Bought Western digital WD5000H1U-00, but when I tried to use it for the 1st time, tells me I have a 30 day trial to use Memeo backup....Why would I need to purchase software? Souldn't this product have it's own software? thx

This software is not linked with the drive (with this particular drive you only get a trial version anyway). Just remove the software from your PC.

Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Remove Memeo/ WD Anywhere Backup.

Once you have done that, you can delete everything on it (assuming you never manually put something on it apart from the backup). If so, back it up onto your PC, another drive or CD.

The my book essential only comes with a trial version of Memeo / WD Anywhere Backup, which can only be used for 30-days. Your only option to use the backup software with the drive, is to purchase it. However, you could use another software or alternatively manually copy / paste your data over to the drive.

If it's any help, windows also has a built-in backup and restore function.

WinXP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntbackup

Vista - Start > In the search bar, type: Backup. Open the executable.

Win 7 - Open my cumputer > right-click on your C-drive > select properties > select the 'tools' tab and select 'backup now'

No need to use third-party software, just make your backups with Windows Backup (if in Windows) or rsyn (in Linux).
you may also set a schedule to run those backups, and specify the folders wanted.

Yes, you do not need the Memeo software as long as it is plug and play.

I have the same drive, the warning you are recieving is from Memeo the software for auto backup or autoSync, it's pretty cheap to buy the program and it works really well. So it's not the hard drive telling you that, it's the software. When you create sync plans, you can go to my computer and then double click on your external hard drive, open the sync plan and peruse your documents, photos etc. and open them up. Hope this helps

cant you just hook it up and see it under my computer as a drive?

that's what happens when you buy a laptop... lots of trial software that you are expected to buy if you want to keep using it. I would however check the documentation that came with the hard drive. there may be a registration number for the software there.

Robert

This trial software expiration shouldn't prevent the external drive from working. The drive should be visible in "My Computer", Windows Explorer etc. A quick way to determine if the drive does have a problem, is plug it into another system- if it works there, then you have some sort of problem on the first machine- likely a software bug- or maybe some virus has fouled things up.

Hi Guys,
Not all WD have inside the box a software product key for booldy Memeo Auto Backup thing. You need to buy the software and until wou get tha cash you can use free trial version.
They are quite pathetic how the trick the clients with unfriendly software provided by a "third party".
So we need to dig for more cash for the "master of puppets"
Next time I will buy only products with hard and soft inclucluded in the box. I on a learning "curve".
Here I attached the answer from teh WD site:
Cheers, Calin
WD Anywhere Backup
WD Anywhere Backup comes on our drives as a 30 day trial version software only. In order to use it, permanently, you will need the product key. The following Western Digital products come packaged with the product key:

• Drives With Product Key - My Book Home, My Book Office, My Book Studio, My Book World, Passport Elite, My Book Mirror, and WD ShareSpace
  
  
• Trial Version Only - My Book Essential

Your product key can be found in the installation manual, on a sticker, in the technical support section. If you have one of the drives that comes with a product key, and your installation manual does not have the product key sticker, please contact us using the Ask WD A Question page for a replacement product key.
Memeo AutoSync
We do not provide a product key for Memeo AutoSync. Memeo AutoSync is a 30 day trial version, and you will need to purchase it from Memeo in order to obtain a product key.

I hope that helps!

ok " I would call western digital and get the key

also ask them what the hell are they doing

well maybe not the last part would be a good idea