5
Locking and Unlocking the Drive
This chapter includes the following topics:
Password Protecting the Drive
Unlocking the Drive
Changing Your Password
Turning Off the Drive Lock Feature
Password Protecting the Drive
You should password protect your drive if you are worried that someone else will gain
access to your drive and you do not want them to see your
files
on the drive. A password
can be used to lock and unlock your drive. Depending on your location
¹
, using a password
may encrypt your data.
The My Passport software uses your password to electronically lock and unlock your drive. If you
forget your password, you will not be able to access the data that is on your drive or write new data
to it. You will have to erase the drive before you can use it again.
1. Click
Start > All Programs > Western Digital > WD Apps > WD Security
to display the
WD Security screen, Set Security dialog.
2. If you have more than one supported drive connected to your computer, select
the one that you want to create a password for.
3. Read the warning about the possibility of data loss if you forget your password.
4. Type your password in the
Password
box, using up to 25 characters.
5. Retype your password in the
Verify Password
box.
6. Type a hint to help remember your password in the
Password Hint
box.
7. Select the
Enable auto unlock for this computer...
check box if you want the
WD Security software to remember your password for the selected drive on this
computer.
8. Click
Set Password
to save your password.
After creating a password, the drive remains unlocked for as long as you continue your current
work session. Then the My Passport software:
▪
Locks the drive when you shut down your computer or disconnect your drive. Sleep mode
locks the drive if power to the USB port is off.
▪
Requires you to type your password to unlock the drive when you restart your computer or
reconnect your drive, UNLESS you selected the Enable auto unlock for this computer... check
box when you created your password
Note:
When you create a password, the drive begins to protect your data.
This listing appears:
▪
The next time you shut down and restart your computer
1
Not all of Western Digital's products contain active data encryption. For some markets,
like Russia, the encryption is disabled and cannot be enabled by the end user.
Locking and Unlocking the Drive
My Passport
™
User Manual
16