Microsoft has confirmed that Startkey, which enables users to carry their personal Windows applications and settings on a flash drive, will be available later this year.
The Startkey effort dates back to an agreement Microsoft made last May with SanDisk in which the two companies agreed to work together on a hardware-software combo that would replace SanDisk's U3 Smart Technology.
"Microsoft is introducing software (code-named Startkey) that will make it easy for users to securely replicate their current Windows PC environment, including applications, music, photos, videos, personal settings and passwords, on a flash-based portable storage device," the company said in a statement. "This environment will then be accessible on Windows-based computers--effectively turning any PC into their own PC."
When it made the announcement last year, Microsoft and SanDisk said the joint products were expected in the second half of 2008 and that the two companies would look to license their efforts to other hardware makers.
Microsoft said Startkey will take the form of either a USB flash drive or Secure Digital card, but did not offer further technical details or confirm the current time frame for the product. However, more details are expected in short order, it said.
Although Microsoft has been working with Asus and other PC makers to enable Windows to boot from a flash device, a Microsoft representative confirmed that Startkey does not put the operating system itself on the flash drive.
"The new offering is companion software and only works when connected to a host computer with Windows," the representative said. "It does not put Windows on a USB Flash Device."
This article was first published as a blog on CNET News.com.
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