I carry Windows, Linux, and repair tools in my pocket: Here is how

Most of the time, you’re locked into just one operating system, and if you switch to a different computer, you can’t take your favorite programs with you. That limits what you can do, and if you experience a technical problem, you could be in trouble. One NVMe SSD and an inexpensive USB enclosure changed all of that for me.

I can boot from any operating system

Every operating system has its perks, quirks, and downsides, and you’re usually stuck with one, or maybe two if you went through the trouble of setting up your PC to dual boot.

However, with my external SSD, I can boot from as many operating systems I want with the push of a few buttons. Like Windows for the apps that are still exclusive to it? No problem. Like Linux for the customizability and privacy it offers? You can have that too.

Normally, when you boot your PC, the operating system is loaded from a storage drive physically located inside your PC. However, that isn’t strictly necessary—you can boot from an external device.

I used Ventoy to configure my external SSD so that I can boot from almost any operating system out there. Whenever I want to try a new operating system, all I need do is copy the operating system ISO file onto the drive. Normally, I keep ISOs for Windows 10 and 11, Kubuntu, Ubuntu, Fedora, and Kali on there at all times, so they’re available if I need or want them.

Corrupted operating system? No problem

One of the most aggravating problems you can run into is a corrupted operating system. Sometimes that can happen as a result of user error, other times it happens because of malware or an update.

Regardless of the cause, there is usually only one reliable fix: reinstall the operating system. If you’re lucky, the built-in tools can handle this for you automatically. Windows 10 and 11 are certainly more capable of fixing themselves than older versions of Windows were.

Related

4 repair commands to run before you reinstall Windows

Reinstalling Windows is disruptive. Run these built-in Command Prompt repairs in the right order to fix disk, system files, and update issues first.

Despite those improvements, sometimes you’re stuck performing a complete reinstall manually, which can be difficult if you don’t have recovery media made up in advance. Luckily, if you have an external SSD loaded with a bunch of operating system ISOs, all you have to do is plug in the drive, boot from it, and then pick the right ISO to get started. From there, the usual installation process can take over, and you’ll have a fresh operating system in a few minutes.

I frequently tweak my Windows PC to the point of badly breaking things, and on more than one occasion, I’ve had to perform a complete reinstall. I’ve also used it to repair a friend’s PC on occasion, or install Linux for someone that wanted to switch over from Windows.

I don’t use this feature every day, but when it comes up, it is invaluable.

Insecure computers aren’t a problem

In an ideal world, every PC we ever use would be secure, virus-free, and communicating on a well-secured network. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.

On more than one occasion, my own PC has been compromised with malware that Windows built-in antivirus failed to immediately identify. Rather than continue using a PC I know (or at least suspect) to be compromised, I can shut down, boot into Linux, and go about removing the malware from that operating system instead.

I’ve only used it a handful of times that way, but you can also sometimes use this setup on public computers, which are notoriously malware-laden.

Most of my favorite apps are in my pocket

Even though Ventoy is designed to format a drive so that you can easily boot from the ISOs you load up there, it isn’t strictly limited to that. You can also just put any number of files or folders you want on the drive, and so long as you pick the right file system, you’ll be able to access those files on any PC you plug the drive into.

Some of the best things I carry with me are portable versions of my favorite apps. Among these are VS Code, VLC Player, Audacity, VeraCrypt, LibreWolf, and Screenpresso. That way, no matter what PC I’m using, I can always have “the comforts of home” anywhere.

Troubleshooting is no trouble at all

Even if an operating system isn’t corrupted to the point of no return, they often develop quirks or problems that require some investigation before you can fix them.

Above and beyond just convenience apps, I have a number of portable apps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Windows on my drive as well. Keeping them on my SSD ensures that they’re available regardless of where I am or what kind of internet access I have, which has been useful in the past.

It also makes running over to a friend’s place to help them out easier. All I need to do is throw my SSD and a cable in my pocket and I’m equipped to solve the overwhelming majority of issues on Windows or Linux.

I carry the entire Sysinternal suite of apps, a mix of apps from Nirsoft, and Revo Uninstaller.

Despite how useful an external SSD set up like this can be, it doesn’t need to be expensive. You don’t need the latest and great PCIe 5.0 drive and enclosure to be useful—even a slower SATA SSD or PCIe 3.0 SSD is plenty for this.