How to disable U3

[Slayer³]

Many flash drives now come with U3 software loaded on it.
In an upgrade, you may have to plug your usb in 1-20 times for it to work.
On a dedicab it won't work.

The best part about U3 is how it lacks an uninstall option.

How to remove U3:
Go to their website.
http://www.u3.com/support/default.aspx#CQ3
Download the uninstaller to you desktop.
Connect the usb to your computer.
Backup all files on your usb.
Close any folders on the usb (make sure the drive is closed.)

Run the uninstall, this will take a few minutes.
Test to make sure U3 is gone by ejecting you stick and plugging it back in.


San Disk stick defects:
Sometimes the stick is defective.
A friend of mine has one where you can't insert
it all the way into the drive (you have to hold it at 9/10s in,
wait for the card to connect, then push it in).

[Phaiyte]

This is good.
Do you know if it works with the Cruzers that everyone has so many issues with?

[Slayer³]

This is good.
Do you know if it works with the Cruzers that everyone has so many issues with?

Yes, from what I've used.

The following have been tested and work:
Cruzer micro 512mb
Cruzer micro 2gb
Cruzer micro 4gb
Cruzer mini 2gb

[Phaiyte]

Bad ass. I will try it to confirm and update my ftp accordingly.
With props, of course.

[MdX MaxX]

Wouldn't it be easier to just do this?
1)Back up your files
2)Format the flash drive
3)Put your files back

Or, even easier, just format the drive as soon as you buy it.

Not trying to sound smart, but I think an uninstaller is pointless.

[Phaiyte]

It doesn't work like that for some reason.
First card I got was a Cruzer before I knew any better.
Formatted it at least 5 times to make sure I did it right.
Never worked for me :/

[PUMA.Hamtaro]

Wouldn't it be easier to just do this?
1)Back up your files
2)Format the flash drive
3)Put your files back

Or, even easier, just format the drive as soon as you buy it.

Not trying to sound smart, but I think an uninstaller is pointless.

That's like when you download a major program (AIM, let's say) and you just delete it by putting the folder in the recycle bin. It still leaves a ton of traces in the windows folders and the registries and wherever else.

[Phaiyte]

Woah dog chill.
Point of the thread was someone found a way to get rid
of the problem some people have with U3 usb cards.

Just formatting the card will not work.
I have tried this multiple times on a few different cards.

[MdX MaxX]

Hmm... It does make sense to use an uninstaller to keep Windows's registry clean. But would that affect the USB card itself? According to Phaiyte it does, but I have no idea how. Unless Windows keeps putting files on the drive or something.

Anyway, I've never used my USB drive on an ITG machine, so I shouldn't be talking too much. Heck, my Cruzer might have the same problems, I don't know.

On a side note, do people on this forum intentionally use "grooving" as an adjective, or is it a profanity filter?

[Slayer³]

Yeah reformatting doesn't work for some reason.
U3 is like a bad virus.

[Phaiyte]

Yeah reformatting doesn't work for some reason.
U3 is like a bad virus.

This.

Think of U3 like an OS on it's own. Reformatting will wipe everything off of it except U3.

[Dark Luke]

The problem of U3 is that the computer reads it as 2 separate drives. Something like this:
-CD Drive (U3 system files, read-only)
-Removable Disk (where you write files to here)

ITG machines probably reads the CD Drive portion in a U3 drive instead of the real writable portion, so a flash drive with U3 will not work.

[Slayer³]

The problem of U3 is that the computer reads it as 2 separate drives. Something like this:
-CD Drive (U3 system files, read-only)
-Removable Disk (where you write files to here)

ITG machines probably reads the CD Drive portion in a U3 drive instead of the real writable portion, so a flash drive with U3 will not work.

Thanks for the explanation.

Luckily uninstall seems to work in all cases.
Just backup the drive first, as sometimes it wipes it.

[MFPierce]

San Disk stick defects:
Sometimes the stick is defective.
A friend of mine has one where you can't insert
it all the way into the drive (you have to hold it at 9/10s in,
wait for the card to connect, then push it in).

My friends is the EXACT same way, haha, very annoying!
He has to put it in 3/4 of the way, the orange light will come on slightly, then go off.
Then he has to push it in all the way, and the light starts blinking correctly, and it'll work.

So weird ~_~

[Slayer³]

San Disk stick defects:
Sometimes the stick is defective.
A friend of mine has one where you can't insert
it all the way into the drive (you have to hold it at 9/10s in,
wait for the card to connect, then push it in).

My friends is the EXACT same way, haha, very annoying!
He has to put it in 3/4 of the way, the orange light will come on slightly, then go off.
Then he has to push it in all the way, and the light starts blinking correctly, and it'll work.

So weird ~_~

You must enter gently before full insertion