Windows 7 - Western Digital Passort 320G software question

Hi, I've had this Western Digital drive for a while now. Been saving data and files from my different computers - old W2k, Win Xp, onto it and would like to use it for my Windows 7 notebook now for system image, and regular backups.

Is there a way to run this without the sync and mionet(?) sofware installing, just as a simple backup? So I can use windows explorer and remove all the junk software and use it without it?
ie:
WD Drive Manager
Sync Software
and others I have not used.

this is the startup info fromin WD Windows Tools Folder - Install INI file :
[WD Silent Installer]
Model= MY Passport Elite
Program1=WDDriverManager\WD Drive Manager Setup (x86).exe /quiet
Program2=Diagnostics\setup.exe /s /v"/qn"

I just noticed it is formatted as a FAT32....
thanks so much.

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

If you don't want to use Western Digital's backup software, just delete it, and then use the backup software of your choice.

Check this link for further information: How to uninstall WD Anywhere Backup (on Windows and Mac))

Thanks, that sounds simple enough. I was hoping that would be the answer
Will go look at the link..will check back if all goes well.

opps sorry..
I'm not using the anywhere backup. I do a simple drag and drop or copy my files to the passport with windows explorer.
It's when I plug the drive in, that WD Sync/Minoet window opens and installs WD Drive Manager on my computer.
..this is what I would like to stop if I can.
Maybe I can delete all those WD files and folders off the drive if it is safe, and it will still work.?

I would reformat the drive.

ok, sounds good. thanks for the feeback.

Before you use the drive, connect it to Windows 7 computer, backup any data on the USB drive.

Now go to disk management program on windows 7, remove all the partitions from the USB drive, Make one partition and format with NTFS.

NTFS format is much better and robust than FAT32.

This way you can use the drive as a backup drive for direct copying from various computers.

Once the drive is formatted as whs suggests, drag and drop will work fine. Keep it simple, that's my motto.

Rraod's advice to convert your drive to NTFS is good too.