those are two storage locations with different roles.
Storage capacity and memory are different, too. The Standard kit’s 128GB describes its system drive; its 4GB RAM is the laptop’s working memory. A larger storage label does not, by itself, tell you the processor speed or how much RAM a laptop has.
What to check when your kit arrives
- Find the first-use guide and read the storage description for your kit.
- Identify the supplied system drive before starting the laptop. If you are unsure which drive it is, ask me.
- Check the included items against your listing. The Standard kit includes the laptop, system drive, a new compatible charger and first-use guide.
- Arrange the laptop so the system drive can stay connected during use without being knocked or pulled out.
Keep the system drive with the laptop. Do not format it or repurpose it as a spare USB stick: it holds the system you are using. The included guide is the place to start for your kit’s startup instructions.
Keep your own files in mind
As you add documents and settings, know where you are saving them. Having a system drive and additional internal storage does not automatically give you a second copy of your files. A file stored in one place is still only one copy.
Keep a separate copy of work you would not want to lose. If you are uncertain about a storage location or a backup choice, tell me which kit you have and what you want to save. Let’s identify the drive before you change or clear anything on it.
If something is unclear
If the laptop does not start as you expect, or a screen does not match the supplied guide, contact me with the kit name, what happened and a photograph or screenshot of any message. Let me know whether the supplied system drive was connected. That gives me a useful starting point without asking you to guess at unfamiliar settings.
Email [email protected] or call 262-770-5288. You can also find the USB reminder and other common questions on Support.
Choosing a kit
I describe each kit’s operating system, drive and included items in its listing. Check those details for the one you are considering, because hardware and storage arrangements can vary. Explore the ham radio kits and Linux laptop range, or browse my laptop kits.