How can I tell a WD Drive was not made to work with WD Software?

To tell if a Western Digital (WD) drive was **not made to work with WD software**, you can check several indicators based on the model, packaging, and features. Here's how:

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### ✅ 1. **Check the Drive Model Number**

* WD model numbers usually start with **WD** and are followed by a code, such as `WD10EZEX`, `WDBYVG0020BBK`, or `WD5000H1U-00`.

* Drives designed for **WD software compatibility** (like WD Backup, WD Discovery, WD Security) are typically from these series:

* **My Passport**

* **My Book**

* **WD Elements** (limited compatibility)

* **My Cloud**

* Drives with OEM or enterprise model codes (e.g., `WD100EFAX`, `WD20PURZ`, `WD5000AAKX`) are often **not compatible** with WD software tools—they are bare drives or for NAS.

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### ✅ 2. **Look for WD Software Preload**

* Retail external drives intended for consumers usually have **WD software preloaded** (e.g., WD Discovery, WD Backup, WD Utilities).

* If the drive is blank or only contains a generic volume with no WD software, it might be an OEM version.

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### ✅ 3. **Packaging and Labels**

* **Retail packaging** will explicitly mention software like:

* “Includes WD Backup and WD Security”

* “Compatible with WD Discovery”

* Drives sold **without such mention**, especially OEM or bulk drives, are not expected to work with WD's consumer tools.

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### ✅ 4. **WD Discovery/Software Support**

* Try installing [WD Discovery](https://support-en.wd.com/app/products/product-detailweb/p/130#WD_downloads).

* If the drive is **not recognized** by WD Discovery, it likely:

* Is **not intended** to work with it, or

* Is an **older drive** no longer supported

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### ✅ 5. **WD Support Website Lookup**

* Go to [WD Product Support](https://support-en.wd.com/).

* Enter your **drive model or serial number**.

* Check if the listed downloads or documentation include **WD Software** (Discovery, Utilities, Backup, etc.).

* If nothing shows up except firmware updates or no downloads, it’s likely not supported.

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### ✅ 6. **USB Drive vs. Internal Drive**

* **External USB drives** (like My Passport, Elements) are usually supported.

* **Internal drives** or **bare external enclosures** (like Easystore) may not support WD tools, especially if removed from their original enclosures.

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### ✅ Summary Table

| Feature | Likely Compatible | Likely Not Compatible |

| --------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- |

| Series | My Passport, My Book, My Cloud | WD Blue, WD Red, WD Purple (internal), OEM models |

| Software Preloaded | Yes | No |

| WD Discovery Support | Yes | Usually No |

| Retail Packaging | Yes | No or Generic Packaging |

| Support Site Shows WD Tools | Yes | No |

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If you tell me the **model number** or upload a picture of the label, I can confirm for your specific drive.

Want to check a particular model number? You can use [WD Discovery](f) or [WD Product Lookup](f) to confirm software support.