Got WD Essential II 500 GB 4 hours and can't use it

WD Software & Mobile Apps WD Software
1

Hi,

I just bought a Western Digital Essential II 500 GB new from the shop.

I have Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit.

When i got it i unpacked it and connected it. I executed on “My Passport (F:)” drive the following file: WD SmartWare.exe. I did this with admin rights.

I came to the main menu and choose:“Install WD SmartWare”

I accepted the EULA

 It started installing but during the install it gave me the following error tekst:

“Can’t find the file C:\Program Files (X86)\Western Digital\ WD Smartware\Front Parlor\WDSmartWare.exe”

Error Message came up and ended the installation.

I went searching and came to this link:

http://community.wdc.com/t5/WD-Smartware/WD-Smartware-problems/td-p/2546

I followed the instruction there.

I made sure my windows was up to date.

I made sure i had the most recent version of Adobe Flash.

I made sure my AVG Virusscanner was diabled.

I downloaded the file:" EssentialElite_FirmwareUpdater_v2.003(1.0.8.0).zip"

unpacked it and ran the .exe file.

The external drive was connected. I made sure my other external drive (Toshiba) was disconnected.

It was searching for the WD drive and gave me the message that it couldn’t find it. I tried it a few times. It couldn’t find it.

In Windows explorer i could see it and acces it.

I tried the step two on that page and  downloaded the file:“WDSmartWare_SoftwareUpdater_for_Windows_1_3_0_16a.zip”

I unpacked that file and ran the .exe file.

It said it updated the WD software.

Still no WD software to be found. I tried all these steps with rebooting after every step. Connecting and disconnecting the drive. Nothing is working.

I have this drive now for four hours and allready ready to pack it up and send it back. I hope you can give me advise on how to solve this. If not…then my first try with Western Digital will also be my last.

Kind Regards,

Marc.

2

I have the exsact same problem with the "can’t find file… " on my new My  Passport Essential 500GB on a fully updated Windows 7 laptop. Did you find a solution?

Sincerely

Jens

3

I have the same problem. Did you find any solution?

/Erik

4

i haven’t found a solution and got no help from Western Digital support. So i returned the disk and told the compagny i ordered it from what is going on.

The accepted it back and refunded me the money.

I now bought a Freecom Mobile Drive XXS 500 gb. That is thing is working awesome and had no problems with software.

So maybe idea to return the drive and order the one i bought.

If not…good luck solving your problem.

5

Did anyone solve this problem? I have the same, can’t install the SmartWare. If nobody help me to tommorow I will change it for seagate or another

6

Got the same problem. Does anyone has already found any light in the end of the tunnel?

7

Have any of you tried contacting Tech Support about your issues? 

To Contact WD for Technical Support
http://support.wdc.com/contact/index.asp?lang=en

8

Yes, both me and the first writer contacted Tech Support and got useless standard answers (eg. make sure your windows is uptodate and you have current versions of Adobe) - doh…

Jens

9

The 1.4.1.1 version of Smartware was released this last weekend.  I would advise fully uninstalling the software, rebooting and downloading the latest update from our website. 

1 Like
10

Well, installing the update completely solved the problem. I can now use smartware to backup and encrypt. 

Kudos,

Jens