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Line 5: \| logo = [[Image:U3logo.svg\|U3 LLC Logo]] \| type = [[Private Company\|Private]] ~~\| company_slogan = Your digital universe in your pocket.~~ \| foundation = 2004 \| location = [[Redwood City, California]] \| industry = [[Computer industry\|Computer]] \| homepage = ~~{{url\|http://u3.~~<code>sandisk.com</}}code> (Defunct) }} '''U3''' was a joint venture between [[SanDisk]] and [[M-Systems]],<ref>{{cite web \| url=~~http~~https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2128799,00.asp \| title=Microsoft, SanDisk to Replace U3 Drives \| last=Albanesius \| first=Chloe \| date=2007-05-11 \| publisher=[[PC Magazine]]}}</ref> producing a [[proprietary software\|proprietary]] method of launching Windows ~~applications~~software from special [[USB flash drive]]s. Flash drives adhering to the U3 specification are termed "'''U3 smart drives'''". U3 smart drives come preinstalled with the '''U3 Launchpad'''~~, which looks similar to the [[Windows OS]] start menu and controls program installation~~. Applications that comply with U3 specifications are allowed to write [[Computer file\|files]] or [[Windows registry\|registry]] information to the host computer, but they must remove this information when the flash drive is ejected. Customizations and settings are instead stored with the application on the flash drive. [[Microsoft]] and [[SanDisk]] created a successor called [[StartKey]]. Line 30 ⟶ 29: == U3 platform == === U3 disk mounting: ~~hardware~~Hardware emulation === A U3 flash drive presents itself to the host system as a [[USB hub]] with a CD drive and standard [[USB mass storage device class\|USB mass storage device]] attached.<ref name="Technet 137730">{{cite web \| url=~~http~~https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.01.securitywatch.aspx \| title=How Flash Drives and Social Engineering can Compromise Networks \| last=Johansson Line 92 ⟶ 91: \| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524062747/http://www.u3.com/developers/default.aspx \| archivedate=2009-05-24 \| url-status=dead ~~\| deadurl=yes~~ \| quote=At this point we do not accept any new releases. Thank you U3.com}}</ref> the u3.com ~~Web site~~website is no longer available. == Removal == Reformatting the drive will remove some of the software (the hidden "SYSTEM" folder), but not all of it. The virtual CD-ROM drive cannot be removed by reformatting because it is presented to the host system as a physical device attached to a USB hub;<ref name="Technet 137730" /> the official U3 Launchpad Removal Software was available on the U3 website and disabled the virtual CD drive device, leaving only the [[USB mass storage device class\|USB mass storage device]] active on the U3 USB hub controller, at which point the remaining software can be removed by a subsequent format, performed by the removal software itself.<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://u3.sandisk.com/launchpadremoval.htm \| title = U3 Launchpad Removal Tool \| publisher = SanDisk~~}}</ref>~~ \|access-date = 2011-01-18 \|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110101161537/http://u3.sandisk.com/launchpadremoval.htm \|archive-date = 2011-01-01 \|url-status = dead }}</ref> ''u3_tool'' is another option that includes the ability to remove the virtual CD-ROM drive, as well as ways to reconfigure it to the user's liking.<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://sourceforge.net/projects/u3-tool/ \| title=u3_tool \| date=May 2013 \| publisher=[[~~Sourceforge~~SourceForge]]}}</ref> == Criticism == Line 120 ⟶ 125: \| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522170232/http://www.u3.com/support/default.aspx#CQ1 \| archivedate=2010-05-22 \| ~~deadurl~~url-status=~~yes~~dead}}</ref> ;Proprietary format/closed platform: The U3 platform is a "closed" platform / [[Proprietary software\|proprietary format]]. [[SanDisk]], the rightsholders for U3, ask for a 5% royalty from USB flash drive manufacturers who wish to implement the platform on their products. Line 126 ⟶ 131: ;Two drive letters: As a work-around to the lack of Auto-Play for Flash drives on older versions of Windows, the U3 software creates two drive letters (one which presents itself as a CD to allow Windows' auto-play to start the launcher, and another for storing user data). Although this is the only way to implement auto-start functionality on pre-Windows XP systems, it could be considered a [[kludge]], and the extra drive letter created can be an annoyance. However, it is possible to prevent Windows from allocating a drive letter for the "CD drive" via the Windows "Disk Management" tool—as long as the user has the appropriate rights/authority to do so. ;Incompatibility with certain embedded systems: Some host ~~systems – such~~systems—such as photo kiosks, consumer electronics, and other [[embedded computing]] ~~devices – cannot~~devices—cannot correctly mount U3 "smart drives." The problem may arise because the emulated CD-ROM is the first drive presented to the host system. As such, the device is detected as a CD-ROM drive or not at all. Although some newer photo kiosks are U3 aware<ref>{{cite web \| url=http://www.everythingusb.com/u3c-15358.html \| title=U3 Drives Finally Get Along with Photo Kiosks Line 132 ⟶ 137: \| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024044540/http://www.everythingusb.com/u3c-15358.html \| archivedate=2008-10-24 \| ~~deadurl~~url-status=~~yes~~dead}}</ref> and can overcome this limitation, it still exists on many platforms. == See also == Line 150 ⟶ 155: == External links == * {{Official website\|~~http~~https://u3kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5358/~/u3-launchpad-end-of-life-notice/}} * {{cite web \| url=~~http~~https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1861681,00.asp \| title=Full Preview - U3 Preview \| date=2005-09-21 Line 158 ⟶ 163: \| publisher=[[PC Magazine]]}} * [http://u3-tool.sourceforge.net u3-tool], open source u3 managing tool * [http://sourceforge.net/projects/u3flash U3Flash], open source GUI u3 flasher [[Category:USB]]