Western Digital SSD Dashboard™
SSD Dashboard
User Manual
Visit our product support website at http://support.wdc.com and choose from these topics:
▪Downloads — Download software and updates for your Western Digital product
▪Registration — Register your Western Digital product to get the latest updates and special offers at http://register.wdc.com
▪Warranty & RMA Services — Get warranty, product replacement (RMA), RMA status, and data recovery information
▪Knowledge Base — Search by keyword, phrase, or Answer ID
▪Installation — Get online installation help for your Western Digital product or software
▪Western Digital Community — Share your thoughts and connect with other Western Digital users at http://community.wdc.com
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Accessing Online Support................................................................................. |
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Introduction .................................................................................................... |
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Minimum System Requirements...................................................................................... |
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Supported Operating Systems........................................................................................ |
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Supported Languages...................................................................................................... |
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Installation........................................................................................................................ |
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Usage ............................................................................................................................... |
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WD Black Gaming SSD.................................................................................................... |
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Gaming Mode................................................................................................................... |
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Status.............................................................................................................. |
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Status Section.................................................................................................................. |
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Capacity............................................................................................................................ |
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Volumes............................................................................................................................ |
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Life Remaining.................................................................................................................. |
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Temperature..................................................................................................................... |
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Interface Speed................................................................................................................ |
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Performance Chart........................................................................................................... |
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Transfer Speed MB/s....................................................................................................... |
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Transfer IOPS.................................................................................................................... |
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TRIM................................................................................................................................... |
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Tools.............................................................................................................. |
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Firmware Update............................................................................................................ |
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Check for Updates.......................................................................................................... |
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Update Using Bootable USB Drive................................................................................ |
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Update Using File on My Computer.............................................................................. |
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Erase Drive—Secure Erase............................................................................................. |
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Delete User Data with Secure Erase............................................................................. |
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Create a Bootable USB Drive for Secure Erase............................................................ |
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Sanitize............................................................................................................................ |
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Delete User Data with Sanitize...................................................................................... |
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Create a Bootable USB Drive with Sanitize.................................................................. |
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Erase Drive (WD Black).................................................................................................. |
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Bootable USB Drive for Erase Drive (WD Black).......................................................... |
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S.M.A.R.T......................................................................................................................... |
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Diagnostic Short Test..................................................................................................... |
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Diagnostic Extended Test.............................................................................................. |
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Drive Details................................................................................................................... |
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System Details................................................................................................................ |
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5 Settings......................................................................................................... |
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Application Update........................................................................................................ |
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Starting Western Digital SSD Dashboard with Windows Startup............................. |
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Select Language............................................................................................................ |
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Online Support............................................................................................................... |
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Generate Report............................................................................................................ |
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About Western Digital SSD Dashboard....................................................................... |
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Western Digital SSD Dashboard |
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1 Introduction
This chapter contains the following sections.
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Minimum System Requirements |
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Usage |
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Supported Operating Systems |
▪ WD Black Gaming SSD |
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Supported Languages |
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Gaming Mode |
▪Installation
Minimum System Requirements
The Western Digital 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; requires a KB hotfix to support NVMe, see https:// support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2990941/update-to-add-native-driver- support-in-nvm-express-in-windows-7-and-wi)
▪Windows 8.1 (32/64 bit)
▪Windows 10 (32/64 bit)
Supported Languages
Seventeen languages are supported:
▪Czech
▪Danish
▪Dutch
▪English
▪French
▪German
▪Italian
▪Japanese
▪Korean
▪Polish
▪Portuguese
▪Russian
▪Simplified Chinese
▪Spanish
▪Swedish
▪Traditional Chinese
▪Turkish
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Introduction
You can download the current version of the Western Digital 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 WesternDigitalSSDDashboardSetup.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. Select your language and click Install to proceed with the installation.
When the installation has completed successfully, click on the Finish button. This will automatically launch the Western Digital SSD Dashboard and load the Status section.
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Introduction
Upon launching the Western Digital SSD Dashboard, the software automatically scans your computer for Western Digital SSDs, including WD and SanDisk products.
If a Western Digital SSD is connected to the system after Dashboard is launched, the Dashboard will automatically detect the drive. It will add the drive as the current model if this is the only Western Digital drive in the system, or add it to the list of drives in the Select Drive drop-down. If for some reason you do not see the drive, click the Refresh icon in the upper right corner of the screen to rescan the system for Western Digital SSDs.
When all SSD drives have been detected, you can select a specific drive by clicking on the Select drive drop-down menu.
The Western Digital SSD Dashboard automatically changes its appearance (often called a "skin") when a WD Black Gaming SSD is selected. This enhanced, productspecific skin includes gaming-related features, including Gaming Mode.
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Introduction
Gaming Mode is a feature exclusive to the SN750 model of WD Black SSD and beyond.
Turning Gaming Mode on will disable low power mode and keep the SSD running at peak levels for longer sustained execution when you want non-stop, consistent high performance.
A system restart is required for the SSD to take effect after changing mode.
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2 Status
This chapter contains the following sections.
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Status Section |
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Life Remaining |
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Capacity |
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Temperature |
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Volumes |
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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 Western Digital SSD.
▪Firmware Version - The version number of the firmware installed on the selected Western Digital SSD.
▪Drive Health - Drive Health summarizes the current condition of the selected SSD based on Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) attributes.
◦Normal: The drive is in good condition.
◦Poor: The number of spare blocks has reached the minimum threshold or the drive is overheating. In the case of low spare-block count, replace this drive with a new Western Digital SSD.
▪Notifications - Notifications, such as software or firmware updates available or S.M.A.R.T. attribute warnings, will be displayed in this area.
▪Security - If the selected drive supports security, this area will be visible.
◦“Not Activated” displays if the security protocol is not active.
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Status
◦If the security protocol is active, the name of the active security protocol displays, for example, “TCG Opal 2.0.”
As used for storage capacity on our packaging and device label, one gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes and one terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. On the Western Digital SSD Dashboard and within Windows folders, total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment and the capacity displayed is based on the Windows operating system's calculation method for total-reported capacity.
▪Green - Free space
▪Blue - Used space
▪Gray - Unallocated space
▪Yellow - Other
▪Red - Full
The chart displays any drive volumes recognized by Windows.
▪Green - Free space
▪Blue - Used space
▪Red - No free space
The Life Remaining percentage represents the remaining writes the selected drive can perform in its lifetime.
Note: If this feature is not supported by the drive, a “Not Supported” message will be displayed.
The temperature reported by the SSD is updated every 30 seconds. The thermometer graphic displays one of two colors, as follows.
▪Green - Normal operation
▪Yellow - The SSD is currently overheating
▪SSD Capability - The fastest speed supported by the drive.
▪Connection - The port connecting the SSD to the system.
Note: For SATA SSD, the connection speed is the actual speed negotiated with the system. If the connection speed is lower than the SSD Capability
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