As an advanced Windows user, you need a Swiss Army Knife USB. The purpose of the USB drive is to have everything you need to handle Windows problems, recover data, and access software not installed on the system. Fixing a broken PC can be a challenge, and you need tools that facilitate the repair. For instance, you might have a PC that won’t boot and need to recover data from the drive. At other times, you may need specific apps and utilities on a system that aren’t already available.

So, enter your Swiss Army Knife USB flash drive, which has everything you need to troubleshoot and fix a system or get things done. The drive needs to contain everything you need for, well, everything. I call it my toolbox, but it has virtually everything I need to access when working with Windows. Most utilities are small and don't take up much space, but keep in mind that you want a larger flash drive so you can fit ISO files on it.

To recover or save data

When Windows won't work and I need to recover data

When your PC becomes stuck in a loop or won't boot up at all, having recovery tools on a USB stick is essential. A great tool that provides a system boot option without having to format your drive is Ventoy. It's an open-source utility for booting multiple ISO images from your flash drive. You only need to copy the Windows ISO file to it.

Additionally, it supports both Windows and Linux, and you simply need to copy the ISO files to your flash drive and boot from them. This saves you from having to create multiple bootable drives and using just one to recover Windows. You can use the Windows ISO to run repair and recovery options, such as a repair install, access the Command Prompt, run DSIM and SFC scans, or perform a fresh Windows install if necessary.

When Windows crashes and can’t boot, having a version of Linux to boot from for data recovery is essential to help recover data before it's lost. Many times, I have needed to boot from the USB drive and run the live version of Linux to back up and save data. I can also use the free OS for other tasks, such as accessing apps and files while troubleshooting. For instance, having Kali Linux (or virtually any light distro) allows me to access and recover data without a VM or dual-boot environment. A bootable Linux distro is non-intrusive but has access to hardware and files I might need.

Whatever the reason, it’s essential to have a small and lightweight version of Linux on your USB flash drive when disaster strikes, and you’re unable to restore Windows using traditional repair options. Many light versions are near or under the 700MB mark or smaller. This allows storing multiple versions on an affordable 256GB USB drive.

For fixing Windows

There are tons of free utilities to troubleshoot and easily fix Windows

Like most of you, I provide tech support to friends and family. I also have several PCs running Windows and need a lot of tools when moving between them. When disaster strikes, it’s essential to have the right tools for the job. For instance, when a BSOD appears, you want a utility to figure out what is going on. One invaluable tool for this is BlueScreenView, which provides the dump file data I need to determine the issue. I also have ClamWin, the open-source antivirus app that can run directly from the USB to scan for viruses and other malware affecting Windows operations.

There are times when a nasty virus or other malware can really do a number on a system. For serious infections on a PC that Windows Defender misses, I use ClamWin. However, sometimes that isn't enough. So, if a system becomes really infected with malicious code, I include an offline bootable system recovery utility.

There are reputable options from Norton, Trend Micro, Kaspersky, and others. However, I have had real-world experience with Avira AntiVir Rescue System utility. I haven't needed it often, but when I do, it's always there at the ready. I saved a friend's computer, which contained vital work documents. If I don't have one, sometimes downloading it from a PC with network connectivity is necessary. However, I keep one around so I have peace of mind.

I also keep other essential troubleshooting utilities on hand, such as Tweak Power, CPU-Z, CrystalDiskInfo, CCleaner, and Angry IP Scanner, which help me fix hardware and network issues. To remove software, particularly malicious software and trialware that doesn't want to leave, I use Revo Uninstaller to remove all traces of software that conflicts with other essential programs.

Additionally, when Windows Search comes to a complete crawl (or even if it hasn’t), I have the portable version of Everything set up on my drive, ready to take over. It indexes a system’s files and folders instantly, allowing me to find them easily and copy them to a backup drive on a dying PC.

RustDesk is also a lifesaver if I need to reach out for support from another individual or vendor. It also supports file sharing, which is extremely useful when I need specific files while working remotely. It also helps if I can get a copy of a shared document I'm unable to reach.

Another important tool I have on my drive to repair the multitude of problems that arise on Windows is FixWin 11. It is essential while troubleshooting other people's PCs and even my own. It can resolve common issues with the Start menu, File Explorer, Wi-Fi, and other network connectivity problems, as well as missing icons, taskbar issues, and a range of different system issues. What's more, it allows you to fix a host of problems with a single click.

Be prepared with other essential utilities

For productivity and fun

Having a Swiss Army USB doesn't have to be all about fixing doom and gloom. There are plenty of other utilities for media and office that enhance my workflow. In addition to helping troubleshoot systems, portable apps let me save drive space without installing them directly. So, I keep portable apps on hand for PCs I work on that don't have what I need. For instance, to find system stats, I have the portable version of Speccy, which scans the PC and categorizes hardware statistics in a more efficient way than the Windows "About" section. It's also easier to view than built-in utilities like MSInfo.

For productivity while online or off, I have the portable version of LibreOffice on my USB drive. Google Docs is great if I have an internet connection. However, Libre allows me to have the complete office suite on any PC I am working on. It's fully compatible with Microsoft Office, which is helpful when I need to make edits in different locations. I also have GIMP on my drive for times I need to edit images on systems when Paint or the Photos app isn't enough. For note-taking, it's essential to have Joplin for note-taking and to-do lists. Also, for basic word processing, AbiWord is a great app to have on a flash drive. It is no longer officially supported, but works well enough to jot down essential things I need.

For music and other media, I keep VLC for media playback and its other advanced functions, Audacity to record audio on my desktop, and Foobar2000 for managing playlists. When I need more advanced features with subtitles and HDR support, PotPlayer is a must. I also use ImgBurn portable while working on legacy systems and need to burn a rare optical disk.

When I need a break from all the work, I have games installed on my USB drive. There are casual games like chess, Tetris variants, and versions of the classic Breakout. There are FPS games, such as the classic DOOM, available from Proton Drive, as well as Alien Arena and AssaultCube Portable. If you want to go old-school, there are emulators like DOSBox and Stella that let you emulate classic consoles and play games you grew up with, like Metroid and others. Another fun arcade game is SuperFux, which is a slide-scrolling racing game. There is a host of available games that are virtually limitless. For example, you can play the classic Space Cadet pinball game, which was originally installed on legacy Windows versions.

Making a USB drive that gives you access to any problem that arises

One of the significant advantages of building your own Swiss Army Knife USB drive is that you have unlimited options. You can add anything you need to it. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention PortableApps. It allows you to choose from over 1,000 apps and utilities on your drive. You can then run them from a user-friendly interface. You don't have to install them all at once, but you can do it piecemeal. The main point here is to have all the apps you need, as well as ones you don't. You never know what situation might come your way and the apps you'll need.

It’s also essential to continue adding new tools and apps to your USB drive. I always am, as I constantly discover new tools I want to have ready when disaster strikes, or I need to complete specific tasks. Mine might be a bit too full. But it’s essential to have peace of mind when challenging situations arise. It's also nice to have apps ready to go for media and games for fun. So, no matter what I want to do, my USB drive is full of helpful apps and utilities for whatever arises. What’s on your drive?