Adding to the general subject of version 1.6 in this thread, and in particular to the last post regarding the need to have the latest firmware version installed . . .
I HAVE the latest firmware version installed, and had it BEFORE installing SmartWare 1.6.
Installing 1.6 on top of the basic program (which I had revised up to the last revision before 1.6) – did not work. (In contrast to previous revisions installed on top of the basic program, which DID work.)
I then uninstalled the basic program (with last revision before 1.6 incorporated in it) and attempted to run the 1.6 update – I discovered that you need the basic program to begin with (or the basic program with earlier revisions incorporated). So I then reinstalled the basic program that came with my hardware (“My Passport” SE 3.0 1 TB portable hard drive). (This was an earlier version then the program that had been uninstalled, as the uninstalled program had had several revision upgrades to it.) I then, finally, ran the 1.6 update to that. It did not work.
I checked and double checked settings. I ran the program multiple ways. Nothing worked.
When I say the program doesn’t work, I mean this – it does not reliably back up the files you have targeted for back up in your back up plan. (Which earlier versions did.)
It perhaps frees up computer resources, and it for sure eliminates the problem with the “etilqs” files – but the basic function of the program DOES NOT WORK. IT DOES NOT RELIABLY BACK UP FILES.
(I HOPE someone can prove me wrong, because if I’m missing something I’d sure like to know what it is.)
Here are examples of problems I faced multiple times . . .
I downloaded 5 files to my desktop. I then moved them to a folder that was targeted as being ready for backup (by either creation of a new file or revision of an existing file). The first file was back upped successfully, the second one created two back ups – one with the correct file name and the other with that same name but “.tmp” added to it. The “.tmp” file was the larger of the two files and the correct duplicate of the original file. The smaller file, without the “.tmp”, was the only one that could be restored using the “RETRIEVE” function in SmartWare – but that was not the correct file. Both of those two files stayed as back upped through multiple openings and closings of SmartWare, through multiple boots of the PC. But that wasn’t the worst problem – the remaining 3 files WEREN’T BACK UPPED AT ALL. Again, that stayed the same through multiple openings and closing of SmartWare and multiple boots of the PC. I had read that sometimes open programs created problems – but nothing changed even when I made sure all open programs were closed.
I have another .txt file that I have in a folder targeted for backup that I change frequently to reflect a running history of some game scores for a game I play online. When playing that game, and revising the text in that file to reflect new scores, SmartWare 1.6 did NOT reliably back up the changed files. It left the file in backup with earlier data. Even – again – after ensuring that other programs were closed, and after multiple opening and closings of SmartWare and after multiple boots of the PC.
I noticed one quirk besides this basically unacceptable functioning – the bar at the top of the “BACKUP” tab, with diagonal lines moving, and with the message “Copying files” – DOES NOT STOP. EVEN WHEN CLICKING ON “STOP BACKUP”. (That observation may or may not be relevant to someone who may be able to get to the bottom of things.)
I urge all readers of this thread to make SURE they check their backup location on their hardware to see if ALL files that SHOULD be being back upped ARE being back upped. I’m running Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 on a Dell XPS 8300 machine with updates current. I consider myself pretty literate and logical both generally and also with respect to PC matters. I can’t believe that many others aren’t facing what I’ve seen – 1.6 just doesn’t work, it just does NOT backup what it should be backing up reliably. (In contrast to previous revisions.)
I have uninstalled SmartWare yet again. I then reinstalled the basic original program. I then ran the 1.5.4.5 version update for it to update it (that was the last revision before 1.6). AND EVERYTHING NOW WORKS BEAUTIFULLY AGAIN. (I suggest that you should keep installation files for all previous revisions of your programs.)
I turned off the automatic updating in SmartWare so I would not be inundated with upgrade messages for 1.6. I will manually check online for the next version available above 1.6, and then download and install it and hope that it rectifies the apparently obvious problems with 1.6.
I hope two things can be accomplished by my lengthy post here. One, for all SmartWare users – double check how 1.6 is doing for you, and see if you don’t also have the basic problem I found that it just does NOT back up files reliably. Two, for Western Digital folks – I hope you can see where I’m imagining a problem that really isn’t there (and I’ll learn something) or, as I suspect is relevant, see that 1.6 JUST DOESN’T WORK, and that you need to get out a new version that DOES!
(Because up until now I’ve really ENJOYED SmartWare. This is the FIRST program or program revision I’ve ever come across that just doesn’t work in terms of it’s core purpose.)
