Here are the two most frequent reasons that cause the U3 Launchpad not to run:

Software conflict: Some CD-ROM or DVD burning softwares conflict with the U3 Launchpad, causing it not to run. In some cases these software programs continuously attempt to access the U3 drive and cause the computer to slow down or freeze.

Programs known to conflict with the U3 Launchpad are listed below:

• B's Clip (from BHA)
• Data Add 2.0 (Ulead)
• DirectCD (from Adaptec/Roxio)
• InCD and Nero 7.0
• PacketCD (from CeQuadrat)
• RecordNow MAX, MyCD, PrimoCD, PrimoDVD and DLA (from Veritas)
• Write DVD! (from Software Architects)

If these programs are not essential for you, you may uninstall them. In some cases, you only need to uninstall a component of the program (e.g. the InCD component of Nero).

To uninstall the software program:

1. go to the Window Start menu.
2. Click on Control Panel
3. Click on Add or Remove Programs
4. Select the software program from the list
5. Click the Change/Remove button
6. Reboot your computer when the uninstall process has been completed.

If you find another program that causes a conflict with the U3 Launchpad and is not on the list above, please let us know by going to U3 User Help and clicking on "Ask U3 a question". Submit the name and the software vendor of the program.

Drive letter conflict with a network drive: Windows has a known problem with assigning drive letters to a removable storage device that is already used by a network drive.

When connected to a computer, a U3 drive is assigned two drive letters - one for the U3 System partition and one for the user data partition. If your computer has network drives connected and you can not find two drive letters assigned to your U3 smart drive, then it's possible that Windows has assigned a drive letter that is already used, To resolve this problem, disconnect the network drives. You can connect them again later and assign different drive letters to the network drives that do not conflict with the U3 smart drive.

If after trying these suggestions the U3 Launchpad still does not start, please use the U3 Launchpad Troubleshooter to resolve the issue.

To turn off the U3 Launchpad autorun click on Settings and then select U3 Launchpad Settings. In the U3 Launchpad Settings window click on the Autorun tab on the left and then click the Disable Autorun button.

If the U3 Launchpad version on your U3 smart drive does not support this feature you can upgrade to the latest version of the U3 Launchpad. Click here to learn how to check for updates to the U3 Launchpad.

If you do not want to upgrade the U3 Launchpad or the flash drive manufacturer does not provide an upgrade for your drive yet, you can use one of the following methods to disable the U3 Launchpad from autoruning:

1) Hold down the shift key while inserting the smart drive. Keep holding the shift key until Windows plays the sound which indicates that a USB device has started. Now you can use the U3 smart drive as a normal USB mass storage device. To start the Launchpad after suppressing it, open MY Computer and double-click LaunchU3.exe from your U3 smart drive.

2) To permanently disable the U3 Launchpad from autorunning you must edit the registry of your PC. Please refer to this Microsoft Knowledge Base article for instructions: KBID 155217. Please note that this will disable other programs to autorun from a CD-ROM (e.g. Installation programs that automatically run when you insert a CD-ROM in your computer).

Most U3 smart drives come with an uninstall utility that converts the U3 smart drive into a regular USB flash drive. This utility can be accessed from the U3 Launchpad. Open the U3 Launchpad and click on Settings, then select U3 Launchpad Settings and click on the Uninstall tab. Some devices have a link to the Uninstall utility under Help and Support.

If you can not find the uninstall utility on your U3 smart drive you can download it from the following locations:
SanDisk Devices
All Others.

The U3 Launchpad supports the following operating systems:

• Windows Vista (you need to have U3 Launchpad version 1.4 or higher. If you do not have version 1.4 of the U3 Launchpad click here to learn how to check for updates to the U3 Launchpad.
• Windows XP, all service packs
• Windows 2000, SP4

Mac OS, Linux, Unix and the older versions of Windows OS are not supported. On these systems your U3 smart drive will function as a regular USB flash drive

The U3 system software is pre-loaded to USB devices by the hardware manufacturer only and requires special flash drive controller. To enjoy the benefits of the U3 platform, you must buy a U3 smart drive, which is indicated by the U3 logo on the packaging and/or on the smart drive itself. You can find a list of U3 smart drives available from various manufacturers at http://www.u3.com/smartdrives/default.aspx

Only applications that are specifically developed for the U3 platform may be installed and run through the U3 Launchpad. You can browse and dwonload U3 smart applications from U3 Software Central. The list of U3 enabled applications available continues to grow steadily. The applications posted on U3 Software Central undergo testing and verification through our application certification program.

There are some software applications that can be installed and run from any removable storage like USB flash drives and portable hard drives. These applications are referred to as portable applications, because they do not depend on running from a particular PC. You can install these applications on your U3 smart drive and use them on any computer that runs an operating system supported by the particular application. You will not be able, however, to start these applications from the U3 Launchpad. You need to navigate to where you installed the application and double-click on it to run it. Before installing any non-U3 applicaiton on your U3 smart drive, check with the software vendor to ensure that the application is portable and will run properly from a portable storage device.

Please note that if you are using a portable, but non-U3 smart application, the U3 Launchpad will not ensure that the application shuts down properly on device eject and will not clean any temporary data this application might have saved on the host PC. The U3 Launchpad performs these steps only for U3 smart applications.

If there's an application you would like to see available for U3, we encourage you to contact the software developer directly and let them know about it. Also, please feel free to fill our survey form and recommend applications there. Please check back at U3 Software Central from time to time to see what's available, or sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on new software applications for the U3 platform.

To find out if an update is available for your U3 smart drive open the U3 Launchpad, select "Status and Settings", choose "U3 Launchpad Settings" and then click on the "Check for software updates" button.

If the U3 Launchpad installed on your drive, does not have a Check for software updates button, contact the U3 smart drive manufacturer or check their web site for updates.

You can check the version of the U3 Launchpad by opening the Launchpad menu and clicking "About U3 Drive".

The newer U3 Launchpad releases have added some important features and if you have an older version, it's recommended that you upgrade the U3 Launchpad on your drive. Some of the most notable features are:

U3 Launchpad version 1.6

• Bug Fix
• Support BigFish Games for U3
• Support Pelican Wizard for U3
• Support Titanium Plus Backup for U3
• Download U3 LP 1.6

• Support for the Vista operating system.

U3 Launchpad version 1.2

• Ability to disable the U3 Launchpad from autoruning when a drive is inserted.
• The U3 Launchpad will automatically notify you if there is an upgrade available.
• Support for Simplified Chinese.