10-05-18 09:17 Anssi Saari wrote to jack4747@gmail.com about Re: Software to
test flas
Howdy! Anssi Saari and ALL,

 AS> @MSGID: 
 AS> @REPLY: 
 AS> jack4747@gmail.com writes:

 >> Any S.M.A.R.T. diagnostic tool will tell you spare blocks remaining. The
 >> different parameters have fixed IDs, spare blocks remaining is ID=251
 >> (0xFB) or sometimes 232 (0xE8), see
ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.
 >
 > SD cards and USB sticks usually don't have SMART protocol.

 AS> Yes. One might consider an SSD in a USB enclosure to have that
 AS> information. I recently built one for myself, just as a fast portable
 AS> media. Enclosure from ebay and drive (M.2 2240 size) from a local
 AS> store.

 AS> Price was about the same as a fast USB stick (128 GB) but you get
 AS> support for TRIM at least. I haven't checked SMART, support really
 AS> depends on whether the USB controller passes through those commands
 AS> through to the driver or not.

 AS> Physical size is somewhat wider and longer than your typical USB
 AS> stick. The width causes trouble with tightly grouped USB ports. There
 AS> might be better enclosures than what I got.

A USB 2.0 cable with USB A connector on one end and the other end has a
USB B connector may be helpful.

Getting a  B-I-G  USB enclosure (or Thumbdrive) plugged in to something
like a USB Hub where the slots are close together can be very trying...

Instead of buying Thumbdrives, I've been buying Micro SD cards.

I slip them in a SD card Adapter and insert that into a SD card to USB 2
Adapter.

And Yes!, I use the USB A to B cable when I need to use it.

The SD card Adapter has a Lock lever whereas Thumbdrives don't have one.

I 'think' that that lever keeps the (Micro) SD Card from getting anything
written to it unless I move the lever to allow something to be written to
that card.

I feel safer having the lever in the Lock position when I use it in My
computer OR with a friends computer.

I Scan the card with Avast, Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware Before I go
to use it in a friends PC, and Scan it again After I return home.

I don't want the card to put MALWARE on a PC, especially not on mine.

Practicing Safe Computing makes one PARANOID doesn't it?


... !uoy knaht ,enif tsuj gniod m'I
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