Anyone know about U3 software?

[bluebox1]

I needed a new USB drive for some artwork and pictures. I grabbed a Kingston 2GB flash drive because it was on sale. Did not bother to read the package because I was in a hurry. I plugged it in to my computer and "WOW". It is not the fastest drive, but the range of features is incredible. It uses some program called U3. What is U3!? Has anyone have knowledge or experience with U3? So far I like it but just want to know about it and what others think about it. Thanks

 

[2canSAM]

I use it all the time on my windows pc. I have the sandisk cruzer and use cruzersync to sync my emails, contacts, task list, and calendar from Outlook. It evens install my wallpaper when I boot it. I use it all the time. Check out www.everythingusb.com for more info on it. There are a tons of apps out there for it and there is a free download of packagefactory to make your own. I can check do just about everything I can from my laptop using available proggys for it. Bad news is I have switched to Mac for my primary setup and don't have anything comparable on that platform. Plus you have to have local admin rights to boot and run from it on any windows 2000/XP box.

 

[MrChad]

Do U3 USB drives have different hardware than regular USB drives, or is it just a different format?

 

[keeleysam]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Do U3 USB drives have different hardware than regular USB drives, or is it just a different format?

Some do, as it has to support a CDFS partition.

 

[phisrow]

In that vein, can you easily nuke/reformat a U3 drive and convince it that it is an ordinary flash disk again, or should users of nonwindows platforms avoid them?

 

[2canSAM]

Originally posted by: phisrow
In that vein, can you easily nuke/reformat a U3 drive and convince it that it is an ordinary flash disk again, or should users of nonwindows platforms avoid them?

The is an unofficial U3 uninstaller floating around. I have never tried it. My 2GB Cruzer Micro lost 5MB to the U3 system. When ever I pop it in my mac it still sees the data partition. It acts just like a regular flash disk with all the space, except 5MB, available.

 

[kaioshade]

Originally posted by: 2canSAM

Originally posted by: phisrow
In that vein, can you easily nuke/reformat a U3 drive and convince it that it is an ordinary flash disk again, or should users of nonwindows platforms avoid them?

The is an unofficial U3 uninstaller floating around. I have never tried it. My 2GB Cruzer Micro lost 5MB to the U3 system. When ever I pop it in my mac it still sees the data partition. It acts just like a regular flash disk with all the space, except 5MB, available.

Its no longer unofficial. Go to u3.com and the installer is right there.

 

[coomarlin]

I know this is a thread resurrection but I didn't want to start anohter thread.

I just picked up a Sandisk Cruzer USB Micro 2GB drive at BB for $29.99. Seemed like a good deal at the time but I noticed it has U3 on it. I hear that can be bad and I wanted to get more input on U3. I'm not 100% sure I understand it but will it allow me to load software to the drive so that I can use it on any PC? Can I load Nero on it and then use it on other PC's. What gives?

Should I take the drive back or is $29 a good deal?

 

[Stan]

U3 emulated a CD drive, and allows the USB Disk to 'autoload' the U3 interface. You can only load special U3 software onto it (similar to PortableApps.com, but U3 instead).

 

[coomarlin]

So I don't have to preinstall any software on any of the PC's I plan to access?

 

[imported_Uber]

I also have a U3 drive, specifically a 512 MB Sandisk Cruzer Micro.
I never use the U3 stuff as most of the time I am simply transferring reports for school, or installing compact RPGs to play in boring classes.
I may look into this U3 uninstaller...

 

[orion23]

I have no use for U3 since all I do is transfer files back and forth and having the stupid U3 screen pop up all the time is rather annoying, specially since I cannot control it, ON or OFF.

This was on my new (got it yesterday) Sandisk Cruzer Micro 4gb drive. Download it the OFFICIAL U3 uninstaller and it got rid of it!

 

[coomarlin]

Well I finally tried the new memory stick out and I really don't mind the U3 software. It's a little laggy to load but I like the data security option. I don't see where I'd use many of the aps but I did install Filezilla because thats always nice to have and also DVD Idendifier. Time will tell if I keep it, but the security is nice so it might just stay.

 

[LineOFire]

My story is the same as everyone else. I only use my flash drive to transfer files, so I just uninstalled the U3 software. Seemed more like bloatware to me but I'm a minimalist like that.

 

[xtknight]

What is U3 exactly?

 

[benplaut]

It's a little tool that groups together portable apps and puts them on a sort of fake start menu on any client you plug it into.

I nuked it from my jumpdrive, and just have a folders of various portable apps.

 

[1Cheap2Crazy]

U3

 

[WT]

U3 uninstaller

Linky to dump that crap U3 software once and for all (remember to copy the stuff from the drive before running the uninstaller ... it reformats the drive).