WARNING - PLEASE READ - MY EXPERIENCE
My Book is beset by problems if you do not wish to use SmartWare. It appears to contain firmware that ‘loads’ a virtual cd automatically on installation. This contains Smartware which you may load onto your computer to back-up data from your computer to the disk. Being open minded and after following all the installation instructions I found it succesfully backed up my files. However 24hours later the software was unable to reslove the original classification of the data, i.e. photos, movies etc. I don’t like unreliable back-up software so uninstalled using the software provided. However I could not uninstall the software on the virtual cd. I attempted numerous sequences of installing, uninstalling the back up software, changes of cable etc. Eventually I located the infomration that I required a firmware up date. This I attempted and it failed on three different machines both power pc and intel. The firmware up dater could not see the drive. I replaced the drive and had the same issues again. Several different OS’s but no higher than 10.5.8.
It appears that either the back up software or the firmware or both are somehow at fault at present. Whether this just applies to the mac or just the UK I do not know.
I have been moved to write because for me personally I like to have confidence in the reliability of my back up device. I of course keep multiples and used WD products succesfully in the past. This is not a rant at WD. BUT this particular model is problematic in my view and in the shop where I obtained it they have examined my issue and have offered me a more expensive drive from another manufacturer as replacement at the same price.
PLEASE TAKE CARE FOR CRITICAL STORAGE UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED