Lexar is a major producer of USB storage devices---also commonly called USB cards, USB drives, flash drives, stick drives, and thumb drives. These cards allow for data transfer and storage in a portable, widely compatible format, ideal for holding commonly used documents and backing up important files. USB drives are relatively inexpensive, mass-produced pieces of hardware; they often come in small packages for easy shipping, shelving and browsing. However, this level of easy-store accessibility comes with a downside: Comprehensive instruction manuals are not always included with USB cards. Luckily, using Lexar brand USB cards requires only minimal prior computer knowledge; even novice PC users can use Lexar's line of USB storage devices with a few simple steps.
Instructions
1. Plug your USB card into an open USB port. If this is your first time using the device on a particular computer, you may need to wait for the USB device to automatically install drivers onto the PC before you can use it. Driver installation requires no direct user action, and typically takes just a minute or two.
2. Cancel any menu that pops up. While smaller-storage-capacity USB devices do not have auto-run menus, some larger-storage devices do. Auto-run menus make for easy usage, but they do not work on every computer and will not be installed on every USB device you use, so it's useful to know the universal steps for accessing USB files.
3. Click on the "Start" Menu.
4. Click on "Computer." In older versions of Windows, this is called "My Computer." A window will pop up listing your hard drives, CD or DVD-ROM drives, and your USB device.
5. Double-click on the USB drive labeled "Lexar." On most computers, this will also be labeled as the "G" drive. Double-clicking on the "Lexar" drive will take you to your USB device. If you have files stored on the device, they will appear on screen: You can open files by double-clicking on them, move them by clicking and dragging, and delete them by selecting the file and pressing the "Delete" key. Using the "Computer" window allows you to manage all the existing files on your device. To save new files to the Lexar USB drive, follow the next steps.
6. Complete any computer work you want to save onto the USB card. As long as your USB drive has enough memory, you can save virtually anything onto it: MS Word documents, Power Point slides, pictures, MP3s, and downloaded video clips are all fair game. When you're finished working with any file you want to put on the USB device, go to the menu you'd normally use to save. However, instead of clicking "Save," find the option labeled "Save As" and click on it.
7. Go to the "Computer" or "My Computer" directory.
8. Double-click on the "Lexar" drive. Then hit "Save" to save a copy of your file on the Lexar USB card.
9. When you're done using your USB card, do not just pull the drive out of the USB port. Premature removal of the USB card can cause data loss. For proper removal, go back into the "Computer" Window from Steps 3 and 4. Right-click on the "Lexar" drive and select "Safely Remove." Wait until an on-screen prompt tells you it is safe to remove the hardware; you may then pull the USB drive out of the USB port.
Tags: Lexar drive, your device, Computer window, drive port, pull drive, pull drive port
