I got a new WD My Book Essential USB 2.0 1Tb drive for Christmas. I run only Kubuntu and want to use it as a backup device. I used gparted to delete the existing partition and create, what I thought was, a new partition of the full drive. I also renamed it as 'BackUp'. When I connect it now it comes up as 'BackUp' and also as a device called WD SmartWare that has a bunch of files and folders on it taking about 2% of the drive. I can't seem to find this partition(?) to remove it and reclaim the space. Any ideas greatly appreciated.
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An old mainframer trying to get modern in his retirement. -
Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
Does your drive have the one touch backup feature? If so, then that phantom partition may be intended to enable that feature on Windows computers with the backup software installed. -
Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
There is no mention of one-touch in the very limited documentation. There is only the power plug, USB port, and an on-off switch on the box itself.An old mainframer trying to get modern in his retirement.Comment
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Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
Instructions for Mac and Windows
I don't have this drive so I have not tried this.Comment
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Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
Lots of interesting reportage in Amazon feedback.
From WD Knowledge BaseOriginally posted by Western Digital Customer Support Team
IOW, Linux users can expect no support from WD on this issue.Western Digital technical support only provides jumper configuration (for EIDE hard drive) and physical installation support for hard drives used in systems running the Linux/Unix operating systems. For setup questions beyond physical installation of your Western Digital hard drive, please contact your Linux/Unix vendor.Comment
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Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
I guess we just have to suffer with the stupid virtual CD popping up and ignore it for now. I am sure that Linux people are smart enough to figure out eventually how to blow it away. It seems a pretty lame way to distribute software in the first place. Thanks for all the comments and information.An old mainframer trying to get modern in his retirement.Comment
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Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
edit:
Apparently the Smartware stuff is in the drive's ROM, which would make it a "feature" and features cannot be uninstalled
You can shut it off so you don't see the optical drive but from what I hear there's no way to reclaim the disk space.we see things not as they are, but as we are.
-- anais ninComment
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Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
There is also a Mac version of the VCD Manager software. As wizard suggests, take your drive to thre nearest Windows or Mac computer and follow the steps on that web page linked above.Comment
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Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
Yeah, I had to delete my response, though. Found out that all you can do is turn off the virtual CD - you can't reclaim the lost disk space.Originally posted by Telengardwe see things not as they are, but as we are.
-- anais ninComment
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Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
I strongly encourage you to call and write WD support directly to voice your feelings on both the stupid VCD feature and their lack of consideration to you, a customer who doesn't use Windows or Mac.Originally posted by CalgarianComment
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Re: WD My Book Essential USB 2.0
I'm sure it lacks something in the "elegant" or "cool" domain, but here is a really cheap and easy solution to external data backup:
Get one of these for $20: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182156
and one of these for $180: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152202
Assemble it, use GParted to make four 500GB partitions, or three 660GB partitions, or some other scheme as you wish, and VOILA you are set to back up a LOT of data, at a media cost of about ten cents per gigabyte.
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