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PlexWriter 8/2/20 SCSI Drive User Manual CD-ROM, CD

1. PLEXTOR PLEX WRITER 8 2 20 Models PX W8220Ti Internal PX W8220Te External Congratulations Thank you for purchasing the PlexWriter 8 2 20 a reliable high performance CD rewriter recorder and reader 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 To get you there we first have to help you install your PlexWriter drive properly and operate it correctly After that the responsibility is yours to seek the applications that make rewritable CD such a powerful and exciting addition to your system FCC NOTICE This equipment 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 equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency 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 equipment 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 bet
2. Possible Cause 1 e Defective CD ROM CD R disc or CD RW disc e A fingerprint contaminants or deep scratches on the disc s surface may prevent the drive from reading or writing data Solution 1 e Clean the disc as detailed on page 40 Note that a dirty or defective disc may cause intermittent problems Possible Cause 2 e Bad connection between the PlexWriter drive and the SCSI interface board Solution 2 e Inspect the cable drive and interface board for recessed broken or bent pins e Ifaribbon cable is used inspect for any signs of distress such as kinking Possible Cause 3 e PlexWriter drive set for test mode Solution 3 e Test mode is for factory use only Set DIP switch on external drive or jumpers internal drive to switch test mode off Possible Cause 4 e Improperor no SCSI bus termination Solution e Ensure that only the peripheral at the end of the internal SCSI cable and or the last peripheral in a SCSI chain of external devices is terminated See page 13 e Some peripherals have a setting marked Termination Power instead of Terminator Ensure that termination power switches are set correctly e Note that a lack of termination or too many terminations in a chain may cause intermittent problems PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 49 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause 5 e Conflict with another board PC installation Solution 5 1 Temporarily r
3. When playing an audio CD you do not hear sound even though everything appears to be functioning normally The PlexWriter s busy light flickers the time counter on your audio CD utility is advancing o Possible Causes e Sound board volume low e Mixer settings for sound board set too low e Need sound board e Need audio cable connection Solution e Each sound board has different settings for each input source including one for CD Audio Run your sound board s mixer program and verify that the volume is turned up e There are two types of audio you may encounter when using CD ROMs Q CD Audio This comes from audio discs like the ones used by your home stereo that are translated directly by your PlexWriter into sound You do not need a sound board to hear this audio You can hear this audio by plugging a set of headphones or powered speakers into the headphone jack on the front of your drive 48 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Q Sound board audio This comes from data such as a WAV file that is transferred from your CD ROM disc via the SCSI host adapter into your computer then translated by your sound board into sound If you do not have a sound board you will not be able to hear this form of audio Troubleshooting Disc Problems Symptoms Message CDR101 Not Ready Reading Drive X PlexWriter drive may not respond to a DIR command or cannot run a program PC installation
4. Plextor Manager and CD Res Q SCSI interface board and quick install guide Audio cable pT xoa TX a Power cable E a A OE SCSI cable Oooo T XX S S x Plextor operation X X Warranty registration X card manual CD Res Q manual X X X X Extra jumpers for setting X X drive switches See Appendix D for locations to purchase additional or replacement accessories NOTE If your drive came pre installed the rails cables interface boards and other parts shown in the table may have been installed and may not be separately available Other accessories especially software may not have been purchased from Plextor and thus may be different from those sold in Plextor retail packages 4 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 1 Getting Started PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls Before proceeding become familiar with the controls and features of your PlexWriter drive Match the parts of your drive to the illustrations below Front Panel Internal and External Drive Emergency eject hole Tray front door Ohne Eramu ee R C m om o Q DD DSC ON L H se 88 lt pee oe Headphone DISC WRITE H Stop eject jack indicator indicator button Volume ON READ WRITE L CD Audio control indicator indicator play skip forward button Figure 1 Front Panel of the Plex Writer 8 2 20 Drive e Tray front door Attached to tray drawer e Headphone jack Stereo mini jack for headphones
5. SCSI Interface What You Have What Else You Need Internal or external Nothing everything PlexWriter in is included in the Plextor box labeled box you purchased Drive Kit with PCI SCSI Interface 4 Internal PlexWriter LLBCS I ribbon cable in box labeled Use an existing Drive with ribbon cable or Software Kit purchase a new one Important Notes Your cable must have at least as many connectors as you have SCSI peripheral devices including your PlexWriter plus one additional connector to An existing SCSI attach to the interface board interface board You may need to update your device drivers You may still need a new SCSI board if your existing one is old Use only high performance bus mastering SCSI interface boards PIO SCSI interfaces may not properly support high speed 8X CD recording 8 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual What You Have External PlexWriter in box labeled Drive with Software Kit An existing SCSI interface board Internal PlexWriter in box labeled Drive with Software Kit No SCSI interface board in your computer External PlexWriter in box labeled Drive with Software Kit No SCSI interface board in your computer What Else You Need External SCSI cable Use a SCSI cable you may already have or purchase a new one You may need to update your device drivers You may still need a new SCSI bo
6. plate screw that you removed earlier Install an Internal PlexWriter Drive This section explains how to install an internal PlexWriter drive in a PC If you have an external drive go to the section titled Install an External PlexWriter Drive on page 28 Before proceeding double check your SCSI number setting SCSI termination setting and other jumper controlled settings 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 You can mount your internal PlexWriter drive in any available bay You must remove the small panel that covers the bay that you want to use CAUTION Insifall your PlexWriter horizontally Plextbr does not guarantee drive s performance in a Vertical positon 22 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter You must make a minimum of two cable connections to your PlexWriter The two cable connections that you must make are e SCSI cable e Power cable A third cable connection will need to be made if you are using a sound board in your computer and plan to connect the PlexWriter s audio output to the audio connector on the sound board Choose a SCSI Ribbon Cable The SCSI cable you will need is a standard 50 pin flat ribbon cable The cable may have a termination on it To Pin 1 Termination Figure 10 Internal SCSI Ribbon Cable You may need to add or chan
7. Getting Started About Pre mastering Software In order to create CD R and CD RW discs you will need to have pre mastering software installed on your computer system You can check our web site www plextor com for an updated list We provide pre mastering software kits in retail packaging for your convenience Precautions Like the rest of your computer system your PlexWriter requires reasonable care in its installation and use e Do not put your computer monitor or anything weighing more than 30 lbs on top of a PlexWriter external drive e Do not place your drive in direct sunlight on heating units or near electrical appliances that draw large amounts of current such as a high power audio amplifier microwave oven toaster etc e Keep the area around your drive clean from dust smoke and other contaminants e Use a soft dust free cloth for cleaning your drive Do not allow moisture 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 e 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 CD ROM discs free of dirt or other contaminants by storing them in jewel cases Use only industry standard discs Do not insert dirty
8. and change the PlexWriter s ID to a unique number Do Have to Change My PlexWriter s Termination Setting The PlexWriter is shipped from the factory with its SCSI termination set ON You can leave the PlexWriter s SCSI termination setting to ON if Your PlexWriter drive is the only SCSI peripheral In this case don t change the SCSI termination setting Leave it set to the original factory setting of ON Your PlexWriter drive is the last peripheral in a chain If you are using multiple SCSI peripherals with your computer and the PlexWriter is positioned as the last peripheral in a chain don t change the PlexWriter s termination setting Leave it set to ON NOTE The PlexWriter uses active termination You should change the PlexWriter s SCSI termination setting to OFF if Your PlexWriter is in the middle of a chain If you have multiple SCSI peripherals and the PlexWriter drive is not the last device in the chain set its SCSI termination to OFF In this case remove disable or turn off termination for all devices between the SCSI board and the last peripheral on the opposite end of the chain Set the termination of the last device in the chain to on PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 13 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter PlexWriter in Device at middle of chain end of chain Termination OFF Termination ON PlexWriter is only device or is at end of chain Termination ON Figure 4 What Termination Set
9. and one other peripheral connect the two peripherals to the other two connectors The device farthest from the SCSI must have its termination set to ON Refer to page 13 of this manual for information about SCSI termination SS PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 27 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Install an External PlexWriter Drive To install an external drive decide which cables you use and whether you need to change the switch dial and terminator settings on your PlexWriter and other peripherals Before proceeding double check your SCSI number setting SCSI termination setting and other switch controlled settings Connect a Single Drive If you are installing a single external PlexWriter drive connect it as shown in Figure 15 SCSI interface board i c Plexwriter rear panel EE i AC power ersonal computer supply Figure 15 Connecting a Single External Plex Writer to a PC 28 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Connect Multiple Drives If you are installing more than one PlexWriter external drive or one PlexWriter and other external SCSI peripherals connect them as shown in Figure 16 SCSI cable All connections are 50 pin high density No terminator Personal computer SCSI cable No terminator a Termination enabled using DIP switch setting Figure 16 Connecting Multiple Drives or Perip
10. and powered speakers e Volume control Controls volume of headphone jack This control has no effect on the rear panel audio outputs e DISC indicator Green when disc is in the drive and power is ON e ON READ indicator Green when power is ON and no disc is in drive Green flashing when disc is being accessed e WRITE L indicator Orange when recording CD R discs at 1X 2X or 4X speed PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 5 Section 1 Getting Started WRITE H indicator Orange when recording CD R discs at 8X speed Both WRITE H and WRITE L indicators are turned on orange when recording CD RW discs at 2X speed CD Audio play skip forward button With an audio CD in the drive push once to put the drive in CD Audio play mode Push button once during CD play mode to skip tracks Push and hold down this button more than one second to fast forward Stop Eject button Push to eject tray During CD play mode press once to stop playback press twice to eject the disc Emergency eject hole Insert emergency eject stick paper clip or other thin rigid object to eject tray if automatic eject button does not work Turn OFF power before using this feature Rear Panel tinternal Drive Audio output Jumpers SCSI interface Power connector connector connector Figure 2 Rear Panel of the Plex Writer 8 2 20 Internal Drive Audio output connector Outputs stereo analog signal Use to connect to sound board or audio amplifier Use
11. another application interrupts the writing process or if the recording drive s write speed is set too high for the speed at which the source drive can supply data PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 53 Section 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording Any hints for using Easy CD Creator or CD Copier e Make sure your system meets the minimum system requirements e Do not run other applications while recording CDs Log off any networks disable any FAX modems e mail screen savers or other programs that may send messages to your computer while it is writing a disc If your computer has a power management feature disable it Run SCANDISK EXE and DEFRAG EXE periodically on your hard drive e Do not record using data from a compressed hard drive Buffer underruns may be caused by hard drive compression software 54 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Disc Specifications Useable Formats Read Useable Formats Write Disc Diameter Writing Modes Recommended Media CD R 8X 4X 2X CD R 1X CD RW 2X CD DA CD ROM Mode 1 CD ROM XA Mode 2 form 1 or form 2 CD ROM Mixed Mode Photo CD VideoCD CD I MPEG movies CD EXTRA CD G CD Text ISO 9660 HFS Rockridge Photo CD VideoCD CD I CD Extra CD Plus Enhanced CD CD R CD G CD Midi 12 cm diameter Recording time 60 min and 74 min Track at Once Disc at Once Session at Once Multisession Fixed a
12. automatically load an incorrect file version for the SCSI interface board we provided in our PCI SCSI drive kits 3 Insert the Plextor PlexWriter CD This disc has the approved driver file for your SCSI interface board and will let Windows complete the installation 4 After inserting the disc select Browse in the dialog box and then select the appropriate drive letter and path The Windows 95 98 configuration process should select the correct file from the disc and copy it to the correct Windows 95 98 subdirectory on your hard drive PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 59 Appendix B Installing in Windows To install software if you purchased a SCSI interface board separately Follow the above procedure for hardware installation until you are asked to insert the Windows 95 98 disk or CD Then insert the disk supplied by the manufacturer of your SCSI interface board rather than inserting the Windows 95 98 disk If you do not have this disk or cannot find it among all the other disks you have you can try using the files provided by Windows 95 98 but we cannot guarantee you will get the most recent version of the driver that will work properly To reboot your computer after installation 1 Select Shut Down from the Start button 2 Inthe Shut Down dialog box select Restart the Computer and select Yes This will reboot your computer with the new configuration Troubleshooting Windows 95 98 Installations If you followed the prev
13. board If you purchased your new SCSI interface board from another source consult the documentation provided by the manufacturer of the SCSI interface board for installation instructions You will soon be using the highest performance CD RW drive around If you have any problems at all our technical support staff will help you PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 33 Section 3 Installing and Using Software Install or Update SCSI Support The software to allow your SCSI board to operate depends on your operating system and on which Plextor kit you purchased Plextor Drive with Software Kit This kit does not include a SCSI interface board If you already have a SCSI board installed in your computer or you are purchasing one separately make sure the SCSI driver is up to date e Ifyou have Windows 95 98 You need a mini port driver file MPD that allows your SCSI board to operate with Windows 95 98 Many mini port drivers are included with Windows 95 98 However if your SCSI board was released recently it may not be supported by your version of Windows 95 98 In this case contact the SCSI board manufacturer at their web site for the required MPD file e Ifyou have Windows NT You need a SYS file that allows your SCSI board to operate with Windows NT Some SYS files are included with Windows NT However if your SCSI board was released recently it may not be supported in this case contact the SCSI board manufacturer at their w
14. 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 19 Wipe the Disc from the Center Outward HINT Keep your frequently used discs in jewel cases at all times to prevent them from becoming dirty or damaged 40 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter Playing Audio CDs Playing audio using the front panel controls is the most basic operation of your PlexWriter No special drivers are needed to operate this feature Connections for Playing Audio CDs In order to listen to an audio CD plug a pair of stereo headphones or self powered speakers into the headphone jack on the drive s front panel as shown in Figure 20 Dpi E biscON L H eanan Stereo mini plug to headphone jack Figure 20 Connections for Playing A dio Usink the Headphone Jack 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 audio outputs Plextor Manager software can control volume level of the signal from the rear panel audio outputs You also can connect your PlexWriter s drive to an audio amplifier as shown in Figure 17 Playing a CD To play a CD 1 Insert an audio CD into the PlexWriter drive 2 Push the Play Skip Forward button to begin audio play 3 To advance the
15. found on the label of the floppy disk which contains the device drivers e The version of the Windows DOS Mac Novell OS 2 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 from our Technical Support Department before any Plextor drive can be returned for repair or replacement Any drive sent to Plextor without an RMA number will not be accepted Drives must be sent postage prepaid We recommend that you insure your shipment as Plextor cannot be held responsible for any damage that may occur during shipment 66 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Appendix D Helpful Contacts Company Phone Fax Product Web and or E mail Address CD R software com boards advansys com cables acc amcdirect com Tedia one COR ceq quadrat com Esa 405 742 6600 Eia 742 6633 Sound boards Labs neste com Creative 408 255 0999 408 255 1011 Windows www cdr com Research software Diamond 800 468 5846 408 325 7408 Sound boards www diamondmm com eee a 830 5522 407 260 5366 SCSI interface
16. interface as its link SCSI board already installed Even if you already have a SCSI board in your computer it may not be adequate for use with your high performance Plex Writer drive See How to Choose a SCSI Board for more details Then if your SCSI board is suitable you can go directly to Install an Internal PlexWriter Drive on page 22 or to Install an External PlexWriter Drive on page 28 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 19 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter How to Choose a SCSI Board Plextor s technical support engineers have developed these recommendations for choosing and installing a SCSI board that gives the best performance with your PlexWriter drive e Use a high performance bus mastering SCSI interface board preferably a PCI board If you purchased a PlexWriter Drive with PCI SCSI Kit this board is included e Connecting the PlexWriter to a parallel to SCSI interface or to the SCSI interface on a sound board will slow the PlexWriter s performance and is not recommended With this configuration you will not be able to achieve 8X writing speed e Ifyou have a desktop PC do not connect your PlexWriter drive to a non bus mastering interface board PIO You will not be able to achieve 8X writing speed with this configuration e Ifyou have a laptop computer you can use a PIO PCMCIA card however these cards can write at 4X speed at best To achieve full 8X writing performance use a CardBus PC
17. track push the Play Skip Forward button once 4 To begin a fast forward search hold down the Play Skip Forward button for at least 1 second 5 Press the Stop Eject button once to stop audio play press it a second time to eject the CD PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 41 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter Playing a CD Using Plextor Manager For PC users unique and powerful audio utilities are provided with Plextor Manager software For installation and operating instructions refer to the separate Plextor Manager User s Manual and README files Playing a CD Using Other Utilities Other alternatives for playing CDs include audio utilities designed into your operating system Media Player in Windows for instance or various other utilities that can be purchased commercially Playing a CD On a Macintosh Mac users can run a program such as CDT Remote which is typically included with FWB s CD ROM device driver Writing to CD R and CD RW Media In conjunction with your PlexWriter 8 2 20 drive pre mastering and packet writing software such as DirectCD lets you write audio video data or other information to writable CD R or re writable CD RW media IMPORTANT Only newer CD ROM drives can read CD RW discs Drives manufactured before 1997 cannot read them Plextor CD ROM drives starting with the 12 20PleX or newer can read CD RW discs 42 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting This c
18. 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 10 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 2 Installing Your PlexWriter This chapter explains how to physically install your PlexWriter in your computer internal drive or how to attach the Plex Writer external drive The steps you ll need to do are as follows 1 Turn OFF your computer system 2 Set the SCSI ID for your new PlexWriter drive 3 Set the PlexWriter s termination By default termination is enabled 4 Ifyou have a new PCI SCSI interface board insert it into an available PCI slot in your computer 5 If you have an internal model Plextor drive mount the drive into an available drive bay inside the computer system 6 Make all necessary cabling connections SCSI cable power cable and audio cable 7 Turn your computer system ON The following pages give more details for this procedure Set Drive Switches or Jumpers Quickstart Installation For Experienced PC Users Only If you ve installed computer peripherals before you re in luck with the PlexWriter drive Use this quickstart installation designed to get you up and running quickly Scenario 1 You purchased a Plextor Drive with SCSI Kit the Plex Writer is your only SCSI peripheral and you have Windows 95 or Windows 9
19. with PCI 1 MPC compliant audio Connect to MPC audio SCSI Kit cable source and to audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter 1 Sound Blaster Connect to Sound Blaster compatible audio cable compatible audio board and to audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter Figure 14 If you purchased an internal drive SCSI interface kit and you have a sound board other than Sound Blaster that is not MPC compliant you will have to purchase a different audio cable from a computer supply store We can help by recommending several vendors who offer audio cables see page 67 of this manual 30 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter RCA type plugs Figure 17 Connecting Audio Cables to an External Plex Writer Drive PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 31 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter This page intentionally left blank 32 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 3 Installing and Using Software There s one more step before you can begin to use your PlexWriter drive you need to install special software on your computer There are three software types e SCSI support Software that allows your SCSI board to operate with your computer and the PlexWriter drive Even if your SCSI board is already installed and operational you may need to update this software e Device driver Software program that allows your computer to interact with the PlexWriter drive Drivers ar
20. www dpt com boards i I 474 0868 408 474 0828 SCSI interface www boards datatechnology com fee le 482 4800 650 482 4858 Mac device www ee com drivers ee 408 654 0234 408 982 9329 Audio cables Inter Connects Plextor 408 980 1838 408 986 1010 Recommend support boards audio plextor com cables all BBS 408 986 other technical 1569 support needs Testa CD 520 531 1880 CD Tach http tcdlabs Labs performance simplenet com benchmarks PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 67 Appendix C Helpful Contacts This page intentionally left blank 68 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Index A AC power input 8 applications software 36 ASPI manager 34 audio playing 6 audio cable 30 48 connecting to external drive 31 audio CD playing 41 audio output connector 6 8 audio troubleshooting 47 B BLOCK external drive switch setting gt 8 internal drive jumper setting 7 setting 15 50 box contents of 3 4 shipping 3 C cable audio 30 48 power for internal drive 23 SCSI 23 cable connections external drive 28 internal drive 26 CD playing 6 41 playing on Macintosh 42 reading gt 1 writing gt CD Audio 48 error messages 50 play skip forward button 6 playing 41 CD R media 39 CDR101 message 49 CDR103 message 50 CD ROM no sound from headphones 47 CD ROM media 39 CD RW media 39 cleaning disc 40 connector au
21. you have problems with your PlexWriter begin with the SCSI interface messages Then go to the appropriate troubleshooting section for your situation Using SCSI Interface Messages Most SCSI interface boards can sense when a problem has occurred and will generate an error message on your computer To use these messages 1 Take note of the SCSI interface error message PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 43 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting 2 Run the test diagnostic program that is probably included with the device drivers for your SCSI interface board following the instructions given in the SCSI interface board s manual 3 Ifthe information provided by the error message and test program is not sufficient for you to fix the problem go to the troubleshooting information below NOTE Because different SCSI interface boards generate differently worded error messages the messages displayed by your computer may differ from those shown on the following pages If you have problems during or right after installation of your PlexWriter drive use these charts to help find the problem You can also use these charts to help find problems that develop in existing installations Troubleshooting SCSI Problems Symptoms Error messages such as the following upon initial installation of the PlexWriter drive and device driver software e Invalid device specification e No device found e No SCSI interface board foun
22. 8 What to do Install the SCSI board plug in the PlexWriter and go Windows will recognize the board After the SCSI board drivers are installed the drive s drivers will automatically be installed by the operating system Scenario 2 You have a SCAM SCSI board installed the PlexWriter is your only SCSI peripheral and you have Windows 95 or 98 What to do Plug in the Plex Writer and go Windows will recognize the drive and install the correct drivers automatically Your PlexWriter needs to be flexible enough to work with the variety of computer systems and a number of other SCSI peripherals To provide this flexibility Plextor lets you specify the drive s settings before it is installed On an internal drive you determine settings by the position of jumpers on the jumper block at the rear of the drive On an external drive you determine settings by the position of DIP switches and the rotary dial on the rear panel of the drive PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 11 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Your drive ships from our factory with its jumpers switches and or dial set to work in the most commonly found environment You should leave those switches and jumpers at their factory settings unless 1 you plan to use another SCSI peripheral e g CD ROM hard disk scanner with your computer system in addition to your PlexWriter or 2 you find it necessary to change the block size setting most likely in an o
23. EEE EED ESK E OSE E EE EE 43 Troubleshooting ersinnen se siener oeira KKE TOE EAEE 43 Using SCSI Interface Messages 0 cccccccessessseeeeseeeseeeeeeseeeseeseeeseesseesaeenneeses 43 Troubleshooting SCSI Problems s ssssssssseeserseeseesesessessessrsresrseesessessesseseese 44 Troubleshooting for Macintosh Users ccccceseeeseeeseeeeeeeeeeteeeteeeseeeneeseeeaes 46 Troubleshooting Farodane Problems m encon aa h 47 1 Getting Started This manual explains how to install and use your PlexWriter 8 2 20 internal or external drive For those of you with PCs the installation process may seem a bit complicated Mac people have it easy Fear not We have successfully walked through the installation process with millions of customers who previously had lived in mortal terror of the innards of their computer 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 repair or service In this manual you should find all the information you need to successfully install operate and troubleshoot your drive If you run into an unsolvable problem however please contact us See Appendix C 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 the
24. MCIA card Install the SCSI Board This is a PlexWriter installation and operation manual it is not a SCSI interface board operation manual Unless you purchased a SCSI interface board and its accompanying manual bundled in the same box with a PlexWriter we have no way of knowing which type of board you elect to use There are dozens of SCSI interface boards on the market and each is installed somewhat differently Use the instructions for this section only as guidelines For more detailed instructions on how to properly install your SCSI interface board refer to the operation manual you received when you purchased the board CAUTION Be very careful not to cause static electricity Static electricity is a silent killer Just a small jolt to one of the chips on your interface board may render it useless with no apparent damage To guard against static electricity position your computer in a location without a carpet underfoot Also use common sense for example don t walk on a carpeted floor in stocking feet just before you install your SCSI board or PlexWriter drive 20 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter To install the SCSI board 1 Before proceeding make sure the power to your computer and any external peripherals is OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED from its power source i Figure 8 Removing a Typical Computer s Cover 2 Remove your computer s cover following t
25. SI peripheral you may need to change your SCSI ID number see page 18 e DIP switches Use to select parity SCSI termination or block size Leave these switches at their factory settings unless one or more of the following situations pertains to you Q PRTY Parity In some cases you may need to turn parity off see page 15 Q TERM SCSI termination In some situations you may need to set this jumper to turn the PlexWriter s SCSI termination off see page 17 for details Q TEST For factory use only Do not change this setting PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 7 Section 1 Getting Started Q BLOCK Block size You may need to change this setting if you are working in a UNIX environment and want to boot from your PlexWriter see page 15 e Power switch To turn power the drive s power ON or OFF e AC power input Use the power cord supplied with your drive e Audio output connectors Output stereo analog signal Use to connect to sound board or audio amplifier Use standard RCA jack connectors e SCSI In and SCSI Out interface connectors Use one connector to link your PlexWriter to your SCSI interface board Use the other to link your PlexWriter to another SCSI peripheral in a chain see page 28 You may use either connector for either purpose What Else Do You Need Use this table to determine what else you ll need to install your PlexWriter Internal or external PlexWriter in Plextor box labeled Drive Kit with PCI
26. Your SCSI interface board manufacturer will provide you with specific installation instructions Install SCSI Drivers for Windows NT To add CD RW drive support after NT has already been installed 1 Run NT s Setup program to add support for your SCSI interface board 2 Select Add Remove SCSI Adapters from the menu 3 Choose your SCSI interface board from the list or add the driver you obtained from your SCSI interface board manufacturer 4 Shut down your system and connect your PlexWriter to the SCSI interface board 62 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Appendix B Installing in Windows 5 Turn ON your computer and your PlexWriter drive should now be visible to the system Troubleshooting Windows NT Installations If you have difficulty getting NT to recognize your CD RW drive and SCSI interface board confirm that all of your hardware is operating properly This is best done by using a boot floppy disk with CD ROM support or by simply installing DOS e If your system does not work under DOS you probably have a hardware problem that needs to be resolved before you can go any further e If your system works under DOS but not NT review your device driver installation and verify that the SCSI interface board device driver and CD ROM drive support are loaded correctly PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 63 Appendix B Installing in Windows This page intentionally left blank 64 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Ap
27. abled ON If you have to disable turn OFF SCSI termination on your PlexWriter drive remove the jumper from Pin 5 Factory setting is enabled ON See page 12 for an explanation of SCSI termination and to determine if you need to change this setting If your drive is already installed in your computer be sure to turn off your computer before removing or reinstalling the jumpers We recommend that you retain the jumpers so you can reinsert them onto the termination pins if you later need to turn the drive s SCSI termination ON PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 17 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter If you have internal SCSI peripherals only then you should be using an internal ribbon cable In this case all devices between the SCSI host adapter and the last peripheral on the opposite end of the ribbon cable should have their termination removed disabled or turned off If you have both internal and external SCSI peripherals both the internal and external connectors of your host adapter are used then the termination of your SCSI interface board should be removed disabled or turned OFF The last peripheral on your internal cable and the last peripheral on your external SCSI chain should retain their termination have it set ON All other SCSI peripherals connected to the host adapter should have their termination removed disabled or turned off NOTE The SCSI interface board that is bundled in the Plextor kits has Auto T
28. ard if your existing one is old SCSI interface board SCSI ribbon cable SCSI interface board External SCSI cable Section 1 Getting Started Important Notes Make sure at least one end of the cable has the same kind of SCSI connector as your PlexWriter The other end of the cable must have the proper connector to fit your SCSI interface board or another chained external SCSI device Use only high performance bus mastering SCSI interface boards PIO SCSI interfaces may not properly support high speed 8X CD recording Purchase a SCSI interface board from a local or mail order computer store Use only high performance bus mastering SCSI interface boards PIO SCSI interfaces may not properly support high speed 8X CD recording Your cable must have at least as many connectors as you have SCSI peripheral devices including your PlexWriter plus one additional connector to attach to the interface board Purchase a SCSI interface board from a local or mail order computer store Use only high performance bus mastering SCSI interface boards PIO SCSI interfaces may not properly support high speed 8X CD recording Make sure at least one end of the cable has the same kind of SCSI connector as your PlexWriter The other end of the cable must have the proper connector to fit your SCSI interface board or another chained external SCSI device PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 9 Section 1
29. d e No response from SCSI interface board e No drives in use Possible Cause 1 e Improper SCSI device driver installation Your computer needs a SCSI software device driver to link the SCSI interface board to the PlexWriter drive If this driver cannot be loaded properly an error message is displayed on the computer screen Solution 1 1 Reboot the computer 2 Watch as the CONFIG SYS file executes and look for an error message to appear 3 Ifnecessary press the Control and S keys simultaneously to freeze the display Use the Control S combination again to continue If the SCSI device driver cannot be loaded properly either a software or hardware conflict exists Possible Cause 2 e Improper SCSI bus termination Solution 2 e Ensure that only the peripheral at the end of the internal SCSI cable and or the last peripheral in a SCSI chain of external devices is terminated See page 13 44 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting e Some peripherals have a setting marked Termination Power instead of Terminator Ensure that termination power switches are set correctly Possible Cause 3 e Software conflict with other device drivers caused by memory manager e The SCSI interface board normally designates the device driver as the first device driver loaded by the computer When the computer has a memory manager e g HIMEM SYS 386MAX SYS or QEMM SYS in most ca
30. dial s arrow to a different SCSI ID number Changing the SCSI Termination Setting The PlexWriter external drive is shipped from the factory with its SCSI termination enabled ON If you have to disable SCSI termination on your PlexWriter drive set DIP switch 2 to OFF If you are using external SCSI peripherals only then you should be using an external SCSI cable or cables In this case all devices between the SCSI host adapter and the last peripheral on the end of your SCSI chain should have their termination removed disabled or turned off If you have both internal and external SCSI peripherals both the internal and ae ae used then the termination of your SCSI ost adapter should be removed disabled or turned OFF The last peripheral on your internal cable and the last peripheral on your external SCSI chain should retain their termination have it set ON All other SCSI peripherals connected to the host adapter should have their termination removed disabled or turned off NOTE The SCSI interface board that is bundled in the Plextor kits has Auto Termination so turning off its termination is unnecessary However you still must sometimes specify termination ON or OFF on the PlexWriter drive Install a SCSI Interface Board By itself your PlexWriter is incapable of communicating with your computer You must use a hardware link that enables your drive to talk with the rest of your computer The PlexWriter uses a SCSI
31. dio output 6 contacts 67 controls external drive rear panel 7 front panel 5 56 internal drive rear panel 6 rear panel 56 D device driver 33 SCSI 34 dimensions 57 DIP switch 7 disc cleaning 40 ejecting 6 loading 51 specifications 55 troubleshooting 49 DISC indicator 5 DMA conflicts 50 drive speed lowering 51 Drive with PCI SCSI Kit 3 SCSI ID and 12 SCSI support 34 Drive with Software Kit 3 SSCI support 34 E emergency eject hole 6 environmental conditions 56 error messages 43 external drive audio cable connection 31 connecting a single drive 28 connecting multiple drives 29 factory switch settings 18 rear panel 7 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 69 Index F firmware revision 2 upgrading 43 front panel controls 5 front panel controls 56 H headphone jack 5 High Sierra format 50 I INIT conflicts 47 installation 11 internal drive 22 requirements for 8 software 59 Windows NT 62 internal drive installing 22 jumpers 15 mounting 22 rear panel 6 ISO 9600 format 50 J jumpers 6 factory settings 16 setting on internal drive 15 16 M Macintosh playing CD on 42 troubleshooting 46 maintenance 43 mastering software 37 media 39 care and handling 40 memory manager conflicts 50 device driver and 45 MID files 49 mini port driver file 34 MPD file 34 70 Ple
32. dows Plug and Play Flash memory allows upgrading the PlexWriter 8 2 20 to the latest firmware revision available from the Plextor web site without opening the drive And Plextor backs up this remarkable drive with a one year full warranty on parts and labor and unlimited toll free tech support What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 8 2 20 Just look at some of the things you can do with your PlexWriter 8 2 20 e Record audio onto writable or rewritable CD media e Play music CDs e Periodically back up your computer s hard disk including operating system hardware configuration registry program files and data Plextor s CD Res Q software makes this easy You can even make a bootable CD e Save photos and other images on rewritable CDs or writable CDs e Create a CD sneakernet to share information with colleagues just use software such as Adaptec DirectCD to drag and drop a file 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 8 2 20 Operation Manual What s in the Box What you find in your Plextor box depends on two factors What configuration you purchased and 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 PlexWriter 8 2 20 drives in these configurations Drive with Software Kit Includes th
33. e Tumbler type 3A 250V Internal Drive SCSI bus 50 pin flat ribbon type External Drive SCSI bus two 2 50 pin high density Internal Drive Jumper switches External Drive DIP switches Internal Drive Stereo analog output Molex connector L G G R MPC3 standard External Drive Stereo analog output RCA jacks Internal Drive SCSI ID parity termination test block size eject External Drive Parity termination test block size eject lock External Drive SCSI ID Environmental Conditions Operating Temperature Humidity Storage Temperature Humidity 5 to 40 degrees Celsius 20 to 80 noncondensing 30 to 55 degrees Celsius 20 to 95 noncondensing 56 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Dimensions and Weight Dimensions W H D Internal Drive 5 78 x 1 64 x 7 95 without front panel External Drive 7 0 x 2 24 x 12 03 without projection Weight Internal Drive 2 5 lbs External Drive 5 8 Ibs Reliability MTBF 60 000 POH Tray Loading 30 000 Load Cycles PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 57 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications This page intentionally left blank 58 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Appendix B Installing in Windows This appendix contains more detailed explanations of installation in Windows 95 98 and NT whether you have new or older hardware and software Installing in Windows 95 98 This section explains how t
34. e PlexWriter drive with CD R and CD RW media and bundled software such as Q CD mastering software for PC Q Packet writing software Q CD Res Q Plextor s own software for hard disk backup and disaster recovery Q Plextor Manager 2000 Plextor s utility software for getting the best performance from your PlexWriter drive Q Other utilities which we ll add as needed Drive with PCI SCSI Kit Includes the PlexWriter drive the CD R and CD RW media and software listed above and the following Q SCSI interface board Q SCSI cable Q Audio cables for sound board The configuration you received is indicated by stickers applied to your box Your drive may also have been integrated into a computer system or subsystem sold by a third party 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 that your PlexWriter can endure rough treatment and still arrive in working order Also please save the red shipping insert that is used for shipping protection It should be placed inside the drive on the tray before shipping the Plex Writer 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 ge
35. e included in Windows 95 98 and NT that let you operate your PlexWriter as a CD ROM device reader If you are using Windows 3 x or MS DOS you may have to install drivers yourself e Application software Software programs for specific tasks such as pre mastering CDs backing up your hard disk or files capturing audio duplicating CDs and more Some of these applications are supplied with your PlexWriter while others are available from other vendors Quick Installation in Windows 95 98 Use this section for a quick installation of your PlexWriter drive in a Windows 95 or Windows 98 system If you encounter any problems refer to Appendix B Installing in Windows Windows 95 98 should automatically recognize and support your SCSI interface board and PlexWriter drive Microsoft has included a generic CD ROM device driver in the operating system This driver also supports the PlexWriter as a reader Microsoft has also included numerous controller specific drivers on the Windows 95 98 CD ROM e Previously installed SCSI interface board If you connect your PlexWriter drive to a previously installed and operating SCSI interface board Windows 95 98 will recognize it automatically You will need to install third party software to use the PlexWriter as a recorder e PlexWriter Drive with PCI SCSI Kit If you purchased your SCSI interface board in a Plextor kit use the saa fas CD to access the necessary drivers e New SCSI controller
36. eave this OFF It is for factory use only BLOCK Block size Leave this OFF unless you are working in a UNIX environment and want to boot from your PlexWriter drive If so set this switch jumper ON Setting Jumpers on an Internal PlexWriter Drive Use this procedure if you have a PlexWriter internal drive However if you already have a SCSI board installed an internal PlexWriter is the only SCSI peripheral you will use with your computer and you do not need to change any settings skip now to Install an Internal PlexWriter Drive on page 19 E PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 15 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Factory Jumper Settings Figure 5 shows the factory settings of the jumpers The functions shown are ON if the jumpers are installed and OFF if the jumpers are removed ON Jumper installed OFF Jumper removed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 at SCSI ID TERM BLOCK SIZE PARITY TEST Figure 5 Factory Settings for Jumpers at the Rear of the Internal Drive Changing Jumper Settings To remove a jumper pull it off with your fingers or a pair of needle nose pliers CAUTION Ensure power to the drive is OFF before installing or removing jumpers To add a jumper push it onto the jumper pins In addition to the three jumpers already installed at the factory extra jumpers are supplied with the PlexWriter drive az W Install jumpers this way DO NOT install jumpers t
37. eb site for the required SYS file e If you have DOS or Windows 3 x You need an ASPI manager file for DOS Windows 3 x to support your SCSI board ASPI managers are provided by SCSI board manufacturers Even if you have an ASPI manager file it may need to be updated to work with your PlexWriter drive Contact the SCSI board manufacturer at their web site for the latest driver version To install or update SCSI support for an existing SCSI board 1 Try using the SCSI interface with your PlexWriter drive If it works you probably don t need to install or update the SCSI driver 2 Ifyou need to install or update SCSI support in your computer follow the installation instructions supplied by the SCSI manufacturer Plextor Drive with PCI SCSI Kit If you bought a PlexWriter Drive with PCI SCSI Kit Plextor has included the applicable MPD SYS and ASPI manager files These are on your Plextor software disc To install SCSI support for the new SCSI board e Follow the instructions in Appendix B Installing in Windows 34 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 3 Installing and Using Software Install Device Drivers Your PlexWriter acts as a CD ROM Drive for purposes of installation and setup In some cases you will need to install additional drivers to make use of all of the features of the Plex Writer Using the PlexWriter on a PC Q As CD ROM The computer s operating system whether it is Windows 95 Windows 98
38. elect Control Panel in My Computer 2 Double click on System 3 Click on the tab called Device Manager at the top of the window 60 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Appendix B Installing in Windows 4 Inthe new window of devices double click on SCSI Controllers This displays all the SCSI interface boards currently installed in your system 5 Double click on the SCSI controller for the Plex Writer 6 Go to the Driver tab 7 Click on Update Driver 8 Click on Next 9 Click on Other Locations 10 Use the Browse button and go to the ADAPTEC SCSIDRVR folder of the PlexWriter CD 11 Highlight the driver listed 12 Click on OK 13 When the driver is updated you will be prompted to reboot your system Reboot and everything should work fine Do you have Plug and Play enabled Another likely cause of problems is that your motherboard may not have a Plug and Play capable BIOS and your Plug and Play SCSI interface board is not Plug and Play compliant To solve this problem 1 Restart your computer 2 Check your motherboard BIOS CMOS to confirm that Plug and Play is enabled If it is disabled then enable Plug and Play 3 Ifeither your motherboard or your SCSI interface board does not support Plug and Play review the hardware installation procedures beginning on page 11 of this manual Make sure termination is set properly on your interface board and all devices attached to it 4 Restart your computer Do
39. emove 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 8 for details 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 Available bay with cover panel removed Figure 11 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 the 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 12 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 24 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Be sure not to mistake the inn
40. emove one board at a time and all its related drivers from your system 2 Reboot the computer and check that the CD ROM drivers load successfully Possible Cause 6 e Audio CD disc in the drive Audio CDs do not have computer data so typing computer commands in DOS while a CD Audio disc is in your drive gives an error message Solution 6 e To enter computer commands use a data CD ROM disc in the PlexWriter drive e To play music use an audio CD in the drive Symptoms Message CDR103 Not High Sierra Format Possible Cause 1 e Incorrect BLOCK jumper setting Solution 1 e Ensure BLOCK jumper internal drive or DIP switch external drive is OFF See page 15 Possible Cause 2 e Hardware conflict Solution 2 e Ifthe SCSI interface board uses DMA channels try changing the selected DMA channel See the instruction manual for your SCSI interface board Possible Cause 3 e Memory manager or IRQ conflict Solution 3 e Ifthe SCSI interface board uses memory mapped addressing or has a BIOS exclude the addresses from the memory manager in DOS or try to change the set address or IRQ on your motherboard for that slot if supported by the motherboard You can also try to change these settings in Windows 95 98 in CTRL PNL SYSTEM DEVICE MANAGER See your SCSI interface board instruction manual Possible Cause 4 e Incorrect version of Microsoft CD ROM extensions PC installation Solution 4 e Version 2 00 or hi
41. er and outer face of the rail when attaching Typically the smooth side of the rail faces away from the drive s chassis Figure 12 Installing Mounting Rails if Needed 6 Plug a free connector on the SCSI cable into the SCSI 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 you plan to use and back toward the SCSI interface board The drive should slide smoothly into the bay If it does not check for obstructions in the bay and ensure the side rails if needed are attached properly 7 Ifnot already connected attach one end of the SCSI ribbon cable to the connector on the SCSI board PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 25 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter To Pin 1 Either end of the cable may be connected to the PlexWriter drive or the SCSI interface board Figure 13 Connecting the SCSI Ribbon Cable CAUTION It is easy to accidentally plug your SCSI ribbon cable upside down into both your drive and SCSI interface board Be sure you match the red stripe along one side of the SCSI cable to Pin 1 on the interface board and Pin 1 on the drive Each connector on the ribbon cable has a key in the middle This key should fit into a slot in the middle of each connector of the SCSI interface board your PlexWriter and any other internal SCSI peripherals 8 Double check your work You must ensure the
42. ermination so turning off its termination is unnecessary However you still must sometimes specify termination ON or OFF on the PlexWriter drive as discussed on page 13 Setting Switches on an External PlexWriter Drive Use this procedure if you have a PlexWriter external drive However if you already have a SCSI board installed an external PlexWriter is the only SCSI peripheral you will use with your computer and you do not need to change any settings skip now to Install an External PlexWriter Drive on page 28 Factory Switch Settings A rear panel rotary dial controls the SCSI ID setting of the external PlexWriter drive and other settings are controlled by DIP switches Figure 7 shows the factory settings of the rear panel dial and switches ON 1 OFF 0 PARITY EJECT LOCK TERM BLOCK SIZE TEST Figure 7 Factory Se tings for the Dial and DIP Switches on the External Drive CAUTION Turn the drive s power OFF before changing the setting of the SCSI dial or the DIP switches 18 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Changing the SCSI ID If you already have another SCSI peripheral whose SCSI ID is set to 4 you must change the SCSI ID number of either that peripheral or that of the PlexWriter drive But see Do I Have to Change My PlexWriter s SCSI ID number on page 12 before proceeding To change the SCSI ID number of the external PlexWriter drive rotate the
43. ers check that all the cable connections between your PlexWriter and computer are correct and that all switches dials and termination are set properly If you are using an external drive turn the power switch to OFF To install a device driver follow the instructions provided by the driver s supplier PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 35 Section 3 Installing and Using Software Install Plextor Applications Software Windows 95 98 and NT can immediately operate your PlexWriter drive as a CD ROM device reader and permit the drive to be recognized by the computer s operating system In order to take advantage of the PlexWriter s ability to record on CD R or CD RW media however you will also need packet writing and mastering applications software on your PC You can also check the compatibility list on the Plextor web site at www plextor com for software that supports PlexWriter on other operation systems You will need to purchase this software separately If you purchased your PlexWriter as part of a Plextor kit much of the software you need is included Plextor has developed several utilities to help you get the most from your PlexWriter drive Plextor Manager 2000 This unique suite of software utilities puts you in the driver s seat You can control every aspect of your Plextor drive including the drive speed and spindown rates A variety of distinctive modules allow you to get the best performance in order to meet
44. ets you use your Plex Writer as an enormous floppy drive You can just drag and drop files straight to a CD R or CD RW disc Mastering software In conjunction with your PlexWriter drive mastering software lets you create sophisticated audio video and multimedia presentations and update them as needed PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 37 Section 3 Installing and Using Software This page intentionally left blank 38 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 4 Using Your PlexWriter This chapter explains how to use your PlexWriter RW drive and how to load handle and care for your CDs What Media to Use Use the right media Your PlexWriter RW drive s capabilities change depending on which type of compact disc you use It currently supports these types CD ROM You can immediately play or read prerecorded discs such as audio CDs and data discs CD R Recordable CD You can record on these discs but only once You can also read them CD RW Recordable Writable CD These discs support recording and re recording up to 1 000 times You can also read them NOTE Firmware upgrades for your PlexWriter drive are available as downloads from the Plextor web site Please check the web site at www plextor com Tray Loading and Operation To load and unload the tray 1 N U While the PlexWriter drive is powered up push the Eject button on the front panel The tray drawer slides out in 2 3 seconds If this is t
45. f 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 email at support plextor com or send a fax to the attention of the Technical Support Department at 408 986 1010 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 technical support extension PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 65 Appendix B Technical Support Before You E mail Log On FAX Call Please gather as much of the following information as possible before contacting us e The serial number and TLA number of your PlexWriter 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 version of Plextor Manager you are using if applicable e The latest version of firmware you loaded onto the drive if applicable e The name and model number of your SCSI interface board e g Adaptec AHA 2940 Advansys ABP 930UA e The version of the software device drivers if any that came with your SCSI interface board this typically is
46. ge a SCSI ribbon cable Use these guidelines to help decide on what internal SCSI cable you will use e You purchased an internal Plextor Drive SCSI Kit Use the SCSI cable that came with the kit e The SCSI cable in your PC has a free connector Use that SCSI cable e The SCSI cable in your PC does not have a free connector If you already have one other SCSI peripheral such as a hard disk and your existing cable has only two connectors remove the cable and replace it with a cable with additional connectors You will need to purchase this cable Do You Need a Power Cable In most computers you will find free power connectors in the computer that are 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 they 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 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 23 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter To mount the PlexWriter drive 1 Make sure the power to your computer and any external peripherals is OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED from its power source If you haven t already removed your computer s cover r
47. gher of MSCDEX EXE is required to read a High Sierra or ISO 9660 format disc 50 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Symptoms Excessive noise Excessive vibration Possible Cause 1 e CD is poorly balanced Poorly manufactured discs that are out of balance or discs with poorly distributed ink on labeling cause significant vibration at high speeds Read errors may also occur e Out of balance conditions can also exist if the disc label adds more weight to one area of the disc than another e Adhesive labels may also cause out of balance conditions Solution 1 e Remove any adhesive labels on the label side of the disc e Clean the disc as detailed on page 40 e In DOS or Windows 3 x 95 98 NT use Plextor Manager to lower the drive speed PC installation e If there is no foreign substance on the disc contact the disc manufacturer for a replacement Symptoms e ON READ indicator flashes 4 times Possible Cause e CD is unreadable Plextor s drives are designed to automatically eject any unreadable CD Solution e Be sure that the disc or audio CD is label side up in the tray e Ensure the CD R or CD RW disc is written correctly an incorrectly written or a damaged scratched or otherwise unreadable CD will cause this same symptom e Insert ee good disc to correct the problem PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 51 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting This page in
48. hapter explains maintenance and troubleshooting procedures for your PlexWriter drive With proper maintenance you can prevent problems If problems arise you can often solve many simple problems on your own rather than wait for assistance from a Plextor representative TIP Read all of the parts of this section that pertain to you PC or Macintosh Many of the problems discussed happen only rarely and others may seem as if they do not pertain to you However if you are familiar with the variety of problems that can occur you will be better prepared to deal with them if they do occur 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 PlexWriter drive However if your PlexWriter will not respond to other troubleshooting efforts be sure to load the latest firmware revision then try again To upgrade your PlexWriter drive s firmware 1 Go to the Plextor web site at www plextor com 2 Look for firmware upgrades in either the Technical Support area or on the Downloads page There is a description of the latest firmware revision and its intended use Follow instructions for downloading the firmware to your computer 4 Run the executable file on your system The firmware upgrade occurs automatically U Start here if you re a PC user Go to page 46 if you have a Mac Troubleshooting If
49. he 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 8 for details 3 Carefully remove the SCSI interface board from its packaging CAUTION Discharge any static electricity you may have on your body by touching a grounded object before you remove the host adapter from its packaging 4 Select a vacant slot in your computer where you will install the board refer to the manual packaged with your interface board for instructions as to which slot in your system to use If your PlexWriter is an internal drive try to pick a slot that is closest to where the drive will be installed 5 Remove the cover plate for this slot from the back panel of your computer Keep the screw from the cover plate nearby as you will need it in a moment Save the cover plate in case you need it at a later date PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 21 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter ae Expansion slot cover LSF LE Z A E Rear panel Figure 9 Removing the Cover Plate 6 Plug the SCSI interface board into the slot you have selected Rock the board from end to end to ensure that it seats firmly in the slot Don t force it If you cannot push the board down completely into the slot remove the board and try again 7 Once you have successfully inserted the board fasten it in place using the cover
50. he file did not exist or if 95 98 couldn t load a driver contact the manufacturer of the SCSI interface board for assistance in properly configuring your SCSI configuration Installation in Windows NT This section gives some details about software installation in Windows NT Install Hardware Before installing software drivers install the SCSI interface board and PlexWriter hardware Check that all the cable connections between your PlexWriter drive and PC are correct and that all switches dials and termination are set properly If you are using a PlexWriter external drive turn the power switch to OFF Once the drive installation is complete remember to turn the drive s power ON before turning your computer on Getting NT Drivers for Your SCSI Board To install Windows NT support for your SCSI board from your NT CD ROM disc you first need to verify that your SCSI interface board is supported by NT Check your NT manual for information on which SCSI interface board NT supports e Ifyou purchased SCSI interface board from Plextor with your PCI SCSI kit all the drivers are provided for you on the PlexWriter CD e If your SCSI interface board is not on NT s list of supported hardware and the necessary drivers are not the NT disc contact your board s manufacturer and request an NT software device driver for the board The files you obtain need to be added to the NT installation floppy disk s that came with your NT CD ROM disc
51. he first time the drive is used remove the plastic protective insert Lay a blank CD in the depression in the tray label side up The CD should lie flat in the tray Figure 18 Loading the Tray PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 39 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter 4 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 Handling CD Media Take care when handling blank CD R and CD RW media Dust scratches and fingerprints on the data side of the disc can cause write errors during recording When picking up or holding blank media you can either place your fingers only on the outer edge of the disc or place one finger through the center hole and one finger along the outer edge Once you have finished creating a disc label it by writing on the top using permanent ink 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 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
52. herals to a PC or Macintosh NOTE Performance of SCSI devices may suffer if total cable length in the SCSI chain plus cabling in the external case exceeds 1 5 meters Assume cabling in the external case equals about 20 cm when adding up total cable length Quality of cabling is also important Use shielded cables when possible PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 29 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 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 be made NOTE Plextor strongly suggests you not use the SCSI connection on your sound board to control your PlexWriter You may not be able to utilize high speed recording 8X due to the performance of the board Audio Cables Plextor provides audio cables in kits which also include SCSI interface boards because we are assuming this will be the primary or possibly the first SCSI CD ROM in your system Your PlexWriter Kit Audio Cables You How to Connect Audio Received Drive with Software Kit No audio cables you will Purchase the appropriate have to purchase these cables and connect them cables as for the Drive with PCI SCSI Kits detailed below Internal Drive
53. his way Vertically Horizontally Figure 6 Install Jumpers Across Vertical Pairs of Pins 16 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter CAUTION Install jumpers across each pin as shown vertically Do not connect one pin switch to another by installing the jumpers lengthwise horizontally Doing so could result in damage to the drive Changing the SCSI ID If you already have another SCSI peripheral whose SCSI ID is set to 4 you must change the SCSI ID number of either that peripheral or that of the PlexWriter drive But see Do I Have to Change My PlexWriter s SCSI ID number on page 12 before proceeding The SCSI ID number of the internal PlexWriter drive is determined by the placement of jumpers on Pins 1 2 and 3 To find the location of Pin 1 Pin 2 and Pin 3 refer to the jumper diagram above To change the SCSI ID number follow the chart below Jumper Installed Across SCSI ID Number Pin 1 Pin 2 Pin3 For example the factory setting for SCSI ID 4 is made by installing a jumper across Pin 3 of the jumper block leaving Pin 1 and 2 uncovered To set the SCSI ID at 3 you would install a jumper across Pin 1 another jumper across Pin 2 leaving Pin 3 uncovered To set the SCSI ID at 2 you would install a jumper across Pin 2 leaving Pins 1 and 3 uncovered Changing the SCSI Termination Setting The PlexWriter internal drive is shipped from the factory with its SCSI termination en
54. ious instructions you should be up and running without any problems If things are not working correctly there are a few likely problems Is your SCSI interface board recognized by 95 98 When Windows 95 98 starts an icon for a CD RW drive will appear in My Computer If it does not then there are a couple of likely possibilities e The SCSI cable is missing or not properly connected e The support for your SCSI interface board has probably not loaded correctly In this case make sure you used the Plextor CD as detailed below Even if you get the CD ROM icon you may want to check that the Windows 95 98 32 bit driver is working properly To confirm its operation 1 Select Control Panel in My Computer 2 Double click on System 3 Click on the tab called Device Manager at the top of the window 4 Inthe new window of devices double click on SCSI Controllers This displays all the SCSI interface boards currently installed in your system 5 Confirm that the Driver Status box displays This Device Is Working Properly If you get this message you can now make full use of your CD RW drive with the Windows 95 98 32 bit support Did you use the Plextor PlexWriter CD You might have overlooked our instructions to use this disc to get the necessary driver support for your SCSI interface board If you used the Windows 95 98 disk or CD the configuration process may have copied the wrong or incompatible driver To solve this problem 1 S
55. ir stuff What might seem like an uncooperative PlexWriter 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 8 2 20 The PlexWriter 8 2 20 is a CD ReWritable drive that provides professional quality CD performance for writing rewriting and reading What the PlexWriter 8 2 20 Does The PlexWriter 8 2 20 writes to CD R recordable CD media at 8X speed or to CD RW rewritable CD media at 2X speed It reads all CD media at a minimum of 9X and a maximum of 20X speed with an average access time of 170 milliseconds snaranteed thanks to unique circuitry that automatically e e a beidg recorded and adjusts the PlexWriter 8 2 20 to provide ie optimum ie power rani length of burn The PlexWriter 8 2 20 features Fast SCSI read and write with burst transfer rates of 10 megabytes per second NOTE Only newer CD ROM drives can read CD RW discs Drives manufactured before 1997 cannot read them Plextor CD ROM drives starting with the 12 20PleX or newer can read CD RW discs The PlexWriter 8 2 20 is fully MMC compliant supporting writing features such as Disc at Once Track at Once and Session at Once as well as variable and fixed packet writing And it supports the UDF writable file system implemented through packet writing PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 1 Section 1 Getting Started The PlexWriter 8 2 20 supports running OPC and is compatible with Win
56. lder UNIX system Do I Have to Change My PlexWriter s SCSI ID number Your PlexWriter is shipped from the factory with its SCSI ID number set to 4 The SCSI interface lets you chain several SCSI peripheral devices to a single SCSI interface board or to the SCSI port of an Apple computer with no loss of performance Quickstart Installation Continued Scenario 3 You have a SCSI board that is not Plug and Play SCAM capable and you have Windows 95 or 98 What to do Set a unique SCSI ID number for the Plex Writer and make sure all other peripherals have their own SCSI numbers Set the termination of each peripheral OFF except set the termination of the last peripheral devices on each side of the chain to ON Other scenarios or if you have problems Better take a closer look at this chapter and at Appendix B Installing in Windows However each peripheral must have a unique SCSI ID number your PlexWriter can have any of 8 numbers 0 7 SCSI ID 7 is typically reserved by the SCSI interface board NOTE The cable length of all SCSI chain cables should not exceed 1 5 meters You probably don t need to physically set the SCSI ID if e Your PlexWriter drive is the nly SCSI peripheral In this case don t change the SCSI ID Leave it set to the eo onal factory setting of 4 gia od Balsa Nteria rd DOU with a SCS h PCI SCSI Kit If you bought a Plextor kit he drive and the board are SCAM complia
57. llation of MSCDEX The Microsoft CD ROM extensions filename MSCDEX EXE or equivalent files are required to run your PlexWriter drive under MS DOS Solution 5 e Ifthe SCSI driver was successfully loaded check for proper installation of MSCDEX EXE by rebooting the computer and watching for an error message as the AUTOEXEC BAT file executes PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 45 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause 6 e SCSI board not properly seated Solution 6 e Ensure the SCSI interface board is seated securely in your computer Possible Cause 7 e Driver fails to recognize the SCSI interface board Solution 7 e Doa hard reboot That is turn the power switches on the PlexWriter drive and the computer OFF then ON This complete shutdown should fully reset the drive and computer Troubleshooting for Macintosh Users Symptoms Drive will not operate as CD ROM or as CD R or CD RW device Possible Cause e Whether using the PlexWriter as a standard CD ROM or as a CD R or CD RW device you will need additional drivers besides those that are part of the Macintosh operating system Solution e Get Macintosh software A software compatibility list is available from Plextor s web site at www plextor com Symptoms Drive not responding or messages such as e Invalid drive specification e No device found Possible Cause 1 e SCSI ID number conflicts with ID number of the hard disk drive Solu
58. n Hochfrequenzgeraten periphere Anlagenkomponenten Dieses Ger t entspricht als Einzelgerat den Funk Entst ranforderungen der CN Postverfiigung Nr 243 1991 Wird das Ger t innerhalb einer Anlage zusammen mit anderen Ger ten betrieben So mub bei Inanspruchnahme der Allgemeinen Betriebs genehmigung nach der BMPT AmtsblVfg Nr 243 1991 die gesamte Anlage folgenden Richtlinien entsprechen UG V fe 243 e Grenzwertklases B der EN55022 e Auflagen nach 2 der BMPT AmtsblVfg 243 1991 Dies ist bei der Zusammensetzung einer Anlage z B Computersystem aus nur einzein gepr ften Ger ten nicht immer erfiillt ii PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Table of Contents 1 Getting Started About this Manual Meet Your Plex Writer 8 2 20 ccccccccccccesscccesssceccessceccessseecessseecceseeeeessseeeessaes 1 What the Plex Writer 8 2 20 DoeS ccccccccccssessssscseseseessseeeuees What You Can Do with the Plex Writer 8 2 20 Save Your Box ssesssisssressssssrsseissercssssscicseisseresessssicseicseicssssusie What s in the Box PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls 0 ccccesecscceseesessseseeeees Front Panel Internal and External Drive cceeeeceeseeeeeeeee Rear Panel Internal Drive ccccccesesssssscsesesssssssceeseseesseeees Rear Panel External Drive 0 cccceccccessccceessscecessseeeesseeeeees What Else Do You Need 0 cccccceecccccesscccessscecessseecess
59. n cable connecting 26 SCSI support Drive with PCI SCSI Kit 34 MS DOS 34 software 33 34 Windows 3 1 34 Windows 95 98 34 Windows NT 34 SCSI termination changing on internal drive 17 improper 44 setting 13 15 setting on external drive 7 19 security sticker 4 serial number 22 shipping your drive 3 software application 33 device drivers 33 installing 33 pre mastering 10 SCSI support 33 34 sound board 47 Index audio 49 drive performance and 20 SCSI connection and 30 specifications 55 speed automatic switching 47 reading 1 writing 1 Stop Eject button 6 switch factory settings for external drive 18 SYS file 34 T TERM external drive switch setting 7 internal drive jumper setting gt 6 setting 15 termination automatic 61 improper 44 setting 13 15 setting on external drive 6 termination power 14 45 49 TEST external drive switch setting 7 internal drive jumper setting gt 7 setting 15 test mode 49 TLA code 22 tray ejecting 6 front door 5 loading and unloading 39 troubleshooting audio problems 47 disc problems 49 Macintosh installation 46 performance problems 47 SCSI problems 44 U UNIX settings for 7 8 15 upgrading 2 V Virtual Memory 47 Virtual Mode 47 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 71 Index volume control 5 41 SCSI support 34 Windows 95 98 SCSI support 34 62 Window
60. nd Variable Packet Writing Taiyo Yuden TDK Ricoh Mitsui Chemical Kodak Fuji Photo Film Sony Imation Philips Mitsubishi Chemical Taiyo Yuden TDK Ricoh Mitsui Chemical Fuji Photo Film Sony Imation Philips Mitsubishi Chemical Mitsubishi Chemical Ricoh TDK All are rewritable up to 1 000 times Performance Specifications Data Transfer Rate Sustained Read Write Burst Read Write Average Random Access Data Buffer Spindle Motor Error Rate CLV Write CAV Read 20X read only 3 0 MB sec Outer track 8X read write 1 2 MB sec 4X read write 600 KB sec 2X read write rewrite 300 KB sec 1X read rewrite 150 KB sec 10 MB sec synchronous 5 MB sec asynchronous 170 ms 4 MB Brushless Mode 1 Block 10 Bits Mode 2 Block 10 Bits PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 55 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Front Panel Eject Lights Disc Loading Headphone Jack Volume Control CD Audio Controls Rear Panel Power Supply Power Switch Interface Connector Termination Audio Output Jumper Switches DIP Switches Rotary Switch Auto Eject Manual Emergency Eject Software Eject DISC IN ON READ WRITE L WRITE H Auto Stereo mini jack 0 8V at 32 ohms Wheel knob Play Track Advance Stop Eject Internal Drive DC 5V at average 0 5A peak 0 8A DC 12V at average 0 7A peak 2 2A External Drive AC 100 240V 50 60 Hz 0 3A Auto switching External Driv
61. nt This means each sine you cain on your computer the SCSI interface board will detect whether there is SCSI ID conflict between multiple devices Because your PlexWriter also supports SCAM the drive automatically resets its SCSI ID internally to avoid any conflict with other devices This overrides any hardware settings So you don t have to worry about setting SCSI ID numbers e You have a SCAM compliant SCSI board Your Plextor drive is also SCAM compliant so if you have Windows 95 or 98 you don t have to worry about setting SCSI ID numbers 12 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter You may have to physically set the SCSI ID if you have more than one SCSI peripheral device and Your SCSI board is not SCAM compliant If you separately purchased or already own a SCSI interface board it may not be SCAM compliant In this case you should determine the SCSI IDs of all peripheral devices and change the PlexWriter s ID to a unique number You don t know if your SCSI board is SCAM compliant In this case to be on the safe side determine the SCSI IDs of all peripheral devices and change the PlexWriter s ID to a unique number You may have an older driver Since SCAM was not a requirement when Plug and Play specifications were written original Windows 95 CDs may not include a SCAM compliant driver for your SCSI interface board In this case you should determine the SCSI IDs of all peripheral devices
62. o install drivers that let your SCSI interface board work with the Windows 95 98 operating system If you have any problems at all our technical support staff will help you Install Hardware Before installing software drivers install the SCSI interface board and PlexWriter hardware Check that all the cable connections between your PlexWriter drive and PC are correct and that all switches dials and termination are set properly If you are using a PlexWriter external drive turn the power switch to OFF Once the drive installation is complete remember to turn the drive s power ON before turning your computer on Install SCSI Drivers for Windows 95 98 After your CD ROM drive and SCSI interface board are installed it is time to make the right software file available to complete your installation To install software if you purchased a Plextor drive with PCI SCSI Kit 1 Turn on your computer Your system should automatically detect and configure your SCSI interface board When you start Windows 95 98 it will then recognize that it does not have a driver installed for your new SCSI interface board A dialog box named New Hardware Found appears followed immediately by a dialog box named Insert Disk Click OK in the Insert Disk dialog box You see a second New Hardware Found dialog box will appear asking you to insert the Windows 95 98 disk or CD DON T DO IT N CAUTION If you do put in your Microsoft disk or CD Windows 95 98 may
63. or Windows NT supplies a generic CD ROM device driver that allows the PlexWriter to function as a standard CD ROM drive You don t need to install anything else Q Asa CD R or CD RW device In order to write to CD R or CD RW media you will need additional software If you purchased a kit from Plextor software is supplied Using the PlexWriter with DOS or Windows 3 x In MS DOS and Windows 3 x you can use the PlexWriter only as a CD ROM drive Except for CD Res Q which supports writing to a PlexWriter drive in all Windows environments and also in DOS the CD R and CD RW software provided by Plextor will run only in Windows 95 98 and NT Using the PlexWriter on a Macintosh Whether using the PlexWriter as a standard CD ROM or as a CD R or CD RW device you will need additional drivers or software besides those that are part of the Macintosh operating system You will need to purchase this software separately The compatibility list is available from Plextor s web site at www plextor com Using the PlexWriter with UNIX Q As CD ROM The UNIX operating system supplies a generic CD ROM device driver that allows the PlexWriter drive to function as a standard CD ROM drive Q AsaCD R or CD RW device In order to write to CD R or CD RW media you will need additional software You will need to purchase this software separately The software compatibility list is available from Plextor s web site at www plextor com Before installing driv
64. pendix C Technical Support Store Plextor s email 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 PlexWriter 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 43 It contains solutions to the most common types of problems fielded by our technical support staff You may also wish to refer to the Frequently Asked Questions FAQ section of our web site to assist you in troubleshooting the problem on your 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 FAQ area A link to the FAQ area can be found on our home page 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 e g SCSI interface board at fault and will refer you to the manufacturer o
65. rty e When the PlexWriter drive encounters a defect or scratch it automatically switches from top speed to slower throughput It then reads data from the disc at the auto selected speed for a period of time If no read errors are encountered the drive spins up to the top speed possible without read errors Solutions e This is normal operation although you can try cleaning the disc as detailed on page 40 e Replace the disc Troubleshooting Audio Problems Symptoms No sound from speakers when playing a CD disc Sound from headphones OK when playing same CD disc Possible Cause 1 e Sound board required for playing through speakers PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 47 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Solution 1 e Install sound board Possible Cause 2 e Sound board configured incorrectly Solution 2 e Check troubleshooting section of sound board manual Possible Cause 3 e Improper or missing audio cable between sound board and PlexWriter drive Solution 3 e Connect sound board to PlexWriter with known good audio cable See page 30 Symptoms You can hear an audio CD when the PlexWriter drive is in CD Audio play mode but you cannot hear an audio CD with another music CD utility e g Animotion s MCS CDMaster FWB s CDT Remote Possible Cause e Out of date sound board device drivers Solution e Software may need to be updated Contact your software manufacturer for assistance Symptoms
66. s NT WwW installation in 62 SCSI support 34 WAV files 49 WRITE H indicator 5 weight 57 writing aCD 1 Windows 3 1 device driver 35 72 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual
67. ses the memory manager is loaded first and the device driver loaded directly thereafter Solution 3 e If other device drivers are loading before the CD ROM driver place them after the CD ROM driver in the CONFIG SYS or AUTOEXEC BAT file e Ifthe memory manager tries to load the device driver into high memory e g DEVICEHIGH or LOADHIGH disable the function so that the driver is loaded into conventional memory Possible Cause 4 e Hardware conflict caused by the SCSI interface board and another peripheral or your computer vying for the same DOS address space The SCSI interface board may be in conflict with another peripheral in your computer Solution 4 e Select a different SCSI ID number for the SCSI interface board e Insome cases you may wish to select a different ID for the conflicting peripheral If the driver still does not recognize the SCSI interface board try the following 1 Remove all non essential peripherals from your computer e g network boards fax boards etc Remove their device drivers from the CONFIG SYS and AUTOEXEC BAT files 2 Reboot the computer and ensure that the SCSI interface board s ASPI and device driver recognizes the PlexWriter drive 3 Turn OFF the computer and reinstall each peripheral and its device drivers one at a time 4 Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the problem reoccurs This means that the problem is with the last peripheral you installed Possible Cause 5 e Improper insta
68. side of the SCSI cable with the red stripe is matched to Pin 1 on the interface board and on the drive Internal PlexWriter Power cable SCSI board Audio cable SCSI ribbon cable Power CD ROM audio supply connector on PC Figure 14 Power and SCSI Connections for an Internal Plex Writer Drive 26 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 9 Connect a power cable from the computer to the DC INPUT connector of the PlexWriter 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 10 Connect the audio cable if you want to use a sound board in your system This cable runs from the four pin audio output connector on the rear panel of your PlexWriter drive to your sound board See Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables on page 30 for more information about audio cables 11 Mount the PlexWriter drive in the computer using the four screws 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 SCSI Cable Connection Hints If you have more than one peripheral device the PlexWriter drive
69. sseecenseeeees About Pre mastering Software 0 0 cccseeesceeeecesesneeneeeeeneeeeeeeeens Precautions ena a e N R T 10 2 Installing Your PlexWriter essseesesoesesesesoesosoesesecoeoososeseeossose Quickstart Installation For Experienced PC Users Only Set Drive Switches or JUMPerS cceseseeeseeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeneeeeeseeaees Do I Have to Change My Plex Writer s Do I Have to Change My PlexWriter s Termination Setting 13 Do I Have to Change Other PlexWriter Settings Jo ee Other Applications Softwares senie ee ein E E EET 37 4 Using Your PlexWriter essessesoosoesessossesoessesoosoeseosoeseesoseosoesesoossesoessesoesoesessose 39 What Media to Use sen deiei naivi eana a A E NE ate 39 Tray Loading and Operation ccccccccceeseesseesceeseeeseceseceseceeesecsaeenseeeseeeseesneesees 39 Handling CD Media sser a E E ETE 40 Cleaning DISCS aorin nii eA EA EEEO EOE EEEO 40 Playing A dio CDS iiss ees tesco cgescebstitenesaxe det deascse set ieee EOE AEA 41 Connections for Playing Audio CDS 0 cceeceeseeseeeseeeseeneeeseenseeesecsneeseeeseeeaes 41 Playing a CD arenino en sa rin covea A sesh catin Gd patron olka besten Pe 41 Writing to CD R and CD RW Media ssssssssseeseeseeseessssessesresstsressrsreseeseesessesee 42 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting esessssesoesesesosoesesesecoeroroesesecocoesosecceossoroesee 43 Upgrading Firmware ihesian terane n E
70. standard MPC 3 type 4 pin connector Jumpers Use to select SCSI ID parity SCSI termination or block size Leave these jumpers at their factory settings unless one or more of the following situations pertains to you Q SCSI ID If you are using more than one SCSI peripheral you may have to change your SCSI ID number see page 16 for details Q PRTY Parity In some cases you may need to turn parity off see page 15 Q TERM SCSI termination In some situations you may need to set this jumper to turn the PlexWriter s SCSI termination off see page 17 for details 6 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 1 Getting Started Q TEST For factory use only Do not change this setting Q BLOCK Block size You may need to change this setting if you are working in a UNIX environment and want to boot from your PlexWriter see page 15 e SCSI interface connector Connects to SCSI interface board using 50 pin to 50 pin flat ribbon SCSI cable e Power connector Connects to your computer s power supply to provide DC 5V and 12V to the Plex Writer Rear Panel External Drive Power switch DIP switches __ Q sosou SCSI Out a ot L E PRTY AUDIO OUT SCSI interface Audio output connector connectors AC power input Figure 3 Rear Panel of the Plex Writer 8 2 20 External Drive e SCSI ID Use this dial to designate SCSI ID numbers Rotate the dial to change the number If you are using more than one SC
71. t 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 Plextor web site for pointers The web site is at http www plextor com If you did not receive a box for 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 our Technical Support Department for packaging pointers when you call to get an RMA number before returning any drive Po PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 3 Section 1 Getting Started NOTE Look at the security sticker on top of your box If the sticker is cut there may be a good reason for example a dealer may have purchased one configuration from Plextor then 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 Use this table to check the contents of your box Here s What Should Be In Your Plex Writer Box PX W8220Ti Internal PX W8220Te External Drive Drive Drive Drive with Drive with Drive with with PCI SCSI Software PCI SCSI Software Kit Kit Kit CD RW drive 4 mounting screws Fl 1 piece Approved CD R media 1 piece Plextor CD with bundled software
72. tentionally left blank 52 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording What media should I use for my PlexWriter See Appendix A and check the Plextor web site at www plextor com When can I use CD RW media CD RW media is recordable only in ReWritable drives and readable only in ReWritable drives or newer MultiRead CD ROMs With CD RW media you can e Use as if it were a large capacity floppy disc e Transport files to and from work e Copy your important data periodically e Store large projects as you develop them When should I use CD R media CD R media can be read in most CD ROM or CD Recordable drives Use CD R media to e Permanently archive important data e Copy your music to CD for personal use e Share non editable presentations Why doesn t CD Copier work Some possible reasons are e Some CD ROM drives will not allow direct copying to the PlexWriter or are not capable of digital audio extraction Plextor CD drives do not have these limitations e You must have either a SCSI 2 CD ROM drive or a supported ATAPI CD ROM drive to use as your source e Some CD discs have a copy prevention feature or other features that do not allow a CD to CD copy Why am I getting buffer underrun errors Recording CDs requires an uninterrupted stream of data to be supplied from the source device A buffer underrun occurs when for some reason the data stream is interrupted This can occur if
73. tings to Use REMEMBER Only the last SCSI peripheral in the chain should have termination enabled If you have any SCSI devices chained after your PlexWriter you must disable or turn OFF the PlexWriter s SCSI termination using the instructions later in this chapter Termination Power Some interface boards and peripherals have the ability to disable and enable termination power This should not be confused with termination itself Termination power can and should be provided by at least one device attached to your SCSI interface board Your Plextor drive automatically supplies termination power Any additional devices supplying termination power will not cause any problems 14 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Do I Have to Change Other PlexWriter Settings You probably won t have to change any of the other settings on your Plex Writer drive s switches or jumpers Use this table to help decide Switch or Where to Set It Jumper Setting PRTY Parity setting Leave this ON The parity check provided by the ON setting enhances the reliability of the SCSI bus Set to OFF only if your computer system or SCSI interface board specifically requests that parity be disabled TERM Termination setting This enables or disables turns ON or OFF SCSI termination Factory setting is enabled ON See page 13 for an explanation of SCSI termination and to determine if you need to change this setting TEST L
74. tion 1 e Select another SCSI ID number normally numbers 1 to 6 for your Plex Writer drive Note that the Macintosh s hard disk uses SCSI ID number 0 and its internal SCSI adapter uses ID number 7 Possible Cause 2 e Bad connection between Plex Writer drive and SCSI interface Solution 2 e Check the SCSI cable to ensure it is seated properly and has no bent pins Symptom Computer does not respond 46 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause e Software conflicts Solution e Disable all software from your Extensions folder except those absolutely needed and the ones copied from the CD ROM device driver disk If the PlexWriter drive functions correctly enable extensions one at a time restarting the Macintosh after each installation until the problem is solved Symptom Low performance of CD ROM application software especially graphics and animation Possible Cause e System set for Virtual Memory If your Macintosh is using System 7 and is in Virtual Mode it may exhibit slow performance during real time graphics and animation This is because your hard disk drive and PlexWriter drive must use your computer s SCSI bus almost simultaneously Solution e Remove Virtual Mode from the system and restart the Macintosh Troubleshooting Performance Problems Symptoms Low performance of CD ROM application software Possible Cause e Defect or scratch on disc e Disc di
75. ween 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 For External Model Users Please use the external shielded SCSI cables supplied with this CD ROM drive Using other signal cables may exceed the limits of the Class B Part 15 of the FCC Rules 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 825 1 on the Safety of Laser products This product comes under Class 1 Laser Products A Laser Caution Marking is attached on the top of the internal drive model Caution Invisible laser radiation when open Avoid direct exposure to beam CAUTION To disconnect the CD ROM drive from an electrical current pull out the power plug VORSICHT DIE TRENNUNG VOM NETZ ERFOLGT DURCH ZIEHEN DES NETZSECKES Zur Einhaltung der Funk Entst rung von nicht selbst ndig betreibbare
76. xWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual MSCDEX EXE 45 50 MS DOS device driver 35 SCSI support 34 N network card 50 O ON READ indicator 5 P packet writing software 37 parity setting 15 setting for internal drive 6 performance SCSI cable length and 29 specifications 55 troubleshooting 47 playback stopping 6 playing a CD 6 41 Plextor Manager audio utilities 42 device drivers supplied in 35 Plug and Play disabling 61 power cable 23 power connector 7 power switch 8 precautions 10 pre mastering software 10 PRTY external drive switch setting 7 internal drive jumper setting 6 setting 15 R readingaCD 1 rear panel external drive 7 internal drive 6 rear panel controls 56 recording 5 reliability 57 returns 66 RMA number 3 66 S SCSI device driver 44 termination 49 troubleshooting 44 SCSI board choosing 20 installing 19 non SCAM compliant 13 SCAM compliant 12 SCSI cable 23 performance and 29 SCSI connection sound board and 30 SCSI connectors external drive 8 SCSI ID number changing 12 changing on external drive 19 Drive with PCI SCSI Kit and 12 Macintosh 46 non SCAM compliant SCSI board and 13 SCAM compliant SCSI board and 12 selecting 45 61 setting for external drive 7 setting for internal drive 6 setting on internal drive 17 SCSI interface connector 7 SCSI interface messages 43 SCSI ribbo
77. you have a SCSI ID conflict In this case you simply need to deal with SCSI ID selection as follows 1 Turn off your computer 2 Review the discussion of SCSI ID selection in your drive s operation manual 3 Check the physical selection of SCSI ID on your PlexWriter drive and any other SCSI devices connected to your interface board Make sure that all devices are physically set to unique IDs 4 Your board also may not have automatic termination If it does not have automatic termination you will also need to make sure the termination of your board is set properly If you have both internal and external devices attached the termination on your SCSI interface board should be disabled Review the interface board s documentation to determine how to do this Q Ifyou have only internal devices or only external devices termination of your SCSI interface board should remain enabled 5 After the SCSI IDs and termination are set properly restart your system PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual 61 Appendix B Installing in Windows Is your interface board being supported by Windows It is possible that your previously or separately purchased SCSI interface board is not being supported properly by Windows 95 98 If you had to use the Windows 95 98 disk or CD to get support for the interface board the driver file may not have existed or the operating system may have loaded an older or incompatible version of the file If t
78. your specific needs MVP 2000 The MVP Music Video Producer 2000 module gives you the ability to listen to music view video clips control the audio output create customized playlists record Audio CDs from playlists including MP3 and more Audio Capture 2000 Audio Capture 2000 is an audiophile s dream you can rip the finest quality audio using digital audio extraction at high speed DiscDupe 2000 Need to make a duplicate CD With DiscDupe 2000 a simple mouse click and you re done You can now duplicate a CD using the PlexWriter as the source drive and the replication drive as well See the Plextor Manager User s Manual for details CD Res Q For backup and disaster recovery CD Res Q lets you create an image of your hard drive on secure reliable CD R media By spanning CDs you can back up your entire HDD Additional features include making a CD bootable a choice of compression HDD or image file integrity checking and more NOTE CD Res Q works only with Plextor CD R and CD RW drives for back up You can restore from any drive Please see the CD Res Q User s Manual for details 36 PlexWriter 8 2 20 Operation Manual Section 3 Installing and Using Software Other Applications Software Other valuable applications software which may already be included if you purchased a kit from Plextor lets you use your PlexWriter drive in exciting new ways e Packet writing software This type of application l

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