I could be carrying artifacts of this device on my system for years, and I wouldn't even know it. Although I can not technically call this software spyware, I can call it frustrating, aggravating, and EVIL. It wasted my time not only researching this nasty behavior and how to clean up my system after this appliance touched it, but also the time it takes to return this evil device to the vendor.

If you read carefully comments with low rating, you'll notice that users are unsatisfied because they don't know how to use it. Example 1: "It's useless because U3 doesn't work on my Mac." - Of course it doesn't work on a mac.

if you see a u3 Cruzer drive listed with a yellow icon on it, right click and select uninstall, then stick the drive back in the computer, go through the windows installation wizard. It will fail to find a driver, then there should be an option for windows to find a solution, follow that, a website should open with a link, follow that. I wish I could be more help but I clicked through all this too fast and I can't find the page anymore.

This product lasted eight months, and then no computer could read it. One day, I heard a hiccup when I pushed the latch that slides out the USB connection, and that was the end. I would recommend that you opt for a flash drive without manually-driven, moving parts.

I've had no problems with reliability or anything like that, which is why it gets 2 stars instead of 1. The problem is that I use a Mac, and the U3 system is useless on Macs. It is also not removable, even by reformatting the drive.

As for me, uninstalled U3 by following the link in the sofware and visited the site at http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1415. After that I use PGP to encrypt my files. The free version of PGP does not work with Vista but I'm using XP.

Initially couldn't get this drive to work in Vista. I have the 2gb version which worked fine, but the 4gb wouldn't work. I called tech support and they said wait for a vista driver.

It's very annoying that when I plug it into a computer it automatically tries to pretend that there's a CD there, and Windows computers sometimes give pop-up messages about it. I thought I could use this drive as a plain-old flash drive, but the fact that the U3 feature cannot be turned off or removed is an enormous pain. I'm probably going to buy a different one, and I would recommend against buying this drive, at least until SanDisk makes it possible to remove the U3 system.

It immediately started the "update," but the status said "formatting drive." I tried to not freak out. Surely they would not be deleting all of my data with no warning? Surely they could not be reformatting the drive?

3. An uninstaller downloaded from the SanDisk web site similarly does not work. Perhaps it works on some systems, but it did not work on mine.

I have never liked it because it installs software on my computer without my permission (is that legal?). I usually have other copies of the data on my thumb drive, but recently a hard drive failed at work so I used my SanDisk thumb drive to back up some important data.

My firewall stopped it, but the question is, WHY would any flash drive try to access the web? I have confidential data.

Example 3: "It sux 'cause it hangs my brand new Vista" - It's not the drive, it's U3 software. And further, it's not U3, it's Vista.

I've been using it for 3 months since December 2007 without any problem. There are somethings you should know to make it work well. 1.

It claims you can unstall the adware, but the uninstaller does not work. If you delete all the files, they magically reappear every time you put the device in the port. (This is a SPYWARE technique, and it is EVIL.)

I have several other flash drives and they all work fine on all machines. Risk it if you want, but there are better, cheaper, faster drives that won't give you headaches like this one. Sandisk just lost a customer and is now on my list of companies that owe me a few hours of my life back.

All of the folks complaining of system freezes and reboots when using this drive are true. It seems to be erratic though so some users have no issues. I have 4 PC's and 2 Mac's in the house.

And get this, they are "partnering" with LC Technologies to offer a "discount" on data recovery. They even have a big link with a special discount code on the Support page for this thumb drive (but no warning about having your data hosed if you install the update). I'll bet you that they are getting a kickback from LC Technologies for sending so much business their way.

- (U3 S0ftware) It has preinstalled software on it. luckily you can delete it or use the software from the sansa website to remove it but I left it cuz u can password protect the flash drive but if the U3 software's deleted the pasword won't matter anymore.

It's a windows and windows only app. Example 2: "It doesn't make ALL (or any) software work on other computers"

I could be carrying artifacts of this device on my system for years, and I wouldn't even know it. Although I can not technically call this software spyware, I can call it frustrating, aggravating, and EVIL. It wasted my time not only researching this nasty behavior and how to clean up my system after this appliance touched it, but also the time it takes to return this evil device to the vendor.

I have never liked it because it installs software on my computer without my permission (is that legal?). I usually have other copies of the data on my thumb drive, but recently a hard drive failed at work so I used my SanDisk thumb drive to back up some important data.

Example 3: "It sux 'cause it hangs my brand new Vista" - It's not the drive, it's U3 software. And further, it's not U3, it's Vista.

- (U3 S0ftware) It has preinstalled software on it. luckily you can delete it or use the software from the sansa website to remove it but I left it cuz u can password protect the flash drive but if the U3 software's deleted the pasword won't matter anymore.

It's a windows and windows only app. Example 2: "It doesn't make ALL (or any) software work on other computers"

No documenation warning you that unwanted software will be installed. No information about the installation, such as what registry keys were added, or where hidden files reside.

if you see a u3 Cruzer drive listed with a yellow icon on it, right click and select uninstall, then stick the drive back in the computer, go through the windows installation wizard. It will fail to find a driver, then there should be an option for windows to find a solution, follow that, a website should open with a link, follow that. I wish I could be more help but I clicked through all this too fast and I can't find the page anymore.

It's very annoying that when I plug it into a computer it automatically tries to pretend that there's a CD there, and windows computers sometimes give pop-up messages about it. I thought I could use this drive as a plain-old flash drive, but the fact that the U3 feature cannot be turned off or removed is an enormous pain. I'm probably going to buy a different one, and I would recommend against buying this drive, at least until SanDisk makes it possible to remove the U3 system.

It's a windows and windows only app. Example 2: "It doesn't make ALL (or any) software work on other computers"

But pretty much the same data took 8 minute to copy to my windows PC (reading data is usually much faster than writing for flash drives) and 18 minutes to transfer the data back from my windows PC. To be honest, this surprised me, since I always found OS X's USB support to be inferior and slower than windows. No, I didn't plug it into a USB1.1 port, since that would be much slower than I found, and it's not because the hard drive is any slower.

Thankfully, U3 doesn't work on OS X and Linux. One thing I find though, it's surprisingly slow on windows. I mainly use Macs and Linux, and I was able to transfer 3.5GB to it in 8 minutes using OS X (Leopard).

It immediately started the "update," but the status said "formatting drive." I tried to not freak out. Surely they would not be deleting all of my data with no warning? Surely they could not be reformatting the drive?

I have never liked it because it installs software on my computer without my permission (is that legal?). I usually have other copies of the data on my thumb drive, but recently a hard drive failed at work so I used my SanDisk thumb drive to back up some important data.

My firewall stopped it, but the question is, WHY would any flash drive try to access the web? I have confidential data.

And get this, they are "partnering" with LC Technologies to offer a "discount" on data recovery. They even have a big link with a special discount code on the Support page for this thumb drive (but no warning about having your data hosed if you install the update). I'll bet you that they are getting a kickback from LC Technologies for sending so much business their way.

But pretty much the same data took 8 minute to copy to my Windows PC (reading data is usually much faster than writing for flash drives) and 18 minutes to transfer the data back from my Windows PC. To be honest, this surprised me, since I always found OS X's USB support to be inferior and slower than Windows. No, I didn't plug it into a USB1.1 port, since that would be much slower than I found, and it's not because the hard drive is any slower.

Not only is SanDisk deliberately deleting data, and not taking responsibility, they are benefitting from it financially at well!

As for me, uninstalled U3 by following the link in the sofware and visited the site at http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1415. After that I use PGP to encrypt my files. The free version of PGP does not work with Vista but I'm using XP.

It claims you can unstall the adware, but the uninstaller does not work. If you delete all the files, they magically reappear every time you put the device in the port. (This is a SPYWARE technique, and it is EVIL.)

No documenation warning you that unwanted software will be installed. No information about the installation, such as what registry keys were added, or where hidden files reside.

Initially couldn't get this drive to work in Vista. I have the 2gb version which worked fine, but the 4gb wouldn't work. I called tech support and they said wait for a vista driver.

And get this, they are "partnering" with LC Technologies to offer a "discount" on data recovery. They even have a big link with a special discount code on the support page for this thumb drive (but no warning about having your data hosed if you install the update). I'll bet you that they are getting a kickback from LC Technologies for sending so much business their way.

But pretty much the same data took 8 minute to copy to my Windows PC (reading data is usually much faster than writing for flash drives) and 18 minutes to transfer the data back from my Windows PC. To be honest, this surprised me, since I always found OS X's USB support to be inferior and slower than Windows. No, I didn't plug it into a USB1.1 port, since that would be much slower than I found, and it's not because the hard drive is any slower.

if you see a u3 Cruzer drive listed with a yellow icon on it, right click and select uninstall, then stick the drive back in the computer, go through the windows installation wizard. It will fail to find a driver, then there should be an option for windows to find a solution, follow that, a website should open with a link, follow that. I wish I could be more help but I clicked through all this too fast and I can't find the page anymore.

This product lasted eight months, and then no computer could read it. One day, I heard a hiccup when I pushed the latch that slides out the USB connection, and that was the end. I would recommend that you opt for a flash drive without manually-driven, moving parts.

It's very annoying that when I plug it into a computer it automatically tries to pretend that there's a CD there, and Windows computers sometimes give pop-up messages about it. I thought I could use this drive as a plain-old flash drive, but the fact that the U3 feature cannot be turned off or removed is an enormous pain. I'm probably going to buy a different one, and I would recommend against buying this drive, at least until SanDisk makes it possible to remove the U3 system.

I have never liked it because it installs software on my computer without my permission (is that legal?). I usually have other copies of the data on my thumb drive, but recently a hard drive failed at work so I used my SanDisk thumb drive to back up some important data.

- (U3 S0ftware) It has preinstalled software on it. luckily you can delete it or use the software from the sansa website to remove it but I left it cuz u can password protect the flash drive but if the U3 software's deleted the pasword won't matter anymore.

Plenty of storage capacity plus it has optional password protection. But don't lose the password or else the entire contents of the drive must be erased to restore access.

I can carry my applications and all my work on this chip and can work with it on virtually any PC. The password protection is especially good in case it gets lost or stollen.

I used to use disk but the Flash Drive is small, I put it on my key chain, take it with me and show my pictures on other computers or on my own labtop. I save a lot of money since I don't print as many pictures as I use too. My laptop is 12 inches and light, I can take it any where put in my Flash Drive and show the pictures if someone wants a copy of a certain photo I just print it when I get home.

As for me, uninstalled U3 by following the link in the sofware and visited the site at http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1415. After that I use PGP to encrypt my files. The free version of PGP does not work with Vista but I'm using XP.

3. An uninstaller downloaded from the SanDisk web site similarly does not work. Perhaps it works on some systems, but it did not work on mine.