I locked my Sandisk U3 and am trying to figure out how I can get back in.

This will get the drive back, but you WILL lose the data. If you need the data. I do not know the answer. Repost your question to go to Sandisk site below

'.............U3 smart drives come preinstalled with the U3 Launchpad which emulates the Windows OS start menu, and controls program installation and hence facilitate the portability of software. However, if you would like to use the USB flash drive or memory key as a pure normal USB mass storage device, or you don't use operating system that U3 supports (i.e Windows XP and Windows 2000 operating systems), or you simply feel that U3 Launchpad and applications have bugs such as unable to eject due to locked files in use, consent on privacy and automatic installation of U3 software and pop-up etc, you can uninstall and remove the U3 Launchpad from the USB storage device.

To remove and delete the U3 Launchpad, you need to download U3 Launchpad uninstallers or U3 Launchpad Removal Tool that remove the U3 Launchpad and re-configure the USB drive to be a single mass storage USB drive. Currently, U3 Launchpad uninstallers are only available for and must be run on Windows XP or Windows 2000 machine. When uninstalling, the U3 smart drives USB device has to be plugged in with U3 Launchpad running.

U3 Launchpad Removal Tool for SanDisk USB U3 devices can be downloaded here, http://u3.sandisk.com/

WARNING: U3 Launchpad removal is irreversible. You won't be able to install U3 again. Beside, backup your data before begin uninstallation process as ALL data will be erased.

UPDATE: It's impossible to reinstall U3 LaunchPad........."

Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating and POSITIVE TESTIMONIAL is really appreciated for the FREE answering of your question.

• Go to this link http://www.sandisk.com/products/usb-flash-drives
• select your Drive
• download the driver
  

Each U3 smart drive comes with a pre-defined number of login attempts. When you have only 3 attempts remaining, you will receive a warning message to prevent losing your data unnecessarily.
SanDisk does not have any method to bypass the password security feature on Cruzer U3 flash drives. SanDisk has not built in any back door or password reset methods. If the password feature is enabled and you exceed the number of incorrect password attempts, the drive will lock. Once the drive is locked there is no way to unlock the drive or gain access to the data stored on the device. You can only select the format feature, which will perform a secure erase (drive wipe) and data recovery will NOT be possible. U3 Cruzer flash drives which are password protected use 128bit AES encryption for data security

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/191

Rumor from the SanDisk forum that SanDisk has dropped support for U3, thus the U3 Software Central site is gone.

I hope these links may help you:

http://u3.sandisk.com/download/Download.asp

http://communities.sandisk.com/sandisk/board/message?board.id=u3&thread.id=5760&view=by_date_ascending&page=1

http://www.4shared.com/dir/8396069/ae9b34c5/sharing.html

I missed the password for my U3 pen drive service and now how do I retrieve it?

Very well could be due to the fact your running 64bit Vista. I would try shutting the computer off,connect the U3,then turn on the computer. Sometimes the drives come with software that could be causing the problem also due to the try to install themselves when connected. You could also try booting up in safe mode. Press F5 repeatedly when the computer is booting up and this will take you to a menu that you can choose the safe mode option and try to connect the drive in this mode. You can then load/disable files or software on the drive that may be the cause of the problem. Also try the drive in another computer if possible and if it works try getting the firmware update from the sandisk website. It is possible the drive itself could be bad.

New ones avail:

1. Microsoft and SanDisk team up on U3 replacement - Engadget Microsoft and SanDisk team up on U3 replacement .... is actually pretty good, but they charge you extra to be able to install any program not on their list. ...
   www.engadget.com/2007/05/11/microsoft-and-sandisk-team-up-on-u3-replacement/ - 99k - Cached - Similar pages
2. GnU3zer U3 LaunchPad replacement (download torrent) - TPB Oct 28, 2006 ... GnU3zer U3 LaunchPad replacement ... The windows CD autorun function can execute ANY program specified in the autorun.inf file provided it ...
   thepiratebay.org/torrent/3547144/GnU3zer_U3_LaunchPad_replacement - 16k - Cached - Similar pages
3. Microsoft, SanDisk to Replace U3 Drives Microsoft and SanDisk on Friday announced a technology-sharing agreement that will produce a replacement for SanDisk's U3 line of USB smart drives by the ...
   www.physorg.com/news98193946.html - 55k - Cached - Similar pages
4. Microsoft and SanDisk still working on StartKey - the new U3 ... Mar 7, 2008 ... Microsoft and SanDisk still working on StartKey - the new U3 replacement ... Microsoft and SanDisk Expanding on and Replacing U3 Smart ...
   www.u3-info.com/sandisk/microsoft_and_sandisk_still_working_on_startkey_the_new_u3_replacement - 13k - Cached - Similar pages
5. 
   

try http://www.sandisk.com/retail/driverdownloads.aspx

try removing the launch pad program,

this can be done thru the software available from the sandisk HERE
You can get it back again if you want.

after you have removed the launchpad, the data will still be there in teh disk.

try inserting it again thru windows without launchpad, if it still shows error then there is no other way you have to format it... but if it works,, restore the data and then install launchpad with this software if you want.

download and install the firmware/driver for the device at www.sandisk.com