Customer Reviews

SanDisk 1 GB Cruzer Micro ( SDCZ6-1024-A11, Retail Package)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

There is a quick and easy way to turn your disk back to a simple mountable drive. For Mac users, it will eliminate the additional folders and the annoying "Untitled" CD image popping every time you connect; For the PC users, it will eliminate the whole applications suite and control panel loading when connecting.

All you have to do is download the "U3 Launchpad Removal Tool" from the downloads section on SanDisk's site, and run it - it is quick and easy. Mac users note that this is a Windows app, so you'll need to do this from a PC.
Once you're done, the drive reverts back to a clean and simple disk-on-key. Note that the removal utility initializes the drive back to FAT16 (probably for compatibility reasons) but you can then go ahead and change it to FAT32 or any other format you like.

Enjoy

Starting grad school last year, i found that owning a USB key is as important as inhaling a cup of coffee in the morning. Without it, i'm disoriented and work definitely goes slower...

At the start, i had a 128kb key of a different brand and some of my friends had Cruzer Micros. I liked them instantly because of their tiny size and the option to add color savers so that they didn't get mixed up. This year, i decided it was seriously time to upgrade so i got the 1GB micro retractable cruzer. My thoughts? Mixed...

The size of this new cruzer is comparably small, maybe not AS small but still tiny compared to the rest, which is great. The 1GB space is also pretty great (esp after having a 128kb a year ago), and its not too expensive at all. The case design however leaves something to be desired, and the U3 program...? well first things first.

The old cruzer's case is silver with a seemingly sturdy design and a cap to top em off. This one, black with no cap but a retractable design seems a little flimsier than the last which isn't comforting when your important files are stored on it. But the retractable design is sweet because no worries of a lost cap. HOWEVER, the flaw in the retract-design is that there isn't ANYTHING that covers the usb port when its not in use. I assumed, before buying it online, that when you retracted into the not-in-use position, a small cover would flip from the inside and cover the opening so that dust, small particles, water or whatever couldn't get in easily. Not so. When retracted, the USB port is still visible and open to the elements. Not something i'm happy about since the point of a cap/cover is to protect from stuff, and the point of retraction is to not have to worry about the cap or cover. So really, the key point of retractable covers is missed.

Now onto the contentious U3 program. Do i love it or hate it? Neither - i don't really care about it. BUT, here's the thing, this USB key doesn't just go into my computer, it goes into other ones as well - and THOSE people HATE the program. In giving my micro to someone else to grab one of their files, it takes a minute longer than it should because it starts loading up the U3 program. People who don't own a micro freak out because this foreign thing is telling them they need to restart their computer for this new program (which they didn't ask for) which is trying to load up for the first time. Not a crowd pleaser.

So because a simple file transfer takes longer and because not everyone wants the U3 program loaded automatically onto their computer, i figured it'd be better just to uninstall it. Easy? Just as the above reviews said, not so much. So, i did a google search and found the official uninstall website: http://www.u3.com/uninstall/. Since then, this puppy has been ready to go the second i pop it into anyone's computer without any programs popping up demanding to be downloaded.

All in all, i don't like the U3 program but that site about got rid of it in a quick minute. I like the 1GB of space on a very small-sized USB key, but my new cruzer micro 'key' won't hang off a keychain anymore because its way too easy for the elements to enter the port thanks to the retractable-but-not-replacing-a-cap design of late.

After having an experience with slow startup speeds (and actually freezing a computer) with the 1GB Cruzer Micro with U3, I feel compelled to write this negative review. The mere existence of a software layer to access the flash drive defeats the main purpose of existence of flash drives: a fast and higlhly compatible interface. Any hidrance to this convenience makes the device a liability. I work at an educational institution wher I am responsibel for organizing presentation sessions in which speakers often bring their presentations in a flash drive. As a matter of policy, we will not allow speakers to plug in to our computers devices that run any kind of software in the background.

I was clicking onto this item with the intent to buy another (I already own one) when I saw people's often bad reviews of it and decided I'd leave my two cents so that prospective buyers can have a varied set of opinions.

First off: Most people complain about the included "U3 Software". Yes, it is slow to start up, but that is really the only downside. Don't get me wrong: the U3 business is completely useless except for one feature - the safe eject. Sure, it's nice to be able to rip your flash drive out of the computer and go, but on more than one occasion I've ended up with a corrupt file. The U3 system basically forces you to click "eject" in its menu before you can pull out the flash drive without the system scolding you. But this also assures that you won't have a corrupt file later on.
Many people are saying that the U3 system makes your computer vulnerable to trojan virus attacks and even that the U3 system itself contains viruses - this is completely unfounded. I don't even know how people come up with this stuff. The U3 system found in this flash drive is simply an added program that assures your files are kept organized and safe. Sure, it's entirely unnecessary, but it is in no way as bad a thing as some people make it sound.

Others say that you cannot use the drive until the U3 system launchpad has started up (which, admittedly, can take upwards of a minute or two). Again, this is untrue. Very often I will insert the drive into my USB port and click into "My Computer", select the flash drive icon, and begin transferring files even before the U3 system begins - it has never slowed me down.

Also, I've read people complaining about how the drive does not actually contain a full gigabyte of storage space. To this, all I have to say is that NO storage device, flash drive, hard drive, or otherwise, will have the full amount stated. There is ALWAYS some space taken for formatting, unless otherwise advertised. For example: My new 120GB hardrive actually only holds 108GB. This is simply common knowledge of computers. This flash drive is no different.

I've owned my SanDisk Cruzer Micro for four or five months now and have not once had a single error, corrupt file, or other nasty stuff. And, as a graphic design student, I use my flash drives several times a day - still, never an issue.

And on a side note, to those users on a Macintosh running OS-X 10.4, the OS completely ignores the U3 software and uses the drive perfectly. AND it can go back and forth from Mac to Windows perfectly without any conflicts.

Also, many people are complaining about the retractable USB head and having it breaking or loosening. Again, I don't know what these people are doing, but it's not true. I use mine every day and even play with it (fiddling with the push tab) all the time and it still feels as tight as the day I bought it.

As long as I'm on the topic of the drive's physical nature, I feel I might mention that the item's description of being "so compact that it doesn't block or interfere with other nearby USB ports", meaning that it isn't so wide that it inhibits anything being plugged in next to it, isn't exactly true. I've used this drive on several computers, both PC and Mac, and on systems with nearby USB ports, this drive does indeed shove other device plugs aside. Not enough to make you have to unplug something, but enough that the USB plug to something like a mouse will be slightly skewed to the side. In my experience, this in no way affects the connectability of the other device, but is still a minor annoyance.

To recap: don't listen to the bad reviews unless you've had trouble with SanDisk products in the past. I never have, and probably never will. This is a fine drive, and although the U3 software isn't practical and really is quite unneeded, it certainly isn't the nightmare others make it out to be. And as long as you take care of your drive (and even if you don't), it isn't going to just break and quit working on you. This drive is great for Windows PCs and/or OSX Macs.

I came here to buy another one, and that's what I'm going now to do.

I just bought the Sandisk Cruzer 1GB drive. Since I have only used it for about an hour, I have not had the hardware problems that some of the reviewers have mentioned. Problem is, it came with "U3" software, which auto-installed on my computer. As is outlined elsewhere on these posts, this adds a layer of software that I certainly DO NOT want involved in my flash drive usage. I went to the Sandisk web site, followed the directions to uninstall the U3, and the uninstall errored out!! Every time!!

[...]I now have an empty 1GB flash drive. Too bad it took me over an hour of grief to get to that point.

Beware!

While I don't mind the U3 software(It's actually the reason I got the drive.) I don't understand what's causing such the issue with the people that have this drive currently. If they spent more than 5 minutes with the drive (To go past the "Welcome to U3" crap) and opened the U3 program, went to "Status and Settings" then clicked on... (You have to be careful here. It's really hidden.) "Remove". Then choose "Uninstall" (It brings something about removing the U3 Launchpad and converting to a std mass storage drive)

Then again... I'd rather complain about such a simple process. Further, if you "patched" your device(In the "Check for updates" section of the settings panel.), it offers you the choice of having the Launchpad start automatically when you insert the device or not. And, as hard as I may try... I can't find anything that the U3 application installs on the local system after the USB device is pulled from its slot.

Besides the reviews, the device works GREAT! Wonderful transfer rates, slim casing, retractable plugin, and bright activity LED. (Could be used as a map light nearly!)

I bought this drive recently from CompUSA. I wanted to upgrade from my 512MB Cruzer. Well, I should have stuck with the 512MB until Sandisk came out with something better. Or I should have bought another manufacturer's flash drive, at a different store. What follows is a description of the SanDisk Cruzer Micro with U3, followed by a description of my interactions with CompUSA.

PROBLEMS WITH THE SANDISK CRUZER MICRO U3
My first issue was getting the Cruzer out of its ridiculous packaging. You have to cut and tear away at the hard plastic case before you can get inside. In doing this, I ended up ripping apart the bar code. There were other defects with the product (read below). But when I tried to bring it back to CompUSA, guess what they tell me? They won't give me a refund because the bar code is destroyed (more on that later)!!!

The first two or three times I used this drive, the slider worked fine. But after about five uses, the slider would no longer stay extended. Every time I inserted the drive into the USB port it retracted, making it impossible to get the drive in without holding it together with my fingers. This was enough of a reason to bring the unit back to CompUSA.

But there's more...

SanDisk has installed a software application called "U3" on the Cruzer 1GB Micro. This software loads automatically every time you insert the drive. It load very slowly, and you have to sit there looking at the U3 startup window. When U3 finally does start up, it takes you to another window which you have close to continue working.

But that's not all...

After you're done starting up the U3 application, you will see that it also installs an extra drive in Windows Explorer. You have the drive for the Cruzer itself, but there is another one that appears as a CD. It causes confusion every time you explore your computer, since you have to remember that this is for the Cruzer, and not an actual CD drive. There does not seem to be a single use for this extra drive, except to take up space and cause confusion.

But we're still not done...

When you want to eject the Cruzer, you MUST use the U3 application. You CANNOT use the Windows XP "Safely Remove Hardware" option. In fact, if you fail to use U3 to "eject" the Cruzer, you get an error message next time you insert it. This causes further confusion, since you can't tell if this was a real error or just a quirk.

We're not done yet...

You might think, "Well, I'll just delete the U3 application." Think again. If you manage to delete the U3 software, the Cruzer simply re-installs it next time you insert the drive, and you start all over again.

This is pure over-engineering. Why would the people at SanDisk take a simple concept and ruin it by adding this extra layer of complication? Like most users, I like to insert a flash drive and then access it. I don't want to run a whole application every time I insert the flash drive, and I certainly don't want it installing all sorts of applications on my computer. I'm just baffled by this. Are the engineers and programmers at SanDisk starving for something to do with their time?

Those of you who are only interested in reading about the Cruzer 1GB Micro can stop here. What comes next is a description of my interaction with CompUSA.

DEALING WITH COMPUSA
As I mentioned earlier, I tried to return this unit to CompUSA. I was in for some more fun. They would not take the drive back, because, as I mentioned earlier, the bar code was ripped when I was forced to tear apart the impossible plastic packaging that SanDisk uses for this drive.

The people at CompUSA outright refused to take the Cruzer back, telling me that because of the missing bar code they could not send it back to Sandisk. It didn't matter that I have been a loyal customer of CompUSA for years and have spent a lot of money at that store on computers, software, and accessories. They offered me no support at all. All they would offer me is the option of an even exchange. In other words, all I could do is get another one of these ridiculous things.

I took the exchange for a new drive from CompUSA. So far, the slider on the replacement unit works. But I still have to contend with the moronic U3 application.

My advice is to keep away from the Sandisk 1MB Cruzer. And certainly do not buy it from CompUSA.

Great Drive !!!!

Once you uninstall U3.

It eats up 8MB of drive space and, when running, 40MB of system memory. Thanks, but no thanks. Here's the utility to remove it on SanDisk Drives: [...]

One more thing: you might get an error saying it can't do it because it can only do one at a time. If you have a flash card reader on your system, whether it be internal or external, you either A) have to unplug the external or B)go into Device Manager and uninstall the "Removable Disks" individually. In Device Manager, they'll be labled as "USB Mass-Storage Device". Uninstall all but the last one - that's the Cruzer Micro. Don't worry, they'll come back with the same drive letters. When you reboot.

Hope that helps all in need so you can enjoy a really great, and fast, USB drive.

First, the best part about this drive is it's size and the retractable connector. Next, the storage space for the price is pretty good. I have had the 1GB drive for several months now, and just upgraded to the 2GB. The U3 software is very useful for me. Others obviously don't like it, and SanDisk does have a removal utility on their website.

The physical drive itself is well built. I work in a labor intensive warehouse with the Cruzer in my pocket attached to my keys all day. It doesn't get in my way, and it has stood up to quite a bit of jostling around. The retractable connector is great as I have broken one off in my pocket before.

U3 is pretty cool, too. You can install programs on the thumb drive that work just like they were installed on any computer. I have travelled the world and used Skype perfectly. Firefox also works well, and I have the Google Browser Sync installed on the U3 to keep it up-to-date with my home Firefox. Currently, not many programs are available that run on U3, particularly free ones. This is a downside I hope changes over time.

I would give the Micro Cruzer five stars, but as some other reviews have mentioned, the U3 software is a bit slow initially loading when you plug it in. It also does the flash drive and CD drive thing, but it isn't particularly annoying. After it has loaded, programs and file access are speedy and easy to use. Again, SanDisk does have a utility to remove all U3 functionality, but give it a try before uninstalling it!

My SanDisk with the blue/red/clear skins died not even two months from the day I purchased it. I need a thumbdrive while it's being RMAd so I went ahead and purchased this drive from Circuit City. I read the 2GB version reviews and there is nothing but complaints. However, all the complaints seem to revolve around one thing, the U3 software and how it installs itself every time you plug this drive into a computer. If you search the net hard enough, you'll find a tool that removes the U3 software completely. Yes, I know you cannot just format the drive nor can you delete the partition and repartition it in hopes of removing the U3 software. There is a special tool floating around that removes the U3 software completely. You're then left with a normal thumbdrive with no intrusive software trying to install itself everytime you plug it into someone's computer.

All in all I can say that this drive is decent. The size disappoints me and SanDisk really shouldn't have called this drive a "micro" as it's far from being micro in size. It's much bigger than the regular Cruzer Micros. I think this particular size would fall into the Cruzer Mini lineup of things. Anyway, I will have to wait and see if this drive will die within two months time or if it will outlast my previous drive.