How do I remove a MyBook's "WD SmartWare" virtual CD from my desktop?

"WD has posted the steps to remove the Smartware and its VCD, Mac or Windows...

STEP 1: Firmware Update: Release 2.003 (3/4/10)

Before running the Virtual CD Manager,
you must first update the firmware on
your hard drive.


Disconnect all other external drives from the computer except for
the My Book or My Passport drive you
want to update.
Ensure that the My Book or My Passport drive is connected to a USB
port on your computer.
Download the Firmware Updater for Windows.
Unzip the file and double click to open the Firmware Updater.
Click Continue to update the firmware.
Click Accept the End User's License Agreement (EULA). The updater will
scan the drive which may take a few
minutes.
Verify the attached drive's serial number located on the back of the
drive.
Click Update Firmware.
Once the updater is finished, click Exit.
Turn off the drive - For My Passport, disconnect the USB cable.
For My Book disconnect both USB and
power cables.
Wait 10 seconds. Reconnect the USB/power cables.


STEP 2: Download and run the VCD Manager


Download VCD Manager for Windows.(WDSmartWareVirtualCDManagerforWindows-v1.0.7.4.zip)
to your desktop.
Unzip the utility (Extract the file using an extraction utility.)
Double click WDSmartWareVirtualCDManagerforWindows-v1.0.7.4.exe.
Click Continue to disable the VCD.
Once the utility has found your drive, click Configure Drive and then
click Exit.
Turn off the drive - For My Passport, disconnect the USB cable.
For My Book disconnect both USB and
power cables.
Wait 10 seconds. Reconnect the USB/power cables that have been
disconnected in the previous step.
Verify that the VCD no longer appears."

"The instructions at this link will allow you to disable the VCD firmware:
http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/updates/?family=wdsmartwareutilities"

"I just plugged it in to one of my system. Then I booted that system up to an Xp install CD and then when given the option from the CD as to what hard-drive I wanted to install to I chose the MyBook and deleted the partition and then formatted it using the Install cd. Once tha formatting was done, I then canceled the CD boot and restarted my system. Now I have a clean MyBook with nothing on it at all, just like the darn thing is supposed to be.

Also this works for any USB."
"I just plugged it in to one of my system. Then I booted that system up to an Xp install CD and then when given the option from the CD as to what hard-drive I wanted to install to I chose the MyBook and deleted the partition and then formatted it using the Install cd. Once tha formatting was done, I then canceled the CD boot and restarted my system. Now I have a clean MyBook with nothing on it at all, just like the darn thing is supposed to be.

Also this works for any USB."

"I wanted remove the VCD partition, instead of hiding it. This problem frustrated me to no end, but I was finally able to completely remove the VCD from two WD SmartBooks.

There were two steps that actually seem to have done something.

First, on Windows, I updated the BIOS as @Gnoupi suggests (I'm not convinced I needed to do this, but I won't undo it).

Second, on Linux, I ran palimpsest (a disk management utility w/ a GUI) removed all visible partitions and chose Format drive -> Master Boot Record -> BSD. I then chose Format drive->don't partition.

I am now able to access all of the 999gb capacity and do what I want with it."

"Two solutions to actually get rid of the VDC (not just hide it):

Return it to the store and buy a different brand.
Tear open the casing, pull out the hard drive, and put it into a generic 3.5"" SATA enclosure."