Western Digital My Passport Essential User Manual page 42

Using the Drive Unlock Utility. To erase your My Passport when the drive is locked and
you have forgotten or lost your password:
1.
If you do not see a prompt to provide your password, then either:
• Click the My Passport image above the Drive is locked prompt on the Home
screen to display the WD SmartWare drive unlock screen:
• Start the WD SmartWare Drive Unlock utility by either:
-
Using your computer's file management utility to open the WD Unlock virtual
CD and double-clicking the Unlock.exe file
-
Clicking Start > My Computer, opening the WD Unlock virtual CD listing
under Devices with Removable Storage and double-clicking the Unlock.exe
file
2. Make five attempts to unlock the drive by:
a. Typing a password in the Password box.
b. Clicking Unlock.
3. The fifth invalid password attempt displays the Too Many Password Attempts
prompt:
4. Read the warning about the loss of data if you erase your drive.
5. Click the I understand check box to signify that you accept the risk.
6. Click Format to erase your drive.
MY PASSPORT ESSENTIAL AND ESSENTIAL SE
MANAGING AND CUSTOMIZING YOUR DRIVE – 37
USER MANUAL