# Problems with WD and Mac. Too Many to Mention in Title

**URL:** <https://forums.sandisk.com/t/problems-with-wd-and-mac-too-many-to-mention-in-title/383785>\
**Category:** External SSD for macOS\
**Created:** [October 5, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/problems-with-wd-and-mac-too-many-to-mention-in-title/383785 "2013-10-05T12:51:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hhuffman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@hhuffman](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/hhuffman)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/problems-with-wd-and-mac-too-many-to-mention-in-title/383785/1 "2013-10-05T12:51:46Z")

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I have a Macbook Air and 3 TB My Book drive (new).

I have installed Smartware software and set up the drive.&nbsp;

I want to use Time Machine as my preferred backup system

Since I instaled it a month ago, Time Machine has only backed up to it once. TM shows the drive as being the drive of choice, but it always says it’s unavailable. I can hear the drive running all the time, and it starts up everytime I start using the computer, so I know it’s paired and working.&nbsp;

I use Smartware to unlock ithe drive although I would like to remove the security if that’s the issue. TM still can’t see it, although it’s listed in Finder.

When I log into Smartware only “Home” and “Settings” are availble. In Settings, Drive Settings is unavailble (greyed out).&nbsp;

What do I need to do to get access to change the setting to the drive, and secondly, how do I get TM to recognize it and use it as the backup of choice?&nbsp;

I hope it’s not time to return it to Best Buy…

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**Author:** ![AlCapone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@AlCapone](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/AlCapone)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/problems-with-wd-and-mac-too-many-to-mention-in-title/383785/2 "2013-10-05T18:39:10Z")

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Did you set Password Protection ON ?

Have you read the WD User Manual - it is in pdf format in your WD Smartware folder ?

You will also see an app called DriveUnlock in the WD Smartware folder

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**Author:** ![hhuffman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@hhuffman](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/hhuffman)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/problems-with-wd-and-mac-too-many-to-mention-in-title/383785/3 "2013-10-06T13:49:42Z")

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It won’t allow me to do anything. I have logged into it, I have unlocked it, etc., and I can’t do anything with it but look at “Home” which tells me nothing, “software setup”, which again tells me nothing.&nbsp;

I just want to use this as a repository for my Time Machine, and I’ve already wasted too much time on it. Going back.&nbsp;

Thanks.&nbsp;

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**Author:** ![AlCapone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@AlCapone](https://forums.sandisk.com/u/AlCapone)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://forums.sandisk.com/t/problems-with-wd-and-mac-too-many-to-mention-in-title/383785/4 "2013-10-06T16:36:37Z")

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Reformat the drive using the Mac Disk Utility.

This will clean your drive of everything.

Don’t install any software on it.

Just set it for use in Time Machine.