Help with partitions on a flash drive

[blueonblack]

I'm making some more of these flash drives, for potential sale at a local upscale men's store.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/blueonblack/P1140032.JPG

I want to start numbering these pieces, but physically marking them with a serial number isn't going to work. I could put the serial number on the drive in a hidden .txt file, but if the user formats the drive it's gone.

What I'd like to do is create a tiny hidden read-only partition (a few K would work) to put that .txt file, so that the end user isn't even aware that it's there and it won't be erased during format.

Does anyone know if this is possible, and if so where I could look for more info on how to get it done?

Thanks!!

[Stonerboy779]

You may be able to make said partition but there will always be a way for someone to format the USB. Personalty I think you could manage a tasteful and small engraving on the end above/below the USB connector.

Trying to make a way to keep track of all your work?

[Konrad]

USB drive partitions (bootable and otherwise) are kind of a complex topic these days ... you can try here (http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/make-usb-drive-bootable) as a starting point or - better yet, I think - download whatever factory UMP tool the manufacturer of the USB controller chip provides ... you're already opening up the flash sticks, so it should be easy to identify the part markings.

You can always use a tool like WinHex to add a "serial number" or other unique hex block anywhere within the unused portions of the USB MBR (main boot record) 0 sector. Do not preface any sectors with 55 AA, since that is used to identify executable code blocks.

[blueonblack]

Trying to make a way to keep track of all your work?

Yep, that's the idea.



USB drive partitions (bootable and otherwise) are kind of a complex topic these days ... you can try here (http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/make-usb-drive-bootable) as a starting point or - better yet, I think - download whatever factory UMP tool the manufacturer of the USB controller chip provides ... you're already opening up the flash sticks, so it should be easy to identify the part markings.

You can always use a tool like WinHex to add a "serial number" or other unique hex block anywhere within the unused portions of the USB MBR (main boot record) 0 sector. Do not preface any sectors with 55 AA, since that is used to identify executable code blocks.

As usual Konrad, your technospeak humbles me. Before I go to the time and effort to translate the above, much less undertake it, I will find a way to tastefully engrave a 3-digit alphanumeric code on it.

Suggestions are appreciated, thanks very much and +rep

[blueonblack]

Thanks guys, OvRiDe and his Google Fu were able to point me to exactly what I needed here.

Thanks Curtis!!

[Stonerboy779]

That's good to hear, also good to hear about the reasonably sized job for the men's store.

[Konrad]

lol thanx - you've wrecked my Reputation.

"Konrad travels with the force as [his] ally." - that means I no longer know what I'm talking about when it comes to computers, nor am I a helpful and friendly person, I'm not even popular and handy to have around. Please no more!

Besides, the Dark Side is way better than the emo Two-Shoes schoolteacher side of the Force (I mean, duh, hello, imperial capacitors in your sleeves!). And the Dark Side has cookies.

[blueonblack]

If it makes you feel any better, that statement really isn't side-specific.

Vader traveled with the Force as his ally, too.

:)

[Konrad]

Ah, back to OP ... my first linky should work well enough. It goes to some thingy which makes a bootable USB/U3 partition. Plug USB stick and restart computer (and, er, reconfigure mobo BIOS boot order if necessary). Or plug USB stick into computer and only see the non-bootable partition. All sorts of options above and beyond what HDDs offer, although choice of file systems is sort of limited because not every OS has native U3 support.

[farlo]

why not get a label maker, and put it inside the case?

[Stonerboy779]

why not get a label maker, and put it inside the case?

Case once made never ever opens up again without breaking it. So in order to check it you'd need to break it.

Continuing on branding the cap is pointless as it'll possibly get lost but on the flash drive side above the USB connector you could brand/etch or even punch in a small possibly up to 6 didgit alphanumeric code that wouldn't be too out of place.