2015-02-24 21:05:43 +00:00
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---
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title: U3 Basics
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language: en
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layout: default
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created: 2009-07-19 14:16:00 +0200
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updated: 2009-07-22 20:46:36 +0200
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toc: false
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tags:
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2015-03-06 23:49:45 +00:00
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- know-how
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2015-02-24 21:05:43 +00:00
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- software
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- windows
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- u3
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---
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U3 USB Stick
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============
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The U3 capable stick will emulate 2 devices: a virtual CD-ROM drive and the actual flash disk. The virtual CD drive
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contains the *LaunchPad* software manager and it is on this extra area to let it be automatically run by Windows (as
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Autorun from USB flash disks doesn't work correctly). Another advantage is that you can't easily/accidentally erase the
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LaunchPad.
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The flash disk contains your U3 programs, their settings as well as anything else you put on it. It should be FAT32
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formatted, although NTFS also works. But the latter one might make properly ejecting the drive harder. I had problems
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with Windows blocking the drive not allowing me to properly eject it.
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U3 LaunchPad
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============
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The *LaunchPad* manages the installed U3 packages and provides a simple launcher for them. It uses the files below the
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hidden `System` directory on your stick. It reads the `manifest.u3i` files from your packages and does the necessary
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steps to run the programs you clicked. It also makes sure that all your U3 programs are properly shut down when
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clicking the *Eject* button or removing the U3 drive (In the latter case, most programs will lose their changes.)
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U3 Packages (U3P)
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=================
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U3 applications come in `*.u3p` files which are mostly wrapped in an `*.exe`-installer. The installer decompresses the
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`u3p`-file and then calls the installation routine of the *U3 LaunchPad*. This is how you get new programs onto your U3
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drive. All installed U3 packages are kept in their original form below the `System` directory on your U3 drive.
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Such a `u3p`-file is an ordinary [ZIP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_(file_format)) archive. The main contents of
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a package look like this:
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* 📂 **`data`** (directory, optional)
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* 📄 `...` --- various data files, settings, etc.
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* 📂 **`exec`** (directory, optional)
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* 📄 `...` --- program files to be executed directly on stick
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* 📂 **`host`** (directory)
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* 📄 `...` --- various program files to be copied to HDD and run from there
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* 📂 **`manifest`** (directory)
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* 📄 `....ico` --- package icon
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* 📄 `manifest.u3i` --- package description and macros
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