Plextor PlexWriter 24/10/40U CD
Contents
1. The procedure above loads the necessary drivers into the computer After you follow this procedure your PlexWriter drive should be recognized automatically by the Windows 98SE operating system on your computer Manual Driver Installation If you have difficulty with the USB driver installation you can manually install the driver To install the USB driver manually 1 Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the Drivers folder on the Plextor Setup Disc 2 Double click on the file TPPINST EXE This installs the USB driver for Windows 98SE Getting the Driver for Windows 98SE If you do not have a Plextor Setup CD ROM disc you can download the USB drivers for Windows 98SE They are available from the Plextor web site Go to http www plextor com and follow the links from the home page to Support Downloads Drivers USB Driver for Win98 SE PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 11 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized After installation make sure the PlexWriter drive is recognized by your computer To check whether it is 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 PlexWriter The PlexWriter may be D or E or another designator 3 In Windows 98SE or ME once the system comes up click the Start2. 9 CD device driver requirements 13 playing 19 dimensions 40 playing on Macintosh 20 disc reading 1 cleaning 19 writing 1 35 diameter 38 CD Copier problems with 36 loading 39 CD audio 19 disc label 18 CD R displaying the serial number 23 additional driver needed 13 drive changing software and 14 connecting 10 writing to 21 connecting to Macintosh 12 CD R media 17 35 37 recognizing in Windows 12 CD ROM drive requirement for 2 driver CD ROM media 17 additional needed for CD R CD RW CD RW 13 additional driver needed 13 device 13 changing software and 14 generic USB 13 reading from 21 obtaining 11 writing to 21 Windows 98SE 11 13 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 47 Index duplication software 6 14 DVD using as audio source 36 E eject button 4 18 39 closing tray 18 emergency eject hole 4 environmental conditions 40 error rate specification 38 F features and controls 4 5 firmware obtaining 23 recommended media and 23 35 upgrading 2 23 24 35 formats 38 front panel controls 4 39 H hard disk size 2 37 headphone jack 4 20 39 headphone volume control 19 39 high speed CD RW media 17 reading from 21 humidity specification 40 I indicator LED 4 39 initialization time 38 L label disc 18 LED indicator 4 39 M Macintosh additional software needed 14 drive installation 12 minimum configuration 2 playing CD on 20
3. Follow the prompts through the USB driver installation routine d Reboot your computer 2 Connect the AC Adapter to an electrical outlet and to the Plex Writer 3 Turn the PlexWriter s power switch ON 4 Connect the USB cable from your PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive to the computer That s all there is to it We ll go over the procedure in more detail in the next few pages If you have a PC start here If you have a Macintosh go to If You Have a Macintosh on page 12 Determine Your Computer s Operating System To determine which operating system your computer uses 1 Select the Start menu then select Programs and choose Windows Explorer 2 In Windows Explorer select Help The About line shows your operating system For example About Windows 2000 NOTE Your computer must be running Windows 98SE Windows 2000 Windows ME or Windows XP If you are not running one of these operating systems you cannot use the PlexWriter 24 10 40U You cannot use the PlexWriter 24 10 40U with early versions of Windows 98 you must use Windows 98SE Second Edition Windows NT does not support USB so you cannot use the PlexWriter 24 10 40U if you have Windows NT PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 9 Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter Connect the PlexWriter Drive Before proceeding to install the PlexWriter drive on your personal computer record the serial number Record the Serial Number and TL
4. 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 40U Installation and Users Manual 21 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter What BURN Proof Means to You BURN Proof technology in your PlexWriter 24 10 40U 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 22 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users 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 Displaying the Serial Number In addition to be
5. 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 Or In Windows XP or 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 4 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 our Technical Support group at 1 800 886 3935 or email us at support Plextor com We ll give you help troubleshooting your USB controller or driver compatibility or conflicts It may just be a matter of obtaining the latest USB driver or a motherboard BIOS update from the motherboard manufacturer If You Have a Macintosh If you have a Macintosh use the following procedure to install your PlexWriter USB drive 1 Turn on the Macintosh 2 Ensure you are running Macintosh OS 8 6 or higher for USB 1 1 or OS X for USB 2 0 3 Connect the AC Adapter to your Plex Writer 4 Turn the PlexWriter s power switch ON 5 Connect the USB cable from your PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive to the Macintosh computer The Macintosh automatically recognizes the PlexWriter and you should be ready to use the drive 12 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation
6. door 4 loading and unloading 18 loading specification 40 troubleshooting audio problems 32 cannot add information to CD R CD RW 30 cannot eject tray 25 cannot run PlexWriter created discs on other drives 26 cannot write CD RW at 10X 32 cannot write to CD R or CD RW 28 CD Copier problems 36 CD R CD RW software does not detect drive 29 disc does not rotate 24 32 does not record at high speeds 27 drive does not operate Macintosh 33 drive does not respond 24 25 drive does not respond Macintosh 33 drive not recognized 24 general problems 24 low sound level 32 Macintosh installation 33 no audio 32 no audio from headphones 32 noise 26 read errors 25 reading discs 25 reads only last session 26 slow read performance 26 vibration 26 write errors 27 writing CD R CD RW 27 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 49 Index U upgrading firmware 2 23 24 35 usable formats 38 USB connector 5 39 driver 13 driver for Windows 98SE 13 interface 1 2 37 39 performance 1 using version 1 1 35 USB cable 5 V voltage ac adapter 39 volume control 4 19 20 39 WwW wake mode 38 warranty 45 weight 40 Windows displaying drive s serial number 23 Windows 2000 2 drive installation 10 Windows 98SE 2 drive installation 11 manual driver installation 11 Windows ME 2 drive installation 10 Windows XP 2 drive installation 10 write specification 38 wri
7. ends in EXE that you downloaded from Plextor s web site This runs the file 3 Accept all defaults by continuing to click on the Next button While the new firmware is being loaded to the PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive you can see the front panel LED indicator is blinking When the firmware has been updated you see the message Firmware update has completed 4 Reboot your computer to complete the firmware upgrade Troubleshooting If you have problems during or right after installation of your Plex Writer 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 If you have a Macintosh start with page 33 and come back here if you don t find the answer on that page Troubleshooting General Troubleshooting General Symptom Possible Causes Solutions PlexWriter does No power not respond no LED light eject button does not Ensure the power cable is connected securely to the PlexWriter s AC Adapter Disc does not rotate in PlexWriter drive work PlexWriter not No power Ensure the power cable is recognized by connected securely to the computer PlexWriter s AC Adapter When the computer s power is turned ON confirm that the PlexWriter s indicator LED is illuminated briefly then is extinguished Wrong AC Adapter Use only the AC Adapter shipped
8. with your PlexWriter USB cable isn t connected USB cable connection is required for operation Ensure that the USB cable is securely inserted and is not damaged 24 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting General Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Cannot eject tray Tray is locked by mastering software Refer to application documentation on how to unlock the eject feature CD was not properly set into tray and is stuck Turn OFF the PlexWriter s power Then at the PlexWriter s front panel insert a thin object such as the emergency stick or a paper clip into the emergency eject hole and eject the tray Troubleshooting Reading Discs Troubleshooting Reading Discs Symptom Possible Causes Solutions PlexWriter drive has read errors may not respond when accessed from My Computer or Explorer or cannot runa program Defective CD ROM CD R or CD RW disc A fingerprint contaminants or scratches on the disc s surface may prevent the drive from reading or writing data Clean the disc as detailed on page 19 Try a different disc Disc is badly manufactured Try a different disc Bad connection between the PlexWriter drive and the computer Make sure the USB cable is securely connected to the computer and the PlexWriter Inspect
9. 0 468 5846 541 967 2485 Sound boards www Formerly diamondmm Diamond com Testa CD 520 529 8636 408 737 3838 CD Tach www tcdlabs Labs Part ext 100 Oak performance com of Oak Technology benchmarks Tech nology Oak Tech 408 737 0888 408 737 3838 SimpliCD www oaktech nology com Pacific 408 542 8150 408 542 8151 Audio cables www piccable Inter 800 706 0510 com Connects www other technical Company Phone Fax Product Web PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 43 Appendix C Helpful Contacts Contacts for PC Vendors Company IBM Gateway 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 com http www epox com http www soyousa com http www tekram com http www fic com tw http www msi com tw http www iwill com tw http www ecs com tw Free Computer Technology http www freetech com 44 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Appendix D Warranty PLEXTOR CORP Plextor warrants your PlexWriter 24 10 40U against any defect in material and workmanship under normal use for a period of one y
10. 1 200 mA Typical write current 1 600 mA Peak current 2 800 mA Supplies DC 12V 10 USB version 2 0 and 1 1 USB B type connector USB 2 0 480 Mbps max high speed USB 1 1 12 Mbps max full speed ATA ATAPI 5 compliant PLEXTOR sp CD R sp sp sp PX W2410A PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 39 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Environmental Conditions Operating Temperature 0 to 35 degrees Celsius Performance Guarantee 5 to 35 degrees Celsius Temperature Operating Humidity 20 to 80 non condensing Storage Temperature 40 to 60 degrees Celsius Storage Humidity 20 to 95 non condensing Dimensions and Weight Dimensions W H D 163 mm W x 57mm H x 247mm D excluding front bezel Weight 2 100g max Reliability MTBF 60 000 Power On Hours Tray Loading 100 000 Load Unload Cycles Safety Standards Couniry Region Type Agency Standard USA Safety UL UL 1950 Laser FDA FDA 21 CFR EMC FCC FCC 15J Class B Canada Safety CSA CSA 22 2 No 950 Europe Safety CE EN60950 IEC60825 Safety TUV IEC 60950 Laser CE IEC825 1 EMC CE EN55024 EN50022 Taiwan EMC BSMI CNS13438 Class B 40 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Appendix B Technical Support Store Plextor s e mail web site phone and fax numbers in a convenient location Keep your drive s serial number and a copy of your sales receipt handy as well If you experience a problem while installing or operating your Plex Wri
11. 10X Normal speed 4X lt 13 sec typical lt 15 sec max Time measured from power on until disc is available to read CD lt 140 ms typical Time measured from start command until bus free no disconnect Entered after 2 minutes of no access to drive lt 5 sec max to start drive after sleep 4 MB Brushless CD ROM Mode 1 1 Block 10 Bits CD ROM Mode 2 1 Block 10 Bits 38 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Front Panel Eject Indicator LED Disc Loading Headphone Jack Headphone Volume Control Rear Panel Power Connector USB Interface Connector Analog Audio Output Power Switch AC Adapter Input Voltage Input Current Output Voltage Host Interface Interface type Connector Data transfers ATAPI support Inquiry string Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Eject Button Manual Emergency Eject Software Eject Green Disc load or BURN Proof working Yellow Reading disc Orange Writing data to disc Write speed shown by blink rate interval 50 ms 24X 100 ms 20X 150 ms 4 16X Auto Stereo mini jack 0 8V 0 3V at 32 ohms Wheel knob For connecting the AC Adapter Use only the AC Adapter shipped with the PlexWriter USB type B connector Stereo analog output RCA connector Output 1 0V 0 2V at 10 kohms Turns power on and off 0 is off 1 is on 100 240 Vac 50 60 Hz Typical standby current 450 mA Typical read current
12. A Code Record the serial number and TLA number of your drive on the inside front cover of this manual Install in Windows XP Windows 2000 or Windows ME If you have a computer with Windows XP Windows 2000 or Windows ME use the following procedure to install your PlexWriter USB drive Turn ON your computer system Connect the AC Adapter to your PlexWriter as shown in Figure 4 Turn the PlexWriter s power switch ON Connect the USB cable from your PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive to the computer Pee 3 Turn PlexWriter ON 4 Turn ON computer 2 Connect AC adapter to PlexWriter 4 Connect USB cable to PlexWriter and computer Figure 4 Connecting the AC Adapter and USB Cable The drive is automatically recognized by the computer 10 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 2 Installing Your PlexWriter If You Have Windows 98SE If you have a computer with Windows 98SE use the following procedure to install your PlexWriter USB drive 1 Turn ON your computer system and insert the bundled Plextor Setup Disc in your CD ROM drive Go to the Software Installation screen and click on the button titled USB Drivers Follow the prompts through the USB driver installation routine Reboot your computer 2 Connect the AC Adapter to your PlexWriter as shown in Figure 4 3 Turn the PlexWriter s power switch ON 4 Connect the USB cable from your PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive to the computer
13. CD ROM can also be found on the Plextor web CD RW CD R or CD RW site at www plextor com device device you will need Drive does not respond Bad connection between PlexWriter drive and USB interface Ensure the USB cable is securely connected between the computer and the PlexWriter and that the cable is not damaged PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 33 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting This page intentionally left blank 34 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Writing Can I use this USB PlexWriter if I have only USB 1 1 Yes the PlexWriter 24 10 40U will work with a USB 1 1 connection however the speeds will be limited to 4X write 4X rewrite and 6X read To achieve the drive s maximum speeds you need USB 2 0 built into your computer s motherboard or you need to add a USB 2 0 adapter Orange Micro makes PCI to USB 2 0 adapters and both Orange Micro and Adaptec make PCMCIA to USB 2 0 adapters for notebooks See the list of contacts on page 43 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 CD RW writing speed you must use high speed CD RW media See Recommended Media on page 37 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
14. OM 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 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 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 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 40U 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 R
15. PLEXWRITER 24 10 40U Model PX W2410TU External Record Your Serial Number For future reference record the serial number and the TLA code found on your drive s label in the space provided below PF TLA Firmware Revision Number PF Plextor reserves the right to make improvements in the products described in this manual at any time without prior notice Plextor makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose Further Plextor Corp reserves the right to revise this manual and to make changes in its content without obligation to notify any person or organization of such revision or change This manual is copyrighted all rights reserved It may not be copied photocopied translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine readable form without Plextor s prior permission Manual copyright 2001 Plextor Corp Second edition February 2002 Licenses and Trademarks All licenses and trademarks are property of their respective owners 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 install
16. Plextor web site at www plextor com NOTE The current recommended media lists are matched to the current firmware revision of the drive So it s best to keep your Plextor drive s firmware up to date 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 periodically Q Store large projects as you develop them What writing speed can I expect with CD RW media The PlexWriter 24 10 40U supports new high speed CD RW media and can write to this media at 10X or 4X speed You can also use conventional CD RW media in this Plex Writer in this case the drive writes at 4X speed When should I use CD R media CD R media can be read in most CD ROM CD Recordable or CD ReWritable drives Use CD R media to Q Permanently archive important data Copy your music to CD for personal use Create specific format discs Create disc for distribution to others Share non editable presentations Oooo PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 35 Section 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Recording Why doesn t CD Copier work Some possible reasons are Q Some CD R
17. To achieve 24X CD R writing speed you must use certified 24X media and to achieve 10X CD RW writing speed you must use high speed CD RW media See Recommended Media on page 37 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 CD RW discs only on drives that support this new media Drives that are capable of writing to high speed CD RW media such as the PlexWriter 24 10 40U are identified by a Compact Disc ReWritable High Speed logo Fes g Log High Speed Fa PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 17 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 Eject button on the front panel The tray drawer slides out in 3 4 seconds Figure 5 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 Eject button again and the tray will slide shut within seconds NOTE Always use the Eject button to close the tray in a smooth and secure manner Closing the tray by pressing the front of the drawer by hand is not recommended and risks damage or premature wearing of the mechanism and your CDs Handling CD Media Take care when handling blank CD R and CD RW media Dust scratches and fingerprints on eithe
18. ackaged and shipped postage prepaid All product returns must be authorized in advance by PLEXTOR s Technical Support Department Authorization is confirmed by issuance of the RMA number which must be written prominently on the outside of the box in which the defective unit is returned to PLEXTOR NOTE Warranty validity is limited to that applicable in the location where the drive was originally purchased PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 45 Appendix D Warranty This page intentionally left blank 46 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Index A CD RW media 17 35 37 cleaning disc 19 ac adapter 39 closing tray 18 connecting 5 39 compact disc rewritable high speed logo access time 38 17 adapter USB 2 0 35 components contacts for 43 analog audio output 39 computer minimum 2 37 analog audio output connectors 5 configuration applications software 14 Macintosh 2 audio minimum 2 analog 39 PC 2 CD audio 19 connecting the drive 10 sound board audio 20 connecting to Macintosh 12 audio CD playing 19 connector audio troubleshooting 32 analog audio output 5 power 5 39 BOO USB 5 39 contacts 43 box controls and connectors rear panel 4 5 contents of 3 39 shipping 3 controls and features 4 5 buffer 38 controls front panel 4 39 buffer underrun 21 36 current input 39 BURN Proof 2 21 36 D C data buffer 38 cable USB 5 determining your operating system
19. ading Discs 000 0 ee eee eeeeeeeeeceeeceseeceecseecneeeseeeeeeeeeeneees 25 Troubleshooting Writing CD R and CD RW Discs eee eeeeeeeeeeees 27 Troubleshooting Playing Audio Discs 0 eee eeceseeseceecssecneeceeeneeeneeeeeees 32 Troubleshooting for Macintosh Users 0 eee eeceecesecesecssecseecneeeseeeneeeeeees 33 6 Frequently Asked Questions about Writing cccccscssscssscseseseseesesesees 35 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications sessossescososoossesessoesesoossesoesessossesossse 37 Appendix B Technical Support sessesseseossesessossesoossesoesoesessesoesoeseosoesessossesossse 41 Howto Contact USrason aneor p a a E E AA NRA 41 Before You E mail Log On FAX Call oo ce eeceeecesecesecsseceecaeeeseeeeeeeeseeenes 42 Returns an aa a A R E ioe eevee eters 42 Appendix C Helpful Contacts e seesesoessesoosoesessossesoossesoesesoessesoesoesessossessossesossse 43 Contacts for CD R and CD RW Components seseeeseseeeseeeeresereeresreerrsreeresene 43 Contacts for PG Vendot Sierraren reie a a E EE A A E E E A 44 Appendix D Warranty e s essesessoesessossesocssesoosoesessossesoesessossesoessesoesoesessossessossesoesse 45 WICK A E A A E N 47 vi PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 1 Getting Started Congratulations Thank you for purchasing the PlexWriter 24 10 40U a reliable high performance external CD rewriter recorder and reader that connects to your computer with a USB cab
20. and Users 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 Device driver This is a software program that allows your computer to interact with the PlexWriter drive Drivers are included in Windows XP 2000 and ME 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 USB interface is enabled in your system s motherboard BIOS So you probably don t have to do anything special if you have Windows XP 2000 or ME If you have Windows 98SE drivers are available on the Plextor Setup CD ROM disc If you don t have this disc you can download the USB drivers for Windows 98SE from the Plextor web site Go to http www plextor com and follow the links from the home page to Support Downloads Drivers USB Driver for Win98 SE 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 more If you purchased a retail version of the PlexWriter you ll find these applications in the SimpliCD and Roxio software Other applications are available from other vendors If you have any problems at all our technical support staff will help you Install Device Drivers Windows 98SE Only In Wi
21. any disc It makes exact copies of any data audio or video CD e SimpliCD Recorder This component of SimpliCD lets you make CDs containing audio video and slide shows including audio discs playable in your car or home stereo You can also make digital audio files MP3 WAV or WMA from audio CDs e SimpliCD ROM Lets you save your computer files onto recordable CD media to create computer data discs for archiving or distributing data SimpliCD ROM is easily accessed as a folder on your desktop and within Windows Explorer 14 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 3 Installing and Using Software For more information and to learn how to use these powerful applications install SimpliCD on your PC and refer to the online help guide Roxio Roxio has mastering packet writing and duplication software There are three main Roxio applications e CD Copier Lets you copy any CD e DirectCD Format Utility Prepares a CD R or CD RW disc so you can directly copy files to it in much the same way that you copy files to a floppy disk or removable drive You can then use Windows Explorer or any other program that can read from and write to a drive letter to copy files to a CD You can also recover files from damaged CDs and even repair CDs e EasyCD Creator Lets you make your own CDs including music CDs that can be played on your home or car stereo CD player or data CDs for storing computer data such as the files an
22. at bundled with PlexWriter 24 10 40U Use the authoring software provided with the PlexWriter To use other types of authoring software contact the supplier and ensure the software supports the PlexWriter PX W2410TU drive Supported software lists can also be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com In the case of Windows 98SE the USB storage device driver is not installed Install USB storage device driver from setup CD that is bundled with PlexWriter 24 10 40U USB cable is not compatible with USB 2 0 or 1 1 Use the USB cabled bundled with your PlexWriter drive Power is not switched on Ensure LED of PlexWriter 24 10 40U is on If LED is not on there is no power PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 29 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Writing CD R and CD RW Discs Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Cannot add information add writing on CD R RW Changed authoring software If using different authoring software than for the previous writing errors may occur Always use the same authoring software Short of CD R RW capacity Capacity of standard CD R RW media is limited to 650 MB 74 min type including lead in lead out and TOC data Use a different CD R RW media if capacity is insufficient on current media Using disc written on non Plextor CD R or CD RW drive Use CD R or CD RW d
23. aution 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 Entstorung 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 Ger ten betrieben so muss bei Inanspruchnahme der Allgemeinen Betriebs genehmigung nach der BMPT AmtsblVfg Nr 243 1991 die gesamte Anlage folgenden Richtlinien entsprechen UG Vfg 243 e Grenzwertklasse B der EN55022 e Auflagen nach 2 der BMPT AmtsblVfg 243 1991 Dies ist bei der Zusammensetzung einer Anlage z B Computersystem aus nur einzeln gepr ften Ger ten nicht immer erf llt This page intentionally left blank Table of Contents 1 Getting Started sicsiccsssssssessocssassasssesscassesvees seossasssscsensdsacssenssbaseesosascussoas osses 1 About this Manual sscsse ocsecncigevesccee a he ae eee a a tee ee aes 1 Meet Your PlexWriter 24 10 40U cc cc ecccsccceesseceesesceeesseeeeceesaeeecseneeeesnneeeenees 1 What the PlexWriter 24 10 40U Does 00 ccecceecccceessececseceecessnececeesaeeeeseneeees 1 Minimum Configuration to Use the PlexWriter 24 10 40U eee 2 What Yo
24. ave installed your PlexWriter drive The box and its packaging material were designed and drop tested to ensure your PlexWriter can endure rough treatment and still arrive in working order We hope you will never have to ship your drive back to us If you do however it s best to send it packaged in the original box Some of our customers have not held on to their boxes and have had to resort to less than secure methods to get drives back to us We cannot assume liability for any damage your drive sustains during shipment Therefore please ship your drive in the safest manner possible Before shipping your drive refer to the support section of the Plextor web site for pointers The web site is at http www plextor com If you did not receive a box for example your drive came pre installed in a computer we recommend you pay a packaging store such as Mail Boxes Etc to ship your drive If you don t have a packaging store in your area ask for packaging pointers when you contact us to get an RMA number before returning any drive You can contact our RMA Department at rmasupport plextor com or by calling us at 800 886 3935 or by fax at 303 708 0709 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 3 Section 1 Getting Started PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls Before proceeding become familiar with the controls and features of your Plex Writer drive Match the parts of your drive to the illustration
25. d Naturally the drive can also write to normal speed 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 the unique PoweRec II circuitry that automatically detects the type of media being recorded and adjusts the PlexWriter 24 10 40U to provide the optimum laser power and length of burn The PlexWriter 24 10 40U has a high speed Universal Serial Bus USB 2 0 interface You can also use it with USB version 1 1 although with USB 1 1 the drive s top performance is 4X for CD R 4X for CD RW and 6X for reading a CD ROM The PlexWriter 24 10 40U supports the ATAPI 5 command set PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 1 Section 1 Getting Started The PlexWriter 24 10 40U is compatible with Orange Book Parts II and III It is fully MMC compliant and supports Track at Once Disc at Once Multi Session as well as variable and fixed packet writing The PlexWriter 24 10 40U supports Running OPC ROPC and is compatible with Windows Plug amp Play Flash memory allows upgrading the PlexWriter 24 10 40U 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
26. d folders on your hard disk When you install Roxio each application has an online help guide that shows how to use it Other Software Besides SimpliCD and Roxio you can use other software with your PlexWriter 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 Here you ll find software that supports the PlexWriter under other operating systems You will need to purchase this software separately PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 15 Section 3 Installing and Using Software This page intentionally left blank 16 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users 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
27. d 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 BURN Proof is a licensed technology from Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 2 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual What s in the Box What you find in your Plextor box depends on what the company that sold you the box put in or took out while the Plextor drive was in their possession Plextor currently sells its PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive in this configuration e PlexWriter 24 10 40U CD RW drive AC Adapter and power cord USB cable Emergency eject stick 1 piece of approved high speed CD RW media 1 piece of approved CD R media e Plextor CD with authoring software bundle e PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users 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 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 h
28. ear following its date of purchase In the event this product is found to be defective within the warranty period PLEXTOR will at its option repair or replace the defective unit This warranty is void a if the unit is operated or stored under abnormal use and maintenance conditions b if the unit is repaired modified or altered unless such repair modification or alteration is expressly authorized in writing by PLEXTOR c if the unit is subjected to abuse neglect lightning strike electrical fault improper packaging or accident d if the unit is installed improperly or e if the serial number of the unit is defaced or missing PLEXTOR will not under any circumstances be liable for direct special or consequential damages such as but not limited to damage or loss of property or equipment loss of profits or revenues cost of replacement goods or expense or inconvenience caused by service interruptions Under no circumstances will any person be entitled to any sum greater than the purchase price paid for the unit To obtain warranty service you must contact PLEXTOR s Technical Support Department by calling 800 886 3935 They will attempt to diagnose and correct your problem by phone If the unit does not function properly they will issue a Return Material Authorization RMA number You may be asked to furnish proof of purchase to confirm that the unit is still under warranty All drives returned to PLEXTOR must be securely p
29. ed 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 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 C
30. her than that bundled with PlexWriter 24 10 40U Use the authoring software provided with the PlexWriter If using other software ensure that PlexWriter 24 10 40U is supported by the software Contact the software supplier to confirm Using poor quality media 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 CD ROM drive used cannot read data fast enough to record at higher speeds such as 24X or 20X If necessary enable BURN Proof in the recording software 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 40U Installation and Users Manual 31 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Writing CD R and CD RW Discs Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Cannot write at CD RW media is not Use High Speed CD RW media 10X CD RW High Speed CD RW These discs are stamped with a High Speed CD RW logo PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive is connected to a USB 1 1 port When PlexWriter 24 10 40U is connected to a USB 1 1 port the maximum write performance is 4X You must be connected to a USB 2 0 port for 24 10 40 performance Troubleshooting Playing Audio Discs Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Disc doesn t USB cable not attached Both the AC Adap
31. ing able to view the serial number on the PlexWriter itself you can view the serial number in Windows To display the serial number 1 Open My Computer 2 Right click on the icon for the PlexWriter drive and select Properties 3 Select the Details tab and view the drive s serial number 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 NOTE The current recommended media lists are matched to the current firmware revision of the drive So it s best to keep your Plextor drive s firmware up to date 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 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 23 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting To upgrade firmware 1 Terminate any other applications before upgrading firmware 2 Double click the executable file the filename
32. installing any software check that the USB cable connection between your Plex Writer and the computer is correct and the PlexWriter is recognized by your system Install Applications Software Installing applications software lets you take advantage of the PlexWriter s ability to record on CD R or CD RW media You ll find these applications in the SimpliCD and Roxio software supplied by Plextor Applications software 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 Roxio includes packet writing software SimpliCD does not 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 e Duplication software This software lets you copy CDs 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 SimpliCD SimpliCD from Oak Technologies contains software for mastering and duplication It has three main applications e SimpliCD Copy Lets you make an identical copy of
33. isc written by the PlexWriter 24 10 40U Not enough disc capacity Capacity of a standard 74 minute CD is limited to 650 MB Use different CD R or CD RW media if the capacity is insufficient The disc is written with a CD R or CD RW drive from another vendor Use a different CD R or CD RW disc Try to use same drive to add more data to CD R or CD RW disc 30 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Writing CD R and CD RW Discs Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Cannot write at 24X PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive is connected to a USB 1 1 por When the PlexWriter 24 10 40U is connected to a USB 1 1 port the maximum write performance is 4X You must be connected to a USB 2 0 port for 24 10 40 performance Buffer underrun occurs Ensure the authoring software supports BURN Proof If it supports BURN Proof make sure that BURN Proof is enabled in the application If your software does not support BURN Proof and you have buffer underrun problems reduce the load on CPU resources Some ways to do this are Log off from the network Don t use the mouse Disable the screensaver or power save mode Exit all other applications Defective CD R media CD R media may be dirty scratched or damaged Re write using a different piece of CD R media Using authoring software ot
34. iscs including the new high speed discs Advantages of BURN Proof Technology The PlexWriter 24 10 40U incorporates BURN Proof Buffer Under Run Proof BURN Proof technology which guarantees that you can write discs at high speed and still use your 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 of holding area Typically the buffer size is 2 MB or 4 MB However this buffer can be emptied quickly when you write at high speeds 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 revolutionary technology compensates for any interruption in data flow to the disc BURN
35. le We appreciate the confidence you have shown in us Our goal is to put you and keep you on the leading edge of CD technology About this Manual This manual explains how to connect and use your external PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive With USB the installation process is simple And if you have problems fear not We have successfully walked through installation with millions of customers who previously had lived in mortal terror of their computer 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 if your drive needs service And if you run into a problem that doesn t seem to be covered 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 people 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 40U The PlexWriter 24 10 40U is a CD ReWritable drive that provides professional quality CD performance for writing rewriting and reading What the PlexWriter 24 10 40U Does The PlexWriter 24 10 40U writes to CD R recordable CD media at up to 24X speed and it writes to high speed CD RW rewritable CD media at up to 10X spee
36. n 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 The RMA numbers must be clearly visible on the outside of the shipping box We recommend that you insure your shipment as Plextor cannot be held responsible for any damage that may occur during shipment 42 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users 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 Address Applied 800 426 3925 425 883 3049 Devices www amc com Micro cables acc systems Corp 408 945 8600 408 262 2533 USB adapters com Creative 405 742 6600 405 624 6780 Sound boards www Labs 800 998 1000 creativelabs com drivers HyCD Inc 408 988 8282 08 988 8585 Windows www cdr com UNIX CD R Goes to HyCD software web site Orange 714 779 2772 714 779 9978 USB adapters www Micro orangemicro com boards audio plextor com cables all Recommend Plextor support needs 866 280 7694 303 684 3020 CD R software com SONICblue 80
37. n 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 in your computer or at the rear panel audio output connectors Playing a CD Using Utilities You can use SimpliCD to play CDs 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 20 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter Writing to CD R and CD RW Media In conjunction with your PlexWriter drive mastering or packet writing software such as that contained in SimpliCD 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 40U 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 Plextor CD ROM drives beginning with the 12 20PleX and newer can read CD RW d
38. ndows 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 Using the PlexWriter on a PC Q As CD ROM The computer s operating system whether it is Windows XP Windows 2000 or Windows ME supplies a generic USB device driver that allows the PlexWriter to function as a standard CD ROM drive You don t need to install anything else If you have Windows 98SE you need to install a special USB driver You ll find this driver on the Plextor Setup Disc or you can get it from the Plextor web site at http www plextor com Follow the links from the home page to Support Downloads Drivers USB Driver for Win98 SE Q Asa CD R or CD RW device In order to write to CD R or CD RW media you will need additional software such as SimpliCD or Roxio If you purchased a retail version of the PlexWriter this software is supplied PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 13 Section 3 Installing and Using Software e Using the PlexWriter on a Macintosh Q 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 software compatibility list is available from Plextor s web site at www plextor com Before
39. nectors Output of analog stereo signal Connect a sound board or audio amplifier here if desired Connectors are standard RCA type e Power switch Slide this switch to turn power on or off 0 is off 1 is on e Power connector Connect the AC Adapter here CAUTION Use only the AC Adapter shipped with your PlexWriter e USB connector Connect the USB cable here CAUTION Use only the USB cable shipped with your PlexWriter PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 5 Section 1 Getting Started About SimpliCD and Roxio Software In order to create CD R and CD RW discs you will need to have mastering packet writing or duplication software installed on your computer system If you purchased your drive from Plextor you ll find two software packages SimpliCD and Roxio that contain this software e Mastering software Mastering software is used to create specific disc formats such as data audio video mixed mode etc Both SimpliCD and Roxio include this software e Packet writing software Another type of software writes packets This software 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 With this drive Plextor has included Roxio s DirectCD software fo
40. o CD you can listen through the sound board in your computer or connect headphones to the jack on the PlexWriter Even if you re just using headphones both the AC adapter and the USB cable must be attached in order for the drive to operate 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 You can control audio playback through software and adjust the volume with the front panel volume control PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 19 Section 4 Using Your PlexWriter tereo mini plug to headphone jack C RU Figure 7 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 USB 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 ca
41. 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 the technical support option PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 41 Appendix B Technical Support Before You E mail Log On FAX Call Please gather as much of the following information as possible before contacting us e The serial number and TLA number of your PlexWriter Your serial number can be found both on the warranty card that accompanied the drive and on a label on the drive itself The TLA number appears on the drive label in the barcoded section with the serial number e The version of authoring software you are using if applicable e The latest version of firmware you loaded onto the drive if applicable e The operating system Windows 2000 ME XP etc 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 USB interface USB 1 1 USB 2 0 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 a
42. other things while you re writing to a CD R or CD RW disc And Plextor backs up this remarkable drive with a one year full warranty on parts and labor and unlimited toll free tech support Minimum Configuration to Use the PlexWriter 24 10 40U PC Configuration e Computer Pentium 300 MHz CPU or faster e Minimum RAM 64 MB e USB port USB 2 0 or 1 1 e Hard disk size Minimum 800 MB To write to a CD in image mode that is to write an image of a CD to your hard disk you need 1 GB of free space e Separate CD ROM drive If you want to copy another CD directly to the Plex Writer e Operating system Windows 98SE Second Edition Windows 2000 Windows ME or Windows XP NOTE You must have one of these operating systems In the case of Windows 98 you must have Windows 98SE or later and you need the Plextor USB driver Macintosh Configuration Macintosh with USB port and OS 8 6 9 x provides USB 1 1 or with OS X provides USB 2 0 What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 24 10 40U Just look at some of the things you can do with your PlexWriter 24 10 40U e Record data or audio onto writable or rewritable CD media e Play music CDs e Save photos and other images on rewritable or writable CDs e Create a CD sneakernet to share information with colleagues just use software such as Roxio 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 an
43. oxio s Easy CD Creator 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 Can I use a DVD player as a source for audio recording In general DVDs are a poor source for audio extraction DVD drives typically have poor extraction properties and therefore are not the best choice for quality duplication of CDs In many cases the burn is quicker and the resulting copy better if you use the PlexWriter as both the source and destination drive 36 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Minimum System Requirements Computer Minimum RAM Hard disk size Operating system USB port Recommended Media CD R 24X CD R 20X CD R 4X 16X CD RW Supported Media Supported Media Stamped CD Supported Media CD R Supported Media CD RW Supported Media Size Pentium II 300 MHz CPU or faster 64 MB Minimum 800 MB 1 GB of free space required to write to a CD in image mode Windows 98 SE Windows ME Windows 2000 Windows XP USB storage driver from Plextor CD must be installed to enable operation on Windows 98 SE Version 2 0 or 1 1 Ricoh Mitsui Taiyo Yuden Mitsubishi Chemical Maxell TDK Fuji Photo Film With PoweRec some poor quality discs are recorded at 16X Note For the latest updated list of certified 24X and 20X media see Plextor s web site at http
44. pported software lists can also be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com CD R RW media not appropriate Use CD R RW media supported by Plextor Supported media lists can be found on the Plextor web site at www plextor com Disc inserted upside down Reinsert the disc with the label right side up Defective CD R RW media CD R RW media may be dirty scratched or damaged Re write using another CD R RW media Computer is short of hard disk capacity Generally 1 2 to 2 times the size of the write data is required This may vary according to the write method Delete files from your hard disk to free up sufficient space or use another hard disk No power to PlexWriter Ensure the power cord and AC Adapter are securely connected USB cable is not connected properly Ensure the USB cable is securely connected between the computer and the PlexWriter and that the cable is not damaged 28 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Writing CD R and CD RW Discs Symptom Possible Causes Solutions CD R or CD RW software cannot detect PlexWriter Bad connection between USB port and PlexWriter 24 10 40U drive Ensure the USB cable is securely connected between the computer and the PlexWriter and that the cable is not damaged Using authoring software other than th
45. r packet writing software SimpliCD does not have packet writing software e Duplication software Yet another type of software copies from CD to CD 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 Both SimpliCD and Roxio include duplication software There are also many other software packages on the market You can check our web site www plextor com for an updated list of software that supports your drive 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 move carry or transport a disc in the drive because this can cause damage 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 autho
46. r 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 CAUTION 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 18 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users 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 6 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 audi
47. rized service personnel only 6 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 1 Getting Started 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 so it sits horizontally on your desk or shelf Plextor does not guarantee the drive s performance in a vertical position Figure 3 Operate Your PlexWriter in a Horizontal Position PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 7 Section 1 Getting Started This page intentionally left blank 8 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 2 Connecting Your PlexWriter This chapter explains how to physically connect the PlexWriter to your computer In general this is what you ll do 1 Determine if your computer is running the Windows XP 2000 ME or 98SE operating system If you have a Macintosh ensure that it is running the Macintosh OS 8 6 or higher for USB 1 1 or OS X for USB 2 0 If you have Windows XP 2000 or ME go to step 2 now If you have Windows 98SE a Insert the bundled Plextor Setup Disc in your CD ROM drive b Go to the Software Installation screen and click on the button titled USB Drivers c
48. s below Front Panel Emergency Tray front door eject hole PLEXWRITER 24 10 40U Headphone Volume LED Indicator Eject button jack control Figure 1 Front Panel of the Plex Writer 24 10 40U 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 to indicate drive operation Q Green Power is on and a disc in the drive also green when BURN Proof is operating Q Yellow Reading a disc Q Orange Writing data to disc Changes blinking interval to indicate different writing speeds 1 blink every 50 milliseconds indicates 24X writing speed Every 100 milliseconds indicates 20X and every 150 milliseconds indicates writing speed is 4 16X e Eject button Push once to eject tray Push again to insert the tray back into the PlexWriter To prevent wear on the drive always use the Eject button to insert the 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 the PlexWriter s power before using this feature 4 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 1 Getting Started Rear Panel Power switch Analog audio USB connector Power output connectors connector Figure 2 Rear Panel of the Plex Writer 24 10 40U Drive e Analog audio output con
49. s the user to select whether it is on or off If your software does not support BURN Proof and problems occur when writing reduce the load on CPU resources Some ways to do this are Log off from the network Don t use the mouse Disable the screensaver or power save mode Exit all other applications 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 If necessary enable BURN Proof in the recording software Increase the PC s main memory capacity Automatic thermal recalibration triggered Some high speed hard disks are equipped with an automatic thermal recalibration function Turn off automatic thermal recalibration for the hard disk Use another hard disk Defective CD R or CD RW media CD R or CD RW media may be dirty scratched or damaged Re Write using another CD R or CD RW disc PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 27 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Writing CD R and CD RW Discs PlexWriter 24 10 40U Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Cannot write to Using authoring Use the authoring software CD R or software other than provided with the unit CD RW that bundled with To use other types of authoring software contact the supplier and ensure the software supports the PlexWriter PX W2410TU drive Su
50. speeds because they are out of balance Read errors may also occur 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 Remove the adhesive label if present Be careful not to damage the foil underneath Clean the disc as detailed on page 19 If there is no foreign substance on the disc contact the disc manufacturer for a replacement Can read only the last session of a multisession CD R or CD RW disc Import previous session or a similar feature was not enabled when the multisession disc was created 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 online help or manual regarding this feature 26 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Writing CD R and CD RW Discs Troubleshooting Writing CD R and CD RW Discs Mouse was moved or Windows screensaver activated while writing Other applications are running Power save mode is active Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Writing error Network is being used If necessary enable BURN Proof occurs in the recording software Some software packages have BURN Proof support for the PlexWriter drive permanently on while other software allow
51. ssressresseesses 13 Install Applications Software cece cee csecseeeseeseeceeeeseseeeeseeeeseseeeseesseeaeenees 14 SIMPL CD hirren EER e ded cadeeaenewld eves ARENE ERE EEE ERS ERER 14 ROXIO eE S E A ES 15 Other Software srein ain in eh eiee eSEE AiE ieS r EE E 15 4 Using Your PlexWriter ssssisssossssesssssosssssssroesssiosissscosovos ssossssosrssssorisssstosorsssoo 17 What M dia to USE percre rriren ees iee reks Ee ek e e Eeer rik Ees 17 Tray Loading and Operation sseesseesesesrseeessseeeresrrressesrrerestestesrerresesrrseerreeresre 18 Handing CD Medid seriis eee eei e ao a eE 18 Cleaning DISCS oiei eie E E E ae eh oe hata E ES 19 Playing A dio CDS iiie oot sosags eadeie cess ohtet cn ivleoe apbehocbentennsbunedus hanbemeesedends 19 Writing to CD R and CD RW Media o000 eee cece cee cseeeeeeeseeeeeeeeenrecsaecnaeaes 21 Advantages of BURN Proof Technology cece cee cseeseeeeeeeeeeeeeereesaeesaeeaee 21 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual V Table of Contents 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting csscccsssscssecssecssscscssecssesssessesssesesees 23 Displaying the Serial Number eee ee cesecesecesecsseesecesecsecseecneeeseeeaeeeaeees 23 Upgrading Firm ware is 2 cc cocesses ceed cscadeh cee seoor ekers nikes ivre o rE E S es 23 Troubleshoot neresen nnana a una bis detente a a a aes 24 Troubleshooting General eee eeeeeeeeeceesceseceecesecsecsaecsaecaeeeneseneeeneees 24 Troubleshooting Re
52. ter and the USB revolve no cable must be attached in order for sound from the drive to operate headphones When playing Sound board volume Each sound board has a different an audio CD too low setting for each input source you do not Mixer settings for including one for CD Audio Run your hear sound soundboard set too low_ sound board s mixer program and even though or muted verify that the volume is turned up or everything Need sound board not muted You can do this by appears to be double clicking on the speaker icon functioning Sound board not on your computer s task bar normally properly configured Check your system configuration to see if the sound board settings such as IRQ memory etc are conflicting with other devices on the system Check if all the necessary drivers and multimedia devices required by your sound board are installed Low sound Low levels from audio Check the master CD and line levels level from mixer of all audio mixers PlexWriter drive 32 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting for Macintosh Users additional software and device drivers that are not part of the Macintosh operating system Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Drive will not Whether using the You will need to purchase additional operate as CD PlexWriter as a software Supported software lists ROM CD R or standard
53. ter 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 23 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 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
54. the USB cable for any signs of distress such as kinking Disc is inserted upside down Eject the disc and load it with the label or text side up Blank CD R or CD RW disc is inside the drive Remove the disc from the drive and test the drive by using another disc PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 25 Section 5 Maintenance and Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Reading Discs Symptom Possible Causes Solutions Cannot use other CD ROM drives to read discs written by PlexWriter Trying to read a CD RW disc in a CD ROM drive that does not support it 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 UDF reader is not installed on the system to read CD RW or packet written discs from a CD ROM drive Refer to your packet writing software online help or manual for how to obtain a UDF reader and install it on the computer where you need to access these discs Session was left open on a CD R disc and does not have a Table of Contents Place this disc back into PlexWriter and use the same software originally used to write to it Then close the session disc Excessive noise Excessive vibration Slow read performance CD is poorly balanced Poorly manufactured discs or discs with poorly distributed ink on labeling cause significant vibration at high
55. ting frequently asked questions 35 modes 38 writing a CD 1 frequently asked questions 35 image 2 writing from DVD as source 36 writing to CD R 21 writing to CD RW 21 50 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual
56. troubleshooting 33 maintenance 23 mastering software 6 14 media 17 care and handling 18 CD R 35 37 CD RW 35 37 firmware and 23 35 marking on 18 recommended 35 37 supported 37 memory minimum 2 minimum configuration 2 modes writing 38 MTBF 40 O operating position 7 operating system determining 9 required 2 37 P packet writing software 6 14 PC minimum configuration 2 PC vendors 44 performance USB 1 1 and 1 USB 2 0 and 1 performance specifications 38 playing audio CD 19 position operating 7 power connector 5 39 power switch 5 39 precautions 6 48 PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual R RAM minimum 2 37 read specification 38 reading a CD 1 troubleshooting 25 rear panel controls and connectors 4 5 39 recognizing the drive in Windows 12 reliability 40 returns 42 RMA number 3 42 Roxio software 6 13 14 15 S safety standards 40 security sticker 3 serial number displaying 23 recording 10 shipping your drive 3 SimpliCD 6 13 14 sleep mode 38 software application 13 14 device driver 13 duplication 6 installing 13 mastering 6 packet writing 6 Roxio 6 13 14 15 SimpliCD 6 13 14 sound board audio 20 speed reading 1 38 writing 1 35 38 spindle motor 38 stereo output signal 5 support 41 Index T technical support 41 temperature specification 40 TLA code 10 42 tray closing 18 front
57. u Can Do with the Plex Writer 24 10 40U ccccceessceesseceeeeeeees 2 pave Your BOX J cohts cise fog bill sel memati Aerts taal ees eA ee 3 Wh tsa the Boxis siecdson ses ebaiiie a a abit wists E 3 PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls cccccccssssecessesceceesnecesseeeeesseeeeenenee 4 Front Pane lio 0c echtarts eect ets ates ee ek nese ee ae ee ee as 4 Rear Panel EA E EE chitinase ctl aes tie ad eehaecdeas 5 About SimpliCD and Roxio Software eee ceecsecseeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeseenseenseenaes 6 Precautions 2 42 s ctc cscchn oh Bee heel Abie ein ae ate tees 6 2 Connecting Your PlexWYiter ccscccscsscscsssscsccsscssscsscsssssscssscsssscsssesesees 9 Determine Your Computer s Operating System eee eeeeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeaes 9 Connect the PlexWriter Drive ccccccsccesesscecessececsesececseeeecessaeeecseaecesseeeeeeens 10 Record the Serial Number and TLA Code 00 cccccesseceessecesseeeeeeesneeeeneaeees 10 Install in Windows XP Windows 2000 or Windows ME c0cseceeeeeees 10 If You Have Windows 98SE Q ccccecsecccceessececseececessnececsenaececseseeeessneeeessaeees 11 Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized eee cee ceee cee cseeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeeeeseenseenaes 12 If You Have a Macintosh assier eenia ier ies 12 3 Installing and Using Software sesseseossesessossesoossesoesseoossesoesoesessoesessossesoessese 13 Install Device Drivers Windows 98SE Only ssseesseessesssesssesssesrser
58. www plextor com Taiyo Yuden TDK Ricoh Mitsui Kodak Maxell Mitsubishi Chemical Fuji Photo Film Taiyo Yuden TDK Mitsui Chemicals Ricoh Kodak Fuji Photo Film Maxell Mitsubishi Chemical Ricoh Mitsubishi Chemical All are rewritable up to 1 000 times Red Yellow Book compliant discs Orange Book Pt Il compliant discs Type 74 Type 80 Orange Book Pt IIl compliant discs 12cm PlexWriter 24 10 40U Installation and Users Manual 37 Appendix A PlexWriter Specifications Usable Formats Logical CD Read Write Writing Modes Disc Diameter CD DA CD Extra CD Plus CD ROM Mode 1 CD ROM XA Mode 2 form 1 or form 2 and mixed form CD ROM Mixed Mode Photo CD Video CD CD TEXT CD G UDF CD I Track at Once Disc at Once Session at Once Packet Write variable and fixed packets Multi session 12 cm diameter Recording time 74 min 79 min 8 cm diameter When using an 8 cm disc maximum read speed is 18X CAV maximum record speed is 4X Performance Specifications Read Speed CD Write Speed CD R Write Speed CD RW Initialization Time Access Time Sleep Mode Wake Mode Data Buffer Spindle Motor Error Rate CD DA Stamp R Stamp R RW Speed 17 40X 14 32X 10 4 24X 8X CLV 4X CLV 24X Z CLV 20X Z CLV 16X CLV 12X CLV 4X CLV 1X CLV Stamp R RW Stamp R RW Stamp R RW Stamp R RW Stamp R RW 10X CLV 4X CLV High speed 4X
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search