Hi LarryG,
if you look on page15 of the MyBook Essential User Handbook http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/UM/ENG/4779-705053.pdf then you will see that there is an option to run the drive without Smartware and (??without the password).
I am still having different problems from everybody else but have had a message from the 7th Cavalry and I hope to be fixed soon.
John