What you mean is to format your PASSPORT ESSENTIAL 500GB EXTERNAL HDD. In Western Digital website, you can download the Disk Manager that can do that.
![For For](http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab14/supreme9999/WD/WD%20My%20Passport%20Ultra%20USB3%202TB%20-%20Black/WD%20My%20Passport%20Ultra%202TB%20-%20Black%201_zps1aoe59n0.jpg)
Western Digital My Passport is one of that external hard drives that come with 256-bit hardware encryption. As external hard drives can store large amounts of data then it is necessary for us to protect the data stored on them. Some years ago external hard drives were like USB flash drives with no. On return to me I tried to access my backed up files, but I had to provide the password to unlock the WD My Passport, and upon entry, all that I get is the current reset back ups.
Go to this site and look for download then click. Or go here and look for My Passport then click. Choose the model of your PASSPORT ESSENTIAL and click the available software then look for WD Quick Formatter for Windows or for Mac. Changes on the Western Digital website may happen anytime, so Read and follow the instructions on how to download and use the program for your PASSPORT ESSENTIAL HDD. Or simply go to their website look for information. Its two different procedures which means different results to the device. Most of Hard drives are preformatted to (FAT) file system, if not then you have to do the formatting manually.
If your Hard Drive is formatted in Mac it has been set to one of these file systems, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) Mac OS Extended Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled) Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive) MS-DOS (FAT) Now that you want to restore it back to original then it must be FAT file system. The FAT file system can be access in Windows Operating Systems, so I can recommend this format for accessing different Operating Systems. Both Mac OS and Windows. Leader Board Leading Today Pts Helpful 1. 200 69% Leading this Week Pts Helpful 1.
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Hey there, redbart! Sorry to hear about your issues with this. I'd suggest to check out this link on how to set up security on your WD external with WD SmartWare: If your WD Passport has become locked without creating a passport for it in the first place, this might be a sign of a damage on the drive.
![Passport Passport](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125398178/477495420.png)
So I'd strongly recommend contacting our tech support either by phone or by e-mail and let them know about this. Here you will find the contacts: Good luck! Hope I helped you! Merry Christmas! You are right, Ijack!
There's no way we can distinguish that indeed, which is why I recommended contacting our tech support for assistance. Unfortunately, if the OP has really forgot his/her password, the only way to unlock that external WD Passport would be to format it and lose the data. The password protection on the drive is there to prevent people from accessing your drive, redbart! If you've forgotten your password there's no way WE can determine if the drive is yours or not, only our tech support might be able to do that. So make sure you contact them with this.