For those that use Western Digital drives, there is a smartware update detailed below: http://www.wd.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/wdsmartware.asp?pid=1130&os=WIN User notes to those that may upgrade - Hides notification icons (system tray) until presumably active. Now shows splash screen on manual view.
For those seeking Western Digital Smartware or other support may obtain it below - http://support.wdc.com/contact/index.asp?lang=en
Would any imaging specialists be aware of how to roll back the WDC smartware software to a prior version ? Partial fault bucket to the engine shown: Code: Faulting Application Path: C:\Program Files\Western Digital\WD SmartWare\WDBackupEngine.exe
Windows release SmartWare 2.3.0 (updated 3/4/2014) Link below is for Windows users: http://www.wd.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/wdsmartware.asp?id=wdfGeneric&os=win
For those that may run a custom Hosts file, backup under the new software can and does remain incomplete. Not the actual custom Hosts file but backups kept elsewhere are recognized by the software as system files. Have made Western Digital aware of these findings.
WD SmartWare 2.4.1 (updated 6/11/2014) | update for all drives. http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/wdsmartware.asp?id=wdfGeneric&os=win
Those that have not yet updated to this version of WD SmartWare may want to wait as there seems to be issues under Windows 7.
WD SmartWare Windows release 2.4.2 (updated 8/4/2014) http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/wdsmartware.asp?id=wdfMyBook_FJK&os=win
WD SmartWare 2.4.4 ============= http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/wdsmartware.asp?id=wdfMyBook_FJK&os=win
WD SmartWare 2.4.6 ============= Highlights: Fixes an issue that causes backing up files to Dropbox to fail for some users after activating WD SmartWare Pro. Updated End User License Agreement http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/wdsmartwareupdate/wdsmartware.asp?id=wdfGeneric&os=win
Continued backup failures begs the question - can a user rely on a disc image prior or after the engine has ceased working ?
Western Digital asked me to contact them and I will as that last thing any user wants in a back-up device is a shiny brick sitting on their computer table.