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Sometimes I have problems with this function and when I connect my kingstone to pc and run autoplay in the window doesn't compare "open with start portable apps"!
I've tried a lot of times to reinstall the software also the updated release but without success.
Does anybody know the solution?
Thanks
Microsoft has disabled it in Windows 7 and Vista from the start, and recently (a month ago) via an update in XP.
Thanks for this answer, Chris, a lot!
another thing Chris, do yoy know which update was responsible to disable the autorun for xp?
Thank you very much!
Obrigado!
From the article cited by kAlug:
"Some USB flash drives have firmware that present these USB flash drives as CD drives when you insert them into computers. These USB flash drives are not affected by this update."
Does someone have an example of hardware that will work like this? Is this something to consider with my next purchase of a USB flash drive?
It presents itself to the PC as a USB hub, a CDROM drive and a flash drive. Some net cafe, library and photo printer at the drug store PCs don't play nicely with them and won't be able to read them.
Plus, for your own PC, you can just install the autorun utility.
Any U3 enabled drive has this kind of hardware. unfortunately i Dont think that these devices are available in stores any more, but you can find them on eBay. and yes you can remove the U3 software from the drive and reprogram it to autorun the PA.c Platform when it is inserted in a computer.
Speaking of....there are several places where you can find the info to redo the U3 devices, but would any one want the info posted all in one place?
Actually, I have three older SanDisk Cruzer Micro 2 G sticks which came with U3 installed, with nothing on them that I want to keep permanently. So, I would be very grateful if you could consolidate the info on what it takes to "reprogram" them.
Also, after doing so, would I be able to plug them in and use them in places like libraries and school computers, or would I run into the kinds of problems that John mentioned?
ok, so as soon as i can (maybe tonight, prolly tomarrow) i shall post on the u3 to PA.C change. as for the library/school issue...it depends on how locked up there osses are. the only place i have ever run into issues with u3 drives is at a photo kiosk.
You can have the best of both worlds, read this thread:
now most of the comments there state that u3 is dead(true, sandisk said it reached eol) and i believe there are a few posts that state the u3 is also bloated(very true being as it takes u3 nearly one miniute to load where as PA.c takes only a few seconds) so having the best of both worlds would only work if there was still some good in U3....which i dont believe there is. that is why i did what i did to my drive...wiped it of all the U3 software and basicly let PA.c run my drive.
I run very few of the U3 apps but I do use and like to have it's security functionality. It's not perfect but if someone finds my U3 USB stick they aren't going to plug it into the nearest PC and access my data or format it for their own data without a fight. 
Each to his own.
here are the instructions on how to redo your u3 device https://portableapps.com/node/27625
Thanks for putting that together, and the instructions look pretty complete at first glance.
Having looked at all the steps involved, I'll have to admit I may not be tackling this immediately. Right now, I have some health problems that are affecting mental concentration, so I've got a pretty long "todo" list.
Let me see if I've got this straight; correct me if I'm wrong:
*I could just format the stick to use a single drive letter, but then I wouldn't have the autostart.
*As I understand it, following those instructions, the drive would use two drive letters, but what I would gain is the autostart capability.
*Would it be correct to say that, by simply removing U3 and formatting the drive as a single FAT32 partition, the drive might be more accessible in some computers that might balk at a re-programmed U3 drive?
Thanks again, and I hope your instructions help other people as well!
If your use the U3 function to uninstall U3 it reformats the drive so you don't have to.
BTW The U3 uninstall is an option in the U3 Launchpad Settings menu. No need to download anything.
Yes, that would be simple. As I understand it, that would leave me with a USB stick with a "normal" FAT32 partition, right? My understanding is that I'd need to follow alysher's instructions in order to have the autorun functionality on machines with the latest Windows updates.
you would still have some autorun functionality if you format the u3 device so that it functions like a regular usb stick, unfortunately the autorun window that pops up woulnt have the "start portableapps" in the list...you would have to navigate to your usb stick and manually start portable apps.
Keeping the CD-ROM part of your U3 Device allows you to add a program that autostarts the PA.c Platform. nice for those computers that you cant browse for your device, or for those that have stopped the autorun window from showing up.
as for getting it straight, all your points are correct with only one minor correction, and that is that a U3 device is setup as 2 drives when you first get it. now it is also true that removing u3 would allow you to use it in places that dont recognize what the u3 is, but i honestly believe that the only places that wouldn't be able to access both parts of the device would be a photo kiosk or something similar. the only place you *MIGHT* run into trouble is at a wal-mart or something similar because their photo centers are designed for only picture printing.
now as for making your u3 a single partition; yes the normal U3 software is the best option for removing the "CD-ROM" partition, but you would also loose the autostart functionality that a "CD-ROM" partition allows you to have, like autoruning the PA.c Platform
Thanks. I think I'm starting to understand. One more question:
I also have a 16 G Cruzer micro that I forgot to mention before, that's slightly newer. On that one, I had some simple option to "turn off" the U3, and that's the way I have it right now, so that it's only showing one drive letter when it's plugged in. Does that mean the CD-ROM part is still there, but hidden, and still taking up the same space? IOW, I didn't free up any more space when I disabled U3?
If it's a U3 Drive, and you "Disabled" the U3 LaunchPad, then it's still there, still taking up space, and still appearing as 2 devices in "My Computer" (1 "CD" drive, 1 "USB Mass Storage Device").
However, if you "Uninstalled" the U3 LaunchPad, then it's gone, it's not taking up any space, and the device is appearing in "My Computer" as one single "USB Mass Storage Device" (that's probably about 6-8 MB bigger than it was before)
Must be uninstalled in my case. Only one drive letter gets assigned, and there's no CD icon. Thanks for explaining.
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