Most of us know the phrase “operating system” in the context of our computers and phones. An operating system is an underlying framework that manages the applications and software we use every day.

Windows install floppies and discs have gone the way of the dodo, but it still pays to keep a copy of the OS on a USB drive. Here's how to make your own.

David Nield is a technology journalist from Manchester in the U.K. who has been writing about gadgets and apps for more than 20 years. He has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Durham ...