Best Free Software USB STICKS

Portable programs you can use on any PC

USB sticks have a lot in common with traditional hard drives: they’re compact, cheap and capacious. But while they’re great for moving files, they really come into their own when you use them to run portable programs – software that doesn’t need to be installed on your PC. Simply plug in the stick and launch the

program. And when you’ve finished, simply unplug it.

But why use portable programs instead of their installable counterparts? Well, you’ll save precious space on your PC’S hard drive and be able to take your favourite software wherever you go. What’s more, portable software doesn’t leave a trail of associated program files *across cross head your needs hard drive one or change your space windows before settings words without your knowledge.

They let you carry your passwords around with you just like your car key (possibly even attached to your keyring), add a second level of antivirus protection, and even recover lost files. You can use them safely on any computer, whether it’s a friend’s laptop or a public computer in a library.

In this feature, we highlight the best software for your USB stick. We’ll show you programs that keep your PC secure, tools that ensure Windows runs smoothly, apps for on-the-go office tasks and a couple of programs to access and play your favourite music, no matter where you are.

When downloading the programs, make sure you choose the ‘portable’ version. Some include an installer to load the program to your USB stick, others require you to extract a ZIP file. To do the latter, either drag the ZIP file’s contents to your USB stick, or click Extract All at the top and select your stick as the destination.

Finally, if you’re looking to buy a new USB stick on which to install some of this software, be sure to read our advice in the box on page 56 to avoid those nasty stick-based scams.