CopyToFlash1.0

CopyToFlash monitors all your USB ports and automatically copies a specified directory to the root of the removable drive as soon as it's identified by the computer.

No installation required

The program doesn't come with an instruction manual, so it's a bit difficult to figure out how it works. Firstly, it's not wrapped in a setup pack, so you can save the downloaded files anywhere on the hard drive and just click the CopyToFlash executable to launch the app.Secondly, it's not necessary to copy any files on the target USB flash drive. The second file from the downloaded archive, the CopyToFlash monitor, is just a command-line tool that's used by the utility while copying files to the removable device. It briefly shows log details during the task, depending on how much it takes to copy the items.

How to auto-copy a directory to multiple USB drives

From the configuration panel you can indicate the directory you want to copy by either typing or pasting its full path, or by using the tree view to find it. Before starting the monitor, there are two options lined up: it can copy the entire folder, or just the directory's contents.The X: flash drive letter might be a bit confusing: the application doesn't actually monitor your X: drive (and it cannot be configured to monitor a specific drive), but takes into account all USB ports and performs the copying operation as soon as a supported device is plugged into the PC.If you inserted a USB drive before starting the monitor, it will be ignored. However, if multiple drives are inserted afterward, the folder is copied to all of them.While the monitor is on, the program shows a small window that cannot be moved or accessed; as informed by the developer, attempting any action on this frame makes the process look unresponsive. It cannot be hidden either and it only disappears after turning off the monitor.

Good concept, poor execution

CopyToFlash has a pretty good concept toward automatic file copies to USB devices and it's speedy. However, it needs a lot of work for the execution part, since it's inconvenient to leave the monitor running for a longer period of time while working on the computer. On top of that, it's not very intuitive and doesn't make room for customization (e.g. set a target folder on the USB drive).