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U3 Basics en default 2009-07-19 14:16:00 +0200 2009-07-22 20:46:36 +0200 false
know-how
software
windows
u3

U3 USB Stick

The U3 capable stick will emulate 2 devices: a virtual CD-ROM drive and the actual flash disk. The virtual CD drive contains the LaunchPad software manager and it is on this extra area to let it be automatically run by Windows (as Autorun from USB flash disks doesn't work correctly). Another advantage is that you can't easily/accidentally erase the LaunchPad.

The flash disk contains your U3 programs, their settings as well as anything else you put on it. It should be FAT32 formatted, although NTFS also works. But the latter one might make properly ejecting the drive harder. I had problems with Windows blocking the drive not allowing me to properly eject it.

U3 LaunchPad

The LaunchPad manages the installed U3 packages and provides a simple launcher for them. It uses the files below the hidden System directory on your stick. It reads the manifest.u3i files from your packages and does the necessary steps to run the programs you clicked. It also makes sure that all your U3 programs are properly shut down when clicking the Eject button or removing the U3 drive (In the latter case, most programs will lose their changes.)

U3 Packages (U3P)

U3 applications come in *.u3p files which are mostly wrapped in an *.exe-installer. The installer decompresses the u3p-file and then calls the installation routine of the U3 LaunchPad. This is how you get new programs onto your U3 drive. All installed U3 packages are kept in their original form below the System directory on your U3 drive.

Such a u3p-file is an ordinary ZIP archive. The main contents of a package look like this:

  • 📂 data (directory, optional)
    • 📄 ... --- various data files, settings, etc.
  • 📂 exec (directory, optional)
    • 📄 ... --- program files to be executed directly on stick
  • 📂 host (directory)
    • 📄 ... --- various program files to be copied to HDD and run from there
  • 📂 manifest (directory)
    • 📄 ....ico --- package icon
    • 📄 manifest.u3i --- package description and macros