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Plextor PlexWriter 12/10/32A CD

1. Auto Stereo mini jack 0 8V at 32 ohms Wheel knob Stop Eject 46 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Rear Panel Power Supply Interface Connector Analog Audio Output Digital Audio Output Jumper Switch Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications DC 5V Average 500 mA during writing DC 12V Average 600 mA during writing 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 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 Environmental Conditions Operating Temperature Performance Guarantee Temperature Operating Humidity Storage Temperature Storage Humidity Dimensions and Weight Dimensions W H D excluding front panel Weight Reliability MTBF Tray Loading 0 to 45 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 200 000 Load Cycles PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 47 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications This page intentionally left blank 48 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Appendix B Technical Support Store Plextor s e mail web site phone and fax numbers in a convenient location Keep your dr
2. Connect exWriter s PlexWriter as master Secondary IDE Port Figure 6 Typical IDE Configurations for Connecting the Plex Writer Drive PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 11 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 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 Acomputer that supports CSEL e A special CSEL IDE cable To use the host interface CSEL signal for configuration set the PlexWriter s jumper to CABLE SELECT CABLE SELECT MASTER SLAVE Figure 7 Using the CSEL Signal to Configure the Plex Writer Drive NOTE The IDE cable supplied by Plextor doesn t support CSEL Install the PlexWriter Drive Before proceeding to install the Plex Writer drive in your personal computer double check your jumper setting Record the Serial Number Record the serial number and TLA code of your drive on the inside front cover of this manual If your drive came preinstalled you can get the serial number information using Plextor Manager 2000 See the Plextor Manager 2000 User s Manual for instructions Mount the PlexWriter Drive in the Computer You can mount your internal Plex Writer drive in any available bay You must remov
3. PLEXTOR PLEX WRITER 12 10 32A Model PX W1210TA Internal Congratulations Thank you for purchasing the PlexWriter 12 10 32A 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 equipment and r
4. 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 39 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 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 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 system speed and configuration e Put the IDE CD ROM drive on the primary bus and Plex Writer 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 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 PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allows the user to sel
5. CD Copier problems with 43 CD R changing software and 23 writing to 28 CD R media 25 43 CD ROM media 25 CD RW changing software and 23 reading from 28 writing to 28 CD RW media 25 43 cleaning disc 26 closing tray 25 configuration CSEL 12 connection analog audio 17 sound board and 18 connector analog audio output 5 connectors rear panel 47 contacts 51 controls front panel 4 46 cover panel bay 14 CSEL signal 12 D device driver 21 digital audio connection 17 18 Digital_In connection 17 18 dimensions 47 disabling DMA 31 disc cleaning 26 specifications 45 troubleshooting 34 disc label 26 DMA disabling 31 32 enabling 20 drive installing 12 recognizing in Windows 18 E emergency eject hole 4 enabling DMA 20 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 53 Index environmental conditions 47 F firmware obtaining 31 upgrading 2 31 front panel controls 4 46 H headphone jack 4 27 high speed CD RW media 25 reading from 28 I IDE cable 13 IDE configuration determining 8 examples 11 selecting 10 IDE interface connector 5 IDE ribbon cable connecting 15 indicator front panel 4 installation 7 12 QuickStart 7 J jumper 5 setting 9 L label disc 26 M Macintosh playing CD on 28 troubleshooting 42 using PlexWriter on 21 maintenance 31 master 8 setting in BIOS 19 setting jumper 9 mastering softw
6. here if they don t find the answer Troubleshooting General Symptoms PlexWriter 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 18 for more details 32 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause 3 e Jumper conflict Solution 3 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 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 Possible Cause 5 e Power connector is not attached to PlexWriter 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 ON confirm that the PlexWriter s indicator LED is illuminated briefly then is exti
7. 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 12 10 32A The PlexWriter 12 10 32A is a CD ReWritable drive that provides professional quality CD performance for writing rewriting and reading What the PlexWriter 12 10 32A Does The PlexWriter 12 10 32A writes to CD R recordable CD media at up to 12X speed and it writes to new high speed CD RW rewritable CD media at up to 10X speed Naturally the drive can also write to conventional CD RW media at 2X and 4X speeds It reads all CD ROM and CD R media at a maximum of 32X speed with an average access time of 150 milliseconds Maximum read speed of CD RW media is 24X Reliable writing is virtually guaranteed thanks to unique circuitry that automatically detects the type of media being recorded and adjusts the PlexWriter 12 10 32A to provide the optimum laser power and length of burn The PlexWriter 12 10 32A has an EIDE interface that supports the ATAPI 4 command set including special commands for CD R and CD RW The PlexWriter 12 10 32A is fully MMC compliant suppor
8. 32A Internal Drive e Digital audio output connector Outputs digital stereo signal For connecting to a sound board that supports Sony Philips digital interface SPDIF or Digital_In e Analog audio output connector Outputs analog stereo signal Use to connect to sound board or audio amplifier Use standard MPC 3 type 4 pin connector e 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 5V and 12V to the PlexWriter PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 5 Section 1 Getting Started About Mastering Software In order to create CD R and CD RW discs you will need to have mastering software installed on your computer system You can check our web site www plextor com for an updated list of software that supports your drive We provide a mastering software kit in our retail packaging for your convenience 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 n
9. Ger ten betrieben so muss bei Inanspruchnahme der Allgemeinen Betriebs genehmigung nach der BMPT AmtsblVfg Nr 243 1991 die gesamte Anlage folgenden Richtlinien entsprechen UG Vfg 243 e Grenzwertklasse B der EN55022 e Auflagen nach 2 der BMPT AmtsblVfg 243 1991 Dies ist bei der Zusammensetzung einer Anlage z B Computersystem aus nur einzeln gepr ften Ger ten nicht immer erf llt Table of Contents 1 Getting Started iicsiccssacsssessscsssassesssesscassasvessseossatssscsensdsacssonssbaseessascussoas osses 1 About this Manal sore E a A A R NER 1 Meet Your PlexWriter 12 10 32 A neeo iii A TE 1 What the PlexWriter 12 10 32A Does sssesesessseseeeesesesesesrseerseesseessresseeees 1 What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 12 10 32A ee eeeeeeeeeeseeeeeees 2 Save YOUL BOX i miran E E E TE RRS E 3 What san the B X nri T T e a a es 3 PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls ceeceeessceeececeseceeneeceseeeneeceereeeneeeeee 4 Front Paneler re E E TA E E ste he ame sbecavaneeenast 4 Reir Panel siana e E E TE E EE E 5 About Mastering Software eee cesecesecesecneeceeceeeeneeseecseseaeeeeseseeesseeeesees 6 PHECAUTIONS 5 eens e sveesaed va E svete eaten E E E S 6 2 Installing Your Plex Writer cccsccsccssssscssssscescssscssscsssssesssscsssessssssssesesees 7 QuickStart Installation For Experienced PC Users Only eee eee 7 Open the Computer and Prepare for Installation eee eeceeeesece
10. 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 Plex Writer 12 10 32A 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 disc 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 12 10 32A incorporates BURN Proof Buffer UnderRun Proof technology which guarantees that you can write discs at high speed and still use your BURN 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 when you write at high speeds or if you use other applications like surfing the Internet while writing this buffer can be emptied quickly And that pr
11. 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 periodically Q Store large projects as you develop them What writing speed can I expect with CD RW media The PlexWriter 12 10 32A 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 to 4X speed When should I use CD R media CD R media can be read in most CD ROM CD Recordable or CD ReWritable drives Use CD R media to Q Permanently archive important data Copy your music to CD for personal use Create specific format discs Create disc for distribution to others Share non editable presentations Oooo Why 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 Plex Writer 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 43 Section 6 Frequently Ask
12. 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 our Technical Support Department for packaging pointers when you call to get an RMA number before returning any drive PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operati
13. 7 writing a CD 1 frequently asked questions 43 troubleshooting 37 writing to CD R 28 writing to CD RW 28 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 55 Index This page intentionally left blank 56 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Notes PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 57 Notes 58 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Notes PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 59 Notes 60 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual
14. 986 other technical 1569 support needs Testa CD 520 531 1880 CD Tach http tcdlabs Labs performance simplenet com benchmarks PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 51 Appendix C Helpful Contacts Contacts for PC Vendors Company 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 iom com http dell com http www gw2k 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 usa com http www epox 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 52 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Index A analog audio connection 17 analog audio output connector 5 applications software 22 audio sound board 27 audio cables 18 audio CD playing 27 audio troubleshooting 36 B bay cover panel 14 box contents of 3 shipping 3 buffer underrun 44 BURN Proof 2 44 C cable IDE 13 power for drive 13 cable connections 17 cable select 12 setting jumper 9 cables audio 18 CD playing on Macintosh 28 reading 1 writing 1 43 CD Res Q 22 CD Audio 27 error messages 34
15. After installation make sure the PlexWriter drive and other IDE peripherals are recognized by your computer To check whether they are recognized To see if the drive is recognized in Windows 1 Turn the computer ON After the computer boots up you should see the Windows display 2 Open Windows Explorer or My Computer and ensure there is an icon for the Plex Writer the hard disk and other CD ROM drives if present The PlexWriter may be D or E or another designator 18 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 3 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 5 Save and exit your CMOS setup to restart your computer with the new settings 6 In Windows 95 or 98 once the system comes up click the Start button then Settings then Control Panel th
16. am 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 also be found at http www plextor com english products cd_resq html Get CD Res Q Directly from Plextor CD Res Q software is available for purchase directly from Plextor To purchase CD Res Q by phone please call us at 408 980 1838 extension 3 To purchase CD Res Q by e mail send your request to sales plextor com BURN Proof is a licensed technology from Sanyo Electric Ltd 2 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation 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 12 10 32A drive in this configuration e PlexWriter 12 10 32A CD RW drive e 40 pin IDE ribbon cable e 4 mounting screws e 1 piece of approved high speed CD RW media e piece of approved CD R media e Plextor CD with bundled pre mastering and packet writing software including Plextor Manager 2000 e PlexWriter 12 10 32A operation 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 contact
17. ard disk or files capturing audio duplicating CDs and more Some of these applications are supplied with your PlexWriter 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 Plex Writer e Using the PlexWriter on a PC Q As CD ROM The computer s operating system whether it is Windows 95 Windows 98 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 tha
18. are 6 23 media 25 43 care and handling 26 54 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual recommended 45 mounting position 6 12 mounting rails 14 15 O opening the computer 8 P packet writing software 23 performance specifications 46 playing audio CD 27 Plextor Manager 2000 22 audio utilities 27 power cable 13 power connector 5 precautions 6 9 primary IDE port 8 Q QuickStart installation 7 R rails 14 15 reading a CD 1 rear panel connectors 47 recognizing the drive in Windows 18 recording frequently asked questions 43 reliability 47 returns 50 RMA number 3 50 S screws mounting 17 secondary IDE port 8 security sticker 4 selecting an IDE configuration 10 serial number determining 12 shipping your drive 3 slave 8 setting in BIOS 19 setting jumper 9 software application 21 device drivers 21 installing 21 mastering 6 Sony Philips digital interface connection 17 sound board audio 27 connection and 18 SPDIF connection 17 18 specifications 45 speed reading 1 writing 1 43 stop eject button 4 closing tray 25 support 49 T technical support 49 TLA code 12 tray closing 25 front door 4 Index loading and unloading 25 troubleshooting audio problems 36 disc problems 34 general problems 32 Macintosh installation 42 writing discs 37 U upgrading firmware 2 31 V volume control 4 27 WwW weight 4
19. at are ready for your use Check the cable running from your power supply to your hard disk and see if it has extra connectors on it If so you can plug one of these into the power connector found on the rear panel of the Plex Writer 10 Connect the analog audio cable if you want to use a sound board in your system 11 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 on page 18 for more information about audio cables 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 pins on the back panel to the sound board This cable is not supplied by Plextor 16 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your 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 12 Power and IDE Connections for an Internal Plex Writer Drive 12 Mount the PlexWriter drive in the computer using the four screws were supplied with your drive Use only these screws CAUTION Do not mount your drive in your computer using screws other than those supplied by Plextor You may damage the drive if you
20. at is transferred from the CD via the IDE interface in your computer The sound board translates the data into 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 speakers 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 27 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter 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 Writing to CD R and CD RW Media In conjunction with your PlexWriter drive mastering
21. d Solution 2 e Try a different disc Possible Cause 3 e Bad connection between the Plex Writer 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 34 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting 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 Symptoms Cannot use other CD ROM drives to initialize or 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 drives 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 t
22. d at lower speed for best results We also recommend that DMA be enabled on your computer if your system supports it Hard disk connected as master Connect the PlexWriter as master to device and CD ROM drive secondary IDE port connected as slave on the primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port C Hard disk connected as master Connect the PlexWriter as master to device on primary IDE port nothing secondary IDE port connected to secondary IDE port 10 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter NOTE For best 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 connect the PlexWriter to 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 How to Install the PlexWriter Hard disk Hard disk connected connected as master as slave Primary IDE Port Connect Connect Set PlexWriter s PlexWriter CD ROM drive jumper to as master as slave CS S M Secondary IDE Port Hard disk connected CD ROM drive as master connected as slave Primary IDE Port Connect exWriter s PlexWriter as master Secondary IDE Port Hard disk connected as master Primary IDE Port
23. d 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 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 12 10 32A Operation Manual 13 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 If you haven t already removed your computer s cover 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 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 9 Removing the Cover Panel from a Bay 4 Determine i
24. diameter Recording time 74 min 79 min Taiyo Yuden TDK Ricoh Mitsubishi Chemicals Kodak Maxell Pioneer Taiyo Yuden TDK Ricoh Mitsui Chemicals Kodak Fuji Photo Film Sony Imation Philips Maxell Mitsubishi Chemicals Ricoh Mitsubishi Chemicals All are rewritable up to 1 000 times Mitsubishi Chemicals Ricoh TDK All are rewritable up to 1 000 times PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 45 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Performance Specifications Sustained Read Sustained Write Burst Read Write Average Access Time Random Read Data Buffer Spindle Motor Error Rate Front Panel Eject Indicator Light Disc Loading Headphone Jack Volume Control CD Audio Controls 14X 32X CAV 2 1 4 8 MB sec Mode 1 XA Mode 2 Form 1 14X 24X PCAV 2 1 3 6 MB sec CD DA 10X 24X CAV 1 5 3 6 MB sec 8X CLV 1 2 MB sec 4X CLV 600 KB sec 1X CLV 150 KB sec 12X CLV 1 8 MB sec CD R 10X CLV 1 5 MB sec CD RW 8X CLV 1 2 MB sec CD RW 8X CLV 1 2 MB sec CD R CD RW 4X CLV 600 KB sec CD R CD RW 2X CLV 300 KB sec CD RW 1X CLV 150 KB sec CD R 16 6 MB sec read 16 6 MB sec write 150 ms 32X PCAV speed 2 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
25. e the small panel that covers the bay that you want to use CAUTION Install your PlexWriter horizontally Plextor does not guarantee the drive s performance in a vertical position If you don t have an empty bay remove the existing IDE CD ROM drive and install the Plex Writer 12 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter You must make a minimum of two cable connections to your PlexWriter The two cable connections that you must make are e IDE cable e Power cable There are also two optional cable connections e An analog audio cable connection if you are using a sound board in your computer and plan to connect the PlexWriter s audio output to the audio connector on the sound board e A digital audio cable connection if the sound board is equipped with SPDIF or Digital_In and you wish to use the digital audio output from your Plex Writer Do You Need Another IDE Ribbon Cable The IDE cable is a standard 40 pin flat ribbon cable usually with three connectors One end connects to the IDE port on your computer s motherboard and the other two connectors are free for attaching peripherals such as a hard disk or CD ROM drive You may need to install another IDE ribbon cable in your computer You can use the extra IDE cable supplied with your PlexWriter To Pin 1 Figure 8 Internal IDE Ribbon Cable CAUTION The length of any IDE cable cannot exceed 18 inches Do You Nee
26. eceiver 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 Entst6rung von nicht selbst ndig betreibbaren Hochfrequenzgeriten periphere Anlagenkomponenten Dieses Ger t entspricht als Einzelgerat den Funk Entst ranforderungen der Postverfiigung Nr 243 1991 Wird das Ger t innerhalb einer Anlage zusammen mit anderen
27. ect whether it is on or off e Remove the PlexWriter from the cable and re connect it to a secondary IDE port Possible Cause 6 e Automatic thermal recalibration triggered Some high speed hard disks are equipped with an automatic thermal re calibration function Solution 6 e Use another hard disk in this case 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 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 content to a disc 40 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting 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 8X and 12X Possible Cause 1 e Using poor quality media Solution 1 e Use the CD R RW media recommended by Plextor Supported media lists ca
28. ed Questions about Recording What causes buffer 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 m Ooo Another application interrupts the writing process The write speed is set higher than the source drive can supply data Lack of computer memory Poor quality discs scratched discs discs with fingerprints or badly manufactured discs Buffer underrun errors are seldom a problem with the PlexWriter 12 10 32A 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 44 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Disc Specifications Useable Formats Recording Modes Disc Diameter Recommended Media CD R 12X CD R 8X 4X 1X CD RW 10X 4X CD RW 4X 2X 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 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 packet writing 12 cm
29. en double click on System icon then click on Device Manager tab Click sign next to the CD ROM heading and look at the PLEXTOR CD R PX W1210A entry underneath or In Windows NT click the Start 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 W1210A 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 W1210A entry underneath 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 or a more appropriate IDE controller driver from the manufacturer PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 19 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 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 ensure that DMA is enabled 1 In Windows 95 or 98 click the Start button then Settings then Control Panel then double click on System icon then click on Device Manager tab You see a list of devices in you
30. escosassesssssscassenscesoon 25 What Media to Usen moeien totes ok ee te cel E E E E E NE ES 25 Tray Loading and Operation esseseeeseesrseeesesteeresrrrrssrsrsrestesresrerrsserrrsersreeresrt 25 Handling CD Medid siirinsesi ieee a o ans re 26 Cleaning DISCS oieee e EE E EE AEE E E EE E Ss 26 Playing A dio CDS iiieoo aee ore oaa EE E TEE EEEE ERES 27 Writing to CD R and CD RW Media o 00 eee cece cee cseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeecaecnaeeaee 28 Advantages of BURN Proof Technology ec ceceseeseeeeeeeeeeseeseceeeesaeeneeeaes 28 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting scccscscscssscsssssssssssscessessssssssseesesees 31 Upgrading Birmware Sisera nps peene aE EET a N a 31 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual iii If You Need to Disable DMA airain oe ae a o oaee 31 Troubleshooting wie sesc edavec ces tte chasshese bute e aea EEn EEE E o AE S 32 Troubleshooting General sessssesseeeesesreeessrsresesreereserrrssesesesreeresreeerserees 32 Troubleshooting Read ssessesesesseesssreesssrerrsrrsreeresreereserrrsertesesrenresreereeresre 34 Troubleshooting Audio ssessesesesseessseeesssteerssesresresteereseeresresrenesteeresreeerseneee 36 Troubleshooting Writing DISCS sesessssseseseeesesreesssereesrsteeresrerrsreeresrenesserees 37 Troubleshooting for Macintosh Users sseeseeesseeseseeeseserersresressesreeresreserserere 42 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording csccccsscsesesss
31. f you must install mounting rails on the sides of your drive To do so insert the drive into the open bay If the drive fits tightly with little or no clearance on either side of the drive you will not have to use mounting rails The drive can be mounted directly into your computer Go to step 6 NOTE Plextor does not provide rails If you need rails you can obtain them from the computer manufacturer or from a computer supply retail or mail order store 14 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 5 If you must use mounting rails fasten the rails to the lower pair of holes as shown in Figure 10 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 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 10 Installing Mounting Rails if Needed 6 Plug a free connector on 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 c
32. h as 8X and 12X Solution 6 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 PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allows the user to select whether it is on or off e Record to the hard disk then record from the hard disk to the PlexWriter Troubleshooting for Macintosh Users Symptoms Drive will not operate as CD ROM CD R or CD RW device Possible 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 42 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording What media should I use for my PlexWriter Supported media lists can also 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
33. he 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 any adhesive label e Clean the disc as detailed on page 26 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 35 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting e In Windows 95 98 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 Symptoms Can read only the last 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 appropria
34. ided 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 Figure 3 Removing a Typical Computer s Cover Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration With your computer open determine the existing IDE configuration You can do this by looking at the 40 pin IDE ribbon cable or cables there may be two and seeing what is connected to them One end of the IDE cable is connected to a port on the computer s motherboard and the other end is connected to one or two peripheral devices such as a hard disk or CD ROM drive If there are two devices one is considered the master and the other the slave If there are two IDE ports one is for the primary IDE bus and the other is for the secondary bus A typical computer s IDE configuration is usually one of the following e Hard disks connected as master and slave devices on primary IDE port CD ROM drive connected as master device on secondary IDE port e Hard disk connected as master device and CD ROM drive connected as slave on the primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port e Hard disk connected as master device on primary IDE port nothing connected to secondary IDE port 8 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Set the Drive s Jumper You specify your drive s master or slave setting before installing it You do this b
35. insert screws that are too long PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 17 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables Whichever category your sound board falls into you will find that the best source of information about installing the sound board in your computer is the board s manual Once you have successfully installed the sound board in your computer you can continue below for a description of the different cable connections that need to be made Choosing and Connecting Audio Cables To make audio connections to your PlexWriter you may have to purchase an audio cable from a computer supply store Audio Connection MPC audio source Sound Blaster or compatible sound board Digital audio output Cable Required MPC compliant audio cable Sound Blaster compatible analog audio cable Cable that s compatible with SPDIF or Digital_In How to Connect It Connect to MPC audio source and to analog audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter Connect to Sound Blaster compatible audio board and to analog audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter Connect to SPDIF or Digital_In connector on sound board if sound board supports digital audio and to digital audio output connector at the rear of the PlexWriter We can help by recommending several vendors who offer audio cables see page 51 of this manual Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized
36. is illuminated briefly then is extinguished e Try connecting another power cable to the PlexWriter 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 18 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 38 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Symptoms Writing error occurs Buffer underrun Does not record at high speeds such as 8X and 12X Possible Cause 1 e DMA is not enabled on your computer Solution 1 e In Windows 95 and 98 click on Start button then select Settings Control Panel then double click on System icon then click on Device Ma
37. ive 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 31 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 troubleshooting or FAQs for common questions If you have not been successful in your quest our Technical Support Department will help you solve problems that relate specifically to your PlexWriter drive In many cases a problem that appears to be caused by your PlexWriter actually originates in another part of your computer In such instances our technical support staff will try to help you identify the part at fault and will refer you to the manufacturer of that part for further assistance How to Contact Us There are several ways for you to contact Plextor s Technical Suppor
38. m 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 v Lay a blank CD in the depression in the tray label side up The CD should lie flat in the tray Figure 13 Loading 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 25 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter Handling CD Media Take care when handling blank CD R and CD RW media Dust scratches and fingerprints on the data side of the disc can cause write errors during recording When picking up or holding blank media you can either place your fingers 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 NOTE We do not recommend placing self sticking CD R labels on the disc The weight of the label may unbalance the disc and cause write errors during recording or read errors during reading Cleaning Discs For proper read and write performance your CD R CD RW and CD ROM discs mu
39. n 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 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 Possible Cause 3 e Using CD RW media This drive does not support 12X speed with CD RW media It supports up to 10X CD RW recording Solution 3 e Use CD R media for 12X recording 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 41 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Possible Cause 5 e Using authoring software other than that bundled with the Plex Writer Solution 5 e To use other types of authoring software contact the supplier and ensure the software supports the PX W1210TA 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 suc
40. nager tab then double click on CD ROM icon Select PlexWriter and click on Properties Then click on the Settings tab and enable DMA Reboot your system NOTE If you have Windows NT or 2000 contact your PC or motherboard manufacturer for instructions It is not simple to enable and disable DMA in Windows NT and 2000 In fact some IDE controllers and drivers do not even support it Your PC or motherboard manufacturer is the best source for this information e Make sure DMA Mode 2 or PIO Mode 4 is enabled on your motherboard 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 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 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
41. nguished e Connect a different power cable to Plex Writer Symptoms PlexWriter 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 33 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting 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 Troubleshooting Read Symptoms PlexWriter drive has read errors may not respond to a DOS DIR command or cannot run a program Possible Cause 1 e Defective 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 26 e Try a different disc Possible Cause 2 e Disc is badly manufacture
42. nnot write to CD R or CD RW disc Possible Cause 1 e You are using authoring software other than that bundled with your Plex Writer Solution 1 e Use the authoring software provided with the Plex Writer e To use other types of authoring software contact the supplier and ensure the software supports the PX W1210TA 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 ject 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 37 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Symptoms CD R or CD RW software cannot detect PlexWriter Possible Cause 1 e Power connector is not attached to Plex Writer 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
43. oduces 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 28 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter The Solution BURN Proof This revolutionary 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 What BURN Proof Means to You BURN Proof technology in your PlexWriter 12 10 32A 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 easy without bringing the burn to a screeching halt All of this is done seamlessly so you successfully create CDs on the first attempt PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 29 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter This page intentionally left blank 30 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation 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 re
44. on Manual 3 Section 1 Getting Started 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 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 Headphone Volume Indicator Stop eject jack control button Figure 1 Front Panel of the Plex Writer 12 10 32A 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 Indicator Illuminated green when power is on and a disc in the drive solid yellow when initializing 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 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 1 Getting Started Rear Panel Not used Analog Jumper IDE cable Power audio connector connector Digital output audio connector output connector Figure 2 Rear Panel of the Plex Writer 12 10
45. onnected attach one end of the IDE ribbon cable to the connector on the motherboard g Pin 1 red wire Connect any connector of the cable to the motherboard or the PlexWriter drive Maximum cable length 18 in Figure 11 Connecting the IDE Ribbon Cable PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 15 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter CAUTION It is easy to accidentally plug your IDE ribbon cable upside down into both your drive and the motherboard Be sure you match the red stripe along one 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 1 on the interface board and on the drive CAUTION In the case of only one IDE device you must make certain that one end of the cable is always connected to the IDE connector on the motherboard The other end of the connector must be connected to a device The end connector of the cable should never be left unconnected Connect a power cable from the computer to the DC INPUT connector of the PlexWriter drive See Figure 12 In most computers you will find free power connectors th
46. ormats 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 12 10 32A Operation Manual 23 Section 3 Installing and Using Software This page intentionally left blank 24 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation 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 recording and re recording up to 1 000 times You can also read them NOTE Firmware upgrades for your PlexWriter drive are available as downloads from the Plextor web site Please check the web site at www plextor co
47. ot 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 6 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation 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 Turn OFF your computer system 2 Set the jumper for your new Plex Writer drive if necessary 3 Mount the PlexWriter drive into an available drive bay inside the computer system 4 Make all necessary cabling connections IDE cable power cable and audio cable 5 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 PlexWriter will be a master or a slave open your computer and examine the IDE connections
48. presentative TIP Read all of this section that pertain to you PC or Macintosh Many of the problems discussed happen only rarely and others may seem as if they do not pertain to you However if you are familiar with the variety of problems that can occur you will be better prepared to deal with them if they do occur Upgrading Firmware Plextor creates firmware revisions to meet the peculiar needs of large computer manufacturers It is rare that these will impact the performance or operation of your Plex Writer drive However we advise that our customers always update drives with 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 approp
49. r Across Vertical Pairs of Pins CAUTION Install 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 this table and the illustrations in Figure 6 Before PlexWriter Installation How to Install the PlexWriter Hard disks connected as master and Connect the PlexWriter as master slave devices on primary IDE port device to the secondary IDE port CD ROM connected as master Remove the CD ROM drive change device on secondary IDE port it to slave and re connect it to the secondary IDE port NOTE Configuration A above can make it very difficult to write from the CD ROM to the PlexWriter at 12X 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 12 10 32A drive retail kits supports BURN Proof If you still have problems writing with this configuration use the image writing method or recor
50. r system Double click the CD ROM icon and choose the PX W 1210A drive by clicking on it once Then click on the Properties button and select the Settings tab You see the drive properties for the PlexWriter Ensure the DMA box is checked ON as well as all other check boxes in this window Click on OK button and then click on the Close button to exit System Properties window When prompted if you want to restart you computer now select Yes for this change to be enabled and saved NOTE It is more difficult to enable DMA in Windows NT or 2000 It is best if you contact the motherboard manufacturer directly to get instructions for enabling DMA and to find out if your IDE controller on the motherboard even supports it 20 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 3 Installing and Using Software There s one more step before you can begin to use your PlexWriter drive you need to install special software on your computer There are 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 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 h
51. riate procedure below To disable DMA in Windows 95 and 98 1 Click the Start button then Settings then Control Panel then double click on System icon then select the Device Manager tab You see a list of devices in your system PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 31 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting 2 Double click the CD ROM icon and choose the PX W1210A by clicking on it once Then click on the Properties button and select the Settings tab You now see the drive properties for the PlexWriter Disable DMA by click 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 DnA If you have Windows NT or Windows 2000 Contact your PC or motherboard manufacturer for instructions It is not simple to enable and disable DMA in Windows NT and 2000 In fact some IDE controllers and drivers do not even support it Your PC or motherboard manufacturer is the best source for this information 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 42 and come back
52. s you have installed or connected to your computer e g CD ROM scanner fax board network board Returns You must receive an RMA Returned Materials Authorization number from our Technical Support Department before any Plextor drive can be returned for repair or replacement Any drive sent to Plextor without an RMA number will not be accepted Drives must be sent postage prepaid We recommend that you insure your shipment as Plextor cannot be held responsible for any damage that may occur during shipment 50 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation 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 CD RW Components Company Phone ax Product Web Address 408 945 8600 408 262 2533 CD R software 800 390 9328 425 861 8391 Devices oa svc cables acc amcdirect com 800 330 6734 650 843 3799 CD R software cequadrat com Creative 405 742 6600 405 742 6633 Soundboards www Labs creativelabs com Creative 408 255 0999 408 255 1011 Windows www cdr com Digital UNIX CD R Research software Diamond 800 468 5846 408 325 7408 Sound boards www diamondmm com tee ee 482 4800 650 482 4858 Mac device www fwb com drivers Eee 408 654 0234 408 982 9329 Audio cables www piccable Inter com Connects Plextor 408 980 1838 408 986 1010 Recommend support boards audio plextor com cables all BBS 408
53. seeeteeeees 7 Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration 2 0 00 eeeeeeeceeeenseceeesees 8 Set the Drives JUMET sessirnir i pr senha busca re rE E EEE E i 9 Changing the Jumper on Your Internal PlexWriter Drive 0 eee 9 Select an IDE Configuration occ ceeeeeeeceeeceeeceseeesecnsecesecaecaeeseesaeeaeenaes 10 About Cable Select areor renr e E E E AE E EEE EE NE 12 Install the PlexWriter Drivesscecsciecenirn niinic n i 12 Record the Serial NUMmbeT ec ceeeesceceeeeeeseecesecesaeceeneesaeceeeeeeaeceeresenaeeeees 12 Mount the PlexWriter Drive in the Computer eee ceeceeeceteeneeneees 12 Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables 0 0 ecceeceeeceeeeseeereeeeeeeeeeseeereeeenseenaes 18 Choosing and Connecting Audio Cables cece cseeeeeeeceeeeeeseeseenseeenee 18 Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized eee cee cee ceeeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenseesseenaeenaes 18 Enable DMA rnision qrdinai oli ye abet R a E RS IE deine 20 3 Installing and Using Software sesseseossesessoesesoossesoesoeoossesoessesessoesessossesoesssso 21 Install Device Dri versae onien e E E a EEE EE EREE 21 Install Plextor Applications Software essesseseeeseeeseseeersresrrsreeresrerrssesrrssrrreeresee 22 Plextor Manager 2000 inisee e o E e e 22 CD ReS O fs sheets inion E Sas E E Sas Be E ale 22 Other Applications Software eee eee eee cseecneeeseeeeecaeesaeeeaeeeeeseeeerenseenseenaes 23 4 Using Your Plex Writer s cccsscsssssssscecsosscoisscvscecssnssensessersnsesens
54. sscssssssesees 43 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications sccssssscsssssssssssscssesssescessssseseeees 45 Appendix B Technical Support e sessesseseosoesessossesoossesoosoesessesoesoesessossessossesossse 49 Howto Contat U Sorsonrrear r a a T E A A N RS 49 Before You E mail Log On FAX Call sessssesseseeesereresreeesrrrrsserreeresreerrsrerresene 50 Rets ana aAa n A R odie EN A N T 50 Appendix C Helpful Contacts eseesesoossesoosoesessoesesoossesoesesoessesoesoesessossessossesossse 51 Contacts for CD R and CD RW Components seseesseseseseeeeresereeeresreerrsrrereeeee 51 Contacts for PO Vendoi Sirera snee e E A A N A 52 EE E A E T N E 53 iv PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 1 Getting Started This manual explains how to install and use your internal ATAPI PlexWriter 12 10 32A drive For those of you with PCs the installation process may seem a bit complicated Mac people have it easy Fear not We have successfully walked through the installation process with millions of customers who previously had lived in mortal terror of the innards of their computer About this Manual Please read this manual carefully and keep it handy for easy reference Use the manual for installation operation and troubleshooting See your dealer or call Plextor s Technical Support Department should your drive require repair or service In this manual you should find all the information you need to successfully install
55. st 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 14 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 26 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter Playing Audio CDs In order to listen to an audio CD 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 You do not need a sound board to hear this audio Simply plug in a set of headphones or powered speakers into the headphone jack on the front of your drive as shown in Figure 15 You can control audio playback through software and adjust the volume with the front panel volume control e PLEMWRITER 12 10 32A dst Q _ 4 Es CO n tereo mini plug to headphone jack Figure 15 Connections for Playing Audio Using the Headphone Jack e Sound board audio This comes from data files such as a WAV WMA or MP3 file th
56. t 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 408 986 1010 Include your telephone number and the hours during which you can be reached Be as detailed as possible in describing your problem Please include system configuration hardware and software as well as versions of drivers used e Call 800 886 3935 and select the technical support extension PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 49 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 The serial number and TLA number of your PlexWriter Your serial number can be found both on the warranty card that accompanied the drive and on a label on the drive itself The TLA number appears both on the drive label and on a sticker at the rear of internal drives The version of Plextor Manager you are using if applicable The latest version of firmware you loaded onto the drive if applicable The version of the Windows Mac or UNIX operating system you are using 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 The type of VGA Super VGA or other graphics board you use Brand name and model number of any other peripheral
57. t the jumper is set properly and the Plex Writer is recognized by your system PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 21 Section 3 Installing and Using Software Install Plextor Applications Software Windows 95 98 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 and mastering applications software on your PC You can also check the compatibility list on the Plextor web site at www plextor com for software that supports 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 Plex Writer 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 spinup and spindo
58. te 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 Mixer settings for sound board set too low Need sound board Need audio cable connection 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 36 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Symptoms Low sound level from PlexWriter drive Possible Cause 1 e Improper audio cable connection between Plex Writer drive and sound board Solution 1 e Check the cable connection from Plex Writer to sound board 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 Ca
59. ting writing features such as Disc at Once Track at Once and Session at Once as well as variable and fixed packet writing It also supports the UDF file system implemented through packet writing PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 1 Section 1 Getting Started The PlexWriter 12 10 32A supports running OPC and is compatible with Windows Plug amp Play Flash memory allows upgrading the PlexWriter 12 10 32A to the latest firmware revision available from the Plextor web site without opening the computer or physically accessing the drive New BURN Proof technology reduces buffer underrun errors making the writing of CDs even more robust And Plextor backs up this remarkable drive with a one year full warranty on parts and labor and unlimited toll free tech support What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 12 10 32A Just look at some of the things you can do with your PlexWriter 12 10 32A 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 amp 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 progr
60. to the motherboard QuickStart Installation For Experienced PC Users Only If you ve installed computer peripherals before you re in luck with the PlexWriter drive Use this QuickStart installation to get up and running quickly Typical Scenario 1 You have a PC with an IDE interface installed you have Windows 95 98 or 2000 NT and you have nothing installed on the secondary IDE port What to do Leave 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 or 2000 NT the primary IDE bus 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 7 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter 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 2 Remove your computer s cover following the directions prov
61. wn timeout to eject lock Plextor Manager 2000 also gives 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 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 any drive Get CD Res Q Directly from Plextor CD Res Q software is available for purchase directly from Plextor To purchase CD Res Q by phone please call us at 408 980 1838 extension 3 To purchase CD Res Q by e mail send your request to sales plextor com 22 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual Section 3 Installing and Using Software Other Applications Software Other valuable applications software which may already be included if you purchased a kit from Plextor lets you use your PlexWriter drive in exciting new ways e Packet writing software This type of application lets you use your PlexWriter 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 f
62. y changing the position of a jumper on the jumper block at the rear of the drive Your drive ships from our factory with its jumper set to operate the PlexWriter as a master This will work in the most commonly found environments Changing the Jumper on Your Internal PlexWriter Drive As shown in Figure 4 the PlexWriter drive arrives from the factory with its jumper set to MASTER A function is ON if the jumper is installed and OFF if the jumper is removed CABLE SELECT MASTER SLAVE ed Tya Figure 4 Factory Settings for 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 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 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 PlexWriter 12 10 32A Operation Manual 9 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter KY Ay Install jumpers this way DO NOT install jumpers this way Vertically Horizontally Figure 5 Install Jumpe

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