This answer explains how to disable/hide the WD SmartWare VCD on a My
Book or My Passport drive using either Windows or Mac OSX. Please note
that this is different from uninstalling the WD SmartWare software from
the computer.*END
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Note:
Before following these instructions, there are several things you need to consider:
- The Virtual CD manager only disables the VCD image. There is no way to remove it from the disk. Current versions of the VCD are only about 20 MB in size- this is about the size of a few pictures.
- Once the VCD is disabled you will be unable to access the WD SmartWare installer on the VCD image (on older model drives). You can download a copy of SmartWare from our website.
- Network drives such as the My Book Live
that include the WD SmartWare software do not have a VCD. Because there
is no VCD, these instructions do not apply to the product.
- The software will only show the Enable/Disable VCD option if the
drive supports it. If this option does not appear, then you can't
disable or enable the VCD on your specific model drive.
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Select an Operating System (OS)
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| Operating System and Preferred Method |
Instructions |
| Windows 7, Vista, and XP using WD SmartWare |
Click Here for Instructions
(instructions will appear below this table) |
| Windows 7, Vista, and XP without using WD SmartWare |
Click Here for Instructions
(instructions will appear below this table) |
| Mac OSX 10.5.x (Leopard) and 10.6.x (Snow Leopard) using WD SmartWare |
Click Here for Instructions
(instructions will appear below this table) |
| Mac OSX 10.5.x (Leopard) and 10.6.x (Snow Leopard) without using WD SmartWare |
Click Here for Instructions
(instructions will appear below this table) |
| Linux/Unix |
Click Here for Instructions
(instructions will appear below this table) |
How to Disable/Enable VCD with SmartWare Installed in Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP
On your My Passport or My Book hard drive is a small portion of drive
space which has been used to create a Virtual CD (VCD) which appears on
your computer as an actual CD volume. Depending on your model of drive
the content of the VCD will vary, however it will always contain the WD
Unlocker application, and it appears on the screen each time you connect
your WD drive to the computer.
The VCD cannot be disabled if you wish to use the Drive Lock feature.
If you don't wish to use the Drive Lock feature, you can safely
disable the VCD. The VCD can be re-enabled at any time you want to
enable the Drive Lock function. To disable the VCD, follow the steps
below.
- Download and install the latest version of WD Smartware from the Western Digital website.
- Once updated launch the WD Smartware software.
- Click on the Settings Tab.
- Select Set Up Drive.
- Click on the Virtual CD button on the left side of the screen.
- On the right side of the screen, click the radial button for either Enable VCD if you want to show the VCD, or Disable VCD if you wish to hide it.
- Click on Apply VCD Settings.
- Power Cycle your drive.
- Open My Computer (Windows XP) or Computer (Windows Vista and Windows 7), and verify that the VCD does not appear.
How to Disable/Enable VCD without SmartWare Installed in Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP
On your My Passport or My Book hard drive is a small portion of drive
space which has been used to create a Virtual CD (VCD) which appears on
your computer as an actual CD volume. Depending on your model of drive
the content of the VCD will vary, however it will always contain the WD
Unlocker application, and it appears on the screen each time you connect
your WD drive to the computer.
The VCD cannot be disabled if you wish to use the Drive Lock feature.
If you don't wish to use the Drive Lock feature, you can safely
disable the VCD. The VCD can be re-enabled at any time you want to
enable the Drive Lock function. To disable the VCD, follow the steps
below.
- Download the VCD Manager for Windows utility from our website.
- Unzip the executable. (Extract the file using an extraction utility)
- Double click WDSmartWareVirtualCDManagerforWindows-v1.0.7.4.exe.
- Wait for the program to extract.
- Click Continue.
- Once the utility has found your drive, verify the serial number
shown is the same as the one you wish to hide the VCD on and click Configure Drive.
- Click Exit.
- Power Cycle the drive.
- Open My Computer (Windows XP) or Computer (Windows Vista and Windows 7), and verify that the VCD does not appear.
How to Disable/Enable VCD with SmartWare Installed in 10.5 (Leopard) or 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
On your My Passport or My Book hard drive is a small portion of drive
space which has been used to create a Virtual CD (VCD) which appears on
your computer as an actual CD volume. Depending on your model of drive
the content of the VCD will vary, however it will always contain the WD
Unlocker application, and it appears on the screen each time you connect
your WD drive to the computer.
The VCD cannot be disabled if you wish to use the Drive Lock feature.
If you don't wish to use the Drive Lock feature, you can safely
disable the VCD. The VCD can be re-enabled at any time you want to
enable the Drive Lock function. To disable the VCD, follow the steps
below.
- Download and install the latest version of WD Smartware from the Western Digital website.
- Once updated launch the WD Smartware software.
- Click on the Settings Tab.
- Select Set Up Drive.
- Click on the Virtual CD button on the left side of the screen.
- On the right side of the screen, click the radial button for either Enable VCD if you want to show the VCD, or Disable VCD if you wish to hide it.
- Click on Apply VCD Settings.
- Power Cycle the drive.
- Open Finder and verify that the VCD does not appear.
How to Disable/Enable VCD without SmartWare Installed in 10.5 (Leopard) or 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
On your My Passport or My Book hard drive is a small portion of drive
space which has been used to create a Virtual CD (VCD) which appears on
your computer as an actual CD volume. Depending on your model of drive
the content of the VCD will vary, however it will always contain the WD
Unlocker application, and it appears on the screen each time you connect
your WD drive to the computer.
The VCD cannot be disabled if you wish to use the Drive Lock feature.
If you don't wish to use the Drive Lock feature, you can safely
disable the VCD. The VCD can be re-enabled at any time you want to
enable the Drive Lock function. To disable the VCD, follow the steps
below.
- Download the VCD Manager for Mac utility from our website.
- Open the application folder.
- Double click Virtual CD Manager.app
- Wait for the program to launch.
- Click Continue.
- Once the utility has found your drive, verify the serial number
shown is the same as the one you wish to hide the VCD on and click Configure Drive.
- Click Exit.
- Power Cycle the drive.
- Open Finder and verify that the VCD does not appear.
How to Disable/Enable the VCD in Linux or Unix
Neither the VCD Manager or WD SmartWare is available for Linux or Unix. As a result, there is no known way to disable the Virtual CD (VCD) in these operating systems.
Western Digital technical support only provides jumper configuration
(for internal hard drive) and physical installation support for hard
drives used in systems running the Linux/Unix operating systems. For
setup questions beyond physical installation of your Western Digital
hard drive, please contact your Linux/Unix vendor. You may also wish to
post on our Community Forums for assistance from other users of our products who may be able to assist you with your issue.
