Solved: Replace U3 menu with portable apps suite.

With this method you can replace your U3 Launcher with the Portable Apps Suite (or any program for that matter).

Using the LPInstaller with a custom iso isn"t new. However, the way I've implemented it is.

The executable (source included in the archive), doesn't just poll all removable drives, but only those with media inserted. This eliminates the unsightly "no disk in drive" error. In addition I've implemented the use of a custom ini file on the fat partition of the usb stick. This serves two purposes. First it allows for correct identification of your usb stick"s drive (in case you have other removable media inserted). Second it allows you to set any executible to be ran at startup, defaulted of course to "StartPortableApps.exe"

Instructions:
I have only tried this on U3 Sandisks, but it should work on any U3 stick.
1. Back up your USB files!!!! [This shouldn't format the FAT partition, but LPInstaller is funky sometimes.]
2. Unzip the package to a folder.
3. Run the LPInstaller. It"ll pick up the file "cruzer-autorun.iso" from the same dir and use it.
You"re not done yet!
4. Copy "what2start.ini" to the root of your FAT partition (the part of your usb stick you put files on)
5. In "what2start.ini" make sure the "name=" key is set to whatever program you want to run at startup. (by default it"s StartPortableApps.exe)
Done.

If you"re paranoid, or curious, the source code for the exe that does all the work is included in the zip; "runpapps_src.au3". Feel free to modify it or whatever, but since I wrote it from scratch, please give me credit somewhere.

Notes: All testing was done with U3 Sandisks. I have yet to try it on a newer U3 which works on Vista. Ergo, this implementation will probably not work in Vista. Can someone try it on a Vista compatible U3 and let me know if it works? Also since your hacking your usb stick, the usual fluff goes here, like I make no guarantees your USB won't burst into flames or your data won't ooze out of your stick, etc.

File Location: http://bizarrojob.com/files/DrChi_U3Hack.zip

Inspirations:
This is what prompted me to write this code;
1. I liked the new portable apps suite and wanted it to replace my U3 Launcher. http://portableapps.com/
2. An article in my latest 2600 inspired me to hack up my U3. http://dohboy.net/