As for dummy plugs, you have that backwards. Windows requires dummy plugs, Linux does not. Linux allows 8 GPUs, Windows does not (unless that's been fixed in the past few months). Windows is an inferior mining platform under any circumstance; there is literally nothing compelling about using Windows as a mining platform.
Refurbished $20 drives fail fairly often... the USB stick, not so much. Generates less heat and takes up almost no power as well.