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Plextor PlexWriter PX-W2410TA CD

1. Upgrading Firmware Plextor creates firmware revisions to meet the peculiar needs of large computer manufacturers It is rare that these will impact the performance or operation of your Plex Writer drive However we advise that our customers always update drives with the latest available firmware Before troubleshooting a possible problem with your drive please make sure to visit our web site at www plextor com to check if you have the latest firmware To obtain new firmware for your PlexWriter drive 1 Go to the Plextor web site at www plextor com 2 Look for firmware upgrades in the Support area on the Downloads page There is a description of the latest firmware revision and its intended use 3 Download the firmware to your computer To upgrade firmware 1 Run the executable file that you downloaded from Plextor s web site 2 Accept all defaults by continuing to click on the Next button until you see the message Firmware update has completed If You Need to Disable DMA If the firmware upgrade does not complete successfully you may need to disable DMA In this case please follow the appropriate procedure below NOTE Your PlexWriter is Windows XP ready Procedures for Windows XP will be similar to those shown here PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 35 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting To disable DMA in Windows 95 98 and ME 1 ONE Click the Start button then Settings then Control
2. Plextor CD ROM drives beginning with the 12 20PleX and newer can read CD RW discs including the new high speed discs Advantages of BURN Proof Technology The PlexWriter 24 10 40A incorporates BURN Proof Buffer Under Run Proof technology which guarantees that you can write discs at high speed and still use your BUORN Proof computer for other tasks while you re writing The Problem When you use a CD Recordable or CD ReWritable drive to write to a CD R or CD RW disc the disc needs a constant steady flow of data to make a successful write If this flow is interrupted you wind up with a disc that is unusable You ve just created a coaster for your table To prevent the interruption of data every CD R RW drive has a buffer a memory chip that acts as a kind holding area Typically the buffer size is 2 MB or 4 MB However this buffer can be emptied quickly when you write at high speeds It can also be emptied if you use other applications like surfing the Internet or playing games or watching movies while writing or if your source drive cannot read data fast enough because of its read ability or because the source disc is poor quality and read errors slow down the data streaming Any of these factors can produce what is known as buffer underrun error Simply put the buffer is drained of data the flow to the disc is interrupted and you wind up with a useless disc The Solution BURN Proof This revolution
3. PLEXTOR PLEY WRITER 24 10 40A Model PX W2410TA Internal Congratulations Thank you for purchasing the PlexWriter 24 10 40A 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 between the equipmen
4. re writing to a CD R or CD RW disc And Plextor backs up this remarkable drive with a one year full warranty on parts and labor and unlimited toll free tech support Minimum Configuration to Use the PlexWriter 24 10 40A e Computer Pentium IT 300 MHz CPU or faster e Minimum RAM 64 MB e Hard disk size To write to a CD in image mode that is to write an image of a CD to your hard disk you need GB of free space e ATAPI settings In Windows Direct Memory Access DMA should be set to ON The IDE controller should be set to Auto or PIO Mode4 DMA Mode2 in the motherboard BIOS Don t worry we ll show you how to set this up What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 24 10 40A Just look at some of the things you can do with your Plex Writer 24 10 40A e Record data or audio onto writable or rewritable CD media e Play music CDs e Save photos and other images on rewritable or writable CDs e Create a CD sneakernet to share information with colleagues just use software such as Adaptec DirectCD to drag and drop files onto CD R or CD RW media then continue adding files and sharing the same CD disc e Archive images and video to CD e Master new software programs on CD 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 Information on CD Res Q can
5. Gateway or Compaq you will need to pay particular attention to whether the system utilizes a Cable Select scheme Changing the Mode Jumper on Your Internal PlexWriter Drive As shown in Figure 4 the PlexWriter drive arrives from the factory with its mode jumper set to Master A function is ON if the jumper is installed and OFF if the jumper is removed CABLE SELECT MASTER SLAVE EE O Figure 4 Factory Settings for Mode Jumper at the Rear of the Drive Changing to a Master Slave or Cable Select The Master Slave setting for the drive is determined by the mode jumper To change the drive from Master to Slave or to Cable Select you must move the jumper For example to change the PlexWriter drive to be a Slave move the jumper to the middle set of pins leaving the other pins uncovered To change the drive for Cable Select move the jumper to the left set of pins Note that if any device is jumpered as Cable Select then both devices on that cable must be jumpered the same PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 11 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Changing Jumper Settings To remove a jumper pull it off with your fingers or a pair of needle nose pliers To install a jumper push it onto the jumper pins CAUTION Ensure power to the drive is OFF before installing or removing jumper KY Ay Install jumpers this way DO NOT install jumpers this way Vertically Horizontally Figu
6. connector analog audio output 5 connectors and jumpers rear panel 5 54 contacts 57 controls front panel 4 53 cover panel bay 18 CSEL signal 15 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 59 Index D data buffer 53 device driver 25 installing 25 digital audio output 54 digital audio output connector 20 21 digital audio output connector 5 54 Digital_In connection 5 20 21 54 dimensions 54 disabling DMA 35 Windows 2000 36 Windows 95 08 ME 36 Windows NT 36 disc cleaning 31 diameter 52 specifications 52 troubleshooting 39 disc label 30 disc loading 53 DMA 2 disabling 35 36 enabling 23 enabling in Windows 2000 24 enabling in Windows 95 08 ME 23 enabling in Windows NT 23 enabling in Windows XP 24 setting 51 DMA jumper 5 16 54 setting 37 drive installing 16 recognizing in Windows 22 duplication software 6 DVD using as audio source 50 E eject button 53 ejection time 53 emergency eject hole 4 enabling DMA 23 environmental conditions 54 error rate specification 53 60 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual F firmware obtaining 35 upgrading 2 35 formats 52 front panel controls 4 53 H hard disk size 2 51 headphone jack 4 32 53 headphone volume control 53 high speed CD RW media 29 reading from 33 humidity specification 54 I IDE configuration determining 10 examples 13 selecting 12
7. 16 5 MB s Mode 1 25 MB s Mode 2 33 3 MB s 140 ms 40X CAV speed From power on until disc is available to read Maximum 15 sec Average 13 sec 3 sec 4 MB Brushless Mode 1 1 Block 10 Bits Mode 2 1 Block 10 Bits Average Eject Button Manual Emergency Eject Software Eject Green Power on and disc is in drive Yellow Initializing or reading disc Blinking orange Writing data to disc Auto Stereo mini jack 0 8V 0 3V at 32 ohms Wheel knob Stop Eject PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 53 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Rear Panel Power Supply Interface Connector Analog Audio Output Digital Audio Output Mode Jumper DMA Jumper DC 5V Average 600 mA during writing 600 mA during reading Maximum 1A DC 12V Average 800 mA during writing 800 mA during reading Maximum 1 8A during spinup IDE bus 40 pin flat ribbon type Interface complies with ANSI X3T13 1153D ATA ATAPI 4 Supports CD ROM commands including special commands for CD R and CD RW Maximum total cable length should be less than 18 in 45 7 cm Stereo analog output Molex connector L G G R MPC3 standard Digital audio output for input to SPDIF or Digital_In input Master Slave Cable Select No jumper Ultra DMA Mode 2 33 3 MB s Jumper installed DMA Mode 2 16 6 MB s Environmental Conditions Operating Temperature Performance Guarantee Temperature Operating Humidity Storage Tempera
8. DMA in Windows 2000 AWN gt BO ID Right click My Computer and select Properties Select the Hardware tab when the systems properties window appears In the Hardware tab select the Device Manager button Double click IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers to expand the options Under IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers double click on the listing to bring up the property dialog box for the Primary IDE channel Click on the Advanced settings tab If available set Transfer Mode for Device 0 and 1 to No DMA Then select OK Your computer asks if you would like to reboot at this point Select NO Repeat steps 5 8 for the Secondary IDE channel 0 This time when you are prompted select Reboot 36 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting If you have problems during or right after installation of your PlexWriter drive use these tips to help find the problem You can also use these charts to help find problems that develop in existing installations Start here if you re a PC user Mac users should start with page 48 and come back here if they don t find the answer Troubleshooting General Symptoms Personal computer hangs or crashes after PlexWriter is installed Possible Cause e Computer does not support Ultra DMA Solution e Your PlexWriter ships from the factory with no DMA jumper installed The DMA pins at the left rear of the drive are empty This means the driv
9. IDE interface connector 5 IDE ribbon cable 17 connecting 19 indicator LED 4 53 initialization time 53 installation 9 16 QuickStart 9 interface connector 54 J jumper DMA 5 16 37 54 mode 5 11 54 L label disc 30 LED indicator 4 M Macintosh playing CD on 32 troubleshooting 48 using PlexWriter on 25 maintenance 35 master 10 cable select 16 setting in BIOS 22 setting mode jumper 11 mastering software 6 27 media 29 49 care and handling 30 recommended 49 51 memory minimum 2 minimum configuration 2 51 mode jumper 5 54 setting 11 12 modes recording 52 mounting position 7 16 mounting rails 18 19 MPC compliant audio cable 21 MTBF 54 O opening the computer 9 operating system 51 P packet writing software 6 27 PC vendors 58 performance specifications 52 playing audio CD 31 Plextor Manager 2000 26 audio utilities 32 power cable 17 connecting 20 power connector 5 power supply 54 precautions 7 primary IDE port 10 Q QuickStart installation 9 Index R rails 18 19 RAM minimum 2 51 read specification 52 reading a CD 1 rear panel connectors and jumpers 5 54 recognizing the drive in Windows 22 recording modes 52 recording frequently asked questions 49 reliability 54 returns 56 RMA number 3 56 S screws mounting 21 secondary IDE port 10 security sticker 3 selecting an IDE confi
10. Panel then double click on System icon then select the Device Manager tab You see a list of devices in your system Double click the CD ROM icon and choose the PX W2410TA by clicking on it once Then click on the Properties button and select the Settings tab You now see the drive properties for the Plex Writer Disable DMA by clicking the DMA checkbox OFF then click OK Close the System Properties window by clicking on the Close button When prompted reboot your system After the firmware upgrade is completed use this same procedure but check DMA on to enable DMA again before using the PlexWriter To disable DMA in Windows NT 4 0 SP 3 or higher 1 un Connect to the Internet with a browser m click on the following link to download the program dmachcki exe Save the file to any directory http download microsoft com download winntsrv40 utility 1 0 0 1 nt4 en us dmachcki exe Once the file is downloaded double click it to execute the program The program runs a short diagnosis of your system then creates another program called dmacheck exe in the same directory Double click the file dmacheck exe to execute it Inthe ATAPI DMA support box check Disable for both channels then select OK When you see the warning prompt just select Yes A FINISHED prompt appears indicating that DMA detection settings have been changed Select OK and reboot your system manually To disable
11. also be found at http www plextor com english products cd_resq html Get CD Res Q Directly from Plextor CD Res Q is provided free of charge if you purchase the SCSI model PlexWriter drive as a retail kit If you purchased a non Plextor retail box or an ATAPI interface Plex Writer such as this one CD Res Q is not included But you can purchase this software directly from Plextor To purchase CD Res Q visit our online store at www plextorshop com BURN Proof is a licensed technology from Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 2 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual What s in the Box What you find in your Plextor box depends on what the company that sold you the box put in or took out while the Plextor drive was in their possession Plextor currently sells its PlexWriter 24 10 40A drive in this configuration e PlexWriter 24 10 40A CD RW drive e 40 pin IDE ribbon cable e 4 mounting screws e 1 piece of approved high speed CD RW media e 1 piece of approved CD R media e Plextor CD with bundled pre mastering and packet writing software including Plextor Manager 2000 e PlexWriter 24 10 40A operations manual e Warranty registration card e Plextor Manager 2000 manual If the security sticker on top of your box is cut there may be a good reason for example a dealer may have added other components or software Carefully check the contents to ensure nothing has been removed If something is missing
12. connect an audio cable to the analog audio connector on the rear of the drive and connect the other end to your sound board There are two types of audio you may encounter e CD Audio This comes from audio discs like the ones used by your home stereo that are translated directly by your PlexWriter into sound Although in most cases a sound board and speakers are used to hear this audio you can also listen to it by simply plugging a set of headphones or powered speakers into the headphone jack on the front of your drive as shown in Figure 18 You can control audio playback through software and adjust the volume with the front panel volume control PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 31 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter tereo mini plug to headphone jack i IE T Figure 18 Connections for Playing Audio Using the Headphone Jack e Sound board audio This comes from data files that may be present on a disc such as a WAV WMA or MP3 files that are transferred from the CD to your computer via the IDE interface The sound board translates the data from the digital files into analog sound If you do not have a sound board you will not be able to hear this form of audio from your PlexWriter To listen to music through the computer s sound board you can control volume with the volume control on the Windows Taskbar You can also mute the sound on your sound board and listen to music through headphones or self powered spea
13. manuals or look at the help option within the software A list of various software packages that you can use with your Plextor drive can be found in the Support Compatibility section of www plextor com 6 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 1 Getting Started Precautions Like the rest of your computer system your PlexWriter requires reasonable care in its installation and use e Keep the area around your drive clean from dust smoke and other contaminants e Do not allow 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 discs free of dirt or other contaminants by storing them in jewel cases Use only industry standard discs Do not insert dirty warped poorly balanced or cracked discs into the drive e Do not clean discs using a circular motion Instead use a radial motion start at the center of the disc and proceed to the outer edge CAUTION Install your PlexWriter horizontally Plextor does not guarantee the drive s performance in a vertical position PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 7 Section 1 Getting Started This page in
14. periodically Q Store large projects as you develop them What writing speed can I expect with CD RW media The PlexWriter 24 10 40A supports new high speed CD RW media and can write to this media at speeds from 4X to 10X You can also use conventional CD RW media in this PlexWriter in this case the drive writes at 2X or 4X speed When should I use CD R media CD R media can be read in most CD ROM CD Recordable or CD ReWritable drives Use CD R media to Q Permanently archive important data Copy your music to CD for personal use Create specific format discs Create disc for distribution to others Share non editable presentations Oooo PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 49 Section 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording Why doesn t CD Copier work Some possible reasons are Q Some CD ROM drives are not fast enough for direct copying to the PlexWriter They cannot stream data fast enough to record at the PlexWriter s maximum speed or are not capable of digital audio extraction at high speed Q The CD R disc being used is poor quality scratched badly manufactured or has oily fingerprints Q Some CDs have copy prevention or other feature that does not allow direct CD to CD duplication Q Software may not support that disc format Q You are trying to copy packet written discs which is not possible because of the difference in technology between packet writing and mastering What causes buf
15. 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 13 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 18 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Be sure not to mistake the inner and outer face of the rail when attaching Typically the smooth side of the rail faces away from the drive s chassis Figure 13 Installing Mounting Rails if Needed 6 Plug one connector of the IDE cable into the IDE connector on the rear panel of the drive before you insert the drive into your computer Then thread the cable through the front of the open bay and back toward the motherboard The drive should slide smoothly into the bay If it does not check for obstructions in the bay and ensure the side rails are attached properly 7 If not already connected attach the other end of the IDE ribbon cable to the connector on the motherboard a Pin 1 red wire Nee Connect any connector of the cable to the motherboard or the PlexWriter drive Maximum cable length 18 in Figure 14 Connecting the IDE Ribbon Cable CAUTION It is easy to accidentally plug your IDE ribbon cable upside down into both your drive and the motherboard Be sure you match the red
16. software your CD RW drive can only be used as a reader with generic operating system support drivers Mastering Software Mastering software is used to create specific disc formats such as data audio video mixed mode etc An example of such software is Easy CD Creator Packet Writing Software Another type of software writes packets This software is allows you to format a CD similar to the procedure used with floppy disks Then you can drag and drop files straight to a CD use the Send To function on your computer or use copy and paste to place files on the CD R or CD RW disc This type of software turns your CD R RW disc into a giant floppy An example of such software is DirectCD Duplication Software Yet another type of software copies from CD to CD An example of this software is DiscDupe 2000 in Plextor Manager 2000 or CD Copier in Easy CD Creator However not all CDs can be duplicated CDs created with packet writing software cannot be replicated with duplication software The packet writing technology used to create those discs limits this function It is not the fault of the duplication software or your hardware In addition certain CD manufacturers may use special programs that prevent you from making a backup copy of the original disc For more details on the various software packages for writing to CD R or CD RW please visit the web sites of the companies whose software you are interested in refer to their user s
17. ss 27 4 Using Your PIex Writer cccscsssssscssscssscscssscescssscssecsscssscsssesssesssssssessesens 29 What Media t US isinsin suero onneani eeu E n Erie 29 Tray Loading and Operation ss 30 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual iii Table of Contents Handling CD M dia ssh mine usant 30 Cleaning DISCS sans nia te math a nent ARE REA dh 31 Playing Audio CDs rent nine nn tinetne nent sl 31 Writing to CD R and CD RW Media 33 Advantages of BURN Proof Technology 33 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting sense 35 Upgrading Firmware sans cocaechevsch tate sechuchovech sens e Eei eE o E E 35 If You Need to Disable DMA ss 35 Troubleshooting ss eonn ensite neniou ee ra hit nine nie 37 Tro bl shooting General srra nasen N E EEE 37 Troubleshooting Readers a a E a tity 39 Troubleshooting Audio uses 41 Troubleshooting Writing Discs VV 42 Troubleshooting for Macintosh Users eee eecesecesecsseceeecneeeeeeseeeneeeeeeneees 48 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording ses 49 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications 51 Appendix B Technical Support 55 HOW 10 CONTACE US tient a EE NE asie eo 55 Before You E mail Log On FAX Call ss 56 REIU sms nn ie nent NUE den de 56 Appendix C Helpful Contacts seems 57 Contacts for CD R and CD RW Components 57 Contacts for PC Vendors eieiei E eE E E r iE 58 INdEX sssssuietsniensessvacniedentvnssasvasopedenienpessnasepetanienacssnasesedonieapecontsupetsetsseceseasopeientesee
18. you information on the drive s configuration and the media inserted into it See the Plextor Manager 2000 User s Manual for details CD Res Q For backup and disaster recovery CD Res Q lets you create an image of your hard disk drive on secure reliable CD R or CD RW media By spanning CDs you can back up your entire hard drive Additional features include making a CD bootable choice of compression hard drive or image file integrity verification and more NOTE CD Res Q backup works only with Plextor CD R and CD RW drives You can restore from almost any CD ROM drive CD Res Q requires that you have a DOS boot floppy to create a bootable backup set of CDs If You Don t Have CD Res Q CD Res Q is provided free of charge if you purchase the SCSI model PlexWriter drive as a retail kit If you purchased a non Plextor retail box or an ATAPI interface PlexWriter such as this one CD Res Q is not included But you can purchase this software directly from Plextor Get CD Res Q Directly from Plextor To purchase CD Res Q visit our online store at www plextorshop com 26 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations 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 Plex Writer drive in exciting new ways e Packet writing software This type of application lets you use your PlexWriter
19. 410TA drive by clicking on it once Then click on the Properties button and select the Settings tab You will see the drive properties for the PlexWriter 3 Ensure the DMA box is checked ON 4 Click on OK button and then click the Close button to exit the System Properties window 5 When prompted if you want to restart your computer now select Yes for this change to be enabled and saved To enable DMA if you have Windows NT 4 0 SP 3 or higher 1 Connect to the Internet with a browser and click on the following link to download the program dmachcki exe Save the file to any directory http download microsoft com download winntsrv40 utility 1 0 0 1 nt4 en us dmachcki exe 2 Once the file is downloaded double click it to execute the program The program runs a short diagnosis of your system then creates another program called dmacheck exe in the same directory 3 Double click the file dmacheck exe to execute it 4 In the ATAPI DMA support box check Enable ON for both channels then select OK 5 When you see the warning prompt just select Yes 6 A FINISHED prompt appears indicating that DMA detection settings have been changed Select OK and reboot your system manually PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 23 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter To enable DMA for Windows 2000 1 2 3 9 Right click My Computer and select Properties Select the Hardware tab when the syste
20. 6 Precautions esines rien r a shes arr tuer ti sed et EEE ES ETRE s 7 2 Installing Your PlexWriter seseseseeeesoroesesecccoesesescceeroroeseeecoesororeeoeeosoeseseeeeeseee 9 QuickStart Installation For Experienced PC Users Only 9 Open the Computer and Prepare for Installation 9 Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration 10 Set the Drive s Mode Jumper 11 Changing the Mode Jumper on Your Internal PlexWriter Drive 11 Select an IDE Configuration ss 12 About Cable Select 3 cuaniieh hadi o ne amok 15 Identifying Whether Your System Uses Cable Select eee eeeeeeeeeee 16 Locating the Master Position on a Cable Select Cable 16 set the DMA Jumpers ce nent eed aetna ashlee 16 Install the PlexWriter Drive ss 16 Record the Serial Number 16 Mount the PlexWriter Drive in the Computer cece eee ceeeseeeseeeeeeeeeenes 16 Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables 2 0 0 0 eceeceescesecesecssecnseceeeeseeeeeeeseensees 21 Choosing and Connecting Audio Cables 21 Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized 22 Enable DMA isis ech RSR ate es av ate AeA us Bet 23 3 Installing and Using Software cscccsscsscscssssssscsscssscssssssssssesesssesseeseeeee 25 Install Device DAVES cintece een reei es noaee whee ia RON 25 Install Plextor Applications Software 26 Plextor Manager 2000 Rennes cbeunecnesstbdubes ante eS 26 CDIRESO EE aan siete GRR a et Ee St ake ee as 26 Other Applications Software
21. Choosing and Connecting Audio Cables When using Plextor drives with Plextor Manager 2000 software if it was provided with your drive an audio cable is not necessary Plextor Manager 2000 s player MVP 2000 plays Audio CDs digitally eliminating the need for an analog cable connection Plextor Manager 2000 can be purchased directly from Plextor if it was not included with your drive If you do need audio cables you will have to purchase them Refer to the table below A list of several vendors who offer audio cables is in Appendix C Helpful Contacts Audio Connection Cable How to Connect It ____ Required MPC audio source MPC compliant Connect to MPC audio audio cable source and to analog audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter Sound Blaster or Sound Blaster Connect to Sound Blaster compatible sound board compatible compatible audio board and analog audio to analog audio output cable connector at the rear of the PlexWriter Digital audio output Cable that s Connect to SPDIF or compatible with Digital_In connector on sound SPDIF or board if sound board Digital_In supports digital audio and to digital audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 21 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized After installation make sure the PlexWriter drive and other IDE peripherals are recognized by your computer To che
22. D RW Components Company Phone Web Address Applied 800 426 3925 425 883 3049 Devices www amc com Micro cables acc systems Corp Creative ES 742 6600 405 624 6780 Sound boards Labs ES 998 1000 re com HyCD Inc 408 988 8282 408 988 8585 Windows www cdr com formerly UNIX CD R Goes to HyCD Creative software ve site Digital Research SONICblue 800 468 5846 541 967 2485 Sound boards www Formerly diamondmm Diamond com pee 408 969 8620 408 969 8621 eee drivers ee 408 542 8150 408 542 8151 Audio cables www ae Inter 800 706 0510 Connects Plextor Recommend boards audio Het coi cables all other technical support needs 866 280 7694 303 684 3020 CD R software com Testa CD 520 529 8636 408 737 3838 CD Tach www tcdlabs Labs ext 100 TCD Oak performance com Part of Technology benchmarks www oaktech Oak Tech 408 737 0888 com PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 57 Appendix C Helpful Contacts Contacts for PC Vendors IBM Gatewa Compaq Hewlett Packard Intel ASUSTeK Computer GIGA BYTE ABIT Aopen EPOX SOYO Computers Tekram FIC Micro Star International Will ELITEGROUP COMPUTER SYSTEMS Web Address http ibm com http dell com http www gwe2k com http compag com http www hp com http intel com http www asus com tw http www giga byte com http www abit usa com http www aopen com http www epo
23. DE Port Connect Set PlexWriter s PlexWriter jumper to as master cs S M Secondary IDE Port Figure 7 How to Install the Plex Writer If Your Computer Is Originally Set Up in Configuration B Before PlexWriter Installation How to Install the PlexWriter C Hard disk connected as Master Set the PlexWriter s mode jumper to device on primary IDE port nothing Master and connect the PlexWriter connected to secondary IDE port as Master to secondary IDE port Hard disk connected as master Primary IDE Port Connect Set PlexWriter s PlexWriter jumper to as master cs S M Secondary IDE Port Figure 8 How to Install the Plex Writer If Your Computer Is Originally Set Up in Configuration C 14 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Before PlexWriter Installation System uses special Cable Select cables all devices are jumpered for Cable Select How to Install the PlexWriter Set the PlexWriter s mode jumper to CSEL and connect it as the Master That is at the opposite end of the cable from the computer s IDE interface connector Hard disk Hard disk connected connected as master as slave Primary IDE Port Connect Connect CD ROM drive PlexWriter as slave as master Set PlexWriter s jumper to cs S M Secondary IDE Port
24. Figure 9 How to Install the Plex Writer If Your Computer Is Originally Set Up in Configuration D About Cable Select The Cable Select jumper position sets the PlexWriter drive to use the CSEL signal from the IDE interface for configuration This signal automatically selects the correct Master Slave setting for the PlexWriter To use CSEL you must have e A computer that supports CSEL e A special CSEL cable for IDE To use the host interface CSEL signal for configuration set the PlexWriter s jumper to CABLE SELECT CABLE SELECT MASTER SLAVE Figure 10 Using the CSEL Signal to Configure the Plex Writer Drive NOTE The IDE cable supplied by Plextor does not support CSEL To use CSEL and Cable Select you ll have to purchase another cable PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 15 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Identifying Whether Your System Uses Cable Select If you are unsure whether or not your system has a Cable Select cable installed either look at the cable or look at the jumpers on the CD ROM drive If any device is jumpered as Cable Select then both devices on that cable should be jumpered the same Locating the Master Position on a Cable Select Cable With Cable Select Master and Slave are determined not by jumpers but by the position of the devices on the Cable Select cable The Master is always the device at the far end of the cable Set the DMA Jumper Your Pl
25. I MPEG movies CD Extra CD Plus CD G CD Text Track at Once Disc at Once Session at Once Multisession Incremental packet writing fixed and variable packets 12 cm diameter Recording time 74 min 79 min Performance Specifications Sustained Read Sustained Write Burst Read PIO Mode Burst Read Multiword DMA Mode 17X 40X CAV 2 6 6 0 MB sec Stamp CD R 14X 32X CAV 2 08 4 8 MB sec Stamp CD R CD RW 10 4X 24X CAV 1 56 3 6 MB sec CD RW 8X CLV 1 2 MB sec Stamp CD R CD RW 4X CLV 600 KB sec Stamp CD R CD RW CD DA Drive reads at 4X CLV with buffered read 16X 24X Z CLV 2 4 3 0 3 6 MB sec CD R 16X 20X Z CLV 2 4 3 0 MB sec CD R 16X CLV 2 4 MB sec CD R 12X CLV 1 8 MB sec CD R 10X CLV 1 5 MB sec high speed CD RW 4X CLV 600 KB sec CD R high speed CD RW normal speed CD RW 1X CLV 150 KB sec CD R Mode 0 3 3 MB s Mode 1 5 2 MB s Mode 2 8 3 MB s Mode 3 11 1 MB s Mode 4 16 6 MB s Mode 0 4 2 MB s Mode 1 13 3 MB s Mode 2 16 6 MB s 52 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Performance Specifications continued Burst Read Ultra DMA Mode Average Access Time Random Read Disc Initialization Time Disc Ejection Time Data Buffer Spindle Motor Error Rate Front Panel Eject Indicator LED Disc Loading Headphone Jack Headphone Volume Control CD Audio Controls Mode 0
26. OM drive If there are two devices one is configured as Master and the other the Slave as indicated by the position of jumpers on the back of the drive This is also true for the Cable Select bus If there are two IDE ports one is for the primary IDE bus and the other is for the secondary bus Before you install your PlexWriter your computer s IDE configuration is usually one of the following Configuration A Hard disks connected as Master and Slave devices on primary IDE port CD ROM drive connected as Master device on secondary IDE port Configuration B Hard disk connected as Master device and DVD or CD ROM drive connected as Slave on the primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port Configuration C Hard disk connected as Master device on primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port Configuration D System uses special Cable Select cables all devices are jumpered for Cable Select 10 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Set the Drive s Mode Jumper You specify your drive s Master or Slave setting before installing it You do this by changing the position of a jumper on the mode jumper block at the rear of the drive Your drive ships from our factory with its mode jumper set to operate the Plex Writer as a Master This will work in most custom system configurations If your computer is from a large OEM system manufacturer such as IBM Hewlett Packard
27. PlexWriter Specifications Minimum System Requirements Computer Minimum RAM Hard disk size ATAPI settings Operating system Recommended Media CD R 24X CD R 20X CD R 16X CD R 12X 1X CD RW 10X 4X CD RW 4X 1X Pentium II 300 MHz CPU or faster 64 MB 1 GB of free space to write to a CD in Image mode DMA should be set to ON IDE controller should be set to PIO Mode4 DMA Mode2 or Auto in the motherboard BIOS Windows 95 98 ME NT 4 0 2000 Windows XP ready too To ensure 24X write speed Plextor recommends using certified 24X media available from the following companies Taiyo Yuden Ricoh Mitsui Chemicals Note For the latest updated list of certified 24X media see Plextor s web site at http www plextor com TDK Taiyo Yuden Mitsui Chemicals Ricoh Kodak Maxell Mitsubishi Chemical TDK Taiyo Yuden Mitsui Chemicals Ricoh Kodak Maxell Mitsubishi Chemical TDK Taiyo Yuden Mitsui Chemicals Ricoh Kodak Fuji Photo Film Maxell Mitsubishi Chemical Ricoh Mitsubishi Chemical All are rewritable up to 1 000 times Mitsubishi Chemical Ricoh TDK All are rewritable up to 1 000 times PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 51 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Disc Specifications Useable Formats Recording Modes Disc Diameter CD DA CD ROM Mode 1 CD ROM XA Mode 2 form 1 or form 2 and mixed form CD ROM Mixed Mode Photo CD VideoCD CD
28. Secondary IDE Port NOTE Configuration A can make it very difficult to write from the CD ROM to the PlexWriter at 24X using on the fly copying System configuration and performance will make a big difference Depending on how fast the CD ROM drive can stream data to the PlexWriter it may not be fast enough to constantly have the buffer full In this case the buffer may become empty and a buffer underrun error may happen With the BURN Proof technology of your PlexWriter you could still make successful copies if you use software that supports BURN Proof All software shipped with PlexWriter 24 10 40A drive retail kits supports BURN Proof If you still have problems writing with this configuration use the image writing method or record at lower speed for best results We also recommend that DMA be enabled on your computer if your system supports it Figure 6 How to Install the Plex Writer If Your Computer Is Originally Set Up in Configuration A PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 13 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Before PlexWriter Installation How to Install the PlexWriter Hard disk connected as Master Set the PlexWriter s mode jumper to device and CD ROM or DVD ROM Master and connect the PlexWriter drive connected as Slave on the as Master to secondary IDE port primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port Hard disk connected CD ROM drive as master connected as slave Primary I
29. 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 24 10 40A Operations Manual 17 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter To mount the PlexWriter drive 1 Make sure the power to your computer and any external peripherals are OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED from its power source 2 If you haven t already removed the cover from your computer remove it now following the directions provided by your computer s manufacturer Typically this involves loosening or removing several screws on the back panel of your computer and sliding off the cover See Figure 3 for details 3 Remove the cover panel from the bay that will hold the PlexWriter drive To remove the cover panel pop it out by pressing outward lightly In some older computers you may have to remove screws that hold the panel in place Available bay with cover panel removed Figure 12 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
30. 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 version of the Windows Mac or UNIX operating system you are using e The brand name and model number of your computer e g Dell 466 NP Micron P66PCI Powerstation ALR Evolution V Apple Macintosh Performa 575 etc e The type of VGA Super VGA or other graphics board you use e Brand name and model number of any other peripherals you have installed or connected to your computer e g CD ROM scanner fax board network board Returns You must receive an RMA Returned Materials Authorization number before any Plextor drive can be returned for repair or replacement Any drive sent to Plextor without an RMA number will not be accepted You can contact our RMA Department and request an RMA number and RMA forms at rmasupport plextor com or by fax at or 303 708 0709 Forms are also available on Plextor s web site in the Support Warranty section 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 56 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Appendix C Helpful Contacts Use the contacts below for CD R and CD RW software and components and for PC vendors Contacts for CD R and C
31. art button then Settings then Control Panel then double click on the SCSI Adapters icon Click the sign next to the ATAPI EIDE driver and look if the PLEXTOR CD R PX W2410TA entry is there OYr In Windows 2000 right click on the My Computer icon and select Properties Click on the Hardware tab then click on the Device Manager button Click the sign next to the CD ROM heading and look at the PLEXTOR CD R PX W2410TA entry underneath NOTE Your PlexWriter is Windows XP ready Procedures for Windows XP will be similar to those shown here 22 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 7 If you do not see this drive listed as one of the devices or if it has a yellow diamond with an exclamation point contact your PC or motherboard manufacturer for support and to troubleshoot your IDE controller or driver compatibility or conflicts It may just be a matter of obtaining the latest IDE controller driver or a motherboard BIOS update from the manufacturer Enable DMA To achieve top speeds for reading and writing with your PlexWriter drive direct memory access DMA must be enabled for the drive To enable DMA in Windows 95 98 or ME 1 In Windows 95 98 or ME click the Start button then Settings then Control Panel then double click on System icon then click on Device Manager tab You will see a list of devices in your system 2 Double click the CD ROM icon and choose the PX W2
32. ary technology compensates for any interruption in data flow to the disc BURN Proof technology remembers where writing stopped on the disc when the data flow was interrupted then restarts writing in the same place once the data is available again The result is that your disc is written successfully PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 33 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter What BURN Proof Means to You BURN Proof technology in your PlexWriter 24 10 40A means you can safely use your computer for other things while you re writing to a CD R or CD RW disc It reduces the dreaded coaster effect and lets you multitask freely and easily without bringing the burn to a screeching halt All of this is done seamlessly so you successfully create CDs on the first attempt 34 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting This chapter 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 section that pertains 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
33. as an enormous floppy drive You can drag and drop files straight to a CD R or CD RW disc e Mastering software In conjunction with your PlexWriter drive mastering software lets you create discs in specific formats such as audio data mixed mode and others NOTE If you use a CD R disc with packet writing software you can t use that disc later with mastering software and vice versa CD RW discs also must be used with either one type of software or the other You can however erase a CD RW disc and use it again and once a disc is erased you can use it with either type of software PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 27 Section 3 Installing and Using Software This page intentionally left blank 28 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 4 Using Your PlexWriter This chapter explains how to use your PlexWriter drive and how to load handle and care for your CDs CAUTION Ensure your PlexWriter is in a horizontal position Plextor does not guarantee the drive s performance in a vertical position What Media to Use Use the right media Your PlexWriter drive s capabilities change depending on which type of compact disc you use It currently supports these types e CD ROM You can immediately play or read prerecorded discs such as audio CDs and data discs e CD R Recordable CD You can record on these discs but only once You can also read them e CD RW High speed ReWritable CD These discs support recor
34. ast session of a multisession CD R or CD RW disc Possible Cause e Import previous session or a similar feature was not enabled when the multisession disc was created Solution e Use CD R or CD RW mastering software to import session s Such features may vary in name depending on the software being used Please refer to the appropriate manual regarding this feature Troubleshooting Audio Symptoms When playing an audio CD you do not hear sound even though everything appears to be functioning normally Possible Causes e Sound board volume too low e Mixer settings for sound board set too low or muted e Need sound board e Need audio cable connection e Sound board not properly configured Solution e Each sound board has a different setting for each input source including one for CD Audio Run your sound board s mixer program and verify that the volume is turned up or not muted You can do this by double clicking on the speaker icon on your computer s task bar e Check your system configuration to see if the sound board settings such as IRQ memory etc are conflicting with other devices on the system e Check if all the necessary drivers and multimedia devices required by your sound board are installed e Make sure the audio cable is properly connected between PlexWriter and sound board Symptoms Low sound level from PlexWriter drive Possible Cause 1 e Improper audio cable connection between PlexWrit
35. ck whether they are recognized To see if the drive is recognized in Windows 1 Turn the computer ON After the computer boots up you should see the Windows display Open Windows Explorer or My Computer and ensure there is an icon for the PlexWriter the hard disk and other CD ROM drives if present The PlexWriter may be D or E or another designator If the PlexWriter drive is not recognized in Windows reboot the computer and use your computer s setup program to program the BIOS to recognize it NOTE Refer to the computer s documentation for information on how to run the motherboard BIOS setup program 4 Use the motherboard BIOS setup program to set up IDE Master and Slave designations as needed for your configuration on the primary or secondary IDE bus If the IDE interface is disabled on your computer you will need to enable it If a Master or Slave device is set to disable or none or a similar designation change it as appropriate to enable or auto or something similar depending on your setup program Save and exit your CMOS setup to restart your computer with the new settings In Windows 95 98 or ME once the system comes up click the Start button then Settings then Control Panel then double click on System icon then click on Device Manager tab Click the sign next to the CD ROM heading and look at the PLEXTOR CD R PX W2410TA entry underneath OYr In Windows NT click the St
36. contact the party from whom you purchased the box for an explanation NOTE This applies to the Plextor retail box Your drive may have been shipped in a different box with other contents depending on whom you purchased the drive from and what they included inside the box Section 1 Getting Started Save Your Box Be sure to save the box after you have installed your PlexWriter drive The box and its packaging material were designed and drop tested to ensure your PlexWriter can endure rough treatment and still arrive in working order We hope you will never have to ship your drive back to us If you do however it s best to send it packaged in the original box Some of our customers have not held on to their boxes and have had to resort to less than secure methods to get drives back to us We cannot assume liability for any damage your drive sustains during shipment Therefore please ship your drive in the safest manner possible Before shipping your drive refer to the 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 for packaging pointers when you contact us to get an RMA number before returning any drive You can contact our RMA Department at rmasupport p
37. d problems occur when writing reduce the load on CPU resources Some ways to do this are Q Log off from the network Q Don t use the mouse Q Disable the screensaver or power save mode Q Exit all other applications Possible Cause 3 e Shortage of PC memory If there is insufficient main memory in the PC data may be swapped to the hard disk and this can cause a buffer underrun Solution 3 e If necessary enable BURN Proof in the recording software Some software packages such as Adaptec s Easy CD Creator 4 02 have BURN Proof support for the PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allows the user to select whether it is on or off e Increase the PC s main memory capacity 44 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause 4 e PlexWriter and other IDE CD ROM drive are connected on the same cable Solution 4 e If necessary enable BURN Proof in the recording software Some software packages such as Adaptec s Easy CD Creator 4 02 have BURN Proof support for the PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allows the user to select whether it is on or off e Use the image writing method safe mode or record at a lower speed When using on the fly writing to write from another IDE device on the same bus to the Plex Writer the IDE bus is very busy and this may cause writing errors Whether or not you get errors often depends on your sy
38. ding and re recording up to 1 000 times You can also read them To achieve 24X CD R writing speed you must use certified 24X media and to achieve 10X RW writing speed you must use high speed RW media See Recommended Media on page 51 for a list of approved media at the time this manual was printed and see the Plextor web site at http www plextor com for an updated list You can write to high speed RW discs only on drives that support this new media Drives that are capable of writing to high speed RW media such as the PlexWriter 24 10 40A are identified by a Compact Disc ReWritable High Speed logo PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 29 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter Tray Loading and Operation To load and unload the tray 1 While the PlexWriter drive is powered up push the Stop Eject button on the front panel The tray drawer slides out in 3 4 seconds Figure 16 Loading the Tray 2 Lay a blank CD in the depression in the tray label side up The CD should lie flat in the tray 3 Press the Stop Eject button again and the tray will slide shut within seconds NOTE Always use the Stop Eject button to close the tray in a smooth and secure manner Closing the tray by pressing the front of the drawer by hand is not recommended and risks damage or premature wearing of the mechanism and your CDs Handling CD Media Take care when handling blank CD R and CD RW media Dust scratches and fingerprint
39. e is normally set to Ultra DMA 2 and this setting should work in most cases However if the computer hangs or crashes change the PlexWriter to DMA Mode 2 by installing the DMA jumper across the two pins See Figure 2 on page 5 Symptoms Plex Writer drive not recognized by computer Possible Cause 1 e IDE cable is not connected properly Solution 1 e Ensure IDE cable is connected e Verify that connectors on motherboard and drive do not have bent pins Possible Cause 2 e Drive or IDE bus is not enabled in the computer s BIOS Solution 2 e Ensure the IDE port is enabled and set properly in motherboard s BIOS See Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized on page 22 for more details Possible Cause 3 e Jumper conflict Solution 3 e Check jumpers for the PlexWriter drive and the other peripheral devices hard disk or CD ROM drive on the same IDE cable Ensure the jumper for one device is set to Master and the other to Slave Two devices on one cable cannot be set to the same setting except for Cable Select PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 37 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause 4 e Wrong cable with jumper set to Cable Select Solution 4 e Make sure that a CSEL compatible IDE cable is used if you want to use the PlexWriter with jumper set to Cable Select e Ensure the jumpers on both drives are set to Cable Select Possible Cause 5 e Power connector is not attached to Ple
40. ecordable CD media at up to 24X speed and it writes to high speed CD RW rewritable CD media at up to 10X speed Naturally the drive can also write to conventional CD RW media at 4X speeds It reads all CD ROM and CD R media at a maximum of 40X speed with an average access time of less than 140 milliseconds Maximum read speed of CD RW media is 32X Reliable writing is virtually guaranteed thanks to unique circuitry that automatically detects the type of media being recorded and adjusts the PlexWriter 24 10 40A to provide the optimum laser power and length of burn The PlexWriter 24 10 40A has an EIDE interface that supports the ATAPI 4 command set including special commands for CD R and CD RW The PlexWriter 24 10 40A is fully MMC compliant supporting writing features such as Disc at Once Track at Once Session at Once and Multi Session as well as variable and fixed packet writing It also supports the UDF file system implemented through packet writing PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 1 Section 1 Getting Started The PlexWriter 24 10 40A supports running OPC and is compatible with Windows Plug amp Play Flash memory allows upgrading the PlexWriter 24 10 40A to the latest firmware revision available from the Plextor web site without opening the computer or physically accessing the drive New BURN Proof technology eliminates buffer underrun errors which means you can safely use your computer for other things while you
41. efective CD ROM CD R or CD RW disc e A fingerprint contaminants or 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 31 e Try a different disc Possible Cause 2 e Disc is badly manufactured Solution 2 e Try a different disc Possible Cause 3 e Bad connection between the PlexWriter drive and the motherboard Solution 3 e Inspect the IDE cable and drive for recessed broken or bent pins e Inspect the IDE ribbon cable for any signs of distress such as kinking Possible Cause 4 e CD Audio disc in the drive Audio CDs do not have computer data so typing computer commands in DOS while an audio disc is in your drive gives an error message Solution 4 e Use a data CD in the PlexWriter drive Possible Cause 5 e Disc is inserted upside down Solution 5 e Eject the disc and load it with the label or text side up Possible Cause 6 e Blank CD R or CD RW disc is inside the drive Solution 6 e Remove the disc from the drive and test it by using another disc PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 39 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Symptoms Cannot use other CD ROM drives to initialize discs written by PlexWriter Possible Cause 1 e Trying to read a CD RW disc in a CD ROM drive that does not support it Solution 1 e Use the PlexWriter to read CD RW discs or use a different CD ROM drive Only CD ROM dri
42. el DMA jumper Analog Mode IDE cable Power audio jumper connector connector Digital output audio connector output connector Figure 2 Rear Panel of the Plex Writer 24 10 40A Internal Drive e DMA jumper Use to converts between Ultra DMA Mode 2 no jumper default and DMA Mode 2 with jumper installed e Digital audio output connector Outputs digital stereo signal For connecting to a sound board that supports Sony Philips digital interface SPDIF or Digital_In e Analog audio output connector Outputs analog stereo signal Use to connect to sound board or audio amplifier Use standard MPC 3 type 4 pin connector e Mode jumper Use to select operation as an IDE master or slave or for cable select In general leave this jumper at its factory setting e IDE cable connector Connects to IDE interface using 40 pin IDE flat ribbon cable e Power connector Connects to your computer s power supply to provide DC 5 volts and 12 volts to the PlexWriter PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 5 Section 1 Getting Started About Software In order to create CD R and CD RW discs you will need to have mastering or other software installed on your computer system There are many different software packages on the market You can check our web site www plextor com for an updated list of software that supports your drive We provide mastering software kits in retail packaging for your convenience Without such
43. ent to a disc Possible Cause 2 e Not enough disc capacity Capacity of a standard 74 minute CD is limited to 650 MB Solution 2 e Use different CD R or CD RW media if the capacity is insufficient Possible Cause 3 e The disc is written with a CD R or CD RW drive from another vendor Solution 3 e Use a different CD R or CD RW disc e Try to use same drive to add more data to CD R or CD RW disc Symptoms Cannot write at higher speeds such as 24X and 16X Possible Cause 1 e Using poor quality media Solution 1 e Use the CD R RW media recommended by Plextor Supported media lists can also be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com Possible Cause 2 e Buffer underrun occurring Solution 2 e If necessary enable BURN Proof in the recording software Some software packages such as Adaptec s Easy CD Creator 4 02 have BURN Proof support for the PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allows the user to select whether it is on or off e If your software does not support BURN Proof and problems reduce the load on CPU resources Some ways to do this are Q Log off from the network Q Don t use the mouse Q Disable the screen saver or power save mode Q Quit all other applications except the authoring software 46 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause 3 e Using CD RW media This drive does not support 24X or 16X speed wit
44. er drive and sound board Solution 1 e Check the cable connection from PlexWriter to sound board PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 41 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause 2 e Low levels from audio mixer Solution 2 e Check the master CD and line levels of all audio mixers Troubleshooting Writing Discs Symptoms Cannot write to CD R or CD RW disc Possible Cause 1 e You are using authoring software other than that bundled with your PlexWriter Solution 1 e Use the authoring software provided with the PlexWriter e To use other types of authoring software contact the supplier and ensure the software supports the PX W2410TA CD RW drive Supported software lists can also be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com Possible Cause 2 e CD R or CD RW media is not supported Solution 2 e Use CD R or CD RW media recommended by Plextor Supported media lists can also be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com Possible Cause 3 e Disc inserted upside down Solution 3 e Eject the disc from tray and load it with the label side up Possible Cause 4 e Lack of hard disk capacity This varies with different software packages Contact the software vendor or check their documentation for recommendations Solution 4 e Delete files from your hard disk to free up sufficient space or use another hard disk 42 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 5 Maintena
45. exWriter ships from the factory with no DMA jumper installed The pins are empty This means the drive is set to Ultra DMA Mode 2 33 3 MB s This setting should work in most cases so you don t have to do anything more With some personal computers the computer may hang or crash with the PlexWriter set to the default Ultra DMA setting If this happens change the Plex Writer to DMA mode by installing the DMA jumper across these two pins Install the PlexWriter Drive Before proceeding to install the PlexWriter drive in your personal computer double check your jumper setting Record the Serial Number Record the serial number and TLA code of your drive on the inside front cover of this manual Mount the PlexWriter Drive in the Computer You can mount your internal PlexWriter drive in any available bay You must remove the small panel that covers the bay that you want to use CAUTION Install your PlexWriter horizontally Plextor does not guarantee the drive s performance in a vertical position If you don t have an empty bay remove the existing IDE CD ROM drive and install the PlexWriter 16 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations 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 IDE cable e Power cable There are also two optional cable connections e An analog audio cable connection if you are u
46. fer underrun errors Recording CDs requires a source device to provide an uninterrupted stream of data A buffer underrun occurs when the data stream is interrupted This can occur if Q You do not have BURN Proof enabled in your software or your software does not support this feature Another application interrupts the writing process The write speed is set higher than the source drive can supply data The computer has insufficient RAM random access memory You are using poor quality discs scratched discs discs with fingerprints or badly manufactured discs Oooo Buffer underrun errors are not a problem with the PlexWriter 24 10 40A thanks to its remarkable BURN Proof technology To eliminate buffer underrun errors simply make sure BURN Proof is enabled in the recording software Some software packages such as Adaptec s Easy CD Creator 4 02 have BURN Proof support for the PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allows the user to select whether it is on or off Can I use a DVD player as a source for audio recording In general DVD s are a poor source for audio extraction If you do want to use a DVD if possible do not install it on the same IDE cable as the PlexWriter Note that in some instances DVD s will not work as anything other than a Master in such cases you ll have to install your PlexWriter as a Slave This is not ideal but it will work 50 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Appendix A
47. ftware other than that bundled with your Plex Writer Solution 6 e Use the authoring software provided with the PlexWriter e To use other types of authoring software contact the supplier and ensure the software supports the PX W2410TA CD RW drive Supported software lists can also be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 43 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Symptoms Writing error occurs Buffer underrun Does not record at high speeds such as 24X and 16X Possible Cause 1 e DMA is not enabled on your computer Solution 1 e Enable DMA for your operating system Q If you have Windows 95 98 or ME enable DMA as described on 23 Q If you have Windows NT 4 0 SP 3 or higher enable DMA as described on page 23 Q If you have Windows 2000 enable DMA as described on page 24 e Make sure PIO Mode4 DMA Mode or Auto is enabled in your motherboard BIOS Possible Causes 2 e Network is being used e Mouse was moved or Windows screensaver activated while writing e Other applications are running e Power save mode is active Solution 2 e Ifnecessary enable BURN Proof in the recording software Some software packages such as Adaptec s Easy CD Creator 4 02 have BURN Proof support for the Plex Writer drive permanently on while other software allows the user to select whether it is on or off e If your software does not support BURN Proof an
48. guration 12 serial number recording 16 shipping your drive 3 slave 10 setting in BIOS 22 setting mode jumper 11 software application 25 device drivers 25 duplication 6 installing 25 mastering 6 packet writing 6 Sony Philips digital interface See SPDIF Sound Blaster compliant audio cable 21 sound board audio 32 sound board connections to and 21 SPDIF cable 21 SPDIF connection 5 20 21 54 specifications 52 speed reading 1 52 writing 1 13 49 spindle motor 53 stereo output signal 5 stop eject button 4 closing tray 30 support 55 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 61 Index T technical support 55 temperature specification 54 TLA code 16 tray closing 30 front door 4 loading and unloading 30 troubleshooting 62 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual audio problems 41 buffer underrun 44 cannot add information to CD R or CD RW disc 46 cannot eject tray 38 cannot run PlexWriter created discs on other drives 40 cannot write to CD R or CD RW disc 42 CD Copier problems 50 computer hangs or crashes 37 disc problems 39 does not record at high speeds 44 46 drive does not operate Macintosh 48 drive does not respond 38 39 drive not recognized 37 drive not responding Macintosh 48 general problems 37 low sound level 41 Macintosh installation 48 no audio 41 noise 40 read errors 39 reads only la
49. h CD RW media It supports up to 10X CD RW recording Solution 3 e Use CD R media for 24X recording Check www plextor com for recommended 24X media Possible Cause 4 e Defective CD R media Solution 4 e CD R media may be dirty scratched or damaged Rewrite using another CD R disc If possible use a disc from a different manufacturer sometimes all discs in a box of media may be defective Possible Cause 5 e Using authoring software other than that bundled with the PlexWriter Solution 5 e To use other types of authoring software contact the supplier and ensure the software supports the PX W2410TA CD RW drive Supported software lists can also be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com Possible Cause 6 e CD ROM drive used cannot read data fast enough to record at higher speeds such as 24X and 16X Solution 6 e If necessary enable BURN Proof in the recording software Some software packages such as Adaptec s Easy CD Creator 4 02 have BURN Proof support for the PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allows the user to select whether it is on or off e If your software does not support BURN Proof copy the data to the computer s hard disk then record from the hard disk to the PlexWriter PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 47 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting for Macintosh Users Symptoms Drive will not operate as CD ROM CD R or CD RW device P
50. ing or FAQs for common questions If you have not been successful in your quest our Technical Support Department will help you solve problems that relate specifically to your Plex Writer drive In many cases a problem that appears to be caused by your PlexWriter actually originates in another part of your computer In such instances our technical support staff will try to help you identify the part at fault and will refer you to the manufacturer of that part for further assistance How to Contact Us There are several ways for you to contact Plextor s Technical Support Department e Visit our web site www plextor com for answers to Frequently Asked Questions e Send us e mail at support plextor com or send a fax to the attention of the Technical Support Department at 303 708 0709 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 option 2 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 55 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
51. it anderen Ger ten betrieben so muss bei Inanspruchnahme der Allgemeinen Betriebs genehmigung nach der BMPT AmtsblVfg Nr 243 1991 die gesamte Anlage folgenden Richtlinien entsprechen UG Vfg 243 e Grenzwertklasse B der EN55022 e Auflagen nach 2 der BMPT AmtsblVfg 243 1991 Dies ist bei der Zusammensetzung einer Anlage z B Computersystem aus nur einzeln gepriiften Ger ten nicht immer erfiillt Table of Contents 1 Getting Started sssssssissnessnsssisnensssnsessssenmet serons sbaseesecasensdoas suessaseaness 1 About this Manual en es Rennes 1 Meet Your PlexWriter 24 10 40A nsss a e aea 1 What the PlexWriter 24 10 40A Doe o00 cece cee cseeeseeeeeeeeeeeeesreeseceseenaeenaes 1 Minimum Configuration to Use the PlexWriter 24 10 40A ue eee 2 What You Can Do with the Plex Writer 24 10 40A 2 Save Your BOX ss attirent meet ins mie E E 3 What s in th Box sise sera eere irae T E EEE TEO tata 3 PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls 20 000 eccececeeeseeeeeeeeeeeseeeeceseeeseeneensees 4 Front Panel 5 3 5 oes cas tates ti abet eevee sian coi sens conte tee 4 Rear Panel f scene sein nr hide aber eoatianes aie eben eee 5 About SOLWALE sente te saves nes abet tte EE EET E 6 Mastering Software sois secsscusssgseegcapssssnsasasves capesacossetanes soedbecebieguees E Ei Rsi 6 Packet Writing SoftWare sue bees csseesbebsney sbsusedeieeaoes sbeebeeseteiees 6 Duplication Software sms mienne nte
52. kers 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 Playing a CD Using Plextor Manager 2000 For PC users Plextor Manager 2000 software provides several unique and powerful capabilities for playing audio For installation and operating instructions refer to the separate Plextor Manager 2000 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 or CD 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 toolkit 32 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter Writing to CD R and CD RW Media In conjunction with your PlexWriter drive mastering and packet writing software such as EasyCD Creator and DirectCD allow you to write audio video data or other information to writable CD R or rewritable CD RW media The PlexWriter 24 10 40A writes to new high speed CD RW media as well as to conventional CD RW media IMPORTANT Most CD ROM drives manufactured since 1997 can read both conventional and the new high speed CD RW discs Drives manufactured before 1997 cannot read CD RW discs
53. lextor com or by calling us at 800 886 3935 option 2 or by fax at or 303 708 0709 If your drive came pre installed some or all of the items above may have been installed and may not be separately available See Appendix C for locations to purchase additional or replacement accessories PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 3 Section 1 Getting Started PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls Before proceeding become familiar with the controls and features of your Plex Writer drive Match the parts of your drive to the illustrations below Front Panel Emergency Tray front door eject hole 24h0 40A heat Eoad Headphone Volume LED Indicator Stop eject jack control button Figure 1 Front Panel of the Plex Writer 24 10 40A Drive e Tray front door Attached to tray drawer e Headphone jack Stereo mini jack for headphones and powered speakers e Volume control Controls volume of headphone jack e LED indicator Illuminated green when power is on and a disc in the drive yellow when initializing and blinking yellow when reading the disc and blinking orange when writing data to disc e Stop eject button Push to eject or insert tray e 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 4 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 1 Getting Started Rear Pan
54. more Some of these applications are supplied with your Plex Writer if purchased as a kit from Plextor while others are available from other vendors If you have any problems at all our technical support staff will help you Install Device Drivers In Windows your PlexWriter acts as a CD ROM Drive for purposes of installation and setup In some cases you will need to install additional software to make use of all of the features of the PlexWriter e Using the PlexWriter on a PC Q As CD ROM The computer s operating system whether it is Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows ME Windows NT or Windows 2000 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 e 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 Before installing any software check that all the cable connections between your Plex Writer and computer are correct that the jumper is set properly and the Plex Wri
55. ms properties window appears In the Hardware tab select the Device Manager button Double click IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers to expand the options Under IDE ATA ATAPI Controllers double click on the listing to bring up the property dialog box for the Primary IDE channel Click on the Advanced settings tab If available set Transfer Mode for Device 0 and 1 to DMA Then select OK Your computer asks if you would like to reboot at this point Select NO Repeat steps 5 8 for the Secondary IDE channel 10 This time when you are prompted select Reboot NOTE Your PlexWriter is Windows XP ready Procedures for Windows XP will be similar to those shown here 24 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations 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 two software types e Device driver This is a software program that allows your computer to interact with the PlexWriter drive Drivers are included in Windows 95 98 ME NT and 2000 that let you operate your PlexWriter as a CD ROM device reader The device driver is installed automatically by the operating system as long as the IDE interface is enabled in your system s motherboard BIOS e Application software These are software programs for specific tasks such as mastering CDs backing up your hard disk or files capturing audio duplicating CDs and
56. nce and Troubleshooting Symptoms CD R or CD RW software cannot detect PlexWriter Possible Cause 1 e Power connector is not attached to PlexWriter Solution 1 e Ensure the computer s power cable is securely attached to the PlexWriter s power connector e When the computer s power is turned ON confirm that the PlexWriter s indicator LED is illuminated briefly then is extinguished e Try connecting another power cable to the Plex Writer Possible Cause 2 e IDE cable isn t connected properly Solution 2 e Ensure that the IDE cable is securely inserted and is not damaged Check the connector pins to ensure they are not bent Possible Cause 3 e Drive or IDE bus is not enabled in the computer s BIOS Solution 3 e Ensure the IDE port is enabled and set properly in motherboard s BIOS See Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized on page 22 for more details Possible Cause 4 e Jumper conflict Solution 4 e Check jumper for the PlexWriter drive and the other peripheral devices hard disk or CD ROM drive on the same IDE cable Ensure the jumper for one device is set to Master and the other to Slave Two devices on one cable cannot be set to the same setting Possible Cause 5 e Wrong cable with jumper set to Cable Select Solution 5 e Make sure that a CSEL compatible IDE cable is used if you want to use the PlexWriter with jumper set to Cable Select Possible Cause 6 e You are using authoring so
57. ons for an Internal IDE Plex Writer Drive 10 Connect the analog audio cable if you want to use a sound board in your system This cable runs from the four pin analog audio output connector on the rear panel of your PlexWriter drive to your sound board See Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables below for more information about audio cables 11 Connect a digital audio cable if your sound board is equipped with the Sony Philips digital interface SPDIF or Digital_In and you wish to use the digital audio output from your PlexWriter This cable runs from the digital audio output connector pins on the back panel to the sound board This cable is not supplied by Plextor 20 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 12 Mount the PlexWriter drive in the computer using the four screws that were supplied with your drive Use only these screws CAUTION Do not mount your drive in your computer using screws other than those supplied by Plextor You may damage the drive if you insert screws that are too long or the wrong thread type Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables Whichever category your sound board falls into you will find that the best source of information about installing the sound board in your computer is the board s manual Once you have successfully installed the sound board in your computer you can continue below for a description of the different cable connections that need to be made
58. ossible Cause e Whether using the PlexWriter as a standard CD ROM CD R or CD RW device you will need additional software and device drivers that are not part of the Macintosh operating system Solution e You will need to purchase additional software Supported software lists can also be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com Symptoms Drive not responding Possible Cause e Bad connection between PlexWriter drive and IDE interface Solution e Check the IDE cable to ensure it is seated properly and has no bent pins 48 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording What media should I use for my PlexWriter To achieve 24X CD R writing speed you must use certified 24X media and to achieve 10X RW writing speed you must use high speed RW media See Recommended Media on page 51 for a list recommended media including 24X certified media at the time this manual was printed The most updated list of supported media can be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com When can I use CD RW media CD RW media can only be used for writing in ReWritable drives It is readable only in ReWritable drives or newer MultiRead CD ROMs with UDF readers installed UDF readers are available from software companies that develop packet writing software With CD RW media you can Q Use as if it were a large capacity floppy disc Q Transport files to and from work Q Copy your important data
59. re 5 Install the Mode Jumper Across Vertical Pairs of Pins CAUTION Install the mode jumper across each pin as shown vertically Do not connect one pin switch to another by installing the jumper lengthwise horizontally Doing so could result in damage to the drive Select an IDE Configuration Set the jumper according to the desired configuration as shown in the tables and illustrations on the next few pages NOTE For best CD RW performance try to connect the PlexWriter to the IDE port that is not connected to the hard disk drive or to a CD ROM drive In most cases this will be the secondary IDE port NOTE For best results set the PlexWriter to be the Master if possible DMA setting must be enabled on your system to achieve the drive s maximum writing speed 12 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Before PlexWriter Installation How to Install the PlexWriter Hard disks connected as Master and Remove the CD ROM drive change Slave devices on primary IDE port it to Slave and re connect it to the CD ROM connected as Master secondary IDE port device on secondary IDE port Set the PlexWriter s mode jumper to Master and connect the PlexWriter as Master device to the secondary IDE port Hard disk Hard disk connected connected as master as slave Primary IDE Port Connect Connect exWriter s PlexWriter CD ROM drive as master as slave
60. s on either side of the disc can cause write errors during recording When picking up or holding blank media you can either place your fingers along the outer edge of the disc or place one finger through the center hole and one finger on the outer edge Once you have finished creating a disc label it by writing on the top using permanent ink CAUTION We recommend using a non toxic marker such as a Sharpie pen that conforms to the ASTM D 4236 standard Some permanent markers will damage the media Also do not press too hard when writing on the disc NOTE We do not recommend placing self sticking CD R labels on the disc The weight of the label may unbalance the disc and cause write errors during recording or read errors during reading 30 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter Cleaning Discs For proper read and write performance your CD R CD RW and CD ROM discs must be clean Trying to record on a dirty disc may result in a failed session and ruin the disc To clean the disc wipe the disc using a clean soft cotton cloth to remove surface dirt such as fingerprints Use a straight line motion wiping from the center out Do not wipe the disc in a circular motion Figure 17 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 Playing Audio CDs In order to listen to an audio CD
61. sing a sound board in your computer and plan to connect the PlexWriter s audio output to the audio connector on the sound board e A digital audio cable connection if the sound board is equipped with SPDIF or Digital_In and you wish to use the digital audio output from your PlexWriter Do You Need Another IDE Ribbon Cable The IDE cable is a standard 40 pin flat ribbon cable usually with three connectors One end connects to the IDE port on your computer s motherboard and the other two connectors are free for attaching peripherals such as a hard disk CD ROM drive or a PlexWriter drive You may need to install another IDE ribbon cable in your computer You can use the extra IDE cable supplied with your PlexWriter Just remember if you want to use CSEL and Cable Select settings this cable won t work you ll have to purchase a special cable for Cable Select To Pin 1 Figure 11 Internal IDE Ribbon Cable CAUTION The length of any IDE cable cannot exceed 18 inches Do You Need a Power Cable In most computers you will find free power connectors in the computer ready for your use When you open the computer check the cable running from your power supply to your hard disk and see if it has extra connectors on it If so you can plug one of these into the power connector found on the rear panel of the Plex Writer If you do not find any additional connectors either because they were not supplied or they are
62. st session 41 slow read performance 40 software cannot detect PlexWriter 43 vibration 40 write errors 44 writing discs 42 U Ultra DMA 5 16 37 upgrading firmware 2 35 V volume control 4 32 53 W weight 54 Windows 2000 disabling DMA 36 enabling DMA in 24 Windows 95 98 ME disabling DMA 36 enabling DMA in 23 Windows NT disabling DMA 36 enabling DMA in 23 Windows XP enabling DMA in 24 write specification 52 writingaCD 1 frequently asked questions 49 image 2 limitations on speed 13 troubleshooting 42 writing from DVD as source 50 writing to CD R 33 writing to CD RW 33 Notes PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 63 Notes 64 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Notes PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 65 Notes 66 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Notes PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 67 Notes 68 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual
63. stem speed and configuration e Put the IDE CD ROM drive on the primary bus and PlexWriter as the only device on the secondary bus Master Possible Cause 5 e PlexWriter and hard disk are connected on the same cable Solution 5 e If necessary enable BURN Proof in the recording software Some software packages such as Adaptec s Easy CD Creator 4 02 have BURN Proof support for the PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allows the user to select whether it is on or off e Remove the PlexWriter from the cable set its jumper to Master and re connect it to the secondary IDE port Leave the hard disk connected to the primary IDE port Possible Cause 6 e Automatic thermal recalibration triggered Some high speed hard disks are equipped with an automatic thermal recalibration function Solution 6 e Turn off automatic thermal recalibration for the hard disk e Use another hard disk Possible Cause 7 e Defective CD R or CD RW media CD R or CD RW media may be dirty scratched or damaged Solution 7 e ReWrite using another CD R or CD RW disc PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 45 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Symptom Cannot add information to CD R or CD RW disc Possible Cause 1 e The CD R or CD RW disc was originally written using other software If the software is different incompatibility errors may occur Solution 1 e Always use the same authoring software to add cont
64. stripe along one side of the IDE cable to Pin 1 on the motherboard and Pin 1 on the drive Pin 1 on the drive is closest to the power connector Each connector on the ribbon cable has a key in the middle This key should fit into a slot in the middle of each connector of the motherboard your PlexWriter and any other internal IDE peripherals 8 Double check your work You must ensure the side of the IDE cable with the red stripe is matched to Pin on the interface board and on the drive PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 19 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter CAUTION In the case of only one IDE device you must make certain that one end of the cable is always connected to the IDE connector on the motherboard The other end of the connector must be connected to a device The end connector of the cable should never be left unconnected 9 Connect a power cable from the computer to the DC INPUT connector of the PlexWriter drive See Figure 15 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 PlexWriter Internal PlexWriter IDE ribbon cable Digital audio cable optional Digital_In Power CD ROM audio or SPDIF supply connector on PC connector on sound board Figure 15 Cable Connecti
65. t and receiver e Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected e Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help Any changes or modifications should be approved by the party responsible for compliance of FCC Rules otherwise the user loses authority to operate the equipment CAUTION Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure The laser beam emitted from the optical pickup is invisible Accordingly e Do not open the optical pickup housing e Obtain service only from Plextor authorized personnel LASER INFORMATION These products have been designed and manufactured according to IEC 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 drive from an electrical current pull out the power plug VORSICHT DIE TRENNUNG VOM NETZ ERFOLGT DURCH ZIEHEN DES NETZSTECKERS Zur Einhaltung der Funk Entst rung von nicht selbst ndig betreibbaren Hochfrequenzger ten periphere Anlagenkomponenten Dieses Ger t entspricht als Einzelger t den Funk Entst ranforderungen der Postverfiigung Nr 243 1991 Wird das Ger t innerhalb einer Anlage zusammen m
66. tentionally left blank 8 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 2 Installing Your PlexWriter This chapter explains how to physically install your PlexWriter in your computer The steps you ll need to do are as follows 1 2 3 5 Turn OFF your computer system Set the jumper for your new PlexWriter drive if necessary Mount the PlexWriter drive into an available drive bay inside the computer system Make all necessary cabling connections IDE cable power cable and audio cable Turn your computer system ON The following pages give more details for this procedure Open the Computer and Prepare for Installation To determine whether your Plex Writer will be a Master or a Slave open your computer and examine the IDE connections to the motherboard To open the computer 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 Remove your computer s cover following the directions provided QuickStart Installation For Experienced PC Users Only If you ve installed computer peripherals before you re in luck with the Plex Writer drive Use this QuickStart installation to get up and running quickly Typical Scenario 1 You have a PC with an IDE interface installed you have Windows 95 98 ME 2000 or NT and you have nothing installed on the secondary IDE port What to do Leave
67. ter is recognized by your system PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 25 Section 3 Installing and Using Software Install Plextor Applications Software Windows 95 98 ME NT and 2000 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 or 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 the PlexWriter under other operating systems You will need to purchase this software separately If you purchased your PlexWriter as part of a Plextor kit and you have a PC 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 audio management and drive control applications puts you in the CD driver s seat A variety of distinctive modules allow you to listen to record and even create your own playlists using a standard and digital audio file formats Rip the finest quality audio using digital audio extraction at high speed Need to make a duplicate CD A simple mouse click and you re done Control every aspect of the drive from spindown timeout to eject lock Plextor Manager 2000 also gives
68. the PlexWriter s jumper set to Master attach it to the secondary IDE port and go Windows will recognize the drive automatically Typical Scenario 2 You have a PC with an IDE interface installed you have Windows 95 98 ME 2000 or NT the primary IDE port already has two devices connected and you have a CD ROM installed on the secondary IDE port What to do Change the CD ROM to Slave leave the PlexWriter s jumper set to Master and attach the PlexWriter to the secondary IDE port Windows recognizes the new drive automatically If neither of these situations applies to you or you re not comfortable with IDE installation read the rest of this chapter for more detailed installation instructions by your computer s manufacturer Typically this involves loosening or removing several screws on the back panel of your computer and sliding off the cover See Figure 3 for an example PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 9 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Figure 3 Removing a Typical Computer s Cover Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration With your computer open determine the existing IDE configuration You can do this by looking at the 40 pin IDE ribbon cable or cables there may be two and seeing what is connected to them One end of the IDE cable is connected to a port on the computer s motherboard and the other end is connected to one or two peripheral devices such as a hard disk or CD R
69. ture Storage Humidity Dimensions and Weight Dimensions W H D excluding front panel Weight Reliability MTBF Tray Loading 0 to 40 degrees Celsius 5 to 40 degrees Celsius 20 to 80 non condensing 40 to 60 degrees Celsius 20 to 95 non condensing 5 78 x 1 64 x 7 95 146mm x 41 3mm x 202mm 2 5 Ibs 1 2 kg 60 000 Power On Hours 15 duty cycle 100 000 Load Unload Cycles 54 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Appendix B Technical Support Store Plextor s e mail web site phone and fax numbers in a convenient location Keep your drive s serial number and a copy of your sales receipt handy as well If you experience a problem while installing or operating your Plex Writer drive please refer first to the relevant sections of this manual regarding setup and installation Chapters 1 3 If you do not uncover the solution there please refer next to the maintenance and troubleshooting chapter that begins on page 35 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 support area Select PlexHelper for online troubleshoot
70. ves manufactured after 1997 can read CD RW discs Possible Cause 2 e UDF reader is not installed on the system to read CD RW or packet written discs from a CD ROM drive Solution 2 e Refer to your packet writing software manual for how to obtain a UDF reader and install it on the computer where you need to access these discs Possible Cause 3 e Session was left open on a CD R disc and does not have a Table of Contents Solution 3 e Place this disc back into PlexWriter and use the same software originally used to write to it Then close the session disc Symptoms Excessive noise Excessive vibration Slow read performance Possible Cause e CD is poorly balanced Poorly manufactured discs or discs with poorly distributed ink on labeling cause significant vibration at high speeds because they are out of balance Read errors may also occur e If the disc label especially adhesive labels adds more weight to one area of the disc than another it can also cause the disc to be out of balance Solution e Remove the adhesive label if present Be careful not to damage the foil underneath e Clean the disc as detailed on page 31 e In Windows 95 98 ME NT or 2000 use Plextor Manager 2000 to lower the drive speed e If there is no foreign substance on the disc contact the disc manufacturer for a replacement 40 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Symptoms Can read only the l
71. vevees 59 iv PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual 1 Getting Started This manual explains how to install and use your internal ATAPI PlexWriter 24 10 40A drive For those of you with PCs the installation process may seem a bit complicated 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 service In this manual you should find all the information you need to successfully install operate and troubleshoot your drive If you run into a problem that doesn t seem to be covered however please contact us See Appendix B Technical Support for the different ways you can contact us You will be connected to our friendly helpful band of tech support engineers who know their stuff What might seem like an uncooperative drive to you could very well be a 30 second fix to them But we will never know unless you contact us Meet Your PlexWriter 24 10 40A The PlexWriter 24 10 40A is a CD ReWritable drive that provides professional quality CD performance for writing rewriting and reading What the PlexWriter 24 10 40A Does The PlexWriter 24 10 40A writes to CD R r
72. x com http www soyousa com http www tekram com http www fic com tw http Awww msi com tw http www iwill com tw http www ecs com tw Free Computer Technology http www freetech com 58 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Index A access time 53 analog audio output 54 analog audio output connection 20 analog audio output connector 5 applications software 26 audio analog 54 CD audio 31 digital 54 sound board audio 32 audio cable 21 audio CD playing 31 audio troubleshooting 41 B bay cover panel 18 box contents of 3 shipping 3 buffer 53 buffer underrun 33 50 BURN Proof 2 33 50 burst read specification 52 C cable audio 21 IDE 17 MPC 21 power for drive 17 Sound Blaster 21 SPDIF 21 cable connections 20 cable select 15 identifying 16 master 16 setting mode jumper 11 CD playing on Macintosh 32 reading 1 writing 1 49 CD Res Q 26 ordering 26 CD audio 31 controls 53 error messages 39 CD Copier problems with 50 CD R changing software and 27 writing to 33 CD R media 29 49 CD ROM media 29 CD RW changing software and 27 reading from 33 writing to 33 CD RW media 29 49 cleaning disc 31 closing tray 30 components contacts for 57 computer minimum 2 configuration CSEL 15 minimum 2 51 types of IDE 10 connection analog audio 20 digital audio 5 54 sound board and 21
73. xWriter or does not work Solution 5 e Ensure the computer s power cable is securely attached to the PlexWriter s power connector e When the computer s power is turned ON confirm that the PlexWriter s indicator LED is illuminated briefly then is extinguished e Connect a different power cable to Plex Writer Symptoms Plex Writer does not respond lights or eject button Possible Cause 1 e No power Solution 1 e Ensure the power cable is connected securely to the PlexWriter s power connector e Try a different power cable Possible Cause 2 e IDE cable isn t connected properly Solution 2 e Ensure that the IDE cable is securely inserted and is not damaged e Check the connector pins to ensure they are not bent Symptoms Cannot eject tray Possible Cause 1 e Tray is locked by Plextor Manager 2000 software Solution 1 e Refer to Plextor Manager 2000 manual how to unlock the eject feature Possible Cause 2 e CD was not properly set into tray and is stuck Solution 2 e Turn OFF the computer power Then at the PlexWriter s front panel insert a thin object such as a paper clip into the emergency eject hole and eject the tray 38 PlexWriter 24 10 40A Operations Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Read Symptoms PlexWriter drive has read errors may not respond when accessed from My Computer or Explorer or cannot run a program Possible Cause 1 e D

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