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My U3 drive won't start and I get this message...

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zontar
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My U3 drive won't start and I get this message...

"Failed to map a drive letter for the U3 smart drive. To release drive letters, disconnect a mounted volume that is displayed in the My Computer view, and insert your U3 smart drive again."

There are no mounted drives in My Computer, so I can't disconnect one.

When the drive is plugged in,after giving me this error message, Windows Explorer sees the small, 4 mb partition containing launchU3.exe",autorun.inf,and the Launchpad.zip compressed folder, but the other partition on the drive is not seen or shown. Since Windows sees this first, small partition as a CD-ROM drive, it doesn't allow me to do anything with it- it's invulnerable to deletion or modification of any kind it seems. Clicking on launchU3.exe gives me the above message again, of course.

Now.. I can't even uninstall the darn thing because I can't get Launchpad to open. Anyone able to help me here? I have not been able to find this problem addressed anywhere...

I just want to get rid of this U3 mess and use Portable Apps, the ones that work.

Ryan McCue
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What is happening is

That either something else is using the drive letters U3 wants or all available drive letters are used.
Do you have any external hard drives or anything that could be using all the letters?
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zontar
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I'm still stumped...

There is nothing connected to the computer, and I thought that drive letters were assigned as whatever is available.
The computer has A:, C: and D:, nothing else. When I insert my non-U3 drives they are assigned E:, then F: if I stick another one in.

Doug George

Tim Clark
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Is it your Computer?

Is this your computer or a work computer?
If a work computer, could your admins have put limitations on your adding drive letters. I've heard some people say they are only allowed to add one because of policy restrictions [as an example].

Anyway for a Sandisk go here:
http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1415

for other cases go here:
http://www.u3.com/uninstall/

except for the Sandisks U3 says this can't be undone.
So if you're sure ...

I have not heard anything about the Launchpad needing to be running to do the uninstall.

Tim

Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?

zontar
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Yes, it is a work computer...

but as I said before, the other flash drives that I stick in, sometimes two at a time, have no problem being recognized and being assigned letters. The difference, as I understand it, is that the U3 drive is recognized as a CD-ROM drive. So maybe this is the difference...

My employer has no problems with employees using flash drives, as we use them to take reports home to work on. Just like we used to use floppies. They like that.

Doug George

sergentsiler
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well if you want to uninstall the launchpad...

insert the u3 drive and wait for the comp to assign the launchpad as a cd, then right click on the cd and hit EXPLORE. then click the uninstaller, it sould be next to the launchpad file and another .exe file. that should get it done. if not, then delete all files then go into the my computer and right click on the drive itself (if it shows up) and hit format, this will turn your drive into a plain drive, no launchpad!!!!!. also if you just want to get into the launchpad to use it, there is a program that u3 offers at http://software.u3.com that will tell the comp what to assign the drive and it will auto start the launch pad. if the link above dosent work, go to www.u3.com and go to the DOWNLOAD U3 SOFTWARE tab at the top of the page, scroll down to the button that says GO TO U3 DOWNLOAD CENTRAL, then go to utilities and it should be there.

Zoop

OliverK
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U3 and sandisk

You can wipe your drive free of u3- just go to sandisk. Mine had it and I got rid of it. just bewarned, it leaves about 100Mb of stuff on your drive that you don't need.
(The folder is hidden, so you can delete it.)
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longhorn
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Taking this a step further...

I am currently also receiving this message. I have uninstalled the U3 software and the user is on a Vista machine. I have given her temp. admin rights through group policy, to no avail. I can take the same flash drive and plug it into another Vista machine (configured the same and also on the domain) and it works flawlessly. I can also use it with another Windows OS and it also works flawlessly. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Tigir
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Vista and U3 Launchpad

You need U3 Launchpad ver 1.4 to run with Vista. Please see support item.
Will the U3 Launchpad run on Windows Vista?
They also have links to OEM upgrades for U3 Launchpad if available.
Hope this helps.
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Sparks
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Thumb drive with U3 won't work on my computer

A new sandisk thumb drive with U3 simply will not work on my XP Dell. As soon as the drive is inserted in any USB 2.0 port, the computer locks up and nothing can be done with it. I get a message on the monitor "error 1010." But I can't find out what this means despite two days of trying and contact with Sandisk tech support. The drive with U3 works just fine on other, similar computers. I finally uninstalled the U3 software from the thumb
drive and then it works fine on my computer. What is it about the U3 software or my computer that causes this problem?
Just sign me perplexed.

sergentsiler
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my guess...

something is wrong with the computer, ie, vista was installed improperly, bad hardware/software. i would have an IT check it out(or whoever performes maitenence on your works comps).

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Zoop

Sparks
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U3 drive won't start

Thanks sergentsiler, but I have XP sp2 home computer and this problem is the only one I've encountered with it. Does anyone know what the error 1010 code means?

Simeon
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Just

Google it and you will find this.
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