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---- CHAPTER 10 ----
Using CD-ROM Discs,
Caddies, and Trays
YOUR TASK: Learn how to handle, load, and care for your discs.
YOUR OBJECTIVE: Protect your discs. Insert and eject discs properly so
your drive operates without interruption.
YOUR METHOD:
Until the release of the 12PleX, Plextor only manufactured drives with caddy loading
mechanisms. Many applications and users continue to require the performance,
protection, and/or mechanics of a caddy. Plextor will continue to produce caddybased drives to meet these requirements. However, the consumer market has expressed a preference for tray loading. To address that preference the 12PleX is
available in both caddy and tray versions. For information on using a tray loading
12PleX, go to page 43. For caddy loading, continue reading below.
Practice loading discs into caddies and trays.
Caddy Loading
Plextor’s CD-ROM drives use an industry-standard disc caddy to protect the disc from
scratches and contamination. A standard caddy is made of plastic and has a metal
shutter on its bottom which slides open and shut. Plextor is also constantly evaluating
other caddy designs for possible use in the future. Unless provided or recommended
by Plextor, use of a non-standard caddy (e.g., one that lacks a metal shutter on its
bottom) is not recommended. For their protection, CD-ROM discs should be stored in
their original packaging or in a caddy.
Inserting the Disc into a Caddy
1) To open the lid of the caddy,
press the tabs at the side
as shown.
12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL 41
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CHAPTER 10 ---- Using CD-ROM Discs and Caddies
2) Place the disc into the caddy
with the label facing UP.
Be sure to place the disc
beneath the edge of the
caddy under the arrow mark.
Handle the disc by the sides.
Don’t touch its surface.
3) Close the lid firmly,
but not too hard.
Caution: If the caddy appears defective (e.g., warped, cracked, or bent) do not
insert it into the drive. A defective caddy can become stuck inside the
drive, requiring the drive’s return to your dealer for service. If your caddy
appears defective, promptly replace it with a new one.
Handle the caddy as you would any precision component.
Do not:
✗ Allow moisture or dust/contamination either in or on the caddy.
✗ Store the caddy in a location subject to direct sunlight, high temperature, or
high humidity.
✗ Drop the caddy or subject it to shock.
✗ Open the shutter manually. The caddy’s shutter opens automatically when
the caddy is inserted into the CD-ROM drive.
42 12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL
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CHAPTER 10 ---- Using CD-ROM Discs and Caddies
Loading the Caddy into the Drive
1. Open the drive’s door.
2. Carefully insert the caddy in
the direction shown, with
the arrow mark facing the drive.
3. Push the caddy into the drive
until the caddy load mechanism
Hint:
is engaged.
You need use only one hand to insert the caddy into the drive. This is
Arrow Mark
easily accomplished by placing the front portion of the caddy on top of
the lip of the drive’s door. You can press down lightly to open the drive’s
door, then slide the caddy into the drive.
Removing the Caddy from the Drive
1) Push the Eject button. The caddy will eject from the drive in 2--3 seconds.
2) Pull the caddy straight out of the drive.
3) If the caddy will not eject from the drive after pushing the Eject button, you
should be able to remove the caddy from the drive by using the Emergency
Eject button. Turn off power to the drive. Insert a paper clip into the
Emergency Eject hole. The caddy should now eject from the drive. Please
contact Plextor’s Technical Support Department before attempting to reinsert the caddy into the drive.
Tray Loading and Operating
1) While the drive is powered up, push the eject button. The tray drawer will
slide out in 2--3 seconds.
2) Lay the bare CD (do not use a caddy) into the depression in the tray,
label side up. If the drive is mounted in the horizontal
position and the CD lays flat in the drive, you do
not need to use the clips in the tray. If the drive
is mounted in the vertical position (on
its side with the tray perpendicular
to the ground), the clips should be
gently pushed into place over
the CD so that it does not fall
out of the tray.
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CHAPTER 10 ---- Using CD-ROM Discs and Caddies
3) Press the Eject button again and the tray will slide shut within 2--3 seconds.
Note: We recommend you 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.
Cleaning the Disc
If the disc is merely dusty, you may use a commercially available dust removal spray
such as Dust-Off or Vari-Air to blow dust particles off the disc.
After removing the dust particles, you may wipe the disc using a clean, soft cotton
cloth. Use a straight-line motion, wiping
in a circular motion.
from the center out. Do not wipe the disc
If a disc becomes dirty or soiled with grease or other contaminants not removable by
wiping, you may clean the disc with a CD-ROM disc cleaner available at most
computer dealers. Follow the directions packaged with the cleaner.
Hint:
Keeping your CD-ROM disc in a caddy at all times will prevent the
disc from becoming dirty or damaged.
44 12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL
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---- CHAPTER 11 ----
How to Play Audio CDs
on Your Drive
YOUR TASK: Learn how to use your CD-ROM drive so that it can
also play audio CDs.
YOUR OBJECTIVE: Increase functionality of your drive. Provide
musical accompaniment for presentations. Goof off
at work.
YOUR METHOD:
A variety exists for you to choose from. You can
use anything from front panel controls or very
basic, bare bones audio CD software utilities up to
software utilities that rival or surpass the capabilities
of the CD player attached to your stereo system.
1) The most basic method is to use the 12PleX front panel audio controls. No
special drivers are needed to operate this feature.
Once an AUDIO CD is inserted into the drive, simply push the button to
begin AUDIO play. Once the AUDIO is playing, push the play button once
for track advance, or hold down the button for more than 1 second to begin
a fast forward search (ffwd). To eject the caddy from the drive, press the
Stop/Eject button once to stop AUDIO play and a second time to eject
the CD.
While in audio CD play mode, you can read a CD-ROM data disc by simply
removing the audio CD and inserting a data CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2) For PC users, audio utilities are provided with Plextor Manager and Plextor
Manager 96. For installation and operating instructions, refer to the separate
Plextor Manager software manual.
3) Other alternatives include audio utilities designed into your operating
system (Media Player in Windows for instance) or various other utilities that
can be purchased commercially.
4) Mac users can run a program such as CDT Remote (which typically is
included with FWB’s CD-ROM device driver) .
In order to hear the audio CD your drive is playing, you can plug a pair of stereo
headphones or self-powered speakers into the headphone jack on the drive’s front
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CHAPTER 11 ---- How to Play Audio CDs on Your Drive
panel. You also can connect your drive to an audio amplifier as shown on the next
page. The audio cables shown are available at most computer and audio supply stores.
46 12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL
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CHAPTER 11 ---- How to Play Audio CDs on Your Drive
PLEASE
NOTE:
The volume control wheel 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.
PX-12XS (Internal or External)
Stereo Mini-Plug
(To Headphone Jack)
PX-12XSe (External)
Audio Amplifier
Audio Input
RCA-Type Plugs
(To Audio Out)
Audio Amplifier
Audio Input
RCA-Type Plugs
12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL 47
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---- CHAPTER 12 ----
Troubleshooting
YOUR TASK: Review some of the common problems you may
encounter when installing or operating your 12PleX
drive.
YOUR OBJECTIVE: Gain a better understanding of how your drive
operates. Attempt to prevent problems before they
occur. Quickly fix, on your own, many simple
problems rather than wait for assistance from a
Plextor representative.
YOUR METHOD:
Read this entire section. Many of the problems
discussed happen only rarely. Many may seem
as if they do not pertain to you. If you are familiar
with the variety of problems that
can occur,
however, you will be better prepared to deal with
them if they happen to you.
If you experience trouble with your 12PleX drive, follow these guidelines:
PC Users:
1) Most SCSI interface boards can sense when a problem has occurred and will
generate an error message on your computer. Take note of this message. Then,
run the test (diagnostic) program that probably is included with the device drivers
for your SCSI interface board. Follow the instructions given in the SCSI interface
board’s manual. If the information provided by the error message and test
program is not sufficient for you to fix the problem, proceed to step #2.
2) If your problem occurs during or immediately after the drive’s installation,
read Section 12.1----PC Compatibles: Initial Installation. If your problem
occurs after you had run the drive successfully for an extended period, read
Section 12.2----PC Compatibles: Existing Installations.
3) Attempt to match the problem you are having with the entries listed beneath
SYMPTOMS. Then narrow your search by checking to see if the ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS apply to you as well. Because different SCSI interface
boards generate differently worded error messages, the messages displayed
by your computer may differ from those shown on the following pages.
48 12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL
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CHAPTER 12 ---- Troubleshooting
Apple Computer Users:
Read Section 12.3----Apple Computers
Technical Support
If you still cannot solve your problem after reviewing the relevant sections of this
chapter, please contact Plextor’s Technical Support Department. See Chapter 13 for
information on how to prepare for, and then make contact with, Plextor’s technical
support staff.
12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL 49
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CHAPTER 12 ---- Troubleshooting
12.1 PC Compatibles: Initial Installation
Symptoms Additional Symptom
• No sound when running a
CD-ROM program
Possible Causes and Solutions
Application Does Not Use CD-Audio
There are two types of audio you may encounter when using CD-ROMs:
1) Sound Card Audio:
This comes from data (e.g., .WAV or .MID files) that is transferred from your
CD-ROM disc via the SCSI host adapter into your computer, and is translated
by your soundboard into sound. If you do not have a soundboard, you will
not be able to hear this form of audio.
2) CD Audio:
This comes from audio discs (like the ones used by your home stereo) that
are translated directly by your CD-ROM drive into sound. You do not need
a soundboard to hear this audio. You can hear this audio by plugging a set
of headphones or powered speakers into the headphone jack on the front
of your drive.
One reason, then, that you might not hear sound when playing a CD-ROM disc is
that a soundboard is required. These discs use only sound card audio, not CD Audio.
To help you determine if you are having a soundboard problem, or a CD Audio
problem, try playing an audio CD in your CD-ROM drive. If you can hear music
(through headphones or speakers connected to the headphone jack on the front of
your drive), the CD-ROM disc you are playing may require the use of a soundboard
in order to hear sound. If possible, check the manual that came with the CD-ROM
disc and see if the use of a soundboard is recommended or required.
If you have a soundboard and can hear an audio CD when it is played, but cannot
hear sound when you play a CD-ROM disc, you may have configured your soundboard incorrectly. Check the troubleshooting section of your soundboard manual for
further advice. If you have a soundboard but you cannot hear an audio CD when it
is played, check the following points:
No sound when playing an audio CD
50 12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL
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CHAPTER 12 ---- Troubleshooting
Improper/Missing Audio Cable
If you use a soundboard, you must connect the soundboard to your CD-ROM drive
with an audio cable. See page 34 to ensure you have properly installed this audio
cable. If you have a soundboard and CD-ROM drive, but lack an audio cable, contact
one of the companies listed on page 65, or Plextor’s Technical Support Department,
for information on where a cable can be purchased.
Device Drivers Need to Be Updated
If you can hear an audio CD in your CD-ROM drive when it is in Audio CD play mode
(see Chapter 11), but you cannot hear an audio CD with another music CD utility
(e.g., Animotion’s MCS CDMaster, CorelCD), your device drivers may need to be
updated. Contact Plextor Technical Support for assistance.
Soundboard Volume Low
If, when playing an audio CD, you do not hear sound even though everything appears
to be functioning normally (busy light on drive flickers, the time counter on your audio
CD utility is advancing), you may have the mixer settings for your soundboard set too
low. Each soundboard has different settings for each input source, including one
for CD Audio. Run your soundboard’s mixer program and verify that the volume
is turned up.
Bad Soundboard Audio Cable
If you have verified that you have made the proper cable connections between your
12PleX drive and soundboard, and you have the correct device drivers installed but
you still do not hear sound when playing an audio CD, the problem may rest with
your audio cable. It may be defective and need to be replaced.
You can check to see if this is the case by doing the following: Unplug the audio cable
from the rear of your 12PleX drive. Plug a set of headphones or speakers that you
know are good into the jack on the front of the drive. Try to play an audio CD. If you
can now hear music, you may conclude that you do, in fact, have a bad audio cable.
Symptoms
• Cannot view Photo CD discs
• Can read only first session of a multisession disc
• Receive error messages while reading Photo CD images
Your 12PleX drive is capable of reading Kodak Photo CD multisession discs if you use
the appropriate device drivers and you run a Photo CD viewing program (e.g., Magic
Lantern, Kodak’s Photo CD Access).
12PLEX OPERATION MANUAL
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