Thumb drive, files supplied on drive

[ktinkel]

I use a Mac. Both of my Cruzer thumb drives came with a bunch of pre-installed junk, most of which I cannot use:

My old 1GB has these files:

SecurDataStor
CruzerSync Trial Version
PocketCache Trial Version
CruzerLock 2
SecurDataStorRM


The newer 4GB has these:

File: LaunchU3.exe (1.1MB)
Documents (32KB): Contains empty folders for Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos
System (58MB): Contains two files (LPDB.xml and LPGDB.xml) and a folder labeled Apps with 5 folders containing Windows programs (evidently). Each folder has a Data and Exec folder plus one with what must be a name: met.u3p; SanDiskLaunchPadTour; signupshield-pm-sandisk.u3p; CruzerSync_U3Edition; and sudoku.u3p.


Are any of these needed to use the drives? Or can I dispose of the whole lot?

Thanks.

[Kelvyn]

You don't need anything to use the drive. They all used to be completely blank, but now are likely to contain encryption and various trial programs. Wipe them and use like a blank new drive.

[ktinkel]

You don't need anything to use the drive. They all used to be completely blank, but now are likely to contain encryption and various trial programs. Wipe them and use like a blank new drive.Thank you!!

Exactly what I wanted to hear.

[fhaber]

Take the newer drive along when next you visit a friend with a PC. Sandisk makes a removal tool for the U3 stuff, which I think is PC-only, like U3 itself. U3 is an obnoxious auto-start thingamajiggy that forces a virtual CD onto your PC's hard drive, and then runs, even autoruns the thumb-drive apps from a menu. The apps need, of course, to be special U3 versions, which are often buggy. There is a similar, less intrusive open-source thing called Portable Apps, but noooooo... A risky autostarter is not good enough; they have to make their jiggy act like a virus and be proprietary. Fegh.

Does the above sound like a rant? Does my apoplexy excuse same? This is left as an exercise for the user; I'd better stop now. And do tell me whether you get any ill effects from U3 on a Mac, or if the autostart still afflicts you when you first insert the thing into a PC. It's probably still there, so make your first visit one to someone you don't like much (g).

[ktinkel]

Take the newer drive along when next you visit a friend with a PC. Sandisk makes a removal tool for the U3 stuff, which I think is PC-only, like U3 itself. U3 is an obnoxious auto-start thingamajiggy that forces a virtual CD onto your PC's hard drive, and then runs, even autoruns the thumb-drive apps from a menu. The apps need, of course, to be special U3 versions, which are often buggy. There is a similar, less intrusive open-source thing called Portable Apps, but noooooo... A risky autostarter is not good enough; they have to make their jiggy act like a virus and be proprietary. Fegh.

Does the above sound like a rant? Does my apoplexy excuse same? This is left as an exercise for the user; I'd better stop now. And do tell me whether you get any ill effects from U3 on a Mac, or if the autostart still afflicts you when you first insert the thing into a PC. It's probably still there, so make your first visit one to someone you don't like much (g).Oy. A PC-user will be here this weekend, and he is pretty smart (an IT sort of guy), so I will ask him if he will do it. The stuff is still on there for now — got distracted and wandered off to other things.

Thanks for the heads-up!

[iamback]

It does sound like a rant. :D In addition, one pays a lot extra for that U3 software and there are very few U3-specific apps around that don't also have a non-U3 portable version or an equivalent). (And if it doesn't, we should ask for one.) Finally, possibly because U3 drives are dearer to begin with, they tend to come in smaller sizes that normal USB sticks do.

[iamback]

Just don't ever buy a U3 USB stick again! You pay quite a premium for that software - especially unnecessary if you only use a mac anyway. A bare USB stick is just as good (or better!) and will cost less.

[ktinkel]

Just don't ever buy a U3 USB stick again! You pay quite a premium for that software - especially unnecessary if you only use a mac anyway. A bare USB stick is just as good (or better!) and will cost less.It was labeled SanDisk Cruzer Micro USB 2.0 Flash Drive 4GB. Only in the tiny print relating to use with Windows was there any mention of U3, and I figured it was one of those occult PC things. Most drives of any size come configured for Windows, so I am accustomed to ignoring these things.

How do I find a “bare USB stick” — or how do I identify it, anyway? What is a good price for a 4-gig thumb drive? I paid $29. (If it should have cost $15, I will be peeved, but otherwise think I will either just dump the files, or wait for Pete to come and ask him to uninstall them from his PC, assuming he is willing.)

[fhaber]

Nah, you don't really pay a premium here. I'd almost say U3 drives are on closeout. The price of flash memory is in freefall, it seems, but SanDisk can keep their prices up a bit, because they're a good company. They replace cheerfully; their drives seem to have good life; their readers are gentle on camera cards, etc.

(2GB thumb drives are $8-10 here now. And that's in worthless USD.)

[fhaber]

I think you're safe enough on a Mac, and I'd wait. All you're losing now is what, 1MB or so of space. I doubt that the Mac can dig deep enough into the mysteries of a FAT32 format to either remove things, or get in trouble.

Be sure to clear the drive before he uninstalls. It may get wiped.

And you overpaid by $6-7 at most - down in the noise. Buy.com seems to have the cheapest prices on flash these days, unless you want to indulge in the make-work of rebates.

[ktinkel]

I think you're safe enough on a Mac, and I'd wait. All you're losing now is what, 1MB or so of space. I doubt that the Mac can dig deep enough into the mysteries of a FAT32 format to either remove things, or get in trouble.

Be sure to clear the drive before he uninstalls. It may get wiped.

And you overpaid by $6-7 at most - down in the noise. Buy.com seems to have the cheapest prices on flash these days, unless you want to indulge in the make-work of rebates.Thanks. I haven’t even used it yet, except to see that it works.

That was Costco’s price, which is usually about the lowest I can find on the hardware they sell that I can use.

The files are more of an irritant than anything else; I want to see a list of my stuff on my drive, not proprietary junk of no use to me. But I will show Pete your rant before asking him to expose his computer to the insidious files — give him a chance to opt out. <g>

[iamback]

It was labeled SanDisk Cruzer Micro USB 2.0 Flash Drive 4GB. Only in the tiny print relating to use with Windows was there any mention of U3, and I figured it was one of those occult PC things. Most drives of any size come configured for Windows, so I am accustomed to ignoring these things.No, it's Windows-specific, but Windows doesn't need it to run applications off a U3 thumb. But you pay double: for the U3 "system" installed on the thumb, and for applications designed to run in that environment.

How do I find a “bare USB stick” — or how do I identify it, anyway?one that doesn't claim it's "U3". :)

What is a good price for a 4-gig thumb drive? I paid $29. (If it should have cost $15, I will be peeved, but otherwise think I will either just dump the files, or wait for Pete to come and ask him to uninstall them from his PC, assuming he is willing.)Just shop around, prices are always changing. What may be a good price today is way too much tomorrow - with larger chips coming widely available now, the smaller sizes (4G and below) are tumbling in price very fast.

I paid nearly EUR50 for my 4G USB stick a few months ago - which was then reasonable but on the high side (A-brand); now that is a ridiculous price. But also: prices over here are roughly double what they are in the US (and US sellers rarely ship that stuff to Europe). So if you are shopping around, check where the seller is located, whether they ship to you at all, and what shipping would cost.