WDFME & Firefox (my default browser)
-
Why does wdfme get active when I load a browser? I use File backup and do not specify backing up any browser related files except for my downloads folder which is in MyDocuments.
-
When I run Chrome wdfme kicks in for a few seconds, when I exit Chrome wdfme runs for just a little bit.
-
When I run Firefox WDFME kicks in and stays active at 50+% cpu useage. Period. Even after exiting Firefox!
- I use the same download folder for both Chrome and Firefox.
Win 7-64 sp1 w/latest updates
most recent Chrome 15.0.874.120
most recent Firefox 8.0
Smartware 1.5.1.16
Interesting, I have to test this. Have you reported this to WD?
cuernudo wrote:
Interesting, I have to test this. Have you reported this to WD?
yes, 2 days ago and have not got a standard automated response yet.
The WDFME set of Backup files are not designed well by WD.
This file can consume 45 to 75% of your system resources… even though the backup program has been completely shut off.
Use your windows manager function to look for this system resources hog.
I wouldnt mind if the File Backup Program used its resources after my machine was totally idle for 20 minutes…or if it used resources from 1 to 4 am in the morning while I slept…BUT… this file backup program seriously interferes with my prime computing times when Im wanting maximum response from my main programs…and NOT my file backup manager.
WD needs to get smarter about designing this software so it is NOT a performance issue…and they need to be better at relating to its customers about the issue.
If they dont fix this pubically… and with some internal programming resources…they may loose quarterly sales numbers… and require a round of layoffs so the high level managers can still keep their bonuses.
Seems like some high politically placed manager doesnt want to know about this issue… or to reallocate resources to get it fixed for the end customers.
cuernudo wrote:
Interesting, I have to test this. Have you reported this to WD?
WD finally got back to me with a canned response to reinstall. I wrote back and asked if the reinstall would kill my current backup and “files” spec and gave them some additional info. They wrote backwith more things for me to look at. To which I responded that I wouldn’t be able to get to it within after the 4 day response time limit warning before they close the ticket, and once again asked about the reinstall killing the files spec. They got back to me again and told me they wanted to kick my issue up a level because it couldn’t be resolved by email and they gave me contact info and said they could call me.
I haven’t responded, in fact, I uninstalled the software and am now using Genie Timeline. They have a free version that is sufficient for my needs except restoring a file is a little obtuse. There is virtually no overhead on my system. They apparently have a hook somewhere in windows to know when a file gets created or re-written and just keep an index of files that need to be copied. The backup runs hourly or on demand and you can do it by category AND/OR individual files/folders.
This week I will switch to their Pro version because it includes disaster recovery and the file restoration is a bit more straight forward and also includes the ability to exclude specific files, folders or extensions.
Bye bye Smartware, hello Genie Timeline.
WD still makes great drives. I will continue to use their drives but none like this one that locks you out of part of your drive because of their idea of software and security we need.
Suzzie12 wrote:
The WDFME set of Backup files are not designed well by WD.
This file can consume 45 to 75% of your system resources… even though the backup program has been completely shut off.
Use your windows manager function to look for this system resources hog.
I wouldnt mind if the File Backup Program used its resources after my machine was totally idle for 20 minutes…or if it used resources from 1 to 4 am in the morning while I slept…BUT… this file backup program seriously interferes with my prime computing times when Im wanting maximum response from my main programs…and NOT my file backup manager.
WD needs to get smarter about designing this software so it is NOT a performance issue…and they need to be better at relating to its customers about the issue.
If they dont fix this pubically… and with some internal programming resources…they may loose quarterly sales numbers… and require a round of layoffs so the high level managers can still keep their bonuses.
Seems like some high politically placed manager doesnt want to know about this issue… or to reallocate resources to get it fixed for the end customers.
don’t bother with smartware and uninstall it. see my following post. i use a free program called Genie Timeline and it does not use resources and also posted elsewhere about it.
WD won’t loose much business because of these smartware problems. they are in the hardware drive business and that is where all their revenue comes from. eventually they may realize there is a problem, but this forum is a ‘user community’ lip service forum and not supported directly by WD.
WD does build very good hard drives.
I uninstalled WD Smartware as you advised, and downloaded Genie Timeline. It seemed like a good program, but my Passport drive didn’t have enough room available for the Genie to do a complete back up. In order to clear the drive, I would have to re-install the WD Smartware.
So, that’s what I did, along with an update for the firmware. Once that was done, the problem seemed to be solved. I let Firefox remain on all afternoon, and the CPU usage hasn’t gone above about 9%, except for an occasional blip. This was a great change, because before it was using my entire 2 GB!
The Genie Timeline software looked nice, though, and I may still try to use it later.
Thank you for all your suggestions to deal with this problem.
