Thus, the search for “SmartWare WD download” became a common ritual for a new WD drive owner. The download was typically necessary because the software lived on a hidden partition of the drive itself. If a user reformatted the drive for a different operating system (e.g., from Windows to Mac), or if the hidden partition became corrupted, that software was lost. Alternatively, users who bought a used drive or lost the original installation CD had to turn to WD’s support website. The download was the key that unlocked the drive’s promised functionality.