Plextor PlexWriter 40/12/40A CD
Contents
1. 2 Double click the CD ROM icon and choose the PX W4012A by clicking on it once Then click on the Properties button and select the Settings tab You now see the drive properties for the PlexWriter 3 Disable DMA by clicking the DMA checkbox OFF then click OK 4 Close the System Properties window by clicking on the Close button PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 29 Section 4 Maintenance and Troubleshooting 5 When prompted reboot your system 6 After the firmware upgrade is completed use this same procedure but check DMA on to enable DMA again before using the PlexWriter To disable DMA in Windows 2000 or XP Right click My Computer and select Properties Select the Hardware tab when the systems properties window appears In the Hardware tab select the Device Manager button Double click IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers to expand the options Under IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers double click on the listing to bring up the property dialog box for the Primary IDE channel Click on the Advanced settings tab If available set Transfer Mode for Device 0 and 1 to No DMA Then select OK Your computer asks if you would like to reboot at this point Select NO Repeat steps 5 8 for the Secondary IDE channel 0 This time when you are prompted select Reboot ARWN Ee Seas Troubleshooting If you have problems during or right after installation of your PlexWriter drive visit the Plextor web site to fi2. connector on the sound board e A digital audio cable connection if the sound board is equipped with SPDIF or Digital In and you wish to use the digital audio output from your Plex Writer Do You Need Another IDE Ribbon Cable The IDE cable is a standard 40 pin flat ribbon cable usually with three connectors One end connects to the IDE port on your computer s motherboard and the other two connectors are free for attaching peripherals such as a hard disk CD ROM drive or a PlexWriter drive You may need to install another IDE ribbon cable in your computer You can use the extra IDE cable supplied with your PlexWriter Just remember if you want to use CSEL and Cable Select settings this Plextor supplied cable won t work you ll have to purchase a special cable for Cable Select PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 15 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Figure 12 Internal IDE Ribbon Cable CAUTION The length of any IDE cable cannot exceed 18 inches Do You Need a Power Cable In most computers you will find free power connectors in the computer ready for your use When you open the computer check the cable running from your power supply to your hard disk and see if it has extra connectors on it If so you can plug one of these into the power connector found on the rear panel of the Plex Writer If you do not find any additional connectors either because the
3. software With CD RW media you can Q Use as if it were a large capacity floppy disc Q Transport files to and from work Q Copy your important data periodically Q Store large projects as you develop them What writing speed can I expect with CD RW media The PlexWriter 40 12 40A supports new high speed CD RW media and can write to this media at speeds of 4X 10X and 12X You can also use conventional CD RW media in this PlexWriter in this case the drive writes at 4X speed When should I use CD R media CD R media can be read in most CD ROM CD Recordable or CD ReWritable drives Use CD R media to Q Permanently archive important data Copy your music to CD for personal use Create specific format discs Create disc for distribution to others Share non editable presentations Oooo Why does my unit record audio discs at a maximum speed of 24X Plextor has limited the speed of CD DA digital audio recording to 24X in order to avoid audio noise which may be generated at speeds above 24X PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 35 Section 5 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording This page intentionally left blank 36 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Minimum System Reguirements Computer Minimum RAM Hard Disk Size ATAPI Settings Operating System Recommended Media CD R 40X CD R 32X 24X CD R 24X CD R 20
4. 2 Remove your computer s cover following the directions provided by your computer s manufacturer Typically this involves loosening or removing several screws on the back panel of your computer and sliding off the cover See Figure 3 for an example PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 7 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Figure 3 Removing a Typical Computer s Cover Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration With your computer open determine the existing IDE configuration You can do this by looking at the 40 pin IDE ribbon cable or cables there may be two and seeing what is connected to them One end of the IDE cable is connected to a port on the computer s motherboard and the other end is connected to one or two peripheral devices such as a hard disk or CD ROM drive If there are two devices one is configured as Master and the other the Slave as indicated by the position of jumpers on the back of the drive This is also true for the Cable Select bus If there are two IDE ports one is for the primary IDE bus and the other is for the secondary bus Before you install your PlexWriter your computer s IDE configuration is usually one of the following e Configuration A Hard disks connected as Master and Slave devices on primary IDE port CD ROM drive connected as Master device on secondary IDE port e Configuration B Hard disk connected as Master device and DVD or CD ROM drive conne
5. 26 obtaining 29 upgrading 2 29 formats 38 front panel controls 4 39 H hard disk size 2 37 headphone jack 4 39 headphone volume control 39 high speed CD RW media 23 host interface 40 humidity specification 40 I IDE configuration determining 8 examples 11 selecting 10 IDE interface 1 IDE interface connector 5 18 IDE ribbon cable 15 connecting 18 initialization time 38 inquiry string 40 installation 7 15 quickstart 7 interface connector 39 J jumper DMA 5 14 39 mode 5 9 39 L label disc 24 laser power adjusting with VariRec 26 27 LED indicator 4 39 blink rate 25 39 color 4 25 39 M maintenance 29 master 8 cable select 14 setting in BIOS 21 setting mode jumper 9 media 23 35 care and handling 24 recommended 35 37 supported 37 memory minimum 2 minimum configuration 2 37 mode jumper 5 39 setting 9 10 mounting position 6 15 23 mounting rails 17 18 MPC compliant audio cable 20 MTBF 40 multiword DMA 5 14 transfers 40 0 OPC 27 opening the computer 7 operating system 37 P power cable 16 connecting 19 power connector 5 19 power supply 39 PoweRec 27 PoweReclIl 1 precautions 6 primary IDE port 8 Q quickstart installation 7 R rails 17 18 RAM minimum 2 37 46 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual read specification 38 reading speed 1 38 rear panel connectors and
6. box for the Primary IDE channel a 6 Click on the Advanced settings tab 7 If available set Transfer Mode for Device 0 and 1 to DMA Then select OK 8 Your computer asks if you would like to reboot at this point Select NO 9 Repeat steps 5 8 for the Secondary IDE channel 10 This time when you are prompted select Reboot 22 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 3 Using Your PlexWriter This chapter explains how to use your PlexWriter drive and how to load handle and care for your CDs CAUTION Ensure your PlexWriter is in a horizontal position Plextor does not guarantee the drive s performance in a vertical position What Media to Use Use the right media Your PlexWriter drive s capabilities change depending on which type of compact disc you use It currently supports these types e CD ROM You can immediately play or read prerecorded discs such as audio CDs and data discs e CD R Recordable CD You can record on these discs but only once You can also read them e CD RW High speed ReWritable CD These discs support recording and re recording up to 1 000 times You can also read them To achieve 40X CD R writing speed you must use certified 40X media and to achieve 12X RW writing speed you must use high speed RW media See Recommended Media on page 37 for a list of Plextor approved media at the time this manual was printed and see the Plextor web site at http www plextor com for a
7. contacting us e The serial number and TLA number of your Plex Writer Your serial number can be found both on the warranty card that accompanied the drive and on a label on the drive itself The TLA number appears both on the drive label and on a sticker at the rear of internal drives e The latest version of firmware you loaded onto the drive if applicable e The version of the Windows Mac or UNIX operating system you are using e The brand name and model number of your computer e g Dell 466 NP Micron P66PCI Powerstation ALR Evolution V Apple Macintosh Performa 575 etc e The type of VGA Super VGA or other graphics board you use e Brand name and model number of any other peripherals you have installed or connected to your computer e g CD ROM scanner fax board network board Returns You must receive an RMA Returned Materials Authorization number before any Plextor drive can be returned for repair or replacement You can contact our RMA Department and request an RMA number and RMA forms at rmasupport plextor com or by calling us at 800 886 3935 or by fax at 510 651 9765 Forms are also available on Plextor s web site in the Support Warranty section Any drive sent to Plextor without an RMA number will not be accepted Be sure to write the RMA number on the outside of the shipping box NOTE The RMA number must be clearly visible on the outside of the shipping box Drives must be sent postage prep
8. doesn t seem to be covered however please contact us See Appendix B Technical Support for the different ways you can contact us You will be connected to our friendly helpful band of tech support engineers who know their stuff What might seem like an uncooperative drive to you could very well be a 30 second fix to them But we will never know unless you contact us Meet Your PlexWriter 40 12 40A The PlexWriter 40 12 40A is a CD ReWritable drive that provides professional quality CD performance for writing rewriting and reading What the PlexWriter 40 12 40A Does The PlexWriter 40 12 40A e Writes to CD R recordable CD media at up to 40X speed e Writes CD DA digital audio discs at a maximum of 24X for highest quality e Writes to high speed CD RW rewritable CD media at up to 12X speed Naturally the drive can also write to conventional CD RW media at 4X speeds e Reads all CD ROM and CD R media at a maximum of 40X speed with an average access time of less than 120 milliseconds Maximum read speed of CD RW media is 32X Reliable writing is virtually guaranteed thanks to unique PoweRec II circuitry that automatically detects the type of media being recorded and adjusts the PlexWriter 40 12 40A to provide the optimum laser power and length of burn which means the highest quality playback In addition it has VariRec technology a feature offered by Plextor that allows you to manually adjust the drive s laser p
9. for an Internal IDE Plex Writer Drive 10 Connect the analog audio cable if you want to use a sound board in your system This cable runs from the four pin analog audio output connector on the rear panel of your PlexWriter drive to your sound board See Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables below for more information about audio cables PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 19 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 11 Connect a digital audio cable if your sound board is eguipped with the Sony Philips digital interface SPDIP or Digital In and you wish to use the digital audio output from your Plex Writer This cable runs from the digital audio output connector pins on the back panel to the sound board This cable is not supplied by Plextor 12 Mount the Plex Writer drive in the computer using the four screws that were supplied with your drive Use only these screws CAUTION Do not mount your drive in your computer using screws other than those supplied by Plextor You may damage the drive if you insert screws that are too long or the wrong thread type Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables Whichever category your sound board falls into you will find that the best source of information about installing the sound board in your computer is the board s manual Once you have successfully installed the sound board in your computer you can continue below for a description of the different cable connections that need to
10. on primary IDE port nothing Master and connect the PlexWriter connected to secondary IDE port as Master to secondary IDE port Hard disk connected as master Primary IDE Port Connect exWriter s PlexWriter as master Secondary IDE Port Figure 8 How to Install the PlexWriter If Your Computer Is Originally Set Up in Configuration C 12 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Before PlexWriter Installation System uses special Cable Select cables all devices are jumpered for Cable Select How to Install the PlexWriter Set the PlexWriter s mode jumper to CSEL and connect it to the end of the cable from the computer s IDE interface connector Hard disk Hard disk connected connected as master as slave Primary IDE Port Connect Connect CD ROM drive PlexWriter as slave as master Set PlexWriter s jumper to cs S M Secondary IDE Port Figure 9 How to Install the PlexWriter If Your Computer Is Originally Set Up in Configuration D About Cable Select The Cable Select jumper position sets the PlexWriter drive to use the CSEL signal from the IDE interface for configuration purposes This signal automatically selects the correct Master Slave setting for the PlexWriter To use CSEL you must have e Acomputer that supports CSEL e Aspecial CSEL cable for IDE
11. the top of the internal drive model Caution Invisible laser radiation when open Avoid direct exposure to beam CAUTION To disconnect the CD drive from an electrical current pull out the power plug VORSICHT DIE TRENNUNG VOM NETZ ERFOLGT DURCH ZIEHEN DES NETZSTECKERS Zur Einhaltung der Funk Entst rung von nicht selbst ndig betreibbaren Hochfrequenzgeriten periphere Anlagenkomponenten Dieses Ger t entspricht als Einzelgerat den Funk Entst6ranforderungen der Postverfiigung Nr 243 1991 Wird das Ger t innerhalb einer Anlage zusammen mit anderen Ger ten betrieben so muss bei Inanspruchnahme der Allgemeinen Betriebs genehmigung nach der BMPT AmtsblVfg Nr 243 1991 die gesamte Anlage folgenden Richtlinien entsprechen UG Vfg 243 e Grenzwertklasse B der EN55022 e Auflagen nach 2 der BMPT AmtsblVfg 243 1991 Dies ist bei der Zusammensetzung einer Anlage z B Computersystem aus nur einzeln gepr ften Ger ten nicht immer erf llt This page intentionally left blank Table of Contents 1 Getting Started Lssssinssissisissasissis kis ss snss ksiess s s ks sak estas s k d ks kas se sk ss si si a 1 About this Manual i sakiau i asa i i i eyioe taba ants 1 Meet our Plex Writer 40 12 40 A nenn en a si neat 1 What the PlexWriter 40 12 40A Does J aaa aaa aaa 1 Minimum Configuration to Use the Plex Writer 40 12 40A LLL aaa 2 What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 40 12 40A eee eeee
12. G UDF TAO DAO Packet Write variable and fixed Multi session SAO Performance Specifications Read Speed CD Write Speed CD R Data Write Speed CD R CD DA Write Speed CD RW Initialization Time Access Time Sleep Mode Wake Mode Other Features Data Buffer Error Rate Speed Note Stamp indicates commercially pressed silver discs 40X Z CLV 20 24 32 40X 32X Z CLV 20 24 32X 24X Z CLV 20 24X 20X CLV 16X CLV 8X CLV 4X CLV 24X Z CLV 16 24X 16X CLV 8X CLV 4X CLV 12X CLV 10X CLV 4X CLV High speed media 4X 10X 12X Normal speed media 4X lt 13 sec typical lt 15 sec max Time measured from power on until disc is available to read lt 120 ms typical Time measured from start command until bus free no disconnect Entered after 2 minutes of no access to drive lt 5 sec max to start drive after sleep 4 MB CD ROM Mode 1 1 Block 10 Bits CD ROM Mode 2 1 Block 10 Bits 38 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Front Panel Eject LED Indicator LED Indicator Blink Interval and Write Speed Disc Loading Headphone Jack Headphone Volume Control Rear Panel Power Supply Interface Connector Analog Audio Output Digital Audio Output Mode Jumper DMA Jumper Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Eject Button Manual Emergency Eject Software Eject Green Disc load Blinking yellow Reading dis
13. PLEX WRITER 40 12 40A Model PX W4012TA Internal INSTALLATION AND USERS MANUAL PLEXTOR AUGUST 2002 Plextor reserves the right to make improvements in the products described in this manual at any time without prior notice Plextor makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose Further Plextor Corp reserves the right to revise this manual and to make changes in its content without obligation to notify any person or organization of such revision or change This manual is copyrighted all rights reserved It may not be copied photocopied translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine readable form without Plextor s prior permission Manual copyright 02002 Plextor Corp Second edition August 2002 Licenses and Trademarks All licenses and trademarks are property of their respective owners Record Your Serial Number For future reference record the serial number and the TLA code found on your drive s label in the space provided below TLA Firmware Revision Number FCC NOTICE This eguipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This eguipment generates uses and can radiate rad
14. To use the host interface CSEL signal for configuration set the PlexWriter s jumper to CABLE SELECT CABLE SELECT MASTER SLAVE Figure 10 Using the CSEL Signal to Configure the Plex Writer Drive PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 13 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter NOTE The IDE cable supplied by Plextor does not support CSEL To use CSEL and Cable Select you ll have to purchase a CSEL cable or use one that may be supplied with your CSEL configured system Identifying Whether Your System Uses Cable Select If you are unsure whether or not your system has a Cable Select cable installed either look at the cable or look at the jumpers on the CD ROM drive If any device is jumpered as Cable Select then both devices on that cable should be jumpered the same Locating the Master Position on a Cable Select Cable With Cable Select Master and Slave are determined not by jumpers but by the connectors on the Cable Select cable The connectors are identified as Master or Slave Set the DMA Jumper Your Plex Writer ships from the factory with no DMA jumper installed The pins are empty The empty pins mean the drive is set to Ultra DMA This setting should work in most cases so you don t have to do anything more With some personal computers the computer may hang or crash with the Plex Writer set to the default Ultra DMA setting If this happens change the Plex Wri
15. X 4X CD RW 12X CD RW 10X 4X Supported Media Supported Media Stamped CD Supported Media CD R Supported Media CD RW Supported Media Size Pentium II 300 MHz CPU or faster 64 MB 1 GB of free space to write to a CD in image mode DMA should be set to ON in operating system software IDE controller should be set to PIO Mode4 DMA Mode2 or Auto in the motherboard BIOS Windows XP Me 2000 98 95 To ensure 40X write speed Plextor recommends using only certified 40X media available from Maxell or Mitsubishi Chemical Verbatim With PoweRec some discs may be recorded at 16X because of lower guality media Note For the latest updated list of certified 40X media see Plextor s web site at http Awww plextor com Ricoh Mitsui Maxell Taiyo Yuden Mitsubishi Chemical Verbatim Ricoh Mitsui Mitsubishi Chemical Verbatim Taiyo Yuden Maxell Ricoh Mitsui Mitsubishi Chemical Verbatim Taiyo Yuden TDK Maxell Kodak Ricoh Ricoh Mitsubishi Chemical Verbatim All CD RW media are rewritable up to 1 000 times Red Yellow Book compliant discs Orange Book Pt II compliant discs Type 74 Type 80 Orange Book Pt III compliant discs 12cm PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 37 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Usable Formats Logical CD Read Write Write Methods CD DA CD Extra CD ROM Mode 1 Mix CD CD ROM XA Photo CD Video CD CD I Multisession CD TEXT CD
16. a kaka aaa 20 Choosing and Connecting Audio Cables aaa aaa 20 Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized aaa aaa aaa aaa 21 Enable DMA a a niobate inthe Gast E aint ee tu aa ets 22 4 Using Your PlexWriter sccscssscssscccscssscscssecsscssscssscsscsesessscssssssssssssssesees 23 What Media to USE verein coe agi iad Bandi aia ne 23 Tray Loading and Operation 0 eee aaa aaa kasa aaa aa aaa aaa 24 Handling CD Media siiret sa a aisiais ass ses 24 Cleaning DISCS ont oore ias i ek Sie a i a E i Ia a ais 25 Using the Writing Speed Indicator ee aaa aaa aa aa aaa kase aaa 25 Advantages of Buffer Underrun Proof Technology aaa aaa 26 Advantages of VariRec Technology 0 eee ceeceseceseceeecseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeneenseenaes 26 How the Default VariRec Setting Is Determined 0 eee eee eeeeeeeeeeeee 26 Changing the VariRec Setting aa asas 27 When You Write with VariRec oo aaa kasas kasa aaa aaa aaa aaa 27 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual V Table of Contents 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting cscccsssscssecscccscscscsssssscsssesseeeseeesees 29 Upgrading Firm ware oss kai sasas sasas cue tesa cv ss sa a eens a ais 29 If You Need to Disable DMA 0 00 eee ceeececsseceeececeeceeneeceaeceseeecaeeeeaeecsaeeeeneers 29 Troubleshooting srn sca sores S iai Sassen thd anaes bade Shae ARE eaten 30 Using the Self Test Diagnostics aaa aaa kasas aaa aaa aaa aaa aaa 30 What Yow Il Need resres eneren
17. aid We recommend that you insure your shipment as Plextor cannot be held responsible for any damage that may occur during shipment 42 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Appendix C Warranty PLEXTOR CORP Plextor warrants your PlexWriter 40 12 40A against any defect in material and workmanship under normal use for a period of one year following its date of purchase In the event this product is found to be defective within the warranty period PLEXTOR will at its option repair or replace the defective unit This warranty is void a if the unit is operated or stored under abnormal use and maintenance conditions b if the unit is repaired modified or altered unless such repair modification or alteration is expressly authorized in writing by PLEXTOR c if the unit is subjected to abuse neglect lightning strike electrical fault improper packaging or accident d if the unit is installed improperly or e if the serial number of the unit is defaced or missing PLEXTOR will not under any circumstances be liable for direct special or consequential damages such as but not limited to damage or loss of property or equipment loss of profits or revenues cost of replacement goods or expense or inconvenience caused by service interruptions Under no circumstances will any person be entitled to any sum greater than the purchase price paid for the unit To obtain warranty service you must contact PLEXTOR
18. ais a asa S a ao I i L svbeaees 30 CD Write Read Tests ist ses abu iii a E ai asi a a aks E si 31 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording cscccscscsescsssesssssessesees 35 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications scscssssscsssssssssssscssesssescsscssossees 37 Appendix B Technical Support eesessessessossesessossesoossesoosoesessesoesoesessossessossesossse 41 Howto Contact US ovescceds sis iii a UG cv sai i terete mi 41 Before You E mail Log On FAX Call oo aa aaa aaa kasa kasas 42 RUUETS asis eis asi i ta i a i si a r a ni 42 Appendix C Warranty e sessesessoesessossesoessesocsoesessossesossessossesoessesoesoesessossessosseeossse 43 E E sia a T A T a o sa 45 vi PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 1 Getting Started Congratulations Thank you for purchasing the PlexWriter 40 12 40A a reliable high performance CD writer CD rewriter and CD player We appreciate the confidence you have shown in us Our goal is to put you and keep you on the leading edge of CD technology About this Manual Please read this manual carefully and keep it handy for easy reference Use the manual for installation operation and troubleshooting See your dealer or call Plextor s Technical Support Department should your drive require service In this manual you should find all the information you need to successfully install operate and troubleshoot your drive If you run into a problem that
19. an exclamation point contact Plextor Technical Support See Appendix B Technical Support for the different ways you can contact us PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 21 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Enable DMA To achieve top speeds for reading and writing with your Plex Writer drive direct memory access DMA must be enabled for the drive To enable DMA in Windows 95 98 or Me 1 In Windows 95 98 or Me click the Start button then Settings then Control Panel then double click on System icon then click on Device Manager tab You will see a list of devices in your system 2 Double click the CD ROM icon and choose the PX W4012A drive by clicking on it once Then click on the Properties button and select the Settings tab You will see the drive properties for the Plex Writer 3 Ensure the DMA box is checked ON 4 Click on OK button and then click the Close button to exit the System Properties window 5 When prompted if you want to restart your computer now select Yes for this change to be enabled and saved To enable DMA in Windows 2000 or XP 1 Right click My Computer and select Properties 2 Select the Hardware tab when the systems properties window appears 3 In the Hardware tab select the Device Manager button Double click IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers to expand the options Under IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers double click on the listing to bring up the property dialog
20. be made Choosing and Connecting Audio Cables If you do need audio cables you will have to purchase them Refer to the table below A list of several vendors who offer audio cables is available on Plextor s web site Audio Connection MPC audio source Sound Blaster or compatible sound board Digital audio output 20 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Cable Required MPC compliant audio cable Sound Blaster compatible analog audio cable Cable that s compatible with SPDIF or Digital In How to Connect It Connect to MPC audio source and to analog audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter Connect to Sound Blaster compatible audio board and to analog audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter Connect to SPDIF or Digital In connector on sound board if sound board supports digital audio and to digital audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized After installation make sure the PlexWriter drive and other IDE peripherals are recognized by your computer To check whether they are recognized To see if the drive is recognized in Windows 1 Turn the computer ON After the computer boots up you should see the Windows display Open Windows Explorer or My Computer and ensure there is an icon for the PlexWriter the hard disk and other CD ROM drives if present The Pl
21. c Blinking amber Writing data to disc Green during writing Buffer Underrun Proof is active 40 ms interval amber 40X R 80 ms interval amber 32X R or 12X RW 150 ms interval amber 4 24X R or 4 10X RW Auto Stereo mini jack 0 8V 0 3V at 32 ohms Wheel knob DC 5V Typically 600 mA during writing 350 mA during reading Peak 1 5 A DC 12V Typically 700 mA during writing 600 mA during reading Peak OPC and spinup 1 8 A IDE bus 40 pin flat ribbon type Interface complies with ATA ATAPI 5 Maximum total cable length must be less than 18 in 45 7 cm Stereo analog output Molex connector L G G R MPC3 standard Output 0 55V 0 1V at 10k ohms Digital audio output for input to SPDIF or Digital In input Master default Slave Cable Select Open no jumper Ultra DMA Mode 0 2 default Short jumper installed Multiword DMA Mode 0 2 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 39 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Host Interface Type PIO Transfers Multiword DMA Transfers Ultra DMA Transfers ATAPI Command Set Inguiry string ATA ATAPI 5 compliant Modes 0 4 Modes 0 2 Modes 0 2 Supports CD ROM commands including special commands for CD R and CD RW PLEXTOR sp CD R sp sp sp PX W4012A where sp equals one space Environmental Conditions Operating Temperature Performance Guarantee Temperature Operating Humidity Storage Temperature Stora
22. cted as Slave on the primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port e Configuration C Hard disk connected as Master device on primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port e Configuration D System uses special Cable Select cables all devices are jumpered for Cable Select 8 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Set the Drive s Mode Jumper You specify your drive s Master or Slave setting before installing it You do this by changing the position of a jumper on the mode jumper block at the rear of the drive Your drive ships from our factory with its mode jumper set to operate the PlexWriter as a Master This will work in most custom system configurations If your computer is from a large OEM system manufacturer such as IBM Hewlett Packard Gateway or Compaq you will need to pay particular attention to whether the computer uses a Cable Select scheme Changing the Mode Jumper on Your Internal PlexWriter Drive The PlexWriter drive arrives from the factory with its mode jumper set to Master A function is ON if the jumper is installed and OFF if the jumper is removed CABLE SELECT MASTER SLAVE fe et ET J LI CU Ld Mode jumper DMA jumper usually leave empty for Ultra DMA Figure 4 Factory Settings for Mode Jumper at the Rear of the Drive Changing to a Master Slave or Cable Select The Maste
23. cted to the hard disk drive or to a CD ROM drive In most cases this will be the secondary IDE port NOTE For best results set the PlexWriter to be the Master if possible Also direct memory access DMA must be enabled in your computer s operating system to achieve the drive s maximum writing speed This is a separate setting from the DMA jumper 10 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Before PlexWriter Installation How to Install the PlexWriter Hard disks connected as Master and Remove the CD ROM drive change Slave devices on primary IDE port it to Slave and re connect it to the CD ROM connected as Master secondary IDE port device on secondary IDE port Set the PlexWriter s mode jumper to Master and connect the PlexWriter as Master device to the secondary IDE port Hard disk Hard disk connected connected as master as slave Primary IDE Port Connect Connect exWriter s PlexWriter CD ROM drive as master as slave Secondary IDE Port NOTE Configuration A can make it very difficult to write from the CD ROM to the PlexWriter at 40X using on the fly copying System configuration and performance will make a big difference Depending on how fast the CD ROM drive can stream data to the PlexWriter it may not be fast enough to constantly have the buffer full In this case the buffer may become empty and a buffer under
24. e or liquids including water or cleaning fluids to touch the drive Thinner benzene or alcohol based solvents can mar your drive s surface e Do not drop or jolt the drive Do not attempt to open the drive and service it yourself Removing the cover may expose you to harmful electrical voltages or the laser beam For your safety entrust service to Plextor authorized service personnel only e Keep your CDs free of dirt or other contaminants by storing them in jewel cases Use only industry standard discs Do not insert dirty warped poorly balanced or cracked discs into the drive e Do not clean discs using a circular motion Instead use a radial motion start at the center of the disc and proceed to the outer edge CAUTION Install your PlexWriter horizontally Plextor does not guarantee the drive s performance in a vertical position 6 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 2 Installing Your PlexWriter This chapter explains how to physically install your PlexWriter in QuickStart Installation For your computer The steps you ll need Experienced PC Users Only to do are as follows If you ve installed computer peripherals 1 Turn OFF your computer system bef See HG Sera 2 Set the jumper for your new A eG A moug i t S k Plex Writer drive if necessary 3 as II mier rive Use Ae Quic Start 3 Mount the PlexWriter drive into A t0 Bet Up ang running an available drive bay inside the NES comput
25. e the spare jumper you installed 32 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 4 Maintenance and Troubleshooting 14 Reconnect the IDE cable to the Plex Writer drive If you removed the drive to gain access to the cable or jumpers replace the drive in the computer Then replace the computer cover If you discover a problem with the PlexWriter drive do not attempt to service the drive yourself Contact us to get an RMA number and take steps to return the drive to Plextor See Returns on page 42 for details PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 33 Section 4 Maintenance and Troubleshooting This page intentionally left blank 34 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 5 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording What media should I use for my PlexWriter To achieve 40X CD R writing speed you must use certified 40X media and to achieve 12X RW writing speed you must use high speed RW media See Recommended Media on page 37 for a list recommended media including 40X certified media at the time this manual was printed The most updated list of supported media can be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com When can I use CD RW media CD RW media can only be used for writing in ReWritable drives It is readable only in ReWritable drives or newer MultiRead CD ROMs with UDF readers installed UDF readers are available from software companies that develop packet writing
26. er system Typical Scenario 1 You have a PC 4 Make all necessary cabling with an IDE interface installed you connections IDE cable power have Windows 95 98 Me XP or 2000 cable and audio cable and you have nothing installed on the 5 Turn your computer system ON secondary IDE port What to do Leave the PlexWriter s The following pages give more jumper set to Master attach it to the details for this procedure secondary IDE port and go Windows will recognize the drive automatically Typical Scenario 2 You have a PC Open the Com puter with an IDE interface installed you and Prepare for have Windows 95 98 Me XP or 2000 l llati the primary IDE port already has two nstallation devices connected and you have a CD To determine whether your ROM installed on the secondary IDE Plex Writer will be a Master or a port Slave open your computer and What to do Change the CD ROM to examine the IDE connections to the Slave leave the PlexWriter s jumper set motherboard to Master and attach the PlexWriter to the secondary IDE port Windows To open the computer recognizes the new drive automatically aki o in eeute tle If neither of these situations applies to power to your computer and any 5 f E you or you re not comfortable with external peripherals is OFF and i IDE installation read the rest of this your computer is UNPLUGGED L fomi chapter for more detailed installation om its power source 3 7 instructions
27. exWriter may be D or E or another designator If the PlexWriter drive is not recognized in Windows reboot the computer and use your computer s setup program to program the BIOS to recognize it NOTE Refer to the computer s documentation for information on how to run the motherboard BIOS setup program 4 Use the motherboard BIOS setup program to set up IDE Master and Slave designations as needed for your configuration on the primary or secondary IDE bus If the IDE interface is disabled on your computer you will need to enable it If a Master or Slave device is set to disable or none or a similar designation change it as appropriate to enable or auto or something similar depending on your setup program Save and exit your CMOS setup to restart your computer with the new settings In Windows 95 98 or Me once the system comes up click the Start button then Settings then Control Panel then double click on System icon then click on Device Manager tab Click the sign next to the CD ROM heading and look at the PLEXTOR CD R PX W4012A entry underneath OT In Windows 2000 or XP right click on the My Computer icon and select Properties Click on the Hardware tab then click on the Device Manager button Click the sign next to the CD ROM heading and look at the PLEXTOR CD R PX W4012A entry underneath If you do not see this drive listed as one of the devices or if it has a yellow diamond with
28. example your drive came pre installed in a computer we recommend you pay a packaging store such as Mail Boxes Etc to ship your drive If you don t have a packaging store in your area ask for packaging pointers when you contact us to get an RMA number before returning any drive You can contact our RMA Department at rmasupport plextor com or by calling us at 800 886 3935 or by fax at 510 651 9765 If your drive came pre installed some or all of the items above may have been installed and may not be separately available See the Plextor web site for locations to purchase additional or replacement accessories PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 3 Section 1 Getting Started PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls Before proceeding become familiar with the controls and features of your Plex Writer drive Match the parts of your drive to the illustrations below Front Panel NOTE The volume control on the front panel of your drive adjusts only the sound level of the headphone jack It has no impact on the volume level of the rear panel Emergency Tray front door eject hole PLEA WRITER 40 12 40A Been aise Emm Headphone Volume LED indicator Eject jack control button Figure 1 Front Panel of the Plex Writer 40 12 40A Drive Tray front door Attached to tray drawer Headphone jack Stereo mini jack for headphones and powered speakers Volume control Controls volume o
29. f headphone jack audio outputs LED indicator Illuminated green during disc loading and when Buffer Underrun Proof is operational Illuminated yellow when a disc is being read Illuminated amber when writing a CD R or CD RW disc The indicator changes its blinking interval to indicate different writing speeds Eject button Push once to eject tray Push again to insert the tray back into the Plex Writer To prevent wear on the drive always use the eject button to insert the Emergency eject hole If the automatic eject button does not work insert the emergency eject tool paper clip or other thin rigid object into this hole to eject the tray Turn OFF the power before using this feature 4 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 1 Getting Started Rear Panel IDE cable Power jumper connector connector DMA jumper Digital Analog audio audio output output connector connector Figure 2 Rear Panel of the Plex Writer 40 12 40A Internal Drive e Digital audio output connector Outputs digital stereo signal For connecting to a sound board that supports Sony Philips digital interface SPDIF or Digital In e Analog audio output connector Outputs analog stereo signal Use to connect to sound board or audio amplifier Use standard MPC 3 type 4 pin connector e DMA jumper Use the DMA jumper to convert between Ultra DMA Mode 0 2 no jumper default and Multiword DMA Mode 0 2 with jumper installed In
30. ff the cover See Figure 3 for an example CAUTION Before you attempt to open your computer be sure to properly ground yourself by wearing an anti static wristband This will help prevent static damage to your computer system 2 You should be able to see the back of the PlexWriter drive connected to the ATAPI cable power connector and optionally an analog sound cable NOTE You may have to remove the drive from the computer to perform the next two steps 3 Hold the ATAPI cable at or near the base of its connection to the PlexWriter Carefully remove the ATAPI cable from the PlexWriter by pulling the cable gently rearward Note the position of the mode jumper at the rear of the PlexWriter A jumper will be installed on either the CABLE SELECT SLAVE or MASTER position Write down this jumper position You ll need to replace the jumper after the test Then Q Ifthe jumper is on the MASTER position move it to the SLAVE or CABLE SELECT position for this test Q Ifthe jumper is on the SLAVE or CABLE SELECT jumper leave it in place Install the spare jumper located in the accessory kit so that both the CABLE SELECT and SLAVE positions are jumpered as shown below PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 31 Section 4 Maintenance and Troubleshooting CABLE SELECT MASTER DMA SLAVE Figure 19 Place Jumpers Across Both the SLAVE and CABLE SELECT Pins to Per
31. form the Self Test Diagnostics 6 If you removed the drive for access to the cable and mode jumpers slide it back into the computer and connect the power cable to the drive 7 Replace the computer s cover CAUTION Turning on the computer power without first replacing the cover can be dangerous to the computer s components and also to you Be aware of the danger of electric shock and do not touch any components inside the computer 8 While pressing the eject button on the PlexWriter turn the computer power on The LED indicator blinks green and amber and the tray ejects 9 Insert a blank Plextor recommended CD R disc Be sure to use only CD R media of the type recommended by Plextor Q If the DISC indicator blinks amber three times the loaded disc is not a blank CD R disc Remove the disc and insert a blank Plextor approved CD R disc 10 The drive begins the diagnostic routine Upon completion of the diagnostic you see the results Q If there was no problem the disc is ejected automatically Q If there was a problem the disc is not ejected and you see the LED indicator blink green One green blink indicates a write or read error Two green blinks indicate an initialization error 11 If the disc was not ejected automatically press the eject button to eject the disc 12 Turn off the computer power 13 Reset the mode jumper at the rear of the PlexWriter to its original setting as noted in Step 4 above Also remov
32. ge Humidity Dimensions and Weight Dimensions W H D excluding front panel Weight Reliability MTBF Tray Loading Safety Standards Country Region USA Canada Europe Taiwan Korea Australia NZ 0 to 40 degrees Celsius 5 to 40 degrees Celsius 20 to 80 non condensing 40 to 60 degrees Celsius 20 to 95 non condensing 5 75 x 1 63 x 7 95 146 mm x 41 3 mm x 202 mm 2 5 Ibs 1 2 kg 60 000 Power On Hours 100 000 Load Unload Cycles Type Agency Standard Safety UL UL 1950 Laser FDA FDA 21 CFR EMC FCC FCC 15J Class B Safety CSA CSA 22 2 No 950 Safety CE EN60950 IEC60825 Safety TUV IEC 60950 Laser CE IEC 60825 1 EMC CE EN55024 EN50022 EMC BSMI CNS13438 Class B EMC MIC EMC C Tick 3548 CISPR 22 40 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Appendix B Technical Support Store Plextor s e mail web site phone and fax numbers in a convenient location Keep your drive s serial number and a copy of your sales receipt handy as well If you experience a problem while installing or operating your Plex Writer drive please refer first to the relevant sections of this manual regarding setup and installation Chapters 1 3 If you do not uncover the solution there please refer next to the maintenance and troubleshooting chapter that begins on page 29 You may also wish to refer to the Freguently Asked Ouestions FAO section of our web site to assist you in troubleshooting the problem on y
33. general leave this jumper at its factory setting which is Ultra DMA that is no jumper installed e Mode jumper Use the mode jumper to select operation as an IDE master or slave or for cable select In general leave this jumper at its factory setting which is master e IDE cable connector Connects to IDE ATAPI interface using 40 pin IDE flat ribbon cable Power connector Connects to your computer s power supply to provide DC 5 volts and 12 volts to the PlexWriter PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 5 Section 1 Getting Started About Software In order to create CD R and CD RW discs you will need to have mastering packet writing or duplication software installed on your computer system If you purchased a retail kit from Plextor you ll get software packages that include this software For details on the various software packages for writing to CD R or CD RW please visit the web sites of the companies whose software you are interested in refer to their user s manuals or look at the help option within the software A list of various software packages that you can use with your Plextor drive can be found in the Support Compatibility section of www plextor com Precautions Like the rest of your computer system your PlexWriter requires reasonable care in its installation and use e Keep the area around your drive clean from dust smoke and other contaminants e Do not allow moistur
34. he computer manufacturer or from a computer supply retail or mail order store 5 If you must use mounting rails fasten the rails to the lower pair of holes as shown in Figure 14 In some instances you may need to fasten the rails to the upper set of holes After fastening the rails check their positioning by sliding the drive into the bay before you mount the drive or connect any cables PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 17 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Be sure not to mistake the inner and outer face of the rail when attaching Typically the smooth side of the rail faces away from the drive s chassis Figure 14 Installing Mounting Rails if Needed 6 Plug one connector of the IDE cable into the IDE connector on the rear panel of the drive before you insert the drive into your computer Then thread the cable through the front of the open bay and back toward the motherboard The drive should slide smoothly into the bay If it does not check for obstructions in the bay and ensure the side rails are attached properly 7 If not already connected attach the other end of the IDE ribbon cable to the connector on the motherboard veg To Pin 1 17 Red stripe Figure 15 Connecting the IDE Ribbon Cable CAUTION It is easy to accidentally plug your IDE ribbon cable upside down into both your drive and the motherboard Be sure you match the red stripe along one
35. he recording software you re using Being able to adjust the laser power during the recording process can have some definite advantages For instance depending on the capabilities of your specific audio equipment you may be able to change the sound quality of your recordings to suit the equipment Or you may be able to correct compatibility problems that occur when playing discs on certain audio players How the Default VariRec Setting Is Determined In most cases you don t have to worry about setting VariRec The setting is 0 zero by default and this usually works best This default setting is determined by a combination of steps 1 First we test many types of CD R and CD RW media in our factory to determine the best write strategy laser power and other factors for that media 2 We include a table of the tested media and their write strategy in your drive s firmware This table is updated when you update your drive by downloading new firmware from the Plextor web site 26 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 3 Using Your PlexWriter 3 When you insert a recordable disc into your drive Plextor s PoweRec technology automatically identifies the manufacturer model and special features of the media then adjusts the laser power and writing speed so they re at the optimum settings for that disc 4 The drive uses OPC Optimum Power Control to further fine tune the laser power setting to the specific di
36. io freguency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications However there is no guarantee interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment causes harmful interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the eguipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures e Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna e Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver e Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected e Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help Any changes or modifications should be approved by the party responsible for compliance of FCC Rules otherwise the user loses authority to operate the equipment CAUTION Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure The laser beam emitted from the optical pickup is invisible Accordingly e Do not open the optical pickup housing e Obtain service only from Plextor authorized personnel LASER INFORMATION These products have been designed and manufactured according to IEC 60825 1 on the Safety of Laser products This product comes under Class 1 Laser Products A Laser Caution Marking is attached on
37. it for assistance from a Plextor representative Upgrading Firmware Plextor creates firmware revisions to meet the peculiar needs of large computer manufacturers It is rare that these will impact the performance or operation of your Plex Writer drive However we advise that our customers always update drives with the latest available firmware Before troubleshooting a possible problem with your drive please make sure to visit our web site at www plextor com to check if you have the latest firmware To obtain new firmware for your PlexWriter drive 1 Goto the Plextor web site at www plextor com 2 Look for firmware upgrades in the Support area on the Downloads page There is a description of the latest firmware revision and its intended use 3 Download the firmware to your computer To upgrade firmware 1 Run the executable file that you downloaded from Plextor s web site 2 Accept all defaults by continuing to click on the Next button until you see the message Firmware update has completed If You Need to Disable DMA If the firmware upgrade does not complete successfully you may need to disable direct memory access DMA in software In this case please follow the appropriate procedure below To disable DMA in Windows 95 98 and Me 1 Click the Start button then Settings then Control Panel then double click on System icon then select the Device Manager tab You see a list of devices in your system
38. jumpers 5 39 recognizing the drive in Windows 21 recording frequently asked questions 35 reliability 40 returns 42 RMA number 3 42 Roxio software 6 S safety standards 40 screws mounting 20 secondary IDE port 8 security sticker 3 selecting an IDE configuration 10 self test diagnostics 2 30 CD write read test 31 serial number recording 15 shipping your drive 3 42 slave 8 setting in BIOS 21 setting mode jumper 9 sleep mode 38 software Roxio 6 Sony Philips digital interface See SPDIF Sound Blaster compliant audio cable 20 sound board connections to 20 SPDIF cable 20 SPDIF connector 5 20 39 specifications 37 performance 38 speed monitoring 25 39 writing 11 35 writing CD DA 1 35 38 writing CD R 1 38 writing CD RW 1 35 38 stereo output signal 5 support 41 T technical support 41 temperature specification 40 TLA code 15 Index tray closing 24 front door 4 loading and unloading 24 troubleshooting self test diagnostics 2 30 U ultra DMA 5 14 transfers 40 upgrading firmware 2 29 V VariRec 26 changing setting 27 default setting 26 volume control 4 39 WwW wake mode 38 warranty 43 weight 40 Windows 2000 disabling DMA 30 enabling DMA in 22 Windows 95 98 Me disabling DMA 29 enabling DMA in 22 Windows XP disabling DMA 30 enabling DMA in 22 write specification CD DA 38 CD R data 38 CD RW 38 writing a CD freque
39. mage of a CD to your hard disk you need 1 GB of free space e ATAPI settings In Windows Direct Memory Access DMA should be set to ON The IDE controller should be set to Auto or PIO Mode4 DMA Mode2 in the motherboard BIOS Don t worry we ll show you how to set this up What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 40 12 40A Just look at some of the things you can do with your PlexWriter 40 12 40A e Record data or audio onto writable or rewritable CD media e Play music CDs e Save photos and other images on rewritable or writable CDs e Create a CD sneakernet to share information with colleagues just use software such as Roxio s DirectCD to drag and drop files onto CD R or CD RW media then continue adding files and sharing the same CD disc e Archive images and video to CD e Master new software programs on CD 2 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual What s in the Box What you find in your Plextor box depends on what the company that sold you the box put in or took out while the Plextor drive was in their possession Plextor currently sells its Plex Writer 40 12 40A drive in this configuration e PlexWriter 40 12 40A CD RW drive e 40 pin IDE ribbon cable 1 piece of approved high speed CD RW media e piece of approved CD R media e Plextor CD with bundled pre mastering and packet writing software PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Guide e Accessory packe
40. n updated list You can write to high speed RW discs only on drives that support this new media Drives that are capable of writing to high speed RW media such as the PlexWriter 40 12 40A are identified by a Compact Disc ReWritable High Speed logo PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 23 Section 3 Using Your PlexWriter Tray Loading and Operation To load and unload the tray 1 While the PlexWriter drive is powered up push the eject button on the front panel The tray drawer slides out in 3 4 seconds Figure 17 Loading the Tray 2 Lay a blank CD in the depression in the tray label side up The disc should lie flat in the tray 3 Press the eject button again and the tray will slide shut within seconds NOTE Always use the eject button to close the tray in a smooth and secure manner Closing the tray by pressing the front of the drawer by hand is not recommended and risks damage or premature wearing of the mechanism and your CDs Handling CD Media Take care when handling blank CD R and CD RW media Dust scratches and fingerprints on either side of the disc can cause write errors during recording When picking up or holding blank media you can either place your fingers along the outer edge of the disc or place one finger through the center hole and one finger on the outer edge Once you have finished creating a disc label it by writing on the top using permanent ink CAUTION We recommend usi
41. nd tips to help find the problem Using the Self Test Diagnostics The PlexWriter contains a set of self test diagnostics that can help isolate trouble and determine if a problem is in the drive or elsewhere NOTE Using the self test diagnostics requires opening the computer and removing a cable from the drive then replacing the cable at the end of the test If you previously installed the PlexWriter in your computer you should have no fear of the simple procedures that are required However if you re are not comfortable with opening your PC or Macintosh and disconnecting cables you may want to let someone with more experience handle this aspect of troubleshooting for you What You ll Need To perform the tests you ll need e Tools to remove the computer s cover e The spare jumper shipped with your drive e A blank piece of Plextor recommended CD R media for the CD write read test See Recommended Media on page 37 or visit our web site 30 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 4 Maintenance and Troubleshooting CD Write Read Test This tests three functions of the drive write random access and verify To perform the CD write read test 1 Turn the computer s power OFF unplug it from its power source and open the computer to gain access to the rear of the PlexWriter drive Typically this involves loosening or removing several screws on the back panel of your computer and sliding o
42. ng a non toxic marker such as a Sharpie pen that conforms to the ASTM D 4236 standard Some permanent markers will damage the media Also do not press too hard when writing on the disc NOTE We do not recommend placing self sticking CD R labels on the disc The weight of the label may unbalance the disc and cause write errors during recording or read errors during reading 24 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 3 Using Your PlexWriter Cleaning Discs For proper read and write performance your CD R CD RW and CD ROM discs must be clean Trying to record on a dirty disc may result in a failed session and ruin the disc To clean the disc wipe the disc using a clean soft cotton cloth to remove surface dirt such as fingerprints Use a straight line motion wiping from the center out Do not wipe the disc in a circular motion Figure 18 Wipe the Disc from the Center Outward HINT Keep your freguently used discs in jewel cases at all times to prevent them from becoming dirty or damaged Using the Writing Speed Indicator When you are writing to a CD or CD RW disc the color and blink rate of the front panel LED indicator indicate the speed of writing as follows LED blink interval in Write speed milliseconds Amber 40 ms 40X R Amber 80 ms 32X R 12X RW Amber 150 ms 4 24X R 4 10X RW PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 25 Section 3 Using Your PlexWri
43. ntly asked questions 35 image 2 limitations on speed 11 writing speed CD DA 1 35 38 CD R 1 35 38 CD RW 1 38 monitoring 25 39 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 47 Index This page intentionally left blank 48 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Notes PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 49 PLEXTOR CORP 48383 Fremont Blvd Suite 120 Fremont CA 94538 6509 Phone 510 440 2000 800 886 3935 Fax 510 651 9755 E mail info plextor com www plextor com
44. our own NOTE We encourage you to go the Plextor web site www plextor com before attempting to contact Technical Support The answers to the most common questions callers ask can be found quickly in the support area Select PlexHelper for online troubleshooting or FAQs for common questions If you have not been successful in your quest our Technical Support Department will help you solve problems that relate specifically to your PlexWriter drive In many cases a problem that appears to be caused by your PlexWriter actually originates in another part of your computer In such instances our technical support staff will try to help you identify the part at fault and will refer you to the manufacturer of that part for further assistance How to Contact Us There are several ways for you to contact Plextor s Technical Support Department e Visit our web site www plextor com for answers to Frequently Asked Questions e Send us e mail at support plextor com Include your telephone number and the hours during which you can be reached Be as detailed as possible in describing your problem Please include system configuration hardware and software as well as versions of drivers used e Call 800 886 3935 and select the tech support option PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 41 Appendix B Technical Support Before You E mail Log On FAX Call Please gather as much of the following information as possible before
45. ower during the audio recording process The PlexWriter 40 12 40A has an EIDE interface that supports the ATAPI 5 command set including special commands for CD R and CD RW PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 1 Section 1 Getting Started The PlexWriter 40 12 40A is fully MMC compliant supporting writing features such as Disc at Once Track at Once Session at Once and Multi Session as well as variable and fixed packet writing It also supports the UDF file system implemented through packet writing The PlexWriter 40 12 40A supports running OPC and is compatible with Windows Plug amp Play Flash memory allows upgrading the Plex Writer 40 12 40A to the latest firmware revision available from the Plextor web site without opening the computer or physically accessing the drive Buffer Underrun Proof technology eliminates buffer underrun errors which means you can safely use your computer for other things while you re writing to a CD R or CD RW disc And Plextor backs up this remarkable drive with a one year full warranty on parts and labor and unlimited toll free tech support Your PlexWriter also has a self diagnostic feature The drive can actually determine if itis working properly an invaluable feature for troubleshooting Minimum Configuration to Use the PlexWriter 40 12 40A e Computer Pentium II 300 MHz CPU or faster e Minimum RAM 64 MB e Hard disk size To write to a CD in image mode that is to write an i
46. r 38 Buffer Underrun Proof technology 2 26 C cable audio 20 IDE 15 MPC 20 power for drive 16 Sound Blaster 20 SPDIF 20 cable connections 19 cable select 13 identifying 14 master 14 setting mode jumper 9 CD DA writing speed 1 35 CD R media 23 35 writing speed 1 35 CD ROM playing 23 CD RW media 23 35 reading speed 1 writing speed 1 35 cleaning disc 25 closing tray 24 computer minimum 2 configuration CSEL 13 minimum 2 37 types of IDE 8 connection digital audio 39 sound board and 20 connector analog audio output 5 19 digital audio 5 20 IDE interface 5 18 power 5 19 connectors and jumpers rear panel 5 39 controls front panel 4 39 cover panel bay 17 CSEL signal 13 D data buffer 38 diagnostics 2 30 CD write read test 31 digital audio output 39 connector 5 20 39 digital audio writing speed 1 35 Digital In connector 5 20 39 dimensions 40 disabling DMA 29 Windows 2000 XP 30 Windows 95 98 Me 29 disc cleaning 25 labels 24 loading 39 DMA 2 disabling 29 enabling 22 enabling in Windows 2000 XP 22 enabling in Windows 95 98 Me 22 setting 37 DMA jumper 5 14 39 drive installing 15 recognizing in Windows 21 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 45 Index E eject button 4 39 closing tray 24 emergency eject hole 4 enabling DMA 22 environmental conditions 40 error rate specification 38 F firmware
47. r Slave setting for the drive is determined by the mode jumper To change the drive from Master to Slave or to Cable Select you must move the jumper For example to change the PlexWriter drive to be a Slave move the jumper to the middle set of pins leaving the other pins uncovered To change the drive for Cable Select move the jumper to the left set of pins Note that if any device is jumpered as Cable Select then both devices connected to that cable must be jumpered as Cable Select PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 9 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Changing Jumper Settings e To remove a jumper pull it off with your fingers or a pair of needle nose pliers e To install a jumper push it onto the jumper pins CAUTION Ensure power to the drive is OFF before installing or removing a jumper a Ay Install jumpers this way DO NOT install jumpers this way Vertically Horizontally Figure 5 Install the Mode Jumper Across Vertical Pairs of Pins CAUTION Install the mode jumper across the pins as shown vertically Do not connect one pin switch to another by installing the jumper lengthwise horizontally Doing so could result in damage to the drive Select an IDE Configuration Set the jumper according to the desired configuration as shown in the tables and illustrations on the next few pages NOTE For best CD RW performance try to connect the PlexWriter to the IDE port that is not conne
48. run error may happen With the Buffer Underrun Proof technology of your PlexWriter you could still make successful copies if you use software that supports Buffer Underrun Proof All software shipped with PlexWriter 40 12 40A drive retail kits supports Buffer Underrun Proof If you still have problems writing with this configuration use the image writing method or record at lower speed for best results We also recommend that DMA be enabled on your computer if your system supports it Figure 6 How to Install the Plex Writer If Your Computer Is Originally Set Up in Configuration A PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 11 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Before PlexWriter Installation How to Install the PlexWriter Hard disk connected as Master Set the PlexWriter s mode jumper to device and CD ROM or DVD ROM Master and connect the PlexWriter drive connected as Slave on the as Master to secondary IDE port primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port Hard disk connected CD ROM drive as master connected as slave Primary IDE Port Connect Set PlexWriter s PlexWriter jumper to as master cs S M Secondary IDE Port Figure 7 How to Install the PlexWriter If Your Computer Is Originally Set Up in Configuration B Before PlexWriter Installation How to Install the PlexWriter C Hard disk connected as Master Set the PlexWriter s mode jumper to device
49. s Technical Support Department by calling 800 886 3935 They will attempt to diagnose and correct your problem by phone If the unit does not function properly they will issue a Return Material Authorization RMA number You may be asked to furnish proof of purchase to confirm that the unit is still under warranty All product returns must be authorized in advance by PLEXTOR s Technical Support Department Authorization is confirmed by issuance of the RMA number which must be written prominently on the outside of the box in which the defective unit is returned to PLEXTOR All drives returned to PLEXTOR must be securely packaged and shipped postage prepaid The drive will be returned to the customer at Plextor s expense when the drive was sent to us from within the United States For any drives originating outside of the United States the customer is responsible for shipping costs in both directions NOTE Warranty validity is limited to that applicable in the location where the drive was originally purchased PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 43 Appendix C Warranty This page intentionally left blank 44 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Index A access time 38 analog audio output connector 19 analog audio output 39 connector 5 ATAPI command set 1 40 audio analog 39 digital 39 audio cable 20 B bay cover panel 17 box contents of 3 shipping 3 42 buffe
50. sc that is in your drive 5 The combined values of the pre defined write strategies along with the OPC test results create the default VariRec setting of zero Changing the VariRec Setting VariRec lets you increase or decrease the laser power by up to 2 degrees in either the positive or negative direction from this default You can change the laser power to do comparison testing with your CD player home auto or CD ROM drives to find the power setting that best suits you Changing the laser power changes the characteristics of the audio being written You can hear these changes during audio playback although what you hear will depend on speaker guality audio settings and environment When You Write with VariRec VariRec writes in either Track at Once TAO or Disc at Once DAO mode It writes CD DA digital audio on CD R media at 4X speed rather than at the full speed of the drive For this reason audio recording using VariRec takes a bit longer than a standard audio recording PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 27 Section 3 Using Your PlexWriter This page intentionally left blank 28 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual 4 Maintenance and Troubleshooting This chapter explains maintenance and troubleshooting procedures for your Plex Writer drive With proper maintenance you can prevent problems If problems arise you can often solve many simple problems on your own rather than wa
51. seceseeeeeeee 2 Save Your BOX L iseis sis ies sai iso op ii ss a i ai 3 Mhats in the BOX sasas in visi si a i a ia i elena aa 3 PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls 2 000 aaa aaa aaa aaa saaa 4 Front Pane ss seis 2 25 iseis iner ss i i o iek a as 4 Rear Panel st c0 sess sein ss a a i ia k i a aa i i 5 About SOLW ALC ives sias saknis visi sk si i a a i a io is 6 Pr cautions skitais sa keis iii si a a a i a i a o 6 2 Installing Your Plex Writer ccscccsscssssscssssecsccsscssscssscsssssscsssesessssssssesees 7 QuickStart Installation For Experienced PC Users Only eee eee 7 Open the Computer and Prepare for Installation ee eeeeeeceseceseeeeeeees 7 Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration lt aaa aaa aaa aka 8 Set the Drive s Mode Jumper aaa aaa aaa aaa aaa 9 Changing the Mode Jumper on Your Internal PlexWriter Drive 9 Select an IDE Configuration 0 cece eeceecceeeceseceseceneceecaeecseeeaeseeseseseneseeeeeees 10 About Cable Select 0 03 c ekist teat is I ia ee sek eee 13 Identifying Whether Your System Uses Cable Select aaa 14 Locating the Master Position on a Cable Select Cable eee 14 Set the DMA JUMper eenn e iee E ae ped eee EEEE SE R NRE EITEN 14 Install the PlexWriter Drive JLL aaa aaa kaka ae aaa kose aaa aaa 15 Record the Serial Number oo aaa aaa ease aaa aaa aaa 15 Mount the Plex Writer Drive in the Computer akadai kaka aaa 15 Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables aa
52. side of the IDE cable to Pin 1 on the motherboard and Pin 1 on the drive Pin 1 on the drive is closest to the power connector Each connector on most ribbon cables has a key in the middle This key should fit into a slot in the middle of each connector of the motherboard your PlexWriter and any other internal IDE peripherals 18 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 8 Double check your work You must ensure the side of the IDE cable with the red stripe is matched to Pin 1 on the interface board and on the drive CAUTION In the case of only one IDE device you must make certain that one end of the cable is always connected to the IDE connector on the motherboard The other end of the connector must be connected to a device The end connector of the cable should never be left unconnected 9 Connect a power cable from the computer to the DC INPUT connector of the Plex Writer drive In most computers you will find free power connectors that are ready for your use Check the cable running from your power supply to your hard disk and see if it has extra connectors on it If so you can plug one of these into the power connector found on the rear panel of the Plex Writer Internal PlexWriter IDE ribbon cable Digital audio cable optional Digital In Power CD ROM audio or SPDIF supply connector on PC connector on sound board Figure 16 Cable Connections
53. t including Q 4 mounting screws Q Extra jumper Q Emergency eject tool If the security sticker on top of your box is cut there may be a good reason for example a dealer may have added other components or software Carefully check the contents to ensure nothing has been removed If something is missing contact the party from whom you purchased the box for an explanation NOTE This applies to the Plextor retail box Your drive may have been shipped in a different box with other contents depending on whom you purchased the drive from and what they included inside the box Section 1 Getting Started Save Your Box Be sure to save the box after you have installed your PlexWriter drive The box and its packaging material were designed and drop tested to ensure your PlexWriter can endure rough treatment and still arrive in working order We hope you will never have to ship your drive back to us If you do however it s best to send it packaged in the original box Some of our customers have not held on to their boxes and have had to resort to less than secure methods to get drives back to us We cannot assume liability for any damage your drive sustains during shipment Therefore please ship your drive in the safest manner possible Before shipping your drive refer to the support section of the Plextor web site for pointers The web site is at http www plextor com If you did not receive a box for
54. ter Advantages of Buffer Underrun Proof Technology The PlexWriter 40 12 40A incorporates Buffer Underrun Proof Technology which guarantees that you can write discs at high speed and still use your computer for other tasks while you re writing To prevent the interruption of data during writing every CD R RW drive has a buffer a memory chip that acts as a kind of holding area Typically the buffer size is 2 MB or 4 MB However this buffer can be emptied quickly when you write at high speeds or if you use other applications like surfing the Internet or playing games or watching movies while writing Buffer Underrun Proof Technology compensates for any interruption in data flow to the disc It remembers where writing stopped on the disc when the data flow was interrupted then restarts writing in the same place once the data is available again Buffer Underrun Proof Technology in your Plex Writer 40 12 40A means you can safely use your computer for other things while you re writing to a CD R or CD RW disc It lets you multitask freely and easily and lets you successfully create CDs on the first attempt Advantages of VariRec Technology This drive is equipped with VariRec Variable Recording technology a feature offered by Plextor that allows you to manually adjust the drive s laser power during the audio recording process NOTE In order for you to actually perform the adjustment VariRec must be supported by t
55. ter to Multiword DMA mode by installing the DMA jumper across the two pins just to the left of the mode jumper LI LI LI IL LI LI as Mode jumper Add jumper here to change from Ultra DMA to Multiword DMA Figure 11 Add the DMA jumper if you need to change to Multiword DMA 14 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Install the PlexWriter Drive Before proceeding to install the Plex Writer drive in your personal computer double check your jumper setting Record the Serial Number Record the serial number and TLA code of your drive on the inside front cover of this manual Mount the PlexWriter Drive in the Computer You can mount your internal Plex Writer drive in any available bay You must remove the small panel that covers the bay that you want to use CAUTION Install your PlexWriter horizontally Plextor does not guarantee the drive s performance in a vertical position If you don t have an empty bay remove the existing IDE CD ROM drive and install the Plex Writer You must make a minimum of two cable connections to your PlexWriter The two cable connections that you must make are IDE cable e Power cable There are also two optional cable connections e An analog audio cable connection if you are using a sound board in your computer and plan to connect the PlexWriter s audio output to the audio
56. y were not supplied or they are all in use you will have to buy a splitter or a Y connector These can also be found at most retail and mail order computer stores To mount the PlexWriter drive 1 Make sure the power to your computer and any external peripherals is turned OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED from its power source 2 If you haven t already removed the cover from your computer remove it now following the directions provided by your computer s manufacturer Typically this involves loosening or removing several screws on the back panel of your computer and sliding off the cover See Figure 3 for details 3 Remove the cover panel from the bay that will hold the PlexWriter drive To remove the cover panel pop it out by pressing outward lightly In some older computers you may have to remove screws that hold the panel in place 16 PlexWriter 40 12 40A Installation and Users Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Available bay with cover panel removed Figure 13 Removing the Cover Panel from a Bay 4 Determine if you must install mounting rails on the sides of your drive To do so insert the drive into the open bay If the drive fits tightly with little or no clearance on either side of the drive you will not have to use mounting rails The drive can be mounted directly into your computer Go to step 6 NOTE Plextor does not provide rails If you need rails you can obtain them from t
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