Creating a list of USB drives that DO work with tails

It seems that it is very easy to find lists of drives that won't work with tails, but a list of drives that DO work is non existent far as I can tell. Would like to compile a small list of known to work devices that maybe we can list in the DNM bible after verification.

If you don't mind helping here's what I'm looking for:

  1. Can't be on the known problems list of the tails website https://tails.boum.org/support/known_issues/index.en.html

  2. Known to work with newest version of tails, 3.0

May edit above if think of more options but mainly the two things above.

Over the next week or two I am going to take the top runners and verify they work, both with an older version of tails(2.12) and then upgrading from that to 3.0. Once verified to be working on all three of my systems I will add them to my list along with where they were bought and price payed. After all testing will forward my results to /u/wombat2combat

The question "which USBs will work?" comes up almost daily. Having a small known to work with tails list as part of the DNM bible will alleviate most of these questions(and if asked we'll know they haven't read the bible)

TIA for any/all that don't mind helping out. If for some reason you don't want to post publicly shoot me a PM.

About this account: I have been around for a long time, here and on the DNMs, don't let the newness fool you. I rotate accounts on an unscheduled basis just because I'm paranoid like that


Comments


[4 Points] DNMCommenter84:

ONN-brand, 4GB, $7 at walmart. Very flimsy plasic, flimsy enough to break in half using just your hands if you needed to quickly get at the memory chip to burn it out with a jet lighter.


[3 Points] None:

These work excellent. I got a couple that are over 2 years old. Never an issues. They work great for running live distro's like Kali as well. 16gb $5.99. Sold everywhere.

http://www.lexar.com/products/usb-flash-drives/Lexar-JumpDrive-TwistTurn-USB-Flash-Drive.html


[2 Points] shillface:

Never had an issue with any USB. Anyway these have all been tested to work with Tails 3.0 yesterday/today:

Philips 32GB Circle edition USB3.0

Sandisk Ultrafit 128GB USB3.0

Sandisk Cruzer Fit 32GB USB3.0

Kingston Data Traveller (SE9 G2) 32GB USB3.0

My fave is the Philips as it's cheap small, easy to remove and very sturdy.


[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] BillyOnTralfamadore:

This topic is more important than most think. I haven't had any have problems with loading TAILS, but I have had a few cheaper ones crap out on me for no reason, rendering my persistent storage unuseable. Don't buy crappy ones. Especially if you're using persistence.


[1 Points] c0rnerst0re_:

i could upgrade a sandisk cruzer 64gb running 2.12 to 3.0 no problems, however my main sandisk cruzer 16gb(same mondel) cant be updated. Which has my latest persistance files. /u/wombat2combat is your tut still valid when entering commands in 3.0 to back up persistance


[1 Points] s3cr3tthrowaway7541:

I use a JetFlash Transcend 16GB for a year now and the update to Tails 3.0 worked flawlessly.


[1 Points] red_fraction:

I use Kingston USB and never had any problems.


[1 Points] DaRealDonaldTrump:

Ive used multiple USB drives and never found one the didn't work (as long as the USB had enough space.


[1 Points] BoxAddict:

Dude I went thru so much trouble trying to figure out wtf happened using a sandisk Cruzer stick only to then realize it was on the no-no shortlist in tails support pages. Luckily I had one of those Lexar drives laying around so Ima try that. Pain in my ass to install tails and boot it with UEFI bootlockers. Having to use the terminal on OSX ain't grand either, but not going to hold my breath on a GUI


[1 Points] My_s3cr3t:

Update:

So far this is what I have on the list:

-Lexar twist/turn jump drive(I already have 2 of these 16gb and they worked with tails 2.12 and had no problem updating to 3.0)cost on these ranges from $6-10ea

-Kingston data traveller se9 g2(have these otw 16gb)cost on these was ~$10ea

-Mushkin Atom 16gb(have these otw)cost on these was ~$15ea

-Transcend jetflash 700 16gb(have these otw)cost on these ~$11ea

-Onn 32gb(couldn't find 16s, walmart brand)I bought these and I'm going to test them, but have reservations about them holding up to the read/writes over time, cost ~$11ea

-Philips circle edition was mentioned to work but I can't find them anywhere except international shipping so have to skip testing them

I think I'm going to stop there for now, by the end of next week should be able to fully test everything on above list and send results to /u/wombat2combat and hopefully can get added to bible. Finally we will have a list of DO work instead of just DON'T work lists floating around everywhere.

Everything on the list above can be ordered online(amazon, ebay, online electronics stores, etc.), finding in stores will be dependent upon where you live. It's ultimately up to you to find them or order them.

ETA:Said this before but worth mentioning again...I will be testing each USB with the two usb install method since that is what we tell people to do when asked, following these directions: https://tails.boum.org/install/os/index.en.html

Also, during testing, I will be installing tails 2.12 and upgrading to 3.0. After testing that I will completely wipe the drives and install fresh tails 3.0. Both tests will also include verifying persistence is fully functional.


[1 Points] btcreadit:

I have been using TAILS for 5 years and have found that sometimes my persistene disappears despite me entering my password at boot. I will just not have my persistence folder there when I login.

The fix for this is very easy. Just go to Applications - Tails -> Configure Persistent Volume and re-checkmark all of the items again, save and reboot and your persistence will be back.

That is the only problem I have ever had with well over a dozen brands or makes of USBs. Not a single one has ever just not worked, they just vary in stability of whether the persistence gets corrupted. But its always recoverable using the above method.

So dont freak out if your persistence is gone, just do the above and reboot and it will be right back.


[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] BobbyLite79:

Just came here to add my Kingston data travelers 8gb no longer work with this new tails. Tried reformatting and no go.


[0 Points] wombat2combat:

indeed, please comment with your usb sticks that successfully run tails.


[0 Points] None:

I know SanDisk is on their list of problematic drives, but I have no problem with these 'Ultra Fit' drives. Works on 2.x and 3.x

Small enough to swallow if I had to.

https://www.wired.com/2015/06/sandisk-ultra-fit-128gb/