The Dell USB Memory Key adheres to the USB Mass Storage Class specification. Windows 2000 and XP are aware of this
class of devices and work with them automatically. No extra drivers are necessary. Simply insert the Memory Key into an
available USB port and the operating system will recognize it and assign it a drive letter.
Operations
with the drive may now occur.
After the Dell USB Memory Key is installed, the drive can be used just like any other drive in Windows. Example: Files can be copied to and from the drive using Windows Explorer.
The Dell USB Memory Key can be made bootable as if it were a hard disk drive under most operating systems. In order to boot to the Dell USB Memory Key, the following items must be available:
A computer system that supports booting from the USB port. Refer to the computer manufacture User's Guide to confirm support of USB bootability.
Similar to a blank hard disk drive, the key must be partitioned (with an active partition), formatted, and a bootable operating system transferred to Memory Key.
Any operating system that will fit on the available space offered on the Memory Key can be utilized.
Making the Memory Key Bootable Using the Dell Windows Based Utility
A Windows Utility that can be used to make the Memory Key bootable is available at http://www.support.dell.com. The utility can be used to format the Memory Key, add an active partition, and transfer basic MS-DOS system files to the Memory Key.
Note: back-up any data on the Memory Key prior to using this format utility as all data will be lost.
An Example of Making the Dell USB Memory Key bootable Using Microsoft DOS
In order to make the key bootable using this example, the Dell computer must support boot from USB. Otherwise use the Windows Based Utility option listed above.
With the computer turned off, insert the Memory Key into the system.
Insert a bootable MS-DOS floppy diskette (ex. Windows98 Start-up diskette).
Power the computer and boot to the floppy diskette.
At the A:\> prompt, using the fdisk command, add a partition to the memory key and make the partition active.
Using the Format command, format the drive with the /s switch in order to transfer the MS-DOS system files to the Memory key (ex. "Format /s 'X:'" where
'X:' is the drive letter assigned to the Memory Key).
Power the system off and remove the bootable floppy.
Power the system on and confirm that the system boots from the memory Key to the C:\> prompt.
Note: MS-DOS does not allow for multiple drives to be made active partitions. It is possible DOS will not allow an active partition to be added to the USB Memory Key if there is a partition active on the local hard drive on computers that do not place the Memory Key in the primary drive position. To workaround this limitation, either disable the hard drive in the system setup (BIOS), or remove the hard drive from the system.
For help using any DOS commands listed here please refer to the Microsoft support web site's Knowledgebase or the help files associated with your MS-DOS licensed operating system.
