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- oratem, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The uninstaller is now being hosted by u3 at http://www.u3.com/uninstall/
- unwieldyweapon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The previous link stopped working, and this page is way up there when you google for U3, so here's an new link for the uninstaller in case anyone else stumbled in here looking for it.
http://www.garyweb.net/u3/U3_Uninstaller.exe - peekpoke, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Link to U3 Uninstaller
http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2XO0FWZ4VNOZ03322OQ9RZXXMQ - JPicasso, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3No, it is not at all like an auto run on a CD.
The problem is not exactly the autorun, which, in my opinion is bad enough.
But the fact that the autorun INSTALLS FILES WITHOUT PERMISSION.
Also, I should NOT have to hold down shift to avoid this. It would be annoying, but acceptable if it would at least give me a pop up - install (yes/no) type deal. I wouldn't be here ranting if they had at least given all it's customers a choice.
U3 might be the best flash drive organization software that was ever conceived.
but because some moron decided to auto INSTALL files on my computer, I'll never even give it the chance. - blkpwdr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Why would you need to have some U3 Program to run Firefox? You can go to a lot of open-source places and download Portable Firefox. There is also Portable Open Office, it's nothing more than Microsoft Office, just simpler and opens Microsoft Office files. As far as passwords and such, there's KeePass. You can put the URL to the login screen, your user name, and password on the program and it remembers it, all you have to know is the main password you assign to KeePass to open your database. Also, if you need to make a password for a website but don't know of any to make up, you can tell KeePass what has to be in the password such as capital letters, special characters, etc... it will generate a password for you. Anyway, maybe for some people, U3 is great, but I still think it's a bunch of garbage. You can find a lot of programs to make your jumpdrive work for you without the frustration of U3.
- damentz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5http://u3.com/uninstall
- mikeyG9x, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Just bought a U3 smart drive, nice form factor and not a bad look to it. The software is a nice idea but bad implementation. There is no way to exit the program without ejecting the drive, using the U3 eject function - Windows still complains when the drive is removed, there is no easy way to remove or disable the U3 software, and if I remove U3 programs on the accessible flash portion - they reappear when the drive is inserted again.
I hate being forced to use something that I don't want. I'm going to nuke this U3 software shortly, goodbye crap-ware (U3_Uninstaller.exe). - brandon_w, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Look - nobody wants something that's going to run itself by default every time you stick it in computer. I don't want to have U3 run unless it's on my personal PC, or unless I tell it to. I shouldn't have to disable a fake CD-ROM drive. I like the idea of what U3 offers, but I hate what it does in practice. The fact that it tries to auto-run renders it useless due to restriction on PCs at my school - only the U3 partition is available, and the normal flash disk capabilities end up disabled. There is no such trouble with drives that lack U3. It's enough to make me resent the application in its entirety, and enough to make me remove it using 3rd party software.
- etnin, on 10/30/2007, -0/+1I just want a USB key not a bunch of crap forced on me
- barret232hxc, on 12/16/2007, -0/+1u3 all the way
- peekpoke, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Someone has finally posted a leaked U3 Uninstaller application, and it works! It's in the thread linked to by this story.
- macoafi, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Formatting won't get rid of the partition. It'll just format the data partition and leave the iso 6990 partition there. That doesn't help. GParted can only work on real hard drives, not flash drives, so it's not like I can just delete the partitions either.
- macoafi, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1That's not incredible. That's a terribly shoddy attempt at implementing what portableapps.com did a great job with.
- FrankO, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I just uninstalled my U3 partition. Paid a higher price for the U3 facility on a Kingston USD stick. Got a system that takes way longer to start up when I plug the stick into a new computer, and sometimes fails to work at all. In my worst case of failure I couldn't upload a powerpoint presentation to the central computer running a theater projector when the audience was waiting for me to get going! I never could really find what advantage U3 reckons to offer: something that insists on installing a virtual CD drive every time you plug your stick in a different computer is a royal pain!
- macoafi, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Please point me to a .deb for a U3 uninstaller and I will stop bitching for a while. If you cannot do this, STFU.
- macoafi, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1At least when you put in auto-running CDs, they ASK if you want to install their software. This thing doesn't ask. It just goes...LIKE A VIRUS.
Why would anyone bother with U3 when they can just use portableapps.com? Portable apps do the same thing without infecting every computer they touch.
What are us Linux users supposed to do? The uninstallers are Windows-only. On top of that you can only uninstall it from Windows by first installing it. That is so incredibly illogical I wouldn't be surprised if everyone at U3 was in preschool. Hmm, that's insulting to preschoolers. Even they're not that dumb. - peekpoke, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2At first, after watching the promo video from SanDisk, I thought U3 was a clever idea. I just assumed it auto ran a non-installing program, a little application launcher that read the list of programs on the flash drive. But instead, they actually install their software onto the computer. This means any U3 drive you have will try install this software on any Windows PC, and there are already talk of newer (possibly conflicting) versions of the U3 software on newer flash drives. Just Great!rnrnThen you have the extra drive letter, the undeletable locked partition for U3s Windows only software. It's just ugly...rnrnAnd I could never get the U3 software to actually launch or run anything. It just launched each time I plugged in the card, opening up a stupid window, and then eventually timing out with some useless error. I assume it was confused by the two different memory card readers I have hooked up (one built into the computer, one built into the monitor/hub).rnrn
- njblackberry, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I guess I have no choice but to through these USB drives out. I can't uninstall U3, which is malware AFAIK, since it will not let me bypass it or shut it off. This is a joke.
- blkpwdr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I'm about to give up on San Disk. I had a Cruzer Mini 1GB for 3 weeks and just the other day, it quit working. I couldn't get any of my files off of it. So, I took it back and ended up getting the Cruzer Micro 1GB. I looked on the package and saw that U3 stuff. I was like, huh, that's cool. I come home, put it on my computer. Nothing... Put it on my other computer and it "installs" but every time I plugged the thing in, nothing came up. U3 is a bunch of garbage and I was on the verge of cussing San Disk out for making such crap until someone suggest the U3 Uninstaller. The "extra" CD Drive didn't look so hot in My Computer when all it did was freeze up my computer when I tried to open it. All I wanted to begin with was a simple removable device, not some controlling program that fails to work as advertised, I might add. So, now I've got a nice removable device that I don't have to worry about losing caps with. Thanks to unwieldyweapon for the link.
- gnored, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1It gets very confused if you move it back and forth to/from a linux box. So confused, in fact, that it scrambled an audio file. I finally had to empty and reformat it just to transfer a file from the Linux box to the PC.
U3 is truly a rotten idea! - bob12321, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I know this is an old story but i got lucky and found it on google and i would like to thank you since i was about to trash the flash drive and the U3 was worse then hell.
@garagethrash
it doesn't open the application on vista but it copies the files back on to the main drive. - john570, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Epidemic they really dont give most users the option of uninstalling it. You have to go out and download an uninstall program to get it off the stick. Autorun on a CD is totally different. I insert CD and I want it to play. I insert blank stick into computer and I......dont want it to do a damn thing unless I tell it to.
- nullbrot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Thanks to Oratem for the pointer to the uninstaller!
I like the IDEA of U3, but the implementation is lacking, the menus are browsery without good controls, the uninstall should be included, etc.
In my case, I needed to convert the drive to a bootable drive for a diagnostics pkg, so U3 had to go. I guess it would probably have had to go anyway.
Got a good deal on the Sandisk 512MB U3 tho at Officemax... $15 no messy rebate. - turbines, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I really hate bloatware and gimmickware. I can see no advantages in having software auto running from a USB whenever it is plugged. I gave U3 and Ceedo a shot and then opted to remove it. If you must have a USB Drive Start Menu for your portable programs then a PStart shortcut on your PC Startup menu will work just fine. It's free, small and not real fancy but it works well. I really hope that software developers will not jump on this U3 thing and just keep things simple. Unfortunately U3 may be here to stay.
- rkninc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I cannot find the file for U3. I looked for it under search under the “my computer tab”, since that finds installed drivers. I don’t understand where it possibly could be and after conducting my own investigation I’m in doubt that it actually installs an auto run file.
- streetblader, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0hmm i havn't bought one yet but if you want something similar without hardware, use ceedo. www.ceedo.com. Basicly the same thing, slower and doesn't leave anything on the computer. But hey, whatever works, works.
- jj4146, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I just bought the Geek Squad brand U3 flash drive yesterday! I can not find where it installs any software on the computer and the extra drive that shows up in my-computer disappears when the flash drive is ejected! I use the Winamp, Firefox, and Anti-virus programs. Firefox is nice because I have my bookmarks with me.
- fuqu, on 12/16/2007, -0/+0Im sorry, the damn names you limp ***** are running make me laugh, Do your mommies and Daddies know ur ass are on here making yourselves look completely ***** retarded? Code Cutter? none of you have any damn business owning a PC, I swear, U want the U3 off the device, Explore the U3 image on the disk and find the uninstall tool made in it. And then uninstall your driver folder from your sys32 while youre at it. I swear ppl like you should be shot for infecting the internet with your nonsence and stupidity/........... Actually, your parents should be shot for having most of you.....
Go back to your lil world of *****-craft, or Dorks and Drag-queens,, or what ever it is you ***** genetic misfits do. Leave technology to ppl who know what it is they're buying and how to use the *****. - john570, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1This is absolute garbage. I dont care what it does. NO program should just start up on its own like this. We just got in 20 Kingston memory sticks with this U3 crap. Guess what I am doing first.
- blkpwdr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0njblackberry, you shouldn't have to throw them away. All the U3 crap is is a partition. You can reformat the thumbdrive to get rid of the partition U3 is on. Does the link not work for the removal tool from Geek Squad up the page here from unwieldyweapon? That program works fine. But yeah, you can just reformat the drive and make it into a single partition. You can do it through My Computer or go through Computer Management in Control Panel > Administrative Tools. I hope it works out for you. Later.
- cooldude127, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1it's not malware. it doesn't hurt your system, and it does its intended purpose. if you don't want it, you shouldn't have bought a drive with it.
personally, i think it's great. I've been looking for something like this ever since I started using portable apps. - nene7070, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0wow... that was like reading a press release.... sigh
- tstewart65, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Clearly there is vast inconsistency in the implementation of U3. I received a SanDisk Cruzer Micro yesterday and everytime I would plug it in it would literally lock my computer up (a Compaq AMD-64 machine) to the point I'd have to hold the power button to shut it down and reboot. I tried the same drive on a P-III 500 MHZ with an added USB 2.0 card, and the U3 worked fine. I tried multiple times to reconfigure the U3 when working on the one machine, but it locked the Compaq box up every single time I plugged it in. In the end I nuked U3 using the P-III box and it works perfectly on both machines now. Bottom line is there appears to be major flaws in the testing/compatibility protocols from the U3 folks. Decent enough idea, but very very high on the "peak of inflated expectations" curve of the hype cycle. Back to the drawing board guys!
- b00zer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Personally I hate U3. It's like a spyware of sort. In fact, this "autorun" crap is just bad. Other than using the U3 uninstaller. Actually, I'm trying to disable this autorun for USB by editing the windows registry. Anyone has any experience on this?
- mmmna, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11] U3 is an unrequested 'feature' - I sought out and bought the flash drive for the flash drive, not for the software which was on it.
2] Your undesireable technique - auto install and cannot remove source application? Sounds like malware software to me - you have created a business by forcing your way against my decisions. BTW: such a lovely style of interaction with your users.
3] It is the consumer who takes responsibility for and suffers consequeces of the unintended activities of defective software, not the software maker - U3 is not certifying that the software is without risks, I would not be pleased when someone announces a security issue based on U3.
4] The uninstall program is a 2.5 MEG download, runs only under Windows. The application fails to install properly under Windows ME. After failing to install properly in ME, the ME uninstaller cannot uninstall.
My thoughts on the matter: unlock the partition, and make that partition a STANDARD Microsoft FAT partition so EVERYONE can delete it, without needing a faulty 2.5 meg download to delete unwanted software that installs itself against the will of the consumer. - karencath, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Can you explain in more detail how to do this using My Computer? I can't get the U3 uninstall program to work, and have tried reformatting using a tool I downloaded from another site, but nothing is working. I'm starting to think I have a defective drive, and it's seriously frustrating.
- malsonj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Ok, I'm not sure if I have a different version of U3 than all the U3 "haters" out there, but I have a few things to say. U3 is an option, you don't have to buy it, so don't. And if you did, there is a way to uninstall it now. Secondly, I don't know whats wrong with you guys, but my drive has an option to turn the autorun feature on and off, local to the drive not the autorun on the computer. Now everytime I plug it in to ANY computer it does add the 2 drives, a small issue that I can definately over look, but nothing runs unless I run the U3.exe from the "CD Rom" drive. Its definately a great buy, because when I want to use the U3 I can, but if I just want to transfer some files, I just make sure the autorun option is off. BTW I have a SanDisk Cruzer Micro 4GB bought it at Best Buy on sale for $60 about 2 months ago.
- ch13ft5ta, on 03/07/2008, -0/+0OK first of all if you cant work out how to uninstall launchpad and havent taken the time to read the package "before purchasing" it ( granted some wording may be misleading) just remember to hold down the shift key to stop autorun. Aside from that there are a few problems ive found with how u3 operates, namely copying and leaving files in the "C:Documents and Settings"account name"Application DataU3" folder and other random files. It might be nice if the launchpad eject function would take care of these files (although i think due to processes cleanup.exe has to be left to be able to eject the drive, normally only this and one other file are left but on many occasions(my appologies if there is a fix i dont know about) i have had to go and manually delete files left behind). It doesnt bother me on my personal computer but when i use it on my work computer i really don't like the idea of i.t guys wondering what the hell all the .dlls and manifest files are doing in there, possibly leading to an anti usb policy, (how else am i gonna get my pr0n, off "my" Internet account, i think not) all in all i say to the nay-Sayer and boy cotters if you don't like it don't buy it and that goes for me to ( I'm just a supporter with a few gripes) u3 is sweet just for the ease of use but as with everything there are pros and cons hopefully "startkey" will take care of these problems.
p.s To those that are just straight flaming people for being ignorant without offering avenues to educate themselves, your just adding to the problem ( and no your not better than anyone else just because your l33t), as for those that choose to actively remain ignorant despite being presented avenues to educate yourself i hope that ignorant bliss you remain in leads you in front of a moving bus or some other fast moving metal object ( the purpose of the Internet is to share information not to ignore it and add ill-informed crap), do us all a favor and strengthen the gene pool by being absent from it. - webtest, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1You think YOU've got it bad ... I was suckered into the SanDisk micro cruzer by the cheap sale price at OfficeMax and I'm running Win-98se! It is the first USB Flash Drive I've experienced that absolutely won't run on 98 ... AFAIK there isn't even a driver for it. U3 is the LEAST of my worries though it caused me heart failure when I plugged it into my machine at work and it installed all that crap (a SEVERE NO-NO!!! Just wait until IT finds out!). Next time I have to be sure to RTFFP: Read the ... Fine Print.
SanDisk (and others) needs to put a Warning Label on the package of U3 DUMB products ... WARNING: This produce WILL install packages on your machine that you may not like or want.
Reminds me of the old Hallmark Card CD that installed MS Internet Explorer without warning. Boy was I mad about that. - frazier345, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Listen
U3 offers for some of us a great feature that we need as business travelers and have to have a secure way to browse the internet and keep files safe when traveling without a laptop. If you don't like it then either return it to the store you bought it at or uninstall the software with the link provided here or from the manufacturer of the u3 drive.
- karlchwe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0To U3 defenders - Sure, it would be useful in certain situations. But it appears that the gripe is that it operates automatically, without user input, not that it is not useful. It also creates a security hazard, as does any technology that allows software to run automatically (like ActiveX in websites or VB in Outlook).
I hate it, personally, because you have to "eject" the drive before you yank it out. I don't know why that is necessary; if there is a swap file issue, just don't use a swap file. The drive is certainly fast enough.
You can also disable U3 by going into Device Manager and disabling the "CD-ROM" drive that it created. But that only works for specific computers. - blkpwdr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0My friend pointed me back to portableapps.com They have a little loader thing called PortableApps Suite - http://portableapps.com/suite There's 3 different ways to download, there's a Standard, Lite, and Base edition. Standard (better for 512mb+ drives) is the big one with OpenOffice and a lot of other utilities as always FREE of charge. Lite (better for 256mb+ drives) has AbiWord instead of OpenOffice to make it smaller. Base edition (less than 1mb) is just the application itself. Another place to find free apps is http://www.portablefreeware.com/ Anyway, I hope someone out there finds this useful.
- mikem7, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Wow I haven't seen a discussion like this in a while!
I just spent 4 hours getting a Cruzer micro with U3 to work on a coworkers computer.
I agree with most posts - I don't like stuff that does things without telling me - I don't like stuff installed that's not easy to find and remove.
But my MAIN problem with U3/Cruzer micro is that it only works on about half the computers here. If it works I guess it's fine but if it doesn't work it locks the computer up! For poor souls with only one computer how do they uninstall the launchpad if putting the drive in the port locks the computer up?
And... "If you don't want U3 don't buy it" Right! The package leads you to believe that it's the greatest new and improved feature around. These products are marketed to the public not just to us GeeKoids. My co-worker had no idea what she was getting. She just thought she was getting a "better Jump drive"
What happened? I used an old Win.ME system to uninstall the U3 software - Now all is fine. - CodeCutter, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Bought a Kingston 1 gb, didn't even notice the u3 on the packaging (it was there just not very noticeable) but I certainly noticed the application that auto ran that I couldn't stop no matter what I tried, even after I got a friend to format on his Linux system the crapware was still there, and if I forgot to use the remove option on the software and just removed the usb drive it completely locked up my whole system. I have to admit the idea of being able to take your configured apps with you doesn't sound bad in concept, but I shouldn't be forced to run this crapware every time I stick the usb drive in, and I shouldn't have to search the net to download a removal tool!
- matthk, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0The U3 uninstall package is available here.
http://www.u3.com/uninstall/default.aspx
Doesn't work on a Mac though, but I just walked over to
a colleagues (blech) PC and ran it from there.
Easy peasy!
WHAT THEY SAY:
"Wait! You're about to throw out the part that makes your drive smart.
The Launchpad makes your drive more than a data storage device:
* You can carry software and settings on your drive along with your data files.
* You can plug it into any PC and work, play games, edit photos, browse the web or email just as you would on your own PC.
* You can password-protect your files.
* Your U3 smart drive is just as fast as a traditional drive, but more powerful.
And don't worry - your U3 smart drive does not install software on your
hard drive automatically. You can always remove any apps you don't
want (and download new ones from the ever growing list of apps at U3.com.
Removing the U3 Launchpad disables the U3 smart functionality.
So think before you click. And make the smart choice.
If you are uninstalling due to a problem you are experiencing with
your U3 smart drive, check out our troubleshooting page for the
latest information." - Ralan, on 12/16/2007, -0/+0I know this is old but for anyone that reads this.
-U3 only emulates a CD on your computer. It's like putting a CD in the CD-ROM its only there until you take it out.
-You can disable auto-run in the settings. I mean, there are settings? Crazy.
-I know its crazy but there is an actual U3 uninstall built in. All you have to do is click on the U3 settings and *gasp* click on the uninstall tab. That to complicated? Download the removal tool from the u3 website, freely available, and run it.
The people that post this crap are dumb and don't do any research. - noclss2000, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I just got one of these from a friend yesterday. I really do think that the concept of the software is good. I have not had any problems yet with this flash drive and u3 software locking up any computers or anything of that nature(tried on 3 computers so far). I do wish though that there were more applications that would work on the software, such as ad-aware, spybot, etc. I was planning on using this device as another tool for PC repair. I wouldn't want to have to plug a infected computer back onto a domain to download software so I was hoping I could keep a up-to-date version of spybot and ad-aware and other tools on the flash drive so I could just plug it in and start fixing stuff. Maybe there is something out there that will do this and I just haven't found it yet.
- garagethrash, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1pretty sure vista doesn't let it autorun. It still does that cd emulation thing but there's no icon in the taskbar and a popup window comes up asking you what to do.
- oldowl, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I plugged a new 1 GB thumb drive into my Yamaha digital piano. Had no idea it contained this U3 garbage. It somehow caused the firmware in the digital piano to destroy everything in a SmartMedia card that I store my MIDI files on. Called SanDisk, maker of the thumb drive, and they said that I should have read the system requirements. Yeah, right! They further said that their software could not have done anything to my SmartMedia card. It was working before I plugged the thumb drive in and now it doesn't. They led me to Object Rescue. com or something like that where I could download rescue software to retrieve what was on the SmartMedia card. It didn't find anything on the card. What a piece of @#!! this is.
There was NO VISIBLE MARKING on the SanDisk package that said anything about extra software or an extra partition on the drive. Any attorneys out there think there is a class action lawsuit in all this????? - fuqu, on 12/16/2007, -0/+0You people make me laugh, In reply to a few comments, like the "leaked" link to the removal tool.... explore the u3 image, the uninstall is in there. No offence to the real PC people on here, but its people like you all that keep my company in bizznezz.... You are all so ***** stupid, U stupid ***** ever concidered reading a package b4 u buy the damn thing? I thnk most of you see something within your proce range and just buy it without even knowin what the hell ur buying. So I do thank you all for being so ***** stupid, You all make sure my company stays in bizz....LMAO
Word of advice tho, if ur buying something and u see something on the package that resembles words and letters, get a sales person to read it to you so you know what youre buying......
And by all means, any of you self proclaimed rocket scientists wish to talk back to me because im calling you all a bunch oh retards, feel free to email me at lowjack@cfl.rr.com, Im always up for ripping headers from emails of people stupid enough to send em -
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