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MyPendrivePRO - Support & Tools
MyPendrivePRO support: support@mypendrive.org
MyPendrivePRO is easy to use and has an extended contextual help. This section offers in-deep informations regarding the use, the problem solving and other technical issues about
MyPendrivePRO, autorun.inf file and Windows
AutoStart/AutoPlay functions.
MyPendrivePRO INSTALLATION
Otherwise all similar software, MyPendrivePRO
must be installed on
your removable drive, not on the PC hard disk. This enables you to have all
its functions always with you.
During the installation process, you will be asked to choose the
installation directory: please select the main folder of your removable
drive
(example: E:\). Otherwise MyPendrivePRO
will not correctly run.
The setup program will not copy files in the PC hard disk, nor will modify
the system registry or other configuration files.
Some files will be copied in the hard disk only if you successively
activate the DriveAutostart function, but this
operation is transparent: the on-line help contains the list of these
files. This is necessary to have the DriveAutostart
function active at every PC reboot.
If you disable the DriveAutostart function, all
related files will be deleted from their locations, leaving no trace of
them.
Uninstall
MyPendrivePRO has not registry keys or files in system folders.
The uninstall
process is easy and will not leave traces:
1) Run MyPendriveUI, open the "Options" window and deactivate
DriveAutostart function;
2) quit the program;
3) delete from the removable drive "_MyPendrive" folder and the "Autorun.inf file".
4) disconnect an reconnect the drive.
DriveAutoStart FUNCTION
DriveAutoStart replaces the old UsbAutoStart
available with previous versions of MyPendrive; it is able to detect any type of
connected drive (not only USB).
In operating systems before Windows XP, the "Autorun" function on external drives was limited to Cd-rom; with Windows XP the Autostart function has been extended to removable drives but with a great limitation: when user connects an external drive, it's not possible to start a program
automatically without the user intervention (normally the operating system displays a menu with various possible choices - open a folder, play a
slide show or a music). That's all.
Some USB drive producers attempted to work around this limitation with non-standard formatting their drives, but this enables the automatic
start-up only for their pre-installed software and only on their drives.
Thanks to MyPendrive's "DriveAutoStart" function,
MyPendriveRobot starts just some moments after the drive insertion.
By activating other options, MyPendriveRobot runs programs, opens documents and folders, browse the Internet immediately and automatically after drive
connection.
"DriveAutoStart" is exclusive, because it does not need to be installed (otherwise other similar applets), it is always present in your removable
drive, so you can activate it in every PC you are working on and it requires little system resources.
DriveAutoStart also offers the visual notification of the drive letter and the name of connected/disconnected drives.
DriveAutoStart creates a menu on the system tray for the easy access to all connected removable drives.
AUTORUN.INF FILE
Autorun.inf file resides in the root folder of the drive; it allows standard Windows autostart functions (custom drive icon display in My computer,
custom drive label, context menu when right-clicking on the drive icon).
To do this, MyPendrivePRO uses the functionalities offered by Windows XP with Service Pack 2.
MyPendrivePRO runs also on other versions of Windows, but with some limitations:
Windows XP with Service Pack 1: "Icon", "Drive label" and "Context menu" are available only in Explorer. Unavailable in "AutoPlay" dialog box.
"DriveAutoStart" is available.
Windows 2000: this operating system does not support "autorun" for removable drives (except for CD-Rom drives), so "Icon", "Drive label" and "Context menu" are unavailable.
All other MyPendrivePRO functions,
"DriveAutoStart" included, are available.
In previous operating systems than Windows 2000, USB drives need additional drivers (user must always refer to
manufacturer's instructions). On these systems,
MyPendrivePRO and DriveAutoStart have not been tested and we discourage everyone to do it.
Additional informations about Autorun.inf file, WinXP AutoStart and
AutoPlay functions can be found here. OTHER AUTORUN, AUTOSTART,
AUTOPLAY STUFF
After a "fresh" Windows XP
installation, the built-in Windows "AutoPlay" function is enabled;
this means that, when you connect a removable drive, a pop-up dialog appears
asking the user on what does he want to do (explore the drive, play a slide
show or a music file).
This can be annoying, especially if you want to use MyPendrivePRO.
MyPendrivePRO offers the possibility to add
a custom menu item and a icon in this dialog box, but if you want to disable
this pop-up and use MyPendrivePRO's
powerful functionalities, follow this procedure:
1) - connect your removable drive;
2) - double click My Computer icon on your desktop;
3) - right click on the removable drive icon;
4) - choose "properties" menu item;
5) - a properties dialog box appears, click on the "Autoplay" tab;
6) - choose "Select what to do" and click on the "no
operation" item.
If, in the future, you will change the AutoPlay settings, repeat above steps,
choosing a different type of operation to do.
USEFUL
TOOLS
ENABLING AND DISABLING
AUTOPLAY ON DRIVES
Windows AutoRun functions can be disabled/enabled
for specified drive letters and/or for a class of drives.
This can be done by modifying the system registry, but it's not easy and you
can cause serious problems to your PC.
The applet called "Microsoft
Windows TweakUI" can do these operations (and others) safely.
You can download TweakUI for WinXP ver. 2.1.0 by clicking here.
A useful guide on TweakUI for WinXP is available here.
Keep in mind that DriveAutoStart will not be affected by changing
AutoPlay settings, because it is completely independent from built-in
Windows "AutoEverything" functions.
FORMATTING USB DRIVE KEY
Flash memories can not be formatted with standard Windows tools.
To perform this type of operation, you need to use the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool".
This tool also creates bootable drives.
Clicking here to download it.
CREATING A "SAFELY REMOVE SHORTCUT"
It's possible to create a "safely remove shortcut" able to
display the same menu visible when right-clicking on the "safely
remove icon" in the System tray.
The destination of the shortcut is: %windir%\system32\RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL HotPlug.dll
When double-clicked, the "Safely remove menu" will be displayed:
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