USB Flash Drive Program

error message · 12-12-2006, 12:04 PM

i recently bought one of these 4GB USB flash drives

http://www.consumableitems.co.uk/pro...p?sc=CONS29541

...the problem is whenever i insert it to a computer it installs a program (.exe) onto it. it gets annoying when i quickly want to save something on it, but it goes through the entire process of installing and configuring....

what will happen if i remove the .exe file. im assuming it should still work as i am not deleting any system (from the USB) files......cos theyr'e usually hidden???

....in other words....is it safe to delete?

**carsey** · 12-12-2006, 12:05 PM

What .exe program is trying to be installed??

error message · 12-12-2006, 12:09 PM

LaunchU3.exe.............................???

**kev1952** · 12-12-2006, 02:09 PM

It's some sort of security "feature" of the flash drive. See if you can find a file called "autorun.inf" on the flash drive. If you do rename it to something else (doesn't matter what). Once done remove the drive and reinsert it - should now not launch the program.

error message · 12-12-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev1952

It's some sort of security "feature" of the flash drive. See if you can find a file called "autorun.inf" on the flash drive. If you do rename it to something else (doesn't matter what). Once done remove the drive and reinsert it - should now not launch the program.

re-name it?...what happens if i delete it instead?

**carsey** · 12-12-2006, 02:57 PM

Well if you rename it you have the option of renaming it back to the original filename if there is no effect. Deleting it would not give you this option.

**linderman** · 12-12-2006, 06:57 PM

Carsey gave you a safe approach

yes; you can just delete the contents of the flash drive; then it will perform as you expect a empty drive

you can also reformat them when desired.

09-29-2007, 10:00 PM

You should also be very careful when trying to remove U# as I had heard a story where people have tried uninstalling Linux and destroyed there flash drives as that code is built into the thumb drive BIOS.

Just google search: removing U3

(the company has an uninstaller for this)

12-12-2006, 12:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
error message Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 271 OS: XP Pro/Home/Vista ULT	U3 USB Flash Drive Program i recently bought one of these 4GB USB flash drives http://www.consumableitems.co.uk/pro...p?sc=CONS29541 ...the problem is whenever i insert it to a computer it installs a program (.exe) onto it. it gets annoying when i quickly want to save something on it, but it goes through the entire process of installing and configuring.... what will happen if i remove the .exe file. im assuming it should still work as i am not deleting any system (from the USB) files......cos theyr'e usually hidden??? ....in other words....is it safe to delete? __________________ everything that has a beginning has an end... "To define recursion, ...we must first define recursion." Last edited by error message; 12-12-2006 at 12:16 PM.

12-12-2006, 12:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
error message Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 271 OS: XP Pro/Home/Vista ULT	LaunchU3.exe.............................??? __________________ everything that has a beginning has an end... "To define recursion, ...we must first define recursion."

12-12-2006, 02:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
kev1952 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Townsville, Australia Posts: 1,007 OS: Win Vista Home Premium	It's some sort of security "feature" of the flash drive. See if you can find a file called "autorun.inf" on the flash drive. If you do rename it to something else (doesn't matter what). Once done remove the drive and reinsert it - should now not launch the program. __________________ Cheers.... Kev *"The Definition of an Upgrade: Take old bugs out, put new ones in."* Please don't send me PM's for support. Post in the forums for everyone to benefit.

12-12-2006, 06:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,441 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Carsey gave you a safe approach yes; you can just delete the contents of the flash drive; then it will perform as you expect a empty drive you can also reformat them when desired. __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

09-29-2007, 10:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
techpro5238 Guest Posts: n/a OS:	Re: USB Flash Drive Program You should also be very careful when trying to remove U# as I had heard a story where people have tried uninstalling Linux and destroyed there flash drives as that code is built into the thumb drive BIOS. Just google search: removing U3 (the company has an uninstaller for this)

12-12-2006, 12:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 10,691 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	What .exe program is trying to be installed??

12-12-2006, 02:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 10,691 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	Well if you rename it you have the option of renaming it back to the original filename if there is no effect. Deleting it would not give you this option.