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Reformatting Flash Drive & U3 partition
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
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I've been dealing with this annoyance for some time:
Every flash drive I buy has this U3 partition that OS X can't erase/reformat.
It annoys me to no end, as that is my space that I want back. Not to mention having two volumes mounting everytime I use it. A general google revealed lots of useless info and no solutions, so I figured I try here.
Anyone have any tips on getting rid of this PC annoyance?
Thanks!
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"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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Look here for a Windows app that removes the "U3 Launchpad" and gives you back that space. Hopefully you have access to a Windows machine to use to get this done...
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by ghporter
Look here for a Windows app that removes the "U3 Launchpad" and gives you back that space. Hopefully you have access to a Windows machine to use to get this done...
Thanks, I guess I have to get to a PC. I don't have one.
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"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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Statistically speaking, you almost certainly know someone who'll let you use their Windows machine for five minutes. Ask around.
I've posted a support request at the U3 web site asking whether they're ever going to offer a Mac uninstaller. I'll post what they have to say.
Frankly the whole U3 thing escapes me. There are "portable" apps that do everything the U3 apps do, without mounting some stupid "launchpad" to start them, and many of them are available for a number of platforms too. With a 4GB flash drive and these portable apps, I could be quite independent of almost all fixed computers or platform selections.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by osiris
Every flash drive I buy has this U3 partition that OS X can't erase/reformat.
I am curious: how do you manage to keep buying U3 flash drives? There are loads of manufacturers and models of flash drives on the market; only a small subset of them are designed for U3 applications.
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Sell or send me your vintage Mac things if you don't want them.
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
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Ah, been meaning to do a search to find out how to get rid of this thing. Thanks for reading my mind.
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Originally Posted by shifuimam
I am curious: how do you manage to keep buying U3 flash drives? There are loads of manufacturers and models of flash drives on the market; only a small subset of them are designed for U3 applications.
Does every store that sells flash drives carry every make and model? There are plenty of places where it's big business to push "the newest thing." That often means not even shelving other products. Cut him some slack, ok?
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by ghporter
Does every store that sells flash drives carry every make and model? There are plenty of places where it's big business to push "the newest thing." That often means not even shelving other products. Cut him some slack, ok?
I wasn't attacking him. All I'm saying is that you have to really try in order to get flash drives that are all U3-enabled. U3 costs more. It's a small subset of the market. Anywhere (from Wal-Mart to Fry's to overpriced local shops) is going to have at least regular flash drives - U3 would be what I wouldn't expect to find in every store that carries flash drives.
I just found it interesting that the OP had exclusively bought U3-enabled drives, when he appeared to never have intended to do so.
Sorry.
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Sell or send me your vintage Mac things if you don't want them.
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Baninated
Join Date: Feb 2007
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My take is this: If you buy something that has features you are unaware of because you did not pay attention to the product label or did not read the user manual, you really have no right to complain about it.
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by shifuimam
I am curious: how do you manage to keep buying U3 flash drives? There are loads of manufacturers and models of flash drives on the market; only a small subset of them are designed for U3 applications.
Good question - my company buys these en masse, so I didn't have a choice.
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"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
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Originally Posted by greene_hornette
My take is this: If you buy something that has features you are unaware of because you did not pay attention to the product label or did not read the user manual, you really have no right to complain about it.
Kiss my ass nooooob. I had no choice.
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"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
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So the PC utility works. Make sure you backup your data, cause it will erase the entire drive.
I installed Dasboot, and now have a decent bootable drive that mounts ONE volume. Yeah!!
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"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
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Addicted to MacNN
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Originally Posted by -Q-
Ah, been meaning to do a search to find out how to get rid of this thing. Thanks for reading my mind.
Every searched yielded a PC solution, it's quite sad.
I'm surprised Disk Utility couldn't erase it, but I know nothing of this U3.
I wonder how U2 feels about this.
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"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
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Baninated
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Originally Posted by osiris
Kiss my ass nooooob. I had no choice.
Dream on, geek boy! You are sooooo clueless.......
* your asinine juvenile insult/post has been reported - don't be such a jackass!
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2 weeks ago, Best Buy had 4GB SanDisk Cruzer Micros for $39. Very good deal. Included the stupid U3 software. Fortunately I also have a PC to remove it.
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