Question

Delete AutoRun CD-ROM from Generic USB Stick

Asked by: RGNCMExpert

I see from this post ( http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Misc/Q_21529419.html ) that you can create an autorun USB Memory Stick...

I have the opposite question:

How do I remove the AutoRun CD-ROM 'Partition' from a generic USB memory stick -

The software on the autorun partition causes my computer to BSD when I remove the stick, plus it takes up 8M of the total stick memory.

The Stick shows up as 2 separate drives when plugged in to the computer -

1 CD ROM and 1 normal removable disk.

the software on the CD partition is from AlcorMicro.

I have already tried to low-level format the stick, but only the 2nd partition is affected.

Any help would be appreciated.

Ken

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Asked On
2007-10-30 at 07:41:06ID22926994
Tags

usb

,

autorun

,

partition

,

stick

,

delete

Topics

Removable Backup Media

,

Disk Partition Tools

,

Hard Drives & Storage

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: ubigPosted on 2007-10-30 at 08:09:04ID: 20177878

I think that drive has hidden partition. Try to use windows utility diskpart.exe:
c:> diskpart
> list volume
> select volume X
> delete volume
> exit
Make sure X is correct volume number :) Never tried it myself on removable drive, would be interesting if it worked out.

 

by: RGNCMExpertPosted on 2007-10-30 at 08:24:37ID: 20178039

Tried diskpart --- It does nothing to the partition.

I tried linux too... no luck.

It seems to need some special piece of software to manipulate the disk

K

 

by: ubigPosted on 2007-10-30 at 08:28:41ID: 20178090

What did you get after typing "list volume" ?

 

by: RGNCMExpertPosted on 2007-10-30 at 09:19:21ID: 20178635

It showed 3 volumes.
0 was the USB CDROM I want to remove
1 was the IDE hard drive
2 was the normal USB partition

it would not let me do anything to the 0 partition

K

 

by: ubigPosted on 2007-10-30 at 11:45:42ID: 20179842

Try to check with the manufacturer or distributor. At least Sandisk lets to download uninstall utility.

 

by: RGNCMExpertPosted on 2007-10-30 at 12:44:36ID: 20180465

yea. I know... this is a generic stick that another vendor put their marketing materials on, and distributed them to customers...

But the software on the stick is badly written, and it BSDs windows (--- yes, i know - I have an Ubuntu box that is fine with it)

any other ideas?

K

 

by: ubigPosted on 2007-10-30 at 12:57:57ID: 20180590

Nope :(

 

by: RGNCMExpertPosted on 2007-11-01 at 10:35:08ID: 20194922

OK. thanks for the try.

I'll leave this open for a little while longer to see if anyone else has any ideas

K

 

by: PetRosePosted on 2007-12-07 at 13:02:08ID: 20430830

Yes, I agree it seems like a specially written 'Smart App' has been designed.
Your USB is probably supplied from this vendor: AlcorMicro
See their Aug. 2003 News Flash, introducing this device:
            http://www.alcormicro.com/news_detail.php?news_id=6
I quote from here:
This feature enables a CD-less USB Flash Disk because a Smart software application is embedded into the Flash Disk during production in order to partition and lock the Flash Disk."
That application, according to my version of the very same USB device, is: smartap.exe
It will be extracted during autorun, onto your (Wintel): C:\Documents ...\<user>\<templates>\AlcorDemo
folder, apparently by the autorunned loaderW.exe (maybe different, on other OS'es).
No matter what you do, the application gets installed every time you stick it inside your usb-port and you will get the Flashed application (not coming from the USB drive) started no matter what (unless Autorun is disabled). I guess, to circumvent this, you must flash the ROM in the USB device OR write en emulator that can simulate in the 'host' as smartapp.exe, but without doing anything but simulate.

 

by: PetRosePosted on 2007-12-07 at 14:18:08ID: 20431460

Hi its me again, I have researched a bit, and posted something here (to the article you refer to in beginning), which might point you in the right direction:
   http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Misc/Q_21529419.html#discussion
and also look here too, especially if your device is a USB U3 device:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U3

 

by: RGNCMExpertPosted on 2008-08-07 at 18:37:20ID: 31408456

Thanks... The bad news is that the USB stick in question died... so the point is moot... K

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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