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Tom's Hardware > Forum > Storage > Flash Media > How do I remove the U3 Smart Software from my Sandisk Flash Drive?

How do I remove the U3 Smart Software from my Sandisk Flash Drive?

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over_c   07-26-2007 at 04:00:02 PM

I recently discovered the true evil of the included software on my Sandisk Cruzer Micro 1 GB flash drive with "U3 Smart" technology.

It automatically installs this U3 program onto any Windows PC it is plugged into. Also, the drive itself is partitioned such that a small portion is recognized by WinXP Pro as a CD drive. Therefore, the files on this "CD" partition can't be easily removed by me.

When I erase the program files on the writable partition of the flash drive, they come back the next time I check the drive. I think this happens because the files on the unwritable partition get copied over every time I plug in the drive.

Also, (and here's where it gets really evil) the U3 program that was automatically installed is near impossible to remove. It's not in the add/remove programs list, it's not in the registry, and it's not running as a service. Yet, even after I had a friend open up the flash drive in linux and remove the partitions, and format the drive by writing 0 to every bit, the files were magically back the next time I plugged the drive into a PC with the hidden program. The hidden program restored all the deleted files on the USB device!

So, does anyone know how I can erase this hidden program on my PC and Flash drive once and for all?

Thank you.

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Scarchunk   07-26-2007 at 05:10:00 PM
- 1 +

Here ya go. This is the only way I was able to remove it. Kind of a pain.

http://www.u3.com/uninstall/

Message quoted 2 times
------------------------------ E6420 @ 2.66 w/ Zerotherm CF900
Gigabyte DS3 rev. 1.3 @ 1333
4GB Patriot DDR2800 @ 667
Gigabyte 8800GT w/ VF830 700/1715/1840
Reply to Scarchunk
danmarhk   10-22-2007 at 08:27:47 PM
- 1 +

I hate U3...
The software packed are available free online...
U3 is just a program annoying users with the menu and increased loading time

Reply to danmarhk
evongugg   10-22-2007 at 08:44:30 PM
- 0 +

Or put in a Linux or Mac computer and delete the files.

Reply to evongugg
deijr1238   10-24-2007 at 04:15:57 AM
- 0 +

Or just delete the .exe file?? Worked for me.

------------------------------ http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/deijr1238/Earnhardtsig.pnghttp://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/deijr1238/29shellharvickcalibk3.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/deijr1238/DaleJrsig1.png
 Reply to deijr1238
paq7512   10-24-2007 at 05:02:41 AM
- 0 +

That does not always work, evongugg is right though.

------------------------------ Abit IP35 PRO | Intel E6750 | 4GB Corsair XMS2 800 | 8800GTS 512MB | Silverstone ST75F 750W | Cooler Master 690 | 2.2TB Storage | Dual Monitors | Samsung 226BW |SAMSUNG 906BW | Gamer | Adobe User | Vista Ultimate Sp1 X64
 Reply to paq7512
NewbieTechGodII   10-24-2007 at 05:33:25 AM
- 0 +

Scarchunk wrote :

Here ya go. This is the only way I was able to remove it. Kind of a pain.

http://www.u3.com/uninstall/



I don't own the product in question, but the topic was of interest to me so I delved in. I clicked on the link Scarchunk posted, and as I was reading, I came across this:

Quote :

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. Click on the Download U3 Smart Software tab).



Whoa! Did I miss something? Wasn't the OP complaining about the U3 **** being installed on his PC and damned near impossible to remove? Why aren't there any lawsuits being filed? :)

------------------------------ The Dead are Dead.
The Living are Dying.

And yes, that is me in the pic.
 Reply to NewbieTechGodII
wjc3usa   03-04-2008 at 01:19:48 AM
- 1 +

I'll second that. During a U3 software(firmware?) upgrade, it formatted the drive. I lost everything!

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to wjc3usa
Lord Gornak   03-04-2008 at 02:10:57 AM
- 1 +

wjc3usa wrote :

I'll second that. During a U3 software(firmware?) upgrade, it formatted the drive. I lost everything!



No no no, the automatic format was a "Feature" added to the latest upgrade.

Reply to Lord Gornak
Flashbangbob   05-08-2008 at 01:17:22 AM
- 0 +

Scarchunk wrote :

Here ya go. This is the only way I was able to remove it. Kind of a pain.

http://www.u3.com/uninstall/



This worked great thankyou :)


Message edited by Flashbangbob on 05-08-2008 at 01:18:33 AM
Reply to Flashbangbob
bcallen111   06-15-2008 at 10:11:38 PM
- -1 +

1. U3 was designed for portability
2. U3 will load a small program on your Windows XP or Vista or 2000 so that upon insetion the device launches rapidly. You also need enough RAM, for the device to work efficiently........
3. U3 devices are minature hard drives and as such you must unblock the hidden file system files in Control Panel or you will not be able to see all the software.
4. U3 devices are excellent for travelers who must utilize computers that are not their own. Therefore programs like Robo and Open Office Org are ideal allowing one to read any downloaded email attachments.
5. My experience is that you need a minimum of 8GB this allows several gigabyte for software and sufficient space to store personal files. Also like a hard drive sufficient space to swap files in and out to RAM. That is why you need sufficient RAM.
6. A U3 device can be erased and used simply to store personal files or business files without any software, but then you must manually identify the drive through Windows Explorer and know the location to enter files.
7. U3 devices can become infected with virus or trojan horse like any windows drive.
8. The free anti-viral softwares are great for scanning your drive just prior to removal so that the next computer you use does not become infected.
9. I recently downloaded an Opera upgrade the zipped file was infected and my portable viral software caught the infections (four) immediately....
10. We must remember that these drives are relatively new and eventually this type of technology will replace hard drives in all computers up to including over one terabyte of storage.
11. U3 devices on older computers that only have USB 1.0 technology are very slow, but with patience they work even on an older computer.
12. U3 devices used for password storage and password creation to hide from key logger software should be backed up and/or a duplicate USB device kept locked up in a critical place or you may never be able to enter your password protected websites. Robo encrypts your password..............

Reply to bcallen111
ineedacpuformyhead   06-09-2009 at 06:06:39 PM
- 1 +

And guess what? No email on the sandisk site, just telephone, unless you register.. like I would want to give them my email address. Very under-hand methods; very poor integrity: I'd like to be paid for the time I've had to waste removing this software (there was nothing about it on the packaging.) Get your act together sandisk!!!

Reply to ineedacpuformyhead
Anonymous   06-20-2009 at 03:28:36 PM
- 0 +

One thing I noticed is that when you remove the CDFS partition where the U3 software is stored on the device using the software available from the U3 website, YOU DON'T GET THAT STORAGE SPACE BACK!!!

WHERE DOES IT GO!!!

Very crafty Sandisk. You give us the option to remove YOUR software from OUR drive, but in doing so we relinquish the storage space that YOUR SOFTWARE WAS TAKING UP!!

That's just not on.

Reply to Anonymous
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