Plextor 412-2 User Manual

---- CHAPTER 8 ----

Hardware Installation

By itself, your PlexWriter 4/12 is incapable of communicating with your computer.
You must use a hardware link that enables your drive to ‘‘talk’’ with the rest of your
computer. PlexWriter 4/12 uses a SCSI interface as its link.

Plextor strongly recommends the use of a high-performance bus-mastering SCSI
interface board (ISA or PCI). You probably purchased a Plextor kit with such a board
included. If you purchased your PlexWriter 4/12 without a SCSI interface board and
want to connect it to a non-bus-mastering interface board (PIO), we strongly recom­mend you do not connect any other SCSI peripherals to the same board. Connecting
the PlexWriter 4/12 to a parallel-to-SCSI or to the SCSI interface on a soundboard is

not recommended.

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CHAPTER 8 ---- Hardware Installation

Board Installation

YOUR TASK: Install a SCSI interface board in your computer.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Provide the hardware link needed to enable your

CD-R drive to communicate with your computer.

YOUR METHOD:

Remove your computer’s case. Install board and
attach necessary cables.

Let us point out that this is a CD-R drive installation and operation manual ---- it is not
a SCSI interface board operation manual. Unless you purchased a SCSI interface board
(and its accompanying manual) bundled in the same box with a PlexWriter 4/12, we
have no way of knowing which type of board you elect to use. There are dozens of SCSI
interface boards on the market. Each one is installed somewhat differently. Therefore,
our instructions for this section should only be considered as guidelines. For more
detailed instructions on how to properly install your SCSI interface board, you should
refer to the installation/operation manual that you received when you purchased the
board.

Caution: If static electricity may be present in the room where you are working,

discharge any you may have on your body by touching a grounded object
before you remove the host adapter from its packaging.

Static electricity is a silent killer. Just a small jolt to one of the chips on
your interface board may render it useless with no apparent damage
visible. Positioning your computer in a location without a carpet under­foot is one method of guarding against static electricity damage. Using
common sense, such as not walking on a carpeted floor in stocking feet
just before you install your drive, is another.

Before proceeding, make sure the power to your computer and any
external peripherals is OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED from its
power source.

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CHAPTER 8 ---- Hardware Installation

To remove your computer’s cover, follow the directions provided by your computer’s
manufacturer. Typically, this involves loosening or removing several screws on the
back panel of your computer and sliding off your computer’s cover.

Carefully remove the SCSI interface board from its packaging. Select a vacant slot in
your computer where you will install the board (refer to the manual packaged with
your interface board for instructions as to which slot in your system to use). If you are
installing an internal drive, try to pick a slot that is closest to where the drive will be installed.

Remove the cover plate for this slot from the back panel of your computer. Keep the
screw from the cover plate nearby, as you will need it in a moment. Save the cover
plate in case you need it at a later date.

Expansion Slot Cover

Rear Panel

Plug the SCSI interface board into the slot you have selected. Rock the board from
end to end to ensure that it seats firmly in the slot. Don’t force it. If you cannot push
the board down completely into the slot, remove the board and try again.

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CHAPTER 8 ---- Hardware Installation

Once you have successfully inserted the board, fasten it in place using the cover plate
screw that you removed earlier.

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CHAPTER 8 ---- Hardware Installation

NOTE:

The following section is only for those installing internal drives. If you
have an external drive, skip to page 29.

Mounting an Internal Drive

YOUR TASK: Mount your internal drive inside your computer.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: A securely positioned drive whose connectors are

within easy reach of the various cables that must
attach to it.

YOUR METHOD:

Your PC probably looks something like this:

Available bay with
cover panel removed.

Identify the drive bay where you will mount your
drive. Remove bay cover. If necessary, use
mounting rails to install drive in bay.

Cross-ref

You can mount your drive in any available bay. You must remove the small panel
that covers the bay that you want to use. This most typically is done after you have
removed your computer’s cover. The panel can then be popped out by pressing
outward lightly (in some older cases you may have to remove screws that hold the
panel in place).

You now need to determine if you must install mounting rails on the sides of your
drive. To do so, insert the drive into the open bay. If the drive fits tightly with little (or
no) clearance on either side of the drive, you will not have to use mounting rails. The
drive can be mounted directly into your computer.

Caution: Do not mount your drive in your computer using screws other than those

supplied by Plextor. You may damage the drive if you insert screws that
are too long. If you find that you are having difficulty inserting or ejecting
a caddy from your drive, the cause may be that you are using screws
other than those supplied by Plextor. Another possibility is that you are
using Plextor’s screws but you have tightened them too much. Try
backing the screws out a few turns and see if this corrects the problem.

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CHAPTER 8 ---- Hardware Installation

If you must use mounting rails, install them as shown below:

Be sure not to mistake the inner and outer face of
the rail when attaching. The smooth side of the rail
faces away from the drive’s chassis.

There are four holes provided on each side of the drive. To mount an internal drive
in most computers, the rails should be fastened to the lower pair of holes. In some
instances you may need to fasten the rails to the upper set of holes.

You will find that eight screws were supplied with your drive: four chrome screws
and four black screws. Select which screws to use based on which set of holes you
use to attach the mounting rails.

✓ Use the

holes.

✓ Use the

Check the positioning of the rails by sliding the drive into the bay before you connect
any cables.

chrome screws if you use the upper set of mounting

black screws if you use the lower set of mounting holes.

Check Your Jumper Settings

Once you have determined a) the correct set of holes to use to attach mounting rails;
or b) that you don’t have to use mounting rails, you are almost ready to finish your
drive’s installation. However, before doing so, check your jumper settings one last
time.

If you do not have any SCSI peripherals (e.g., hard disk, scanner, printer, etc.) in your
system other than your CD-R drive, you should not change the jumpers from their
factory setting or remove the termination resistors.

If you do have other SCSI peripherals as part of your computer system, you
to change the settings of the SCSI ID and/or remove the termination resistors. See
Chapters 6 and 7 for information on how to change these settings.

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may need

cross ref

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CHAPTER 8 ---- Hardware Installation

Cable Connections

You must make a minimum of two cable connections to your internal CD-R drive. A
third cable connection need be made only if you are using a soundboard in your
computer.

The two cable connections that you must make are:

1) SCSI cable

2) power cable

Audio Connector

Jumpers

Personal Computer

SCSI Host Adapter

SCSI Interface Connector

SCSI Ribbon Cable

DC Power Supply

DC+12V 0.6A

DC+5V 0.3A

Power Connector

Power Supply
from Personal
Computer

The SCSI cable you will need is a standard 50-pin flat-ribbon cable. If you already
have one other SCSI peripheral (such as a hard disk) and your existing cable has only
two connectors, remove the cable and replace it with a cable with additional
connectors. Connect the SCSI host adapter to a connection on either end of the cable.
Connect the two peripherals to the other two connectors (one at the middle connector
and one at the end of the cable). Refer to Chapter 7 of this manual for setting the
termination of the devices.

CAUTION: It is easy to accidentally plug your SCSI ribbon cable upside down into

both your drive and SCSI interface board. Accordingly, be sure you match
the red stripe along one side of the SCSI cable to Pin 1 on the interface
board (as shown on the next page) and Pin 1 on the drive. Each connector
on the ribbon cable has a ‘‘key’’ in the middle. This key should fit into a
slot in the middle of each connector of the interface board, your
PlexWriter, and any other internal SCSI peripherals.

Double-check your work; you must ensure the side of the SCSI cable with
the red stripe is matched to Pin 1 on the interface board and on the drive.

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cross-ref.

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