Drive Question--Brand--WD vs. Fantom

Do these WD products have included software? The specifications do not indicate. I have been told not to use the software but read on some of them it is already preloaded.

WD My Passport for Mac 1TB USB 3.0 Mac Storage Model WDBLUZ0010BSL-NESN

WD My Book for Mac 2TB USB 3.0 External Storage Model WDBYCC0020HBK-NESN


I found the Fantom Drive GForce3 Pro GF3B1000UP and it does not have preloaded software. Any opinions?

I can't believe I am spending this much time on an external hard drive but I am determined to find one without software.

No, it shouldn't come with software preloaded and if it does, you could always format the drive before you used it.

I can't believe I am spending this much time on an external hard drive but I am determined to find one without software.

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Why? If you do buy a drive that has software or is formatted for a PC, it's a simple matter to remove the software or if necessary to re-format the drive so it can be used on your Mac. When I buy a drive off the shelf at any store, I expect it to be formatted for a PC or to have some kind of proprietary backup software on it. The last two WD Passport drives I purchased were that way. It took all of 5 minutes to re-format them for my iMac and that also took care of the worthless software that was included.

And Fantom does not manufacture hard drives. The drive inside the enclosure could also be a WD. I am disinclined to purchase any enclosure that comes with a drive pre-installed from a manufacturer that does not disclose what drive is inside the case.

That determination is of no value in this case. As stated above, you just don't use the software.

Okay--I'll just buy the WD and reformat. I think I just read too much about the software and how the drives would not even boot unless their stuff was installed or something like that and it remained on your desktop even if you reformatted. I'm just making this way too difficult. I'm even wondering if I can open my Lacie and replace its hard drive. I better just give this up and order.

chscag said:

Why? If you do buy a drive that has software or is formatted for a PC, it's a simple matter to remove the software or if necessary to re-format the drive so it can be used on your Mac. When I buy a drive off the shelf at any store, I expect it to be formatted for a PC or to have some kind of proprietary backup software on it. The last two WD Passport drives I purchased were that way. It took all of 5 minutes to re-format them for my iMac and that also took care of the worthless software that was included.

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nancyspeed said:

Okay--I'll just buy the WD and reformat. I think I just read too much about the software and how the drives would not even boot unless their stuff was installed or something like that and it remained on your desktop even if you reformatted. I'm just making this way too difficult. I'm even wondering if I can open my Lacie and replace its hard drive. I better just give this up and order.

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The problems you have read of are rather uncommon (and often poorly understood and even mis-characterized), though we do have a member who does have something going on along those lines and his Mac simply will not recognize the drive he has plugged in. As for the Lacie, yes, you likely could open it up and replace the drive. They don't make their own drives either.

Thank all of you for your posts. I did google how to make your own hard drive and it seems very simple to me. I was worried some type of wiring was involved.