Is the StartMeStick Right for You?

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Whether you’re looking to replace your old, slow computer, or save money by breathing a new life into your computer, the StartMeStick is a great solution. You can keep your computer, save money, and reduce waste with the StartMeStick! We’re here to answer all of your questions so you understand what the StartMeStick does, and whether it’s right for you.

What Does the StartMeStick actually do?

Not to be confused with the FixMeStick, the StartMeStick is not a virus removal device. Rather, it’s designed to breathe a new life into your old computers.

Simply plug it in, and you’ll be brought into the StartMeStick operating system. It will look and feel similar to any operating system you’ve used in the past, but minimal and slimmed down.

In its simplest form, the StartMeStick is a portable operating system that can breathe a new life into an old computer. It is designed to never slow down, break down, or become infected. The StartMeStick can be used by anybody to win against frustrating computer issues. It is like brand new every time you use it.

StartMeStick is a secure, private, and portable ‘computer on a stick’!

Reuse Your Computer

Since Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 in January 2020, up to 40% of the world’s PCs have stopped receiving security updates and are no longer safe to use on the Internet according to Microsoft.

If Microsoft or Apple has ended support for your operating system, or, if your system is simply not working like it used to, you can still use your computer.

If you are one of many who still continue to use Windows 7, the StartMeStick is a simple solution if you’re looking to keep using your computer, without having to deal with the stress of online security threats. The computer itself is still in good shape, but is likely in need of a new secure and private operating system!

More Speed For Your Computer Needs

One of the main focuses of the StartMeStick is its speed and reliability. Because the device doesn’t store any data or prior information, each use of the StartMeStick feels brand new, with nothing stopping your computer from running quickly and efficiently.

However, it’s good to keep in mind why it runs faster. Because the StartMeStick resets after each use, it treats each use as a new and fresh session – it doesn’t collect the junk that causes frustrating errors, crashes, freezes, and slowdowns.

Nothing is stored on the StartMeStick, and although this contributes to its high speed, it means that previous applications and files on your computer won’t be readily available, and you can’t save data to the stick so what you’re working on won’t be available upon the next use – unless you use something like Google Drive.

Keep your StartMeStick on a keychain and take it with you while on-the-go.

Can I Access my Computer’s Files From my StartMeStick?

Depending on the type of file system on your drive, you may be able to see (i.e. read-only) the files on your computer. You are able to copy these files to an external drive if you plug it in after you start your StartMeStick.

This means new apps would have to be freshly installed upon each use.

However, the StartMeStick comes with a browser pre-installed so you can easily do anything you want online e.g. social networks, search, email, video, music, games, business apps, Zoom, etc.

If my computer doesn’t work properly, can I still use the StartMeStick on it?

You’re in luck, the StartMeStick is designed to breathe a new life into your old computer, or a device whose operating system is no longer supported and not receiving updates from Microsoft or Apple. As long as you can turn on your computer and it shows some form of life you can use the StartMeStick.

Don’t want to upgrade to Windows 10? Try switching to StartMeStick instead!

Who is the StartMeStick for?

The StartMeStick is great for anyone hoping to breathe a new life into an old computer that is no longer functioning properly. For example, the StartMeStick is perfect for:

  • Anyone looking to save an old computer, that is misbehaving, or stuck on the dreaded “Blue Screen of Death.”
  • A computer that is running slow, or no longer receiving security updates from Microsoft or Apple.
  • When you want to be confident that you’re secure and private online.
  • Holding on to your computer, and reducing e-waste.

With all that in mind, are you ready to try the StartMeStick now? Click here to check it out.

Still want to learn more? Check out our answers to your FAQ’s HERE.

Have more questions? Leave them in the comments below!

46 comments

  1. Albert Gibbs -

    I use windows 7. Can I do my banking safely, pay my bills on line safely with the start me stick?

    • Linda -

      Hi Albert, thanks for your interest! And yes, the StartMeStick is designed to give you a secure and private operating system. There’s less chance of you being affected by a virus which can steal your online banking information as the StartMeStick resets itself after each use. If you have more questions, send us a message here and we’ll get back to you.

  2. Bruno -

    Can i leave my startme stick plugged in and put it into sleep mode?

    • Keegan Anfield -

      Hi Bruno, you can leave your StartMeStick in but depending on your computer you may need to restart the StartMeStick to get back into it.

  3. Gord -

    Does the start me stick replace a VPN? And will it work on an iPad?

    • Keegan Anfield -

      A VPN can provide ‘network privacy’ by hiding your true IP address from the websites you visit, and the websites you visit from your Internet Service Provider. VPN software can provide privacy from harmful entities on the network, e.g. websites that try to reverse engineer your identity via tracking your IP address and similar, and/or ISPs that track what you’re doing online, however, they cannot provide privacy from your browser or other programs on your computer.

      Further, you can add a single-layer VPN to your StartMeStick by choosing a VPN provider that offers a Chromium extension. We’ve arranged a discount for StartMeStick/FixMeStick customers with NordVPN.

      If you install the NordVPN extension in Chrome on your regular host operating system, the extension will be there in Chromium when you run the StartMeStick if you sign in to Chromium to sync.

      If you prefer not to login and sync Chromium, you can manually add the VPN extension to Chromium each time. You have to do it each time because when you shut down the StartMeStick nothing from that session is saved to your computer or to the StartMeStick. That’s what we mean by the StartMeStick goes back to brand new after each use.

      No, the FixMeStick is not compatible with iPads

  4. Lynn Plesetz -

    I have a VPN and McAfee Security suite with Cox internet and never take my computer out of the house. It is always on the Cox VPN. My computer is Windows 7. With the internet security I have do I still need the StartMe Stick or is my computer already secure with the Cox VPN and McAfee. I ran the FixMeStick a couple of weeks after Microsoft stopped their security and nothing was found.

  5. Mario Desormiers -

    Is there an email system included with the Start Me Stick ?
    Or which email system will work under the StatMe Stick ?
    Thank you
    Mario

    • Linda -

      Hi Mario, there are no built-in email apps directly on the StartMeStick. But using its Chromium web browser, you should be able to login to all your email accounts using the web-based email version.

  6. James -

    Hi
    I have Rogers for the internet but can the StarMeStick re-place Rogers which is going up in cost. If it can not do you know one that can

    Thank You

    • Linda -

      Hi James, good question. Please note that StartMeStick does not replace your internet service provider. It is only a tool that gives you a secure, fast, and private to go online (via wi-fi or ethernet) but you will still need an internet service provider to provide this wi-fi or ethernet connection. If you have further questions please send us an email at support@fixmestick.com.

  7. Ronnie Self -

    will fix me stick bypass passwords and permit access to my pc???

    • Linda -

      Hi Ronnie, both FixMeStick and StartMeStick will work if you do not know the password to get into a computer. However, some functions will be limited and neither of them will help you recover your password.

    • jonathan.st.michael -

      Hi Holly,

      Thanks for reaching out to us!

      Our products are compatible with Windows® XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, so you should be able to run it on your Vista computer no problem!

      – Jonathan

  9. Eric -

    I have the blue screen of death. Should I use the startmestick or fixmestick to try and get access to my harddrive and copy files I need?

    • jonathan.st.michael -

      Hi Eric,

      Thanks for reaching out to us!

      In regards to the blue screen of death, your best bet is the StartMeStick. However it’s important to note that while using the StartMeStick, you may be able to see your files, however it depends on the state of your computer’s hard drive.

      If you have any further questions, you can always reach us at support@fixmestick.com

      – Jonathan

  10. Joyce -

    My computer says my system cant be found. Will the fix me stick fix this

    • jonathan.st.michael -

      Hi Joyce,

      Thanks for reaching out to us!

      The FixMeStick is a great virus-removal device, however it sounds as though the issue isn’t virus related, but rather hardware related. In this case, I would recommend looking into the StartMeStick to revive your computer!

      You can check out the StartMeStick here!

      – Jonathan

  11. Barry -

    I have an old Toshiba I got in 2000 , will StartMeStick work on any computer or is there a limit how old it can be

    • jonathan.st.michael -

      Hi Barry,

      Thanks for reaching out to us!

      Our products are compatible with Windows® XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 – we often work on models dating back to 2001, though I’m sure the StartMeStick should be able to work on your 2000s model!

      If you have any further questions, you can always reach us at support@fixmestick.com

      – Jonathan

    • jonathan.st.michael -

      Hi Colleen,

      Thanks for reaching out to us!

      The StartMeStick uses a Linux-based operating system, which means you’ll only be able to run programs that are Linux-compatible. From my understanding, unfortunately Quick Books is not Linux-compatible.

      Let me know if you have any further questions!

      – Jonathan

  13. Anonymous -

    Can I import photos using the startmestick and putting in a SD card?

    • Jonathan -

      Hi there,
      In short, yes! The StartMeStick recognizes the SD card and you’ll be able to import photos. However, we recommend importing the photos to an online drive, as the StartMeStick is designed to reset upon each new session, which means the photos you imported won’t be saved the stick itself. Using an online drive to store your data is an effective way of storing your data while using the StartMeStick!

      With that being said, feel free to let us know if you have any other questions.

  14. Gloria Antypowich -

    I also have an old Fix Me Stick–it’s sitting right here at the base of my computer. It seemed to quit working, but I never threw it away. Is it still useable and how??
    My computer was hacked about 2 weeks ago. What a nightmare!! It was a guy with a Ransom ware. I don’t know how he accessed my computer–I was on a recipe site, but I have tons of protection. Any way, my computer was totally useless. He was posing as Microsoft–I finally called and let him access my computer. Then I realized it was a scam and I refused to pay, and he really did a number on my windows 10 program. I had to take it in and get the old program removed, but I lost all my old applications. I am so paranoid now it isn’t funny. I’d appreciate any ideas about if Fix Me Stick can help etc.

    • Jonathan -

      Hi Gloria,

      Even if it hasn’t been used in a while, your FixMeStick should still be operational. The Microsoft scam is quite popular and it’s scammed a number of people.

      If you’d like to run your FixMeStick just to be safe, you can follow the instructions here.

      However, if you have questions regarding how to keep yourself secure online, I recommend emailing us at support@fixmestick.com where we can provide tips and guidance!

  15. Leah -

    What is the best “Password” program which generates and assigns strong Passwords. I tried one but when it assigned it I couldn’t figure out how to send it! Thanks, if you understand this..

    • Jonathan -

      Hi Leah,

      Good question! There are a variety of different password programs which each have their own pros and cons. However, I’ve heard many good things about Dashlane, which serves as one of the top password managers!

  16. Nitto -

    I have seen ads for Xtra stick that sounds like StartMeStick. Any difference?

    • Jonathan -

      Hi Nitto,

      We’ve heard of Xtra Stick before! It uses similar Linux-based software to run, and all around is very similar to the StartMeStick. While the StartMeStick is meant to be a slimmed down operating system, Xtra Stick is almost a simplified version of the StartMeStick and lacks a lot of the security features that we provide!

      Let us know if there’s anything else we can help you with!

  17. Anonymous -

    Just can’t get into computer. What will the smart stick do exactly? Main question, do I have to keep it plugged in? Will I be able to access the pc after running the smart stick without it in?

    • Jonathan -

      Hi there,

      If you’re running into issues getting into your computer, you may be running into some form of hardware failure.

      The StartMeStick acts as a new operating system for your computer – you can plug it in, launch it, and use the StartMeStick as the computer’s new system. In order to get full use, we recommend using the StartMeStick each time you’d like to use your computer.

      Depending on how corrupted the drive is, you will still be able to access your files by going to the “Files” app on the StartMeStick. Once there, you can typically find your data within one of the folders.

      Let us know if there’s anything else we can help with!

  18. Steve -

    Question:
    If I have a second “D-Drive” with all my data on it, and use startmestick which will only boot from my main “C-Drive”, which only has the operating and various programs on it, will I still be able to operate on my “D-Drive” whithin my data, i.e.: see, find, open, create, modify, save, etc.? Or is my access to the “D-Drive” lost as this would be considered a new op sys each time?

    The same question if I have an external hard drive, with the understanding that I would have to plug it in after each start of startmestick?

    I love my FIxME Stick!! It always finds things that Malware Bytes and Symantec miss, which I have both on my computer. I find this very interesting and of course, extremely useful.

    Again, these are my opinions, and lessons learned. I’m just sharing a bit of wisdom.
    Enjoy!

    • Jonathan -

      Hi Steve,

      Thank you for reaching out to us!

      While using the StartMeStick, you should still be able to access the different drives on your computer. When using the StartMeStick, you can navigate to the “files” application, and from there you can access different drives.

      Depending on what files you’ll need, you should be able to access and edit them through the StartMeStick – however it’s important to keep in mind that because the StartMeStick is a Linux-based OS, you won’t be able to edit Windows applications.

      The same goes for your external hard drive! You can keep the external drive plugged in to access any relevant files while using the StartMeStick.

      If you have any further questions, you can always reach out to us at support@fixmestick.com

    • Jonathan -

      Hi there,

      Thank you for reaching out to us!

      If you’d like to cancel your account, it’s best to reach us at support@fixmestick.com where we take a look into your order.

      Let us know if there’s anything else we can do for you!

  20. Pat Christensen -

    I ordered the fix me stick in early Feb. And still have not received it. My account has been charged.

    • Jonathan -

      Hi there,

      I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t received your package as of yet. I’ve just sent you a follow up email where we can look some next steps!

  21. Becky Richardson -

    I have a Lenovo M91 which I changed some items in the Setup menu and then my computer could not recognize the operating system. Would not let me type or see any files. Will the Start-me[stick help me get into my files so that I can correct the one that is preventing me from using my operating system?

    • Jonathan -

      Hi Becky,

      While using the StartMeStick, you will still be able to access your previous files under the “files” application – however, while you can access these files, you cannot make any permanent changes to the original operating system.

      In this case, it’s likely that you’ll need to reverse the changes in your Bios setup in order to properly boot your original operating system.

      If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at support@fixmestick.com !

  22. John L Teal -

    My operating system has failed and my computer will not open. Windows 7. I cannot even get get the opening screen with my icons. Will this start my computer so I can open my files and download them to my new computer?

    • Jonathan -

      Hi John

      Thank you for reaching out to us!

      Depending on the state of the files on your computer, you should be able to use the StartMeStick to retrieve your old files!

      The StartMeStick has a “Files” applications which contains any available local files on the device it’s being used on. If you look within the local files, you should be able to retrieve your old pictures.

      If you run into any questions along the way, please feel free to let us know!

  23. Richard Groth -

    Desktop password file change after Fixme stick run cannot log in!!! Help??your problem please call me(7247334043) to setup a. Remote fix…please

    • Jonathan -

      Hi Richard,

      Thank you for contacting us today!

      I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been encountering issues after running a FixMeStick scan!

      In this case, you can reach out to us at support@fixmestick.com and we can look into some potential troubleshooting steps.

      We look forward to hearing from you!

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