I just replaced a several year old WD My Book with a new WDBBGB 6 Tetra and I cannot optimize it.
File Explorer > My Book > Properties > Tools > Optimize - - It does not show on the list of my drives.
Ideas Please
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Hi @rfharbin,
External Drive Not Detected by Windows or macOS Quick Assistant: Resolve External Drive Not Detected by Windows or macOS Guided Assist
Please contact the WD Technical Support team for the best assistance and troubleshooting:
https://support-en.wd.com/app/ask
Hello! Iām sorry to hear that youāre experiencing trouble optimizing your new WD My Book drive. Letās try to find a solution together.
Firstly, make sure that your new WDBBGB 6 Tetra drive is properly connected to your computer. Check the cables and ensure that the drive is securely plugged in. Also, ensure that the drive is recognized by your computer and visible in File Explorer.
If the drive is recognized and visible in File Explorer but not showing up in the list of drives when you try to optimize it, there are a few steps you can take:
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Confirm the driveās format: Itās possible that the new drive has a different file system format that doesnāt support the optimize function. Right-click on the drive in File Explorer, select āProperties,ā and go to the āGeneralā tab. Look for the āFile systemā field and check if itās formatted as NTFS, which is typically required for optimization. If itās formatted differently, you may need to reformat it as NTFS.
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Check the driveās health: Itās worth verifying if the drive is in good health. You can use WD Drive Utilities or another third-party tool to run diagnostic tests on the drive. This can help identify any potential issues that might be preventing optimization.
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Update device drivers and firmware: Ensure that you have the latest drivers and firmware for both your WD My Book drive and your computer. Visit the Western Digital website or use their software to check for any available updates. Keeping your drivers and firmware up to date can often resolve compatibility issues.
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Try a different optimization method: If the built-in optimization feature in File Explorer isnāt working, you can try alternative methods to optimize your drive. One option is to use third-party disk optimization software like Defraggler or Auslogics Disk Defrag. These tools often provide more advanced options and can help optimize your drive effectively.
If none of these steps solve the issue, it might be helpful to contact Western Digital support directly. They have dedicated support channels to assist customers with their products and can provide specific guidance tailored to your situation.
Remember, troubleshooting can sometimes be a trial-and-error process, so please donāt hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions.
Thanks, many thanks;
I can usually fix problems with the help my friend Duck, Duck, go but this one wasā¦
After hooking the My Book up, I tried the shortcut on it to load the files; But although the files downloaded OK the install failed part way though. The old āmy Bookā files on my āCā drive stopped the install. So, I removed all of my WD programs and went To WD.com for the latest versions and then everything seemed OK. I had previously used WD utilities and CrystalDiskInfo to check the new HD and SFC and DISM to see if my computer was OK. Your Number one suggestion explained my confusion. The new āMy Bookā is exFAT. This is my first exposure to exFAT.
I have moved from a 3 Tetra HHD to a 6 Tetra so I will have lots of time to find a free Defrag program or learn why WD thinks optimizing a HD is no longer necessary.
Amalia 1 thanks, it is people like you that make this world a pleasant place. 
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Why would you keep calling these drives āTetraā? Which language or country is that coming from?
You two seem to be doing a song and dance routine about disk optimization on an external USB HDD that is used for archival purposes. In what situation would doing a disk optimization be appropriate for an archival disk?
Thank you.
