U3 Smart Launchpad 1.6.1.2 - Brands compatibility

[Valeria Zysman]

Some days ago I was complaining about the new U3 Smart Launchpad version (1.6.1.2) because I thought it was only compatible for SanDisk U3 Smart flash drives. Well, I was wrong and Rinatz was right. You'll see: I have a Kingston U3 Smart flash drive and even the same built-in Launchpad said that there is a new version when trying to update from Launchpad I got an error version.

So, as Rinatz suggested, I downloaded the installer and tried to update the Launchpad manually. When installing you have two options: back up all the stored data or reformatting and clear all (install only the new Launchpad).

I first tried the back up and update option, but I got another error message. So I made a manual back up (I stored all my data in a DVD-ROM, write down what programs I have installed, backed up my settings or stuffs (for instance my Mozilla Firefox bookmarks, write down my add-ons to reinstall them later, etc) and then I selected to reformatting my U3 Smart flash drive.

And it worked! I'm running the U3 Smart Launchpad 1.6.1.2 from my Kingston flash drive!

Anyway, I consider important to tell some items:
■ "Kingston" brand was replaced for "SanDisk" (the U3 Smart Launchpad graphic design between both are different). In other words, your U3 Smart flash drive will become a SanDisk U3 Smart flash drive, no matter what brand is it really.
■ There is a red button down top right (above the taskbar's notifications area) which do the same thing that clicking on the U3 logo. It appears permanently with your desktop, but you can disable.
■ One new "option" in the Launchpad is a direct link to download (for free or purchase) games from Big Fish Games.
■ One annoying thing: now when inserting the flash drive a pop up window opens my storage unit. I don't like this and as far as I know, I can't disable this. If someone knows how to, please, tell me!
■ One new feature for beginners is a kind of downloading & installing manager, which allows you to download and install some preselected programs for your U3 Smart flash drive.

I invite every single user that have a non-SanDisk U3 Smart flash drive to back up all your data manually and try reformatting the unit to update to 1.6.1.2. Please add your U3 Smart flash drive brand to your comment.

Thanks in advance.

=== This e-mail is dedicated to Rinatz for his/her infinite patient. :) ===
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Valeria Zysman

El camino hacia la felicidad:
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html
No era tan difícil encontrarlo, después de todo...
Mozilla Firefox 3.1: disponible en enero de 2009.

[Robert Elliott]

I to found that other brands can be converted as well. When doing an update I was prompted with a list of u3 drives that was on my system as well.  I happened to pick the wrong drive and it was converted as well.

Since I have 8 u3 drives on the system at one time I have defined them with fixed drive letters. It makes them easier to use.

Dr Bob
Robert Elliott PH.d

[Valeria Zysman]

Several weeks ago thanks to Paula, I remembered something to complain about.

You'll see, when the U3.com web site released the Launchpad 1.6.1.2 installer file for the first time I downloaded and could update a Kingston DataTraveler U3 Smart flash drive as you can read above. But then it seemed the installer file only worked with SanDisk U3 Smart flash drives only. Why?

Well, I have the answer. The first time they published the Launchpad 1.6.1.2 installer file it was actually the version 1.0.2.34 (which updates any U3 Smart flash drive brand, be SanDisk or not). The current version of the Launchpad 1.6.1.2 installer file available at U3.com is 1.0.2.36 which works with SanDisk U3 Smart flash drives only.

So, if you have an U3 Smart flash drive with an old Launchpad version (no matter your flash drive's brand) you can update it with the original 1.0.2.34 installer file.

Download the U3 Smart Launchpad 1.6.1.2 Installer 1.0.2.34

First remember to back up your important files and folders (read previous posts).
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·•■█ Valeria Zysman █■•·