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U3 apps on non U3 sticks?

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guestt
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U3 apps on non U3 sticks?

Is it possible to run U3 apps on other devices then U3 sticks (non u3 stick or harddisk)?

Ryan McCue
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Yep

The .u3p files are just zips.
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guestt
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Well, Thanks. But it

Well, Thanks. But it contains only .vpu, .ico.u3i... No executables.

I guess I need some software to start the .u3i?

Another problem is that there are ...setup.exe files from u3 websites aswell too. You can`t unpack them and if you execute the setup them complain that the u3 driver is not installed.

So, is there a 'ripped' u3 launcher which will run from harddisks and non u3 sticks?

SmithTech
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U3 changed things a

U3 changed things a bit.
They made a tool called U3P2EXE it creates a self extracting installer from the u3p file.
These can not be extracted manually that I am aware of.
You can run U3 apps on a non-u3 drive, but with the new installers you need a u3 drive to install them to first.
I've posted a "tutorial" on how to use Trillian U3 on a non-u3 drive HERE
The process would be similar for other u3 apps.
Keep in mind that not all u3 apps will work on a non-u3 drive.
AppSnapper is one example that won't work, it just hangs.

"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
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Tim Clark
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Not Often

It seems to me that this only works with programs that were "quickly" ported to U3

I think that with most U3 programs it is not this easy.
If you try this with Avast you will note the only .exe to be found in the host Dir is avu3_upd.exe and when clicked it does nothing (also I think the purpose of this file is to update the defs/sigs, not run the program. The rest of the files are in Data and there are no .exe files in that dir.

I recall having tried something like this in the past and have not gotten it to work

I don't use Trillen. Could you name a few other programs where you are fairly sure this will work.

Thanks in advance.

Tim
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guestt
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SmithTech, I don`t have any

SmithTech, I don`t have any u3 stick so I can`t follow your instructions.

Well... What is a u3? It`s a normal usb stick with the u3 software, nothing more or less.

Nobody got to execlude this software yet?

SmithTech
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Unfortunately with the new

Unfortunately with the new self extracting/installing exe's u3 is using the only way I know of is to install to a u3 drive first. Unless someone comes up with a way to extract the u3p file.
You could always spring for a cheap 20.00 U3 drive just to extractions.

"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
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SmithTech
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Don't know which will work

Don't know which will work and which won't, just have to try it and see.
Really depends on if the app is using a resource or link that is proprietary to U3.
I know I've tried it with several apps and it worked, just can't tell you off hand which ones as I don't use U3 since I found portable apps.
Trillian is the only one I really needed and couldn't find else where so I still use it.
Its not that time consuming to download and install it on a U3 drive and extract the u3p file.
I just tried it with maxthon browser (it was the first app listed) took me 5 min and it works.
I'm guessing that a lot of apps will work but utils like AV's that usually have to embed in the system will not.

"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)

Tim Clark
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Thanks

Thanks, I was thinking it was something like that.

By the way someone wanted me to point them to your instructions on how to make your own U3 Launchpad installer/updater (you put a link in another post, but I forget which one) but it no longer works. Is there a problem with providing this information now?

[ edit: it was http://usb.smithtech.us/u3/u3updater.htm ]

Thanks again

Tim
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SmithTech
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I rearranged the site and

I rearranged the site and changed the pages to php
You should get an error page that has the links on it.
But the new url is http://usb.smithtech.us/projects/autolauncher4u3.php

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Tim Clark
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Not quite that one.

It was the page:

http://usb.smithtech.us/projects/u3updater.php

that I meant, but I found a link to it on the page you provided.

Thanks

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

Ryan McCue
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Well

Universal Extractor should be able to open it.
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SmithTech
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I tried Universal Extractor,

I tried Universal Extractor, it says it can't be extracted.
Tried it on several of the U3 exe's.

"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)

SmithTech
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New tutorial, no need to own

New tutorial, no need to own a U3 drive anymore.
Instructions Here

For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know

"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
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SmithTech
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Curious, what U3 app is it

Curious, what U3 app is it you want to run on a non-u3 drive?

Don't complain if you bought a Hyundai and it doesn't perform like a Porsche

"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)

guestt
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avast

Thank`s for your interest to help me with "hacking" u3.

For example I want avast as portable. A free trial version can be downloaded here
http://software.u3.com/Product_Details.aspx?ProductId=35&Selection=7&Lan....

I can`t open the archive with 7zip/WinRar/UniversalExtractor and also can`t open it without u3 device.

SmithTech
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I doubt you will be able to

I doubt you will be able to get avast to work.
It is too tightly integrated in the U3 design, it relies on U3 variables and paths.
However I have tried several other apps and have gotten them to work, all you can really do is try.
WinRAR will extract the U3 exe's, you have to tell it to repair the archive first and then extract the repaired archive.
As an example you can look at the tutorial I did on making Trillian U3 portable on regular USB drives.
Trillian Portable Tutorial
Also if you don't want to install WinRAR, they recently release a beta of WinRAR Unplugged, its a portable version of winrar. Check their website for download link.

For those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know

"Because they stand on a wall and say, 'Nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch.'" (A Few Good Men)
Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.(Albert Einstein)

darkfader
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Just set U3 environment variables from NSI script?

I added some U3 environment variables to the NSI script and I can either start the Avast launcher or Avast scanner. But I couldn't get the launcher start the scanner yet.
Single example line for NSI:
System::Call 'Kernel32::SetEnvironmentVariableA(t, t) i("U3_DEVICE_PRODUCT", "U3 Cruzer Micro").r0'
The avu3_upd.exe is responsible for extracting the other executables to the "Application Data\u3" directory on your hard drive.
I found it takes parameter "/hostConfigure" or "/appStart".

guestt
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Well, I am using Gaim and

Well, I am using Gaim and Miranda but it was still fun to get trillian running.

I also think you are right. It won`t be easy to get avast running on non u3. There is simple to regular .exe... Trillian has a regular executable file.

It could work if someone would crack u3 or write an emulator. But I guess this won`t be legal anymore.

guestt
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I did think about a way to

I did think about a way to pwn u3. Them redistributed several open source programms such as firefox and gaim. Them need to publish the full source.

Don`t know if this incldues their u3 stuff but I think everything.

What do you think?

Aciago
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why?

Last Friday (July 21st) was the Veterinary's Day here in Venezuela, as a present, the Zoo where I work gave me half a day off and a U3 enabled 1Gb Sandisk's cruzer micro... I ran it immediately and test it, and I can say that the only stuff missed in PApps is the password protection of files and Apps... I'm sorry but the rest is just crab!

I also checked the U3 download page and googled for U3 software and I can say that there is no Software without a PApp equivalent. PApps are even more up to date and have a bigger amount of software options (more if you add PApps.com and Portablefreeware.com)... So, here is my question, and apologize me for this kind of personal questions, but... why do you need to run U3 software in a non U3 Drive?

PApps rules!!! Wink

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and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
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rjreid
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I guess he did it just to

I guess he did it just to see if he could do it.

If you don't like U3 don't use it. If you like PortableApps use it. Why do you post the same old tired rhetoric about how bad U3 is? It's like a little dysfunctional family that has to put others down in order to make themselves feel good.

Why not just be open-minded and accept the fact that there are other platforms in the world (i.e., Ceedo, MojoPac, U3, PortableApps, VMware); I use them all. Each has its positives and negatives. Just because it's not the one you like doesn't automatically mean it's crap. The market place will remove the bad all by itself.

Kevin Porter
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Please,

Please, we don't need that type of talk. He can have his opinions, and you can have yours. We don't need to be correcting each other about being open-minded. No offense :wink:.

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"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook

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