First time user for Backups-My Passport Essential. WD External Drives. Now, you should be able to run backup using new computer (you can erase the drive to start fresh using new computer if one wishes). Dmarq777 2010-01-20 05:11:30 UTC #5. Yes that’s what I ended up doing.
This answer explains how resolve WD Backup not seeing the drive.END WD Backup does not see my drive as a backup target. Only Dropbox is seen. Local PC Security, Anti Virus, Malware protection and or End Point Protection software may need to be configured to Allow WD Backup. The WD Backup Drive Helper process will start running when the WD Backup program is started. If the process does not start when WD Backup is opened, WD Backup will not see the drive. Check your local PC anti virus, malware and or end point protection software to ensure WD Backup is allowed and not blocked. For assistance, pleased contact your software vendor or refer to their technical user manuals or disable the software while troubleshooting.
Ensure the WD Drive is connected directly to the computer and NOT connected to a USB Hub. Ensure the computer can see and access the drive.
If Windows does not see the drive, please refer to. Ensure the drive firmware is up to date. Ensure the drive is supported by WD Backup. Please refer to. Download and Install the latest version of WD Backup. Download and Install WD Drive Utilities.
Verify the WD Backup Drive Helper services starts when WD Backup is opened. Access the Services panel:. Open Services using the Run panel:. Click on Start (Windows logo) at the bottom-left of the screen. Type Run and press Enter. In the Run panel, type services.msc and press Enter. Open Services using Control Panel:.
Right-click (or left-click if using Windows 7) on Start (Windows logo) at the bottom-left of the screen. Click on Control Panel. Click System and Security. Click Administrative Tools. Click on Services.
Open WD Backup software from the Start Menu or from the icon tray. Verify if the WD Backup Drive Helper process changes to Running when WD Backup is started. If the process does not change to the Running status, the Service should be changed to Automatic to force the service to start at the time of system boot. NOTE: If the solutions above do not resolve the issue of WD Backup not recognizing the drive, Acronis True Image WD Edition Software can be used or use the built-in backup utility within the Windows operating system instead. Acronis True Image WD Edition: to download Acronis True Image WD Edition Software and refer to to configure a backup job.
Using Backup Software built into the Operating System: Please follow this link for assistance with using the built-in backup utility within the computer's operating system.
Don't know if this is a super stupid response, but I just connected my own 500gb wd passport (my first ever back up drive) and you do need to double click on the drive and then double click on WD Smartware.exe to get things rolling. Then you have a few options. I chose the one that installs their cloning software first and then it started right up with the back up with one click.
If you are asking about using that or another way to back it up with different software etc., sorry for the duh-ness of my response. Just not sure if you are simply having trouble getting it to back up as it doesn't just by plugging in the usb.