Western Digital "Passport for Mac" - Is it safe?

[billwill]

I was using a WD 250GB external hard drive that died after 18 months, so I bought the WD 500GB "Passport for Mac" external drive on sale at Staples for $119.95. When I first plugged in the USB cord, it downloaded the WD SmartWare software and then proceeded to (hopefully) backup the entire hard drive of my MacBook, giving me a visual "gauge" as it operated. Well and good. However...

Time Machine does not recognize it... when I have it plugged in and bring up Time Machine, its tells me it can't find the drive!

I called Western Digital's tech support (free for 30 days after purchase) and was told not to worry, that it operated "just like Time Machine." Then they said they "do not support Time Machine." Why did I buy it in the first place, then?

Has anyone else had this happen? Why would my original WD drive work like a charm with Time Machine yet the new WD won't? And, am I safe in believing the Tech Support lady who said it "works just like Time Machine?" I've been unemployed for over 2 years and can't afford to lose data, nor can I afford to lay out another hundred bucks or so for another external drive.

I appreciate any comments, experience and assistance. Thank you very much in advance.

 

[louishen]

It probably works with Western Digitals own back-up software, as such it is perfectly safe.

You will need to reformast the drive and use it with time machine - if that's the route you want to take

Basically you have to make a choice - use the Western Digital back-up software or use Time Machine.

If you reformat the drive you can use Time machine and avoid the Western Digital software, either will do the job, but for restore purposes, I would reformat and then fire up Time Machine and let it take over

 

[billwill]

Thank you. The very reason I have it is to restore my MacBook in case of a crash. Will it still do that WITHOUT Time Machine or do I HAVE to reformat the drive. And if so, I'm a Mac newbie... how do I reformat the drive, then make sure Time Machine will pick it up?

I didn't have this trouble at all with the other WD external drive. Strange. The price I pay for using Winders all those years...

Thanks again.

 

[OLodhi]

I also have a WD Passport 500GB like yourself and I haven't had any problems using it with Time Machine. I do find that WD Smartware can be a nuisance and so far I have found no way of disabling it.

If you would like to format your drive make sure it's connected to your computer. Hit CMD+Space Bar and spotlight will open (little search bar in the right hand corner of the screen), type in 'Disk Utility' in there and launch the application.
When the new window opens you will see a list of disk drives on the left hand corner, select your WD Passport from the list and press the Erase tab. From the format dropdown box select 'Mac OS Extended (Journaled)' and name the drive whatever you like and then press the Erase button.

Your drive should now be ready to use with Time Machine. I think if you already have TM enabled when the drive is detected, it should automatically ask if you'd like to use it has a TM Backup drive.

Hope this solves your problem.