How difficult can this be to setup?

I have bought a WD MyCloud.

Powered it up and connected it to my router.

I can login online and upload files to it from my laptop. I can then see those login from my phone online and see those files.

The reason I bought the device was for it to act as a “backup” for files on my laptop, phone, ipad etc.

How on earth do you do this…?

C’mon WD make this easier or I’ll simply put the device in the IT shredder at work and buy from someone else!

If anyone can guide or help me I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Nick

Download and read the User Manual, for a start.

I don’t use any WD software, apart from the mobile app. I prefer to use FreeFileSync for my sync and mirror backup needs.

I setup and control the device using the Dashboard, not the automated setup tool, or any of the PC apps.

It is easy to do. Just use any backup software capable of backing up to an NAS, including the backup software (Smartware) WD provides, to backup your computer’s data to the My Cloud. If you use a Mac you can use Time Machine to backup to the My Cloud. The My Cloud Dashboard Help has some information on how to backup using Mac Time Machine. Or you can access the WD Support website to find much more information on how to backup your computer to the My Cloud including links to download Smartware for Windows.

https://support.wdc.com/product.aspx?ID=904

WD Smartware: https://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?p=259

More information can be found at the WD Learning Center:

http://mycloud.com/learn/?id=mycloud

A variety of free backup programs:
EaseUS Todo Backup Free: http://www.easeus.com/
Macrium Reflect Free: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
Paragon Backup and Recovery 14 Free: http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/download.html
Free File Sync (in Mirroring mode): http://www.freefilesync.org/
Clonezilla: http://clonezilla.org/

I still have a soft spot for some good old cli based rsync lovin. Hard to beat when it comes to automated backups, because it quickly hash checks files at both ends, and skips unchanged files, and sends only the differences for files that have changed, meaning backup scripts complete very quickly unless you change a lot of big files frequently.

Too bad MS does not include it-- but you cant get a mingw ported version from sourceforge.

Thanks for the replies people.

I have to say I’ve downloaded and installed the WD SmartWare and WD Sync software, but sadly neither of them do anything - on my home network (where the WD MyCloud drive is) or from my work network.

I really am not going to be messing about trying other peoples software if WDs software can’t do it :frowning:

I found all the packaging and receipt last night for the the purchase (direct from WD). I’m going to have one more attempt with it now. If it still doesn’t work then it’s going back on Monday for a refund.

I’m so unimpressed with what should be a straightforward task. Very poor show so far WD, ver poor. Google Drive is looking a far better and more manageable option right now.

Still no joy with this working and trying to get any form of support from WD themselves is somewhat of a joke.

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Can’t do what? What specific problem are you having with the WD software? What specific error message are you receiving? Have you read the My Cloud User Manual (http://support.wdc.com/product.aspx?ID=904)?

For a good number of people they have no problem using the WD software to backup or sync to their My Cloud provided their My Cloud AND their local computer are properly configured. If one’s Window’s computer is not properly configured for local network access, software on that computer may have trouble accessing NAS devices like the My Cloud on the local network.

1 Like
  1. asign the WD My Cloud device mac address to a static IP in your router

  2. keep the router DHCP on (you can turnoff later)

  3. setup the device via open your browser go to My Cloud or http://the-My-Cloud-IP

  4. add the admin password and finish the setup

  5. first time input the admin password enter the Dashboard, go to Settings
    General:
    Time Zone → change to your location
    Cloud Service → turn off (you can turn on later)
    Drive Sleep → ON
    LED → OFF
    Time Machine → OFF (if you use Windows)

Network:
IPv4 Network Mode → change to Static → click on the Static icon → confirm the IP setting

Media:
DLNA Media Server → OFF
iTunes → OFF

Notifications:
Alert Emails → ON → add your email

Firmware Update:
Enable Auto Update → OFF

  1. open Windows Explorer → in the left panel select Network → click on the My Cloud device
    you can copy/edit/detele files in the My Cloud device just like use Windows Explorer

  2. if your want create/delete/rename folder, go to Dashboard → Shares

  3. stop access the My Cloud 10mins, let see will it go to sleep mode

  4. you can go to router turn off the DHCP now

  5. you don’t need install any WD software, but
    WD Quick View (able Shutdown the My Cloud device)
    My Cloud app (used by cloud access)

  6. top of the Dashboard have Apps, Cloud Access, Backups
    read the User Manual

  7. the easy way to sync/backup your files from Windows to My Cloud
    go to ASCOMP: Software for backup, synchronization & secure data deletion
    check out BackUp Maker and Synchredible (support one way or both way sync)
    both free for private to use and is very easy to use, the program keep asking a few questions to create a job

Note, if one turns off the local network’s DHCP server they will have to configure all of their local network devices with static IP addresses.

Typically a slightly better way to deal with static IP addresses is to configure the router’s DHCP server to reserve or assign a fixed IP address for the My Cloud and any other devices (if needed) on the local network. This way all devices can be left to obtain their IP addresses automatically (usually the default setting for devices) from the network DHCP server and one can control all the local network static IP addresses from one location, the router/gatway’s DHCP server.