Hello. So i was about to purchase SanDisk Cruzer Extreme but during a little research i find out that i wont be able to install OS with this without any additional efforts because Sandisk decided to produce their USB flash drives differently than 99% other manufacturers.
What’s the chance to get one as fixed drive instead of removable? Or should i stick with something else?
No, unfortunately not. Let me quote the answer that i received from Sandisk support team and resolve all this doubts:
"Thank you for contacting SanDisk Technical Support. My name is Georgios G. and I am here to assist you.
I understand that you are interested on purchasing a SanDisk flash drive that will be detected as removable drive. Please, allow us to inform you that in mid-2013 SanDisk changed production of its USB Drives configured as fixed disk to meet a perceived certification requirement. SanDisk USB Drives with either removable or fixed disk configuration will work the same when used for data storage on Windows PC and Mac computers. SanDisk is in the process of reverting back to producing USB Drives configured as removable disk. NOTE: There is no tool available to change SanDisk USB Drives between fixed and removable disk configuration. Unfortunately, SanDisk Technical support has no way to identify by the packaging or reseller stock whether the drive will show up as fixed or removable disk. We would like to inform you though that SDCZ88 Extreme Pro USB 3.0 and SDCZ48 Ultra USB 3.0 drives have ONLY been manufactured as removable disk configuration. Finally, allow us to inform you that SanDisk does not recommend nor support the usage of a Cruzer as bootable drive."
So as you can see, one and the only problem lies in SanDisk production.
SanDisk is in the process of reverting back to producing USB Drives configured as removable disk.
No one denies that SanDisk manufactured them, in the past. And no one is saying that all these drives bought by distributors have been cleared off their shelves and warehouses.
And no one is also saying the ones currently manufactred by counterfeiters are not fixed disks.
But if someone buys one and it doesn’t work for them, or the software they are use to using, Sandisk will replacee it for them.