Western Digital WD Elements Play User manual

WD Elements™Play
Multimedia Drive
User Manual

WD®Service and Support
Should you encounter any problem, please give us an opportunity to address it before returning
this product. Most technical support questions can be answered through our knowledge base
or e-mail support service at http://support.wdc.com. If the answer is not available or, if you
prefer, please contact WD at the best telephone number shown below.
Your product includes 30 days of free telephone support during the warranty period. This
30-day period starts on the date of your first telephone contact with WD technical support.
E-mail support is free for the entire warranty period and our extensive knowledge base is
available 24/7. To help us keep you informed of new features and services, remember to
register your product online at http://register.wdc.com.
Accessing Online Support
Visit our product support website at http://support.wdc.com and choose from these topics:
Downloads - Download drivers, software, and updates for your WD product.
Registration - Register your WD product to get the latest updates and special offers.
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 WD product or software.
Contacting WD Technical Support
When contacting WD for support, have your WD product serial number, system hardware, and
system software versions available.
North America Europe (toll free)* 00800 ASK4 WDEU
English 800.ASK.4WDC (00800 27549338)
(800.275.4932)
Spanish 800.832.4778 Europe
[phone]
Middle East [phone]
Mexico 001 8002754932 Africa [phone]
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Korea 02 703 6550
Malaysia [phone]/1 800 88 1908/
[phone]
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Singapore [phone]/[phone]/
[phone]
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* Toll free number available in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

TABLE OF CONTENTS – i
Table of Contents
1 Important User Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Recording Your WD Product Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Registering Your WD Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3 Features and Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
LED Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Operating System Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Installation Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5 Operating the Multimedia Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Using the Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Using the Multimedia Drive Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6 File Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
7 Watching Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Video Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Video Playback Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Video Information Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Video Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Video Playback Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

TABLE OF CONTENTS – ii
8 Playing Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Music Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Music Playback Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Music Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Music Playback Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
9 Viewing Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Photo Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Photo Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Photo Playback Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Photo Info Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
10 Setup and Advanced Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Setup Navigation Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Audio Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Video Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Others Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Locating Media Content. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
11 System Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
System Firmware Upgrade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Common Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Installing, Partitioning, and Formatting the Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
12 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Product Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Environmental Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Supported Media File Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Regulatory Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
IMPORTANT USER INFORMATION – 1
Important User Information
Important Safety Instructions
This device is designed and manufactured to assure personal safety. Improper use
can result in electric shock or fire hazard. The safeguards incorporated into this unit
will protect you if you observe the following procedures for installation, use, and
servicing.
Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or
other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
Do not expose the batteries or the remote control with batteries installed to
excessive heat (direct sunlight, fire, etc.).
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A
polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type
plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third
prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your
outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs,
convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods
of time.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the
apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is
damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.
Carefully read and follow the Quick Install Guide and User Manual.
Do not operate this device outside the temperature range of 5°C–35°C
(41°F–95°F).
Do not drop or shake the device.
Do not move the device when it is powered on.
Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on
or pinched by items placed upon them or against them.
Do not overload wall outlets.
For additional safety information, refer to www.wdc.com.
1

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
IMPORTANT USER INFORMATION – 2
Recording Your WD Product Information
In the following table, write the serial and model numbers of your new WD product.
You can find this information on the label on the bottom of the device. You should
also note the date of purchase. This information may be required when requesting
technical support.
Registering Your WD Product
Your WD product includes 30 days of free technical support during the applicable
warranty period for your product. The 30-day period commences on the date of
your first telephone contact with WD technical support. Register your WD product
online at https://register.wdc.com.
Accessories
For U.S. residents, visit www.shopwd.com to view additional accessories available
for your multimedia drive. For users outside the U.S., visit http://support.wdc.com.
Serial Number:
Model Number:
Purchase Date:
System and Software Notes:

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
PRODUCT OVERVIEW – 3
Product Overview
The WD Elements Play multimedia drive is an easy, affordable way to supersize your
movies and photos on your big-screen TV and play your music collection on your
home entertainment center. Save your media collection on the multimedia drive, then
simply connect the drive to your TV and you’re ready to enjoy all your digital media in
Full-HD 1080p resolution.
Full-HD 1080p resolution – Experience spectacular Full-HD video picture quality
and crystal-clear Dolby TrueHD and DTS 2.0 digital audio. The HDMI port lets you
connect to the highest quality HDTV or home theater.
Plenty of room for your media collection – The built-in high capacity hard drive
offers room for tons of media. If you need more space, plug USB drives into the
available ports.
Supports a wide variety of file formats – Most popular formats are supported
including RMVB, H264, DTS, Dolby TrueHD, and MKV.
Camera compatible – Connect your digital camera or camcorder and play or
transfer content from your camera to the drive.
Intuitive user interface – Simple, intuitive and beautiful, the user interface provides
the following navigation options:
DVD navigation with complete menu navigation, chapter listings, special
features, and subtitles
Photo slideshow with unique transitions and music on your HDTV
Supports photo thumbnails, video cover art and music album art
Music playlist support for PLS, M3U, WPL file types
Preview your video during navigation
Multi-language subtitle support for video playback
Automatic play – Set the player to play a selected media file automatically when
the unit is turned on. Perfect for living art on your HD TV or for digital signage.
Composite video connection – Composite (RCA) outputs ensure compatibility
with virtually all television sets.
Digital optical audio – High fidelity audio or pass-through digital audio signal to
your AV receiver for surround sound experience. Supports S/PDIF and Dolby Digital
native playback.
PAL and NTSC versions available.
Compatibility – DTS 2.0, AAC, MP3, JPEG, USB 2.0, Real Media, HDMI, H.264,
MKV, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Mac OS X, Win Vista/7.
Note: Compatibility may vary depending on the user's hardware configuration and operating system.
2

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS – 4
Features and Functions
Features
Audio/Video Interface
HDMI interface for digital audio and high-definition video
Composite interface (RCA yellow/white/red) for analog AV connection
S/PDIF (optical) audio for high-fidelity digital audio
Video output resolution includes 480i and 576i (composite interface), or 480p,
576p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p (HDMI interface)
Stereo or multi-channel digital surround (pass through only) audio output
Advanced Navigation Options
Thumbnail and list views—browse your content by filename or by thumbnails of
photos or album covers
Search—search by filename and partial filename
Content Playback
The multimedia drive is capable of playing several different types of multiformat files.
For a detailed list of supported formats, go to “Supported Media File Formats” on
page 59. The included remote control lets you quickly browse through your media
and configure settings.
Photo Viewing
Create custom slide shows with a variety of transitions
Zoom, pan, repeat, shuffle, and rotate
Movie Viewing
Fast forward, rewind, previous, next, pause, repeat, and zoom
View subtitles
View video menu (if supported by the file format)
Video preview (if supported by the file format)
Music Playback
Fast forward, rewind, pause, shuffle, and repeat
View album art
File Management:
View all files together
Copy or delete files directly from the TV
3

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS – 5
Additional Features
Real Media (RMVB) playback
DTS 2.0
Dolby Digital (combo w/ DD+ and Dolby TrueHD)
Plug-and-play convenience
Popular media format support
Metadata support
Thumbnail support
Aggregated music/photo/video view
HDMI or composite video outputs
S/PDIF (optical) audio output
Plug-n-Play USB 2.0 Support
USB storage device with a USB connector
Portable multimedia drives with USB connector
Digital cameras with USB connector
For a list of tested, compatible USB devices, see Article #5675 in our knowledge
base at http://support.wdc.com.
USB Storage File System Support
FAT/FAT32
NTFS
HFS+
HFS+Journaling (read only)
For instructions on how to disable Journaling, see Article #2615 in our knowledge
base at http://support.wdc.com.

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS – 6
Connections
Item Component Description
1 USB port Supports connection of removable storage devices, portable
multimedia drives, and digital cameras with USB connectors
2Power jack Connects the power adapter
3 Mini USB port Supports connection of the multimedia drive to a computer as
an external USB storage device for content transfer.
4HDMI port Connects to your TV’s HDMI port (HDMI cable sold separately)
5 Composite jacks Connect to your TV’s analog video and audio jacks
(composite cable sold separately).
Note: When making an audio connection through the S/PDIF
(optical) port, only the composite video connection is required.
6S/PDIF(optical) audio port Connects to your AV receiver (S/PDIF cable sold separately)
7 Reset switch Reset the multimedia drive to factory settings using a fine-
tipped stylus or the unfolded end of a paperclip. Do not use
any sharp objects that may damage the switch.
1234567

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS – 7
LED Indicator
Item Component Description
1 Infrared receiver Receives signals from the remote control. Point the tip of the
remote control toward the infrared receiver and ensure that the
path between the two is unobstructed.
2Power/activity
LED
On (steady blue)—The power cable is connected and the power is
on.
Off—The multimedia drive is in standby mode, turned off, or the
power cable is disconnected.
Three short flashes followed by three long flashes followed by
three short flashes—A system diagnostic failure has occurred.
See “Troubleshooting” on page 53.
2
1

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS – 8
Remote Control
CAUTION: Do not expose the batteries or the remote control with batteries
installed to excessive heat (direct sunlight, fire, etc.).
1. Infrared transmitter
2. HOME
3. POWER
4. Navigation buttons
5. ENTER
6. STOP
7. BACK
8. REV (rewind)
9. PREV (previous track)
10. SEARCH
11. OPTION
12. PAUSE/PLAY
13. FF (fast forward)
14. NEXT (next track)
15. EJECT (safe storage removal, see page 17)
Note: For additional information, see “Using the Remote Control” on page 18.

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
GETTING STARTED – 9
Getting Started
Package Contents
Installation Requirements
Standard or HD TV with an HDMI or composite audio/video input
Computer with a USB 2.0 connector
Optional: Stereo or AV receiver with a digital optical (S/PDIF) cable.
Operating System Compatibility
The multimedia drive is compatible with the following operating systems:
Note: Compatibility may vary depending on user’s hardware configuration and operating system.
Important: For highest performance and reliability, it is recommended that
you install the latest updates and service pack (SP). For Windows, go to the
Start menu and select Windows Update. For Mac, go to the Apple menu
and select Software Update.
Windows®Mac®OS X®
Windows XP
Windows Vista®
Windows 7
Tiger®
Leopard®
Snow Leopard™
Lion
4
Multimedia Drive USB cable Remote control and
Two AAA batteries
AC power adapter Quick Install Guide

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
GETTING STARTED – 10
Multimedia Drive Reformatting
The multimedia drive is preformatted as a single NTFS partition for compatibility with
all updated Windows operating systems. Go to http://support.wdc.com and refer to
Knowledge Base Answer ID 3865 for reformatting the drive to Mac OS X format. See
“Troubleshooting” on page 57 for more information about reformatting a drive.
Important: Reformatting the multimedia drive erases all its contents. If you
have already saved files on the multimedia drive, be sure to back them up
before reformatting it.
You may not be able to reformat a 3 TB drive and access the full capacity
due to a 2.19 TB capacity barrier encountered with some operating
systems. Go to http://support.wdc.com and refer to Knowledge Base
Answer ID 2754 for details.
Installation Procedure
The multimedia drive installation procedure is outlined below:
1. Connect the power cable.
2. Transfer content from your computer to the multimedia drive.
3. Disconnect the multimedia drive from your computer, then connect it to your TV
or entertainment unit through the desired interface option.
4. Insert the batteries into the remote control.
5. Connect a USB device containing media content (optional).

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
GETTING STARTED – 11
Step 1 - Connecting the Power Cable
1. Connect the power clip to the power cable plug.
The AC power adapter will vary, depending on your location. Some locations do
not require a power plug clip. Units sold in those locations will have a fixed power
plug. Refer to the illustration below.
2. Connect the power cable to the multimedia drive’s DC connector, and then plug
the opposite end into an AC power outlet. The multimedia drive powers up
automatically.
EU/KO EU/KO
US/JA/TW US/JA/TW
Installing InstallingRemoving Removing

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
GETTING STARTED – 12
Step 2 - Loading Content On Your Multimedia Drive
Transfer your favorite content from your computer to your multimedia drive. You can
also transfer files from your multimedia drive to your computer.
Windows
1. Turn on your computer.
2. Connect the drive’s power cable (see “Step 1 - Connecting the Power Cable” on
page 11) and USB cable as shown below.
3. Drive utilities are installed automatically. If a security alert is displayed during this
installation, click Accept or Continue.
4. The multimedia drive appears as a new drive volume in Computer (Windows 7
or Windows Vista) or My Computer (Windows XP).
5. Drag and drop your media files from your computer to the multimedia drive or
from the multimedia drive to your computer.
6. When finished, right-click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in your system tray
and select Safely Remove Hardware.
Macintosh
Important: To transfer content to or from the multimedia drive using a Mac,
you must reformat the drive. See “Multimedia Drive Reformatting” on page
10 for details.
1. Turn on your computer.
2. Connect the drive’s power cable (see “Step 1 - Connecting the Power Cable” on
page 11) and USB cable as shown below.
3. The drive mounts to the desktop and a WD Multimedia icon appears.
Double-click the WD Multimedia drive icon.
4. Drag and drop your media files from your computer to the multimedia drive or
from the multimedia drive to your computer.
5. When finished, drag the WD Elements Play icon to the Trash icon for proper
dismount.

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
GETTING STARTED – 13
Step 3 - Connecting the Multimedia Drive
The following figures illustrate the cable connections supported by the multimedia
drive.
Note: Composite, HDMI, and S/PDIF (optical) cables are sold separately.
Choosing the Best Connection
The quality of the picture produced by your TV depends on the quality of your TV
and its connection to the multimedia drive.
Connection Quality Connectors
Composite Good (480i/576i) Yellow = video
Red = right audio
White = left audio
HDMI Best
(up to 1080p)
Specialized, high-definition connector
Composite (Standard Definition)
HDMI (High Definition)

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
GETTING STARTED – 14
Composite AV Connection (Standard Definition)
To use a composite connection (composite cable sold separately):
1. Plug the composite connectors into the input ports on your multimedia drive,
yellow to yellow, red to red, and white to white
2. Plug the opposite ends into the composite input ports on your TV, yellow to
yellow, red to red, and white to white.
3. Select the appropriate TV input source.
Wait a few seconds for your TV to detect the multimedia drive. If the multimedia drive
is not detected, you may need to change the input source on your TV to HDMI or
composite, depending on your connection. Check the user documentation of your
TV for more information.
Once the multimedia drive is detected, the splash screen displays to indicate system
bootup, then the home screen of the user interface opens. Go to “Using the
Multimedia Drive Menu” on page 19.

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
GETTING STARTED – 15
HDMI Video and Audio (High Definition)
HDMI combines high-definition video, multi-channel audio, and inter-component
control in a single digital cable. This interface provides video quality resolution of up
to 1080p.
To connect your multimedia drive using an HDMI cable:
1. Plug an HDMI cable (sold separately) into the HDMI connector on the multimedia
drive.
2. Plug the opposite end into the HDMI port on your TV or audio/video system (if
available).
Wait a few seconds for your TV to detect the multimedia drive. If the multimedia drive
is not detected, you may need to change the input source on your TV to HDMI or
composite, depending on your connection. Check the user documentation of your
TV for more information.
Once the multimedia drive is detected, the splash screen displays to indicate system
bootup, then the home screen of the user interface opens. Go to “Using the
Multimedia Drive Menu” on page 19.

WD ELEMENTS PLAY MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
USER MANUAL
GETTING STARTED – 16
S/PDIF Digital Audio
An S/PDIF connection can send digital audio to a receiver capable of decoding
multi-channel audio through an AV receiver.
1. Complete the composite or HDMI video connection as described in “Composite
AV Connection (Standard Definition)” on page 14 or “HDMI Video and Audio
(High Definition)” on page 15.
2. Plug a S/PDIF cable (sold separately) into the S/PDIF digital optical port on your
multimedia drive.
3. Plug the other end of the S/PDIF cable into the digital optical port on your AV
receiver.
4. Select the appropriate audio source on your AV receiver.