Unlocking the drive

After you have created a password to protect your drive, unless you selected the Enable auto unlock for this computer... check box, you will have to type your password to unlock the drive whenever:

• You shut down and restart your computer
• You disconnect and reconnect the drive
• Depending on its configuration, your computer exits the sleep mode

You will have to do this even if you do not have the WD Security™ software installed on your computer.

Unlocking the drive with the WD Security software

Unless you selected the Enable auto unlock for this computer... check box when you created your password, the WD Security software displays the Unlock Drive dialog when:

• The computer restarts or or exits the sleep mode
• You reconnect the drive if it is your only supported drive
• You select a locked drive

1. If you have more than one supported drive connected to your computer, select the one that you want to unlock to display the Unlock Drive dialog.
2. Type your password in the Password box.
3. Click Unlock Drive.

Unlocking the drive without the WD Security software

Whenever you connect your password-protected drive to a computer that does not have the WD Security software installed, you can use the WD Drive Unlock utility to unlock the drive there. The WD Drive Unlock utility is on a virtual CD (VCD) drive that appears in your computer's file management utility listing.

1. Use your computer's file management utility to open the WD Unlocker VCD listing and double-click the WD Drive Unlock application to display the WD Drive Unlock utility screen.
2. On the WD Drive Unlock utility screen:
   1. Type your password in the Password box
   2. Select the Enable auto unlock for this computer... check box if you want the WD Drive Unlock utility to remember your password on this computer.
   3. Click Unlock Drive.

See also:

• About the WD Security software
• Creating a password
• Changing your password
• Removing password protection