How to uninstall Western Digital Smartware?

I got an email from Western Digital warning of data loss when upgrading to Mavericks and recommending that WD Smartware be uninstalled, naturally I've been trying to do it. And I remember that I've tried to do it before, because the software is a useless POS, but never successfully. It always keeps coming back, apparently reinstalling itself from someplace.

In the latest attempt, when I run WD Smartware Uninstaller and click "uninstall," the little icon immediate disappears from the menu bar, confirming that it is honestly trying to do something, but it then enters a peculiar state in which the barberpole spins endlessly and whatever it is trying to do never completes. In this state, the "WD Smartware Uninstall" window cannot be dragged, and clicking on on the application icon in the Dock does not bring it to the front. On rebooting, WD Smartware is there again.

Ideas?

Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Nov 2, 2013 3:55 PM

24 replies

Nov 9, 2013 8:29 AM in response to baltwo

Following your directions, I ran

WD SmartWare Uninstaller.app. This time, it immediately stopped, reporting that "An unknown error occured."

Again, I ran

WD SmartWare Installer For Mac.app, version 1.3.4.6.

Again, it did not offer any uninstall option.

So, I asked it to REINSTALL SmartWare. This proceeded promptly to completion, reported success, launched the Smartware app, and began classifying files. I quit the application

I again ran WD SmartWare Installer For Mac.app, version 1.3.4.6, and this time it DID offer an uninstall option, which I chose. This time, it ran promptly to completion and reported success. Smartware-related items in Application Support and in LaunchDaemons were removed. BUT

/System/Library/Extensions/WD1394HPDriver.kext

/System/Library/Extensions/WDUSBHPDriver.kext

WERE NOT REMOVED.

Either the uninstaller does not work properly, or the uninstaller leaves those files in place for a reason. I don't know how to tell which it is. The files in question are copyright Western Digital, but this directory normally does contain some third-party files, for example, a bunch of ATTO drivers. Google does not find me any clear descriptions of what these files do.

Can you confirm that your system, which does not contain these files, DOES contain an external Western Digital drive and that it works properly without them?

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Nov 9, 2013 12:18 PM in response to Daniel P. B. Smith

Daniel P. B. Smith wrote:

Can you confirm that your system, which does not contain these files, DOES contain an external Western Digital drive and that it works properly without them?

No, I can't because I don't and never would have any WD ext HD on my system. Sorry, but you'll need to continue or restart your dialog w/WD and figure out why those two weren't removed.

tim jans

Level 1

20 points

Dec 29, 2013 3:22 AM in response to baltwo

Uninstall software:

http://community.wd.com/t5/News-Announcements/External-Drives-for-Mac-Experienci ng-Data-Loss-with-Maverick-OS/td-p/613777

robmaci

Level 1

14 points

Jan 7, 2014 8:34 AM in response to tim jans

That link goes to a page where WD claims you can download the uninstaller. You click on the link provided and only get links to software INSTALLERS. Pulling my hair out a bit. I'm to just update the software and go from there.

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Jan 7, 2014 1:21 PM in response to robmaci

Run the downloaded installer app and you should find an option to uninstall. If not, contact Western Digital Customer Service at http://support.wdc.com/country/ for further assistance.

robmaci

Level 1

14 points

Jan 9, 2014 12:30 PM in response to baltwo

I HAVE THE ANSWER!

To uninstall Smartware, you go into your applications folder. There is a standalone app called Smartware Uninstaller. Done.

Jan 25, 2014 2:32 PM in response to robmaci

I have WD Smartware v1.1.1.4 but there is no Smartware Uninstaller in my apps.

Now what?

Aug 31, 2014 8:14 AM in response to PatsyKB51

I have a WD passport installed on my iMac 10.9 4. I was unable to run the Time Machine because of the WD unlocker that required a password each time . There was no facility to remove the unlocker with the original installation.

I have now sorted the problem. I phoned Applecare who directed me to the WD website at http://support.wdc.com/country/count...=unitedkingdom . I phoned their general number and was left hanging forever with no indication of where I was in the queue . I then went to their support portal at https://westerndigital.secure.force.com/ind/ID_Login and registered with the site. I sent an email query to which thy responded within 24 hours. They directed me to the downloads site at

http://support.wdc.com/product/downl...id=218&lang=en where I downloaded WD security for mac. This allowed me to disable the WD unlocker and the Time Machine now works.

Oct 26, 2015 6:07 PM in response to Daniel P. B. Smith

Go to http://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?DL

Click on the "WD Software" tab

Under that, Select Software for Mac or Software for Windows.

Then, Select WD Smartware and download it.

Select the WD drive and Disable the Virtual CD.

Voila you have a normal Hard drive now which you can erase and format using the Disk Utility.

p.s. Don't forget to uninstall WD Smartware in the end.

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How to uninstall Western Digital Smartware?