I have two support cases open on Smartware, one specifically on the 1.6.4 upgrade and the maddening havoc it has wrecked on two of my computers. On my brand new Windows 8 laptop I actually am thankful I had created a restore point prior to installing the WD software. After discovering multiple problems when I upgraded to 1.6.4 of Smartware, I uninstalled all of the WD software on both the laptop and my old XP desktop. I then reinstalled the WD software on both but did not run the recommended upgrade to 1.6.4, leaving it with 1.5.3 I believe that came on the CD. On the XP desktop I think things are okay, but frankly still everything running slowly.
However, on my Windows 8 laptop the reinstallation did not solve the problems. I continued to have very strange behavior on my computer. From apps taking forever to start to periodic inability to connect to the network, to even my Metro Start screen misbehaving and being slow to open/close/scroll. I finally had enough of it so I used a Windows Restore Point to go back several days to before I ever installed any WD software on my machine. Now all is well. Since this is the only thing changed prior to the problems and since the restore point was created, I cannot blame the behavior on anything but the WD Smartware upgrade to 1.6.4. The version from the CD (1.5.3 I believe) has since been reinstalled on my machine and thus far (only about 1/2 an hour ago) I am not having the problems. I think it is related to 1.6.4 and I further believe it is especially destructive on Windows 8 machines. Therefore I recommend that NO ONE UPGRADE TO WD Smartware 1.6.4!!!
I opened the support case yesterday {as well as one on general backup misbehavior prior to 1.6.4 (opened on Friday)} and have not yet heard anything from WD on either case. I would hate to have to return my MyBookLiveDuo to the store, but if I cannot get a complete and uncorrupted backup of my system and further if the WD software is not going to work, and it is going to wreck havoc on my OS, there are other hardware/software solutions available at a better price.
I’m going to give them one more shot at helping me get this to do what they claim it can do, otherwise I am erasing the data I have transferred to the Duo and returning the whole thing to the store. If I have to do this, then I will get all future storage solutions from some company other than WD, including all disk drives. And I have been using WD products for more than 25 years!
I am very disappointed to date with this product! (an understatement really)
