[SOLVED] U3 LAUNCHPAD "LINUX" based removal tool

crjbastien · 01-16-2014, 09:18 AM

HI there !

I have a number of U3 "SMART" flash drives loaded with "LAUNCHPAD" for Windows. I'm a converted LINUX user (presently running Linux "OLIVIA" MINT-15 (YEAH!!! (thx NIXIE)). I no longer have access to a windows platform in order to re-format these flash drives.

I would like to load these USB devices for use with various LINUX distros for personal education and experimentation.

I have been searching for a LINUX based tool (script or whatrever) I could run on my laptop to completly re-format these USB devices including any and all hidden files. I did try GParted and got fustrated trying to find a way to have the device recognized ... to no avail!

I'm amazed that I have had no/no success in finding a simple "LINUX based" program that could do this while surfing the WEB. Most of the sites seem to only provide the standard WINDOWS based sol'n.

Either, 1-the solution is too simple for (experienced) linux users to bother with writing a simple script or program
2- that there is no other simple solution other than run a WINDOW platform .

Did I miss something ? I did try to find the U3 Removal tool from the www.U3.com but the tool is no longer available ??? Surely the tool should be archived somewhere on the internet.(I would have tried to use WINE to run the LAUNCHPAD Removal Tool)

Any suggestion? (did search uTube, but most if not all tutorials are WINDOWS based. AARG!

Thx to the community,in advance, for any help

CB

TB0ne · 01-16-2014, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crjbastien

HI there !
I have a number of U3 "SMART" flash drives loaded with "LAUNCHPAD" for Windows. I'm a converted LINUX user (presently running Linux "OLIVIA" MINT-15 (YEAH!!! (thx NIXIE)). I no longer have access to a windows platform in order to re-format these flash drives.

I would like to load these USB devices for use with various LINUX distros for personal education and experimentation. I have been searching for a LINUX based tool (script or whatrever) I could run on my laptop to completly re-format these USB devices including any and all hidden files. I did try GParted and got fustrated trying to find a way to have the device recognized ... to no avail!

I'm amazed that I have had no/no success in finding a simple "LINUX based" program that could do this while surfing the WEB. Most of the sites seem to only provide the standard WINDOWS based sol'n.

Either, 1-the solution is too simple for (experienced) linux users to bother with writing a simple script or program
2- that there is no other simple solution other than run a WINDOW platform .

Did I miss something ? I did try to find the U3 Removal tool from the www.U3.com but the tool is no longer available ??? Surely the tool should be archived somewhere on the internet.(I would have tried to use WINE to run the LAUNCHPAD Removal Tool)

Any suggestion? (did search uTube, but most if not all tutorials are WINDOWS based. AARG! Thx to the community,in advance, for any help

You didn't miss anything...this has been covered here MANY times in the past. The only way to remove U3 is to use a Windows system to do it.

rokytnji · 01-16-2014, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Did I miss something ? I did try to find the U3 Removal tool from the www.U3.com but the tool is no longer available ??? Surely the tool should be archived somewhere on the internet.(I would have tried to use WINE to run the LAUNCHPAD Removal Tool)

http://www.4shared.com/folder/WhIYm8...isk_16_GB.html

Quote:

launchpadremoval.exe

.exe stands for Windows. I borrow the wife's gear for Windows tasks till I finally
inherited her old Windows Vista gear.

Edit: forgot to mention. Sandisk put that firmware on there as read only. Try changing a read only file system in linux and you'll maybe
understand where I am coming from.

thorkelljarl · 01-16-2014, 10:17 AM

No way around a removal utility...

Yes, trying to format the USB stick to remove U3 won’t help.

There is a tool for linux, but if that doesn't work you can try the .exe utility with WINE

http://sourceforge.net/projects/u3-tool/