WD SSD Dashboard SSD Dashboard User Manual ™
Accessing Online Support Visit our product support website at http://support.wdc.com and choose from these topics: ▪ Downloads — Download software and updates for your WD product ▪ Registration — Register your WD product to get the latest updates and special offers at http://register.wdc.
Table of Contents _________ Accessing Online Support.................................................................................ii _________ 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................1 Minimum System Requirements...................................................................................... 1 Supported Operating Systems........................................................................................
Create a Bootable USB Drive with Sanitize.................................................................. 16 Erase Drive (WD Black)...................................................................................................17 Bootable USB Drive for Erase Drive (WD Black).......................................................... 18 S.M.A.R.T.......................................................................................................................... 18 Diagnostic Short Test..............
Introduction 1 Introduction Minimum System Requirements Supported Operating Systems Supported Languages Installation Usage Minimum System Requirements The WD SSD Dashboard is a Microsoft Windows application. Administrative rights are required for installation and execution of the application. Supported Operating Systems ▪ Windows 7 (32/64 bit) ▪ Windows 8.
Introduction Installation You can download the current version of the WD SSD Dashboard software from http://support.wdc.com. After the file has been downloaded, follow these steps to install the application. 1. Double-click on the WDSSDDashboardSetup.exe file icon to launch the installation. Note: To cancel the installation, click on the X in the upper-right corner of the dialog box. 2. When the installation is complete, click Finish. The WD SSD Dashboard launches and populates the Status section.
Introduction Usage The WD SSD Dashboard automatically scans for WD SSDs after it launches. If a WD SSD was not connected to the system when the application was installed, or if a specific SSD does not appear in the Dashboard, reconnect the drive, and then click the Refresh icon to the right of the Select drive drop-down menu to rescan the system for WD SSDs. When all SSD drives have been detected, you can select a specific drive by clicking on the Select drive drop-down menu.
Status 2 Status Status Section Capacity Volumes Life Remaining Temperature Interface Speed Status Section The Status section displays the overall state and health of the selected drive. Note: To select an SSD drive, click the Select drive drop-down menu. The following information is listed at the top of the Status screen: ▪ Model - The product model name of the selected WD SSD. ▪ Firmware Version - The version number of the firmware installed on the selected WD SSD.
Status ▪ Security - If the selected drive supports security, this area will be visible. ◦ “Not Activated” displays if the security protocol is not active. ◦ If the security protocol is active, the name of the active security protocol displays, for example, “TCG Opal 2.0.” Capacity As used for storage capacity on our packaging and device label, one gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes and one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes.
Status Note: WD SSD Dashboard User Manual For SATA SSD, the connection speed is the actual speed negotiated with the system. If the connection speed is lower than the SSD Capability speed, the following message appears in red: For best performance, connect your SSD to a 6.0 Gb/s-capable port.
Performance 3 Performance Performance Chart Transfer Speed MB/s Transfer IOPS TRIM Performance Chart The Performance chart provides two different real time performance metrics: transfer speed MB/s (megabytes per second) and transfer IOPS (I/O operation count per second). The chart scrolls from right to left and shows moving, 5-minute time line increments on the horizontal axis. The vertical axis of the chart will show either Transfer Speed MB/s or Transfer IOPS.
Performance TRIM (This feature will be displayed if the operating system supports it.) The TRIM function frees up space on the SSD that was used by files that have been deleted. Note: WD recommends that TRIM be run on a weekly basis. ▪ Click the Enable Windows TRIM checkbox to automatically run TRIM. ▪ Select Weekly, for the frequency, if available. ▪ Click Run TRIM Now to manually run TRIM.
Tools 4 Tools Firmware Update Check for Updates Update Using Bootable USB Drive Update Using File on My Computer Erase Drive—Secure Erase Delete User Data with Secure Erase Create a Bootable USB Drive for Secure Erase Sanitize Delete User Data with Sanitize Create a Bootable USB Drive with Sanitize Erase Drive (WD Black) Bootable USB Drive for Erase Drive (WD Black) S.M.A.R.T.
Tools When you click the Update SSD Firmware button, a confirmation dialog box appears. After the firmware has been downloaded to the SSD, a full-system shutdown is required to complete the firmware update process for SATA SSDs. This is typically done by shutting the computer down, and then turning it back on. A dialog box appears that provides the option to shut the computer down now, or later.
Tools Check for Updates Click Check for Updates to manually check if a firmware update is available for the selected drive. If a firmware update is found, the status message will change to “There is new firmware available for this drive,” and the update options will be displayed.
Tools Update Using Bootable USB Drive Note: The USB drive must be formatted as a FAT or FAT32 file system. 1. Insert a formatted USB drive. 2. Before proceeding, backup any existing data on the USB drive. 3. Click the drop-down list to select the USB drive. Note: If the USB drive is not listed, click the Refresh icon next to the drop-down list to scan for the USB drive. 4. Click Create USB Drive.
Tools Update Using File on My Computer Note: Only use compatible firmware update files for this process. If you have already downloaded the specific firmware file that should be used for the update, click Select File. A confirmation dialog box appears. Erase Drive—Secure Erase Secure Erase permanently destroys all user data on the selected SSD. Note: WD SSD Dashboard User Manual Secure Erase deletes the mapping table on the selected SSD, but it does not erase all blocks that have been written to.
Tools Secure Erase can only be performed on an SSD that is not the boot drive. However, if the SSD is the boot drive, the Secure Erase function can be performed from a formatted USB. See Create a Bootable USB Drive for Secure Erase. Delete User Data with Secure Erase Note: 1. Ensure that the correct SSD is selected on a system with more than one SSD. The Secure Erase function permanently destroys all user data on the selected SSD.
Tools 2. Before proceeding, backup any existing data on the USB drive. 3. Click the drop-down list to select the USB drive. If the USB drive is not listed, click the Refresh icon next to the drop-down list to scan for the USB drive. Note: 4. Click Create USB Drive. Sanitize Sanitize permanently destroys all user data on the SSD. Note: Sanitize deletes the mapping table and erases all blocks that have been written to on the selected SSD.
Tools 2. Click Erase Now next to Sanitize to delete all user data and leave the drive in an unformatted state. Create a Bootable USB Drive with Sanitize Note: The USB drive must be formatted as a FAT or FAT32 file system. 1. Insert a formatted USB drive. 2. Before proceeding, backup any existing data on the USB drive. 3. Click the drop-down list to select the USB drive.
Tools 4. Click Create USB Drive. Erase Drive (WD Black) Erase Drive permanently destroys all user data on the selected SSD. This function currently only supports WD Black PCIe SSD, and it will not be visible unless a WD Black PCIe SSD is connected and detected by the WD SSD Dashboard software. Note: WD SSD Dashboard User Manual Erase Drive deletes the mapping table on the selected SSD, but it does not erase all blocks that have been written to.
Tools Bootable USB Drive for Erase Drive (WD Black) Note: The USB drive must be formatted as a FAT or FAT32 file system. 1. Insert a formatted USB drive. 2. Before proceeding, backup any existing data on the USB drive. 3. Click the drop-down list to select the USB drive. Note: If the USB drive is not listed, click the Refresh icon next to the drop-down list to scan for the USB drive. 4. Click Create USB Drive. S.M.A.R.T. S.M.A.R.T.
Tools Diagnostic Short Test The S.M.A.R.T. Diagnostic Short Test runs automatically run every time the WD SSD Dashboard application is launched. It is a quick, drive health test as defined by the S.M.A.R.T. specification. Note: For WD Black PCIe SSD in systems running iRST drivers, this diagnostic short/extended test is not supported due to driver limitations. Diagnostic Extended Test The S.M.A.R.T. Diagnostic Extended Test is an extended drive health test as defined by the S.M.A.R.T. specification.
Tools If the test is successful, the progress status changes to a green, test complete message. If the test is unsuccessful, click the provided link to go to the test details.
Tools System Details System Details displays information about the operating system, computer hardware, and ATA controller(s) used in the system on which WD SSD Dashboard is installed.
Settings 5 Settings Starting WD SSD Dashboard with Windows Startup Select Language Email Alerts Configure WD SSD Dashboard Notification Alerts Starting WD SSD Dashboard with Windows Startup To launch the WD SSD Dashboard at Windows startup, check Start SSD Dashboard with Windows startup. To open the WD SSD Dashboard in Windows’ system tray on the taskbar, check Start minimized. Select Language Click the Select Language drop-down menu to select the display language of the WD SSD Dashboard.
Settings Email Alerts The WD SSD Dashboard can be configured to send notifications via email or SMS text message. Configure WD SSD Dashboard Notification Alerts 1. In the Software Settings pane on the left, click Email Alerts. Note: WD SSD Dashboard User Manual You can also sign up for alerts by clicking the Subscribe to email alerts now link in the right pane.
Settings 2. Click on the Privacy Statement link and the End User License Agreement link to review. 3. Click the checkbox to receive WD SSD Dashboard alerts. 4. You can receive alerts in email or SMS text format: a. Complete step 5 to receive email alerts. b. Complete step 6 to receive SMS text alerts. 5. To receive email alerts: a. Enter your email address. b. Re-enter your email address. c. Click Subscribe. An alert subscription dialog box appears. d.
Settings 7. c. An alert subscription confirmation will be sent to the SMS text address you entered above. After you have completed the alert subscription process, you can modify subscription options. Click Advanced Alert Options. 8. In the dialog box that opens, use the checkboxes to turn on/off the following options: 9. ▪ Application Updates ▪ Firmware Updates ▪ SSD capacity near full ▪ SSD temperature above normal ▪ SSD S.M.A.R.T.
Settings WD SSD Dashboard User Manual 26
Help 6 Help Online Support Generate Report About WD SSD Dashboard Online Support The Online Support section contains links to the WD Support website, where you’ll find product-specific information and user guides, a searchable Knowledge Base, and the WD Community forum. The Software & Downloads link takes you to the latest product and application software and firmware versions, and when specialized support is required, use the Get Help - Create a Support Case form.
Help About WD SSD Dashboard The About SSD Dashboard section contains the current version number of the WD SSD Dashboard software, as well as links to the End User License Agreement (EULA), Third Party Notices, and the WD Privacy Statement.
Western Digital, WD, the WD logo, WD Black, WD Blue and WD Green are registered trademarks or trademarks of Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other marks that may be mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
