Plextor 4220 User Manual

Operation Manual

Model PX-W4220Ti Internal and PX-W4220Te External

CD ReWritable Drive

February 1999

FCC NOTICE

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
causes harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by
one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

For External Model Users: Please use the external shielded SCSI cables supplied with this
CD-ROM drive. Using other signal cables may exceed the limits of the Class B Part 15 of the
FCC Rules.

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:

• Do not open the optical pickup housing.

• Obtain service only from Plextor-authorized personnel.

LASER INFORMATION

These products have been designed and manufactured according to IEC 825-1 on the Safety
of Laser products. This product comes under “Class 1 Laser Products.” A Laser Caution
Marking is attached on the top of the internal drive model: “Caution: Invisible laser radiation
when open. Avoid direct exposure to beam.”

CAUTION
To disconnect the CD-ROM drive from an electrical current, pull out the power plug.

VORSICHT
DIE TRENNUNG VOM NETZ ERFOLGT DURCH ZIEHEN DES NETZSECKES.

Zur Einhaltung der Funk-Entstörung von nicht selbständig
betreibbaren Hochfrequenzgeräten (periphere
Anlagenkomponenten).

Dieses Gerät entspricht als Einzelgerät den Funk-Entstöranfor­derungen der Postverfügung Nr. 243/1991. Wird das Gerät
innerhalb einer Anlage zusammen mit anderen Geräten betrieben.
So muβ bei Inanspruchnahme der “Allgemeinen (Betriebs-)
genehmigung” nach der BMPT-AmtsblVfg Nr. 243/1991 die
gesamte Anlage folgenden Richtlinien entsprechen:

• Grenzwertklases B der EN55022

• Auflagen nach § 2 der BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991

Dies ist bei der Zusammensetzung einer Anlage (z.B. Computersystem) aus nur einzein

ÜG-Vfg.243

CD ReWritable Drive

PX-W4220Ti Internal

PX-W4220Te External

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 © February 1999 Plextor Corp.

Licenses and Trademarks

All licenses and trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2. Box Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

PX-W4220Ti Internal Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

PX-W4220Te External Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A Gentle Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3. What Else Do I Need? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

4. Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5. Drive Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Front Panel — Internal and External Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

PX-W4220Ti Internal Drive — Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

PX-W4220Te External Drive — Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

6. Drive Switch/Jumper/Dial Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

PX-W4220Ti Internal Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

PX-W4220Te External Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Other Switch/Jumper Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

7. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Internal Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

External Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

8. Hardware Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Board Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Drive Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Mounting an Internal Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

External Drive Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Regarding Sound Cards and Audio Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Audio Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

9. Device Driver and Software Installation . . . . . . . . . 33

Device Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Applications Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

10. Using CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW Discs and Trays 37

Tray Loading and Operating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Types of Discs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Handling CD-R and CD-RW Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Cleaning the Disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

11. How To Play Audio CDs on Your Drive . . . . . . . . . . 39

12. Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Upgrading Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

12.1 PC Compatibles: Initial Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

12.2 PC Compatibles: Existing Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

12.3 Apple Macintosh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

13. Contacting Plextor’s Technical Support Department 57

How to Contact Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Before You E-mail/Log On/Fax/Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Returns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Helpful Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

14. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Appendix A: Windows 95/98 Installation Guide . . . . . . 63

Appendix B: Windows NT 4.0 (and Below)

Installation Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

About Plextor and Plextor Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 1

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the Plextor PlexW riter R W 4/2/20, a high performance and
reliable CD ReWritable drive. We appreciate the confidence you have shown in us.
Our goal is to put you — and keep you — on the leading edge of CD technology.

To get you there, we first have to help you install your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 drive
properly and operate it correctly. After that, the responsibility is yours to seek the
applications that make CD-RW such a powerful and exciting addition to your
system.

Throughout this manual we will occasionally refer to the PlexWriter RW by the
general model number PX-R4220T. We will also refer to the model numbers with a
lowercase “i” or “e” added to it to indicate internal or external, respectively . For your
purposes, all references apply to the PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 CD-RW drive. (CD-RW
is a common abbreviation for CD ReWritable drives and rewritable CD media.)

For those of you with PCs, the installation process may seem a bit complicated
(Mac people have it easy). Fear not. We have successfully walked through the
installation process with millions of customers who previously had lived in mortal
terror of the innards of their computer.

In this manual you should find all the information you need to successfully install,
operate and troubleshoot your drive. If you run into an unsolvable problem,
however, please contact us (see Chapter 13 for the different ways you can contact
us). You will be connected to our friendly, helpful band of tech support reps who
know their stuff. What might seem like an uncooperative CD-RW drive to you could
very well be a 30-second fix to them. But we will never know unless you contact
us. If you are having trouble, please don’t give up and take your drive back to where
you bought it until you have spoken with one of our tech support reps.

— CHAPTER 1 —

This manual is designed to be followed in sequence. It is aimed primarily at
those who will connect their PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 drive to a PC.

Mac users should look for this symbol:

Users of UNIX-based systems
should look for this symbol:
as an indicator of sections of the manual that pertain to them.

Many of you reading this manual are experienced computer users who have
successfully installed peripherals in the past. There probably are a number
of sections in this manual that you can skip over . However, we ask everyone
— from novice computer users to experienced computer professionals — to
read the sections marked with this symbol:

2 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Box Contents

YOUR TASK: Check the contents of the box.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Make sure you got everything you paid for.

YOUR METHOD: Compare what you find in the box with the tables on

the following pages.

What you find in your Plextor box depends on two factors: 1) what
configuration you purchased; and 2) what the company that sold you the box
put in — or took out — while it was in their possession.

Plextor currently sells its PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 drives in two configurations:

1) Drive with bundled software, including CD-mastering software for

PC, packet writing software, Plextor’s own CD Res-Q™ software for
HDD disaster recovery, Plextor Manager Utilities, and media. (We
may add more utilities as we uncover them.)

2) Drive kit with SCSI interface board, the software listed above, cables,

and media.

The drive kits come with PCI bus-mastering SCSI controllers or PCMCIA
controllers for laptops. The configuration you received is indicated by stickers
applied to your box. Your drive may also have been integrated into a computer
system or subsystem sold by a third party.

NOTE: A security sticker was applied to the top of your box. The contents of

your box were carefully checked before this sticker was applied. If it
was cut before you purchased the box, you should carefully check the
contents to ensure nothing has been removed. If something is missing,
you should contact the party from whom you purchased the box for an
explanation.

There may be a good reason why the security sticker on the box was
cut before you received it. For example, a dealer may have purchased
a Drive Only configuration from Plextor, then added a SCSI interface
board and/or software purchased separately before selling the box to
you.

NOTE: If your drive came preinstalled, the rails, cables, interface boards and

other parts shown on the following pages may have been installed and
may not be separately available. Other accessories, especially
software, may not have been purchased from Plextor and thus may be
different from those sold in Plextor retail packages.

— CHAPTER 2 —

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 3

DRIVE

SOFTWARE KIT SCSI KIT

CD-RW drive

X X
4 mounting screws X X
Approved CD-RW media (1 piece) X X
Approved CD-R media (1 piece) X X
Plextor CD with

bundled software,
Plextor Manager, and CD Res-Q X X

SCSI interface board
and manual* X

Audio cable* X (2)
SCSI cable*

X
Plextor operation manual* X X
Warranty registration card X X
Extra jumpers for setting drive

switches

X X

CHAPTER 2 — Box Contents

* Please see Chapter 13, page 60, for locations to purchase additional or replacement accessories.

Use the following tables to check the contents of your box:

PX-W4220Ti Internal Drives

4 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

DRIVE

SOFTWARE KIT SCSI KIT

CD-RW drive

X X
Approved CD-RW media (1 piece) X X
Approved CD-R media (1 piece) X X
Plextor CD with

bundled software,
Plextor Manager, and CD Res-Q X X

SCSI interface board
and manual* X

Audio cable* X
Power cable X X
SCSI cable*

X
Plextor operation manual* X X
Warranty registration card X X

CHAPTER 2 — Box Contents

* Please see Chapter 13, page 60, for locations to purchase additional or replacement accessories.

PX-W4220Te External Drives

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 5

A Gentle Reminder. . .

YOUR TASK: Save your box (if you received one).

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Have a secure container in which to ship your drive

back to Plextor, if necessary.

YOUR METHOD: Find an empty space in your home/office and fill it

with the Plextor box.

If you received your PlexWriter R W 4/2/20 CD-R W drive in a Plextor box, you
should save the box after you have installed your drive. There are many sets of
hands — some of them potentially unfriendly — that a PlexWriter RW 4/2/20
might go through on its way from us to you. Our box and its packaging material
were designed and drop tested to ensure that your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 can
endure rough treatment and still arrive in working order.

We advise you to hold on to your box in case you should ever need to return
your drive to Plextor for any reason. Unfortunately, some of our customers
have not held on to their boxes and have had to resort to some
less-than-secure methods to get drives back to us. We have received drives in
a shoebox, in an unpadded express mail envelope, and in a box filled with
buttered popcorn.

We cannot assume liability for any damage your drive sustains during
shipment. Therefore, please ship your drive in the safest manner possible. We
believe your drive will be most secure if it is shipped in a Plextor box. We
hope you will never have to ship your drive back to us. If you do, however,
we hope you will send it packaged in a Plextor box.

If you did not receive a Plextor box (for example, your drive came pre-installed
in a computer), we recommend that you pay a packaging store (e.g., Mail
Boxes Etc.) in your area to ship your drive. The drives that we have received
from most packaging stores have arrived in good shape. If you don’t have a
packaging store in your area, call our Technical Support Department for
packaging pointers before you ship your drive. In fact, you must call our
Technical Support Department to get an RMA number before returning any
drive (see Chapter 13).

CHAPTER 2 — Box Contents

6 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

What Else Do I Need?

YOUR TASK: Review the software and hardware installed in your

current computer system.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Determine what else you may need to operate your

CD-RW drive.

YOUR METHOD: Inventory your current computer system; check list

below.

If you purchased a Plextor box labeled Drive Kit with PCI SCSI Interface or
Drive Kit with PCMCIA Interface, your needs are simple: none. Everything you
need to successfully install and operate your PlexWriter R W 4/2/20 is included
in the box you purchased.

If you are a PC owner who has purchased a PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 Drive with
Software Kit, life gets a bit more complicated. These drives are intended for
purchase by those with SCSI adapters purchased or installed separately. They
do not have cables or a SCSI controller. Software Only packages are for those
who need a Plextor CD-RW drive but prefer to use their own sources for all
the accessories. If you purchased a software kit, you will need to select cables
and a SCSI controller. The SCSI controller you own will fall into one of two
groups:

1) You do not own a SCSI interface board.
In this case, you have to get one. Your local computer store and
numerous mail order vendors carry them. Due to the technical
demands of producing your own CDs, it is suggested that you buy a
high performance bus-mastering interface board. PIO SCSI interface
boards may not properly support CD recording. We suggest you
purchase a bus-mastering PCI card from any of the larger adapter
companies. See page 60 for suggested sources.

2) You own a SCSI interface board.
If you purchased your SCSI interface board several months or years
before you purchased your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20, you may need to
update your device drivers. See the discussion about Device Drivers
in Chapter 9 of this manual.

NOTE: We recommend that you do not use a SCSI interface built into a sound

board.

— CHAPTER 3 —

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 7

If you need to purchase a SCSI cable, note the following:

Internal Cables

You may already have a SCSI ribbon cable. If you are removing an existing
internal SCSI device and installing the PlexWriter RW 4/2/20, you can use the
same cable. If you are not removing an existing internal SCSI device, you may
need to purchase a different SCSI ribbon cable from your local computer
supply store. The cable must have at least as many connectors as you have
SCSI peripherals (including one for your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20), plus one
additional connector to attach to the interface board. Be sure to read the
section on Termination in Chapter 7 of this manual.

External Cables

If you have an external PlexWriter RW 4/2/20, you will need to purchase an
external SCSI cable. Make sure at least one end of the cable has the same kind of
SCSI connector as your PlexWriter. The other end of the cable must have the
proper connector to fit your SCSI controller or another daisy-chained external
SCSI device. Be sure to read the section on Termination in Chapter 7 of this
manual.

You will also need:

Premastering Software

In order to create CD-R and CD-RW discs you will need to have premastering
software installed on your computer system. You can check our web site
(www.plextor.com) for an updated list. We provide premastering software kits
in retail packaging for your convenience.

Once you have assembled everything you need, you’re ready to install your
drive. But first, a few words of caution are in order.

CHAPTER 3 — What Else Do I Need?

8 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Precautions

YOUR TASK: Read the list of precautions below.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Avoid any undo harm coming to you or your drive.

YOUR METHOD: Review the list and use common sense.

Your new PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 is a precision electromechanical device. Like
the rest of your computer system, it requires reasonable care in its installation
and use.

Please read this manual carefully and keep it handy for easy reference. Use
this manual for installation, operation, and troubleshooting. See your dealer or
call Plextor’s Technical Support Department should your drive require repair
or service.

✗ Do not put your computer monitor (or any other device weighing

more than 30 lbs.) on top of the PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 external drive.

✗ Do not place your drive in direct sunlight, on heating units, or near

electrical appliances that draw large amounts of current, such as a
high-powered audio amplifier, microwave oven, toaster, hair dryer, etc.

✓ Keep the area around your drive clean from dust, smoke, and other

contaminants.

✓ Use a soft, dust-free cloth for cleaning your drive. Do not allow

moisture or liquids including water, cleaning fluids, or solvents to
touch the drive. Thinner, benzene, or alcohol-based solvents can mar
your drive’s surface.

✓ To help ensure that your discs remain free of dirt or other contaminants,

they should be stored in a jewel case. Use only industry standard discs.
Do not insert warped, poorly balanced, or cracked discs into the drive.

✓ Keep your CD-ROM disc clean. See Chapter 10 for tips on handling

and cleaning discs.

✗ Do not drop or jolt the drive.
✗ Do not attempt to open the drive and service it yourself. Removing the

cover may expose you to harmful electrical voltages or the laser beam.
For your safety, entrust service to Plextor-authorized service personnel
only.

— CHAPTER 4 —

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 9

Drive Features

YOUR TASK: Get to know your drive.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Learn how to operate different features of the drive.

Learn what goes where. Learn some terms that will
be used elsewhere in the manual.

YOUR METHOD: Match the parts of your drive to the diagrams below.

Front Panel — Internal and External Drive

➀➀

Tray Front Door: Attached to tray drawer.

➁➁

Headphone Jack: Stereo mini-jack for headphones and powered speakers.

➂➂

Volume Control: Controls volume of headphone jack. This control has no
effect on the rear panel audio outputs.

➃➃

DISC Indicator: Green when disc is in the drive and power is ON.

➄➄

ON/READ Indicator: Green when power is ON and no disc is in drive.
Green flashing when disc is being accessed.

➅➅

Write L Indicator: Orange when recording CD-R discs at 1X and 2X speeds.
Also on (simultaneously with Write H Indicator) when recording CD-RW
discs at 2X speed.

— CHAPTER 5 —

Door Closed

➀➀

Tray Front Door

➈➈

Stop/Eject
Button

➁➁

Headphone Jack

➂➂

Volume Control

➃➃

DISC Indicator

➅➅

Write L Indicator

➇➇

CD-Audio Play Button

➉➉

Emergency Eject Hole

➄➄

ON/READ Indicator

➆➆

Write H Indicator

10 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

➆➆

Write H Indicator: Orange when recording CD-R discs at 4X speeds. Also
on (simultaneously with Write L Indicator) when recording CD-RW discs at
2X speed.

➇➇

CD-Audio Play Button: With audio CD in drive, push once to put drive in
CD-Audio play mode. Push button once during CD play mode to skip
tracks. Push and hold down play button more than one second to fast
forward.

➈➈

Stop/Eject Button: Push to eject tray. During CD-DA play mode, playback
is stopped when pressed once, and the disc ejects when pressed twice.

➉➉

Emergency Eject Hole: Insert emergency eject stick, paper clip, or other
thin, rigid object to eject tray if automatic eject button does not work. Turn
OFF power before using this feature.

Rear Panel — PX-W4220Ti Internal Drive

➀➀

Audio Output Connector: Outputs stereo analog signal. Use to connect to
sound board or audio amplifier. Use standard MPC-3 type, 4-pin connector.

➁➁

Jumpers: Use to select SCSI ID number, parity, termination, or block size.
Leave these jumpers at their factory settings unless one or more of the
following situations pertain to you:

SCSI ID number: If you are using more than one SCSI peripheral, you
may have to change your SCSI ID number; see page 14.
Termination: Review Chapter 7 to determine if you need to turn your
terminator switch off.
Block size: If you are working in a UNIX environment and want to boot
from your CD-RW drive, see page 17.

➂➂

SCSI Interface Connector: Connects to SCSI interface board using 50-pin
to 50-pin flat ribbon SCSI cable.

➃➃

Power Connector: Connects to your computer’s power supply (DC +5V and
+12V).

CHAPTER 5 — Drive Features

➀➀

Audio Output
Connector

➂➂

SCSI Interface Connector

➁➁

Jumpers

➃➃

Power Connector

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 11

Rear Panel — PX-W4220Te External Drive

➀➀

DIP Switches: Use to select parity, termination, test, block size, or eject
lock. Leave these jumpers at their factory settings unless one or more of the
following situations pertain to you:

Termination: Review Chapter 7 to determine if you need to turn your
terminator switch off.
Block size: If you are working in a UNIX environment and want to boot
from your drive, see page 17.
Eject lock: If you work in an environment where you need to prevent
others from removing discs from your drive, see page 17.

➁➁

SCSI ID: Use this dial to designate SCSI ID numbers. Rotate the dial to
change the number. If you are using more than one SCSI peripheral, you
may need to change your SCSI ID number; see page 16.

➂➂

Power Switch: To turn power ON/OFF.

➃➃

AC Power Input: Use the power cord supplied with your drive.

➄➄

Audio Output: Outputs stereo analog signal. Use to connect to sound board
or audio amplifier. Use standard RCA jack connectors.

➅➅

SCSI Interface Connector In and Out: One connector should be used to
link your CD-RW drive to your SCSI host adapter; the other to link your
CD-RW drive to another SCSI peripheral with a daisy chain cable (see page

31). You may use either connector for either purpose.

CHAPTER 5 — Drive Features

➅➅

SCSI Interface Connector

➀➀

DIP Switches

➄➄

Audio Output
Connectors

➃➃

AC Power Input

➁➁

SCSI ID

➂➂

Power Switch

12 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

— CHAPTER 6 —

Drive Switch/Jumper/Dial Settings

YOUR TASK: Find the locations of the jumpers (internal drive), the

switches, and the rotary dial (external drive). Check
their settings. Change them, if necessary.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: To ensure that your new CD-RW drive can coexist

with other equipment you might have installed in
your computer. To ensure that your drive will work
properly after it is installed.

YOUR METHOD: Find the locations of the jumpers, the switches, and

the rotary dial on the diagram in Chapter 4. Read
below to determine if your drive’s settings need to be
changed. If so, follow the directions for making the
necessary changes.

Your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 needs to be flexible enough to work with the
variety of computer systems (PC, Mac, Sun, Silicon Graphics, DEC, etc.) that
can use SCSI peripherals. To provide this flexibility, Plextor gives its customers
options for the drive’s settings before it is installed. On an internal drive,
settings are determined by the position of jumpers on the jumper block at the
rear of the drive. On an external drive, settings are determined by the position
of DIP switches and the rotary dial on the rear panel of the drive.

Fortunately, we have a pretty good idea of the environment in which most of our
drives will be used (a single SCSI device connected to a PC or Mac). Your drive
ships from our factory with its jumpers, switches, and/or dial set to work in this
environment.

You should leave the jumpers found on the rear panel of the PX-W4220Ti and
the switches and rotary dial found on the rear panel of the PX-W4220Te at
their factory settings, unless: 1) you plan to use another SCSI peripheral
(e.g., CD-ROM, hard disk, scanner) with your computer system in addition to
your CD-RW drive; or 2) you find it necessary to change the device type setting
(most likely in an older UNIX system).

If you plan to use additional SCSI peripherals, you may need to change the
jumper, switch, and/or dial settings of the PX-W4220Ti/PX-W4220Te. This section
will describe how to make these changes.

If the CD-RW drive is the only SCSI peripheral you will use with your
computer and you do not need to change the device type setting, skip now to
Chapter 8: Hardware Installation. (Take our word for it, most of you can now
skip to Chapter 8.)

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 13

PX-W4220Ti Internal Drive

Factory Setting of Jumper Block

The functions shown are ON if the jumpers are installed and OFF if the
jumpers are removed. The jumpers are set by the factory as follows:

Installing and Removing Jumpers

Ensure power to the drive is OFF before installing or removing jumpers.
To remove a jumper, pull it off with your fingers or a pair of needle-nose pliers.
To add a jumper, push it onto the jumper pins. Extra jumpers are supplied with

the PX-W4220Ti in addition to the three jumpers already installed at the factory.
CAUTION: Install jumpers across each pin as shown; that is, vertically. Do

not connect one pin switch to another by installing the jumpers
lengthwise. Doing so could result in damage to the drive.

Install jumpers this way

(Vertically)

CHAPTER 6 — Drive Switch/Jumper/Dial Settings

DO NOT install jumpers this way

(Horizontally)

Jumper

ON (Jumper installed)

OFF (Jumper removed)

SCSI-ID

PARITY

TERM

BLOCK SIZE

TEST

EJECT LOCK

14 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

SCSI ID Number

It is possible to daisy-chain (using a cable with multiple SCSI connectors) SCSI
peripherals to a single SCSI interface board, or to the SCSI port of an Apple
computer — up to seven devices with the PlexWriter R W 4/2/20. Daisy chaining
a few drives together should be possible with no loss of performance. When
using multiple SCSI peripherals, however , it is necessary to set each peripheral
to a unique SCSI ID number.

NOTE: To guarantee specified performance, cable length of all daisy chain

cables, internal and external, should not exceed 1.5 meters. Plextor
recommends keeping the total length of your SCSI cabling as short as
possible. Longer lengths may affect performance of SCSI devices.

If you bought a Plextor kit with a SCSI interface board, both the drive and the
board are SCAM compliant. This is a feature of Plug-and-Play for SCSI devices.
It means that each time you turn on your computer, it detects if more than one
device is configured with the same SCSI ID. If necessary, SCAM overrides a
device’s hardware setting and changes its SCSI ID to avoid any conflict. This
feature is available only in Plug-and-Play operating systems such as Windows
95 and Windows 98. If you separately purchased or already own a SCSI
interface board, it may not be SCAM compliant.

For those of you without SCAM adapters, or who are not using a Plug-and-Play
operating system, your Plextor CD-RW drive can be set to use one of eight
SCSI ID numbers. The drive should arrive with its SCSI ID set to 4. Accordingly,
if you already use another SCSI peripheral, and its SCSI ID is also set to 4, you
must change the SCSI ID number of either this peripheral or that of the CD-RW
drive. In the past this always had to be done manually. If you connect your
PlexWriter to an existing SCSI controller, you will still need to go through this
exercise of checking and possibly changing SCSI IDs.

CHAPTER 6 — Drive Switch/Jumper/Dial Settings

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 15

Changing the SCSI ID: PX-W4220Ti

The SCSI ID number of the PX-W4220Ti is determined by the placement of
jumpers on Pins 1, 2, and 3. To find the location of Pin 1, Pin 2, and Pin 3,
refer to the jumper diagram on page 13. To change the SCSI ID number, follow
the chart below.

Jumper Installed

Across

SCSI ID Number Pin 1 Pin 2 Pin 3

0 OFF OFF OFF
1 ON OFF OFF
2 OFF ON OFF
3 ON ON OFF

4 OFF OFF ON

5 ON OFF ON
6 OFF ON ON
7 ON ON ON

For example, the factory setting for SCSI ID 4 is made by installing a jumper
across Pin 3 of the jumper block, leaving Pin 1 and 2 uncovered. To set the
SCSI ID at 2, you would install a jumper across Pin 2, leaving Pins 1 and 3
uncovered.

CAUTION: Ensure no power is applied to the drive before changing any

jumpers.

CHAPTER 6 — Drive Switch/Jumper/Dial Settings

Factory Settings

16 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

PX-W4220Te External Drive

SCSI ID Number

Please see the description on page 14. It is also applicable to the external
drive.

Factory Setting of Dial and DIP Switches

CAUTION: Turn the drive’s power OFF before changing the setting of the dial

or DIP switches.

The SCSI ID number of the PX-W4220Te is determined by the position of the
pointer on the SCSI ID rotary dial. The drive will arrive with its SCSI ID set to

4. The rotary dial and DIP switches are set by the factory as shown below:

Changing the SCSI ID

Using the blade of a screwdriver, rotate the dial’s arrow to a different SCSI ID
number.

PARITY

(ON) 1

(OFF) 0

TERM

TEST

BLOCK
SIZE

CHAPTER 6 — Drive Switch/Jumper/Dial Settings

EJECT
LOCK

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 17

Other Switch/Jumper Settings

The remaining switches (external drives) and jumpers (internal drives) are:
Parity Leave this ON. The parity check provided by the ON setting

enhances the reliability of the SCSI bus. Set to OFF only if your
computer system or SCSI controller specifically requests that parity
be disabled.

Term This enables or disables (turns ON or OFF) SCSI termination.

Factory setting is enabled (ON). See page 18 for an explanation of
SCSI termination and to determine if you need to change this
setting.

Test Leave this OFF. It is for factory use only.
Block Leave this OFF, unless you are working in a UNIX environment

and want to boot from your CD-RW drive. If so, set this
switch/jumper ON.

Eject Lock Leave this OFF, unless you work in an environment where you

need to prevent others from removing a disc from your drive.

CHAPTER 6 — Drive Switch/Jumper/Dial Settings

18 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Termination

YOUR TASK: Find the location of the SCSI termination jumper or

switch.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Determine if you must disable the SCSI termination.

YOUR METHOD: Your drive was shipped with termination enabled.

If necessary, remove the termination jumper or turn
the SCSI termination DIP switch OFF by following the
instructions below.

You must enable SCSI termination if the PlexWriter RW is the only SCSI
peripheral used with your computer. In addition, you must enable termination
(ON) if you are using multiple SCSI peripherals with your computer and the
PlexWriter RW is positioned as the last peripheral in a daisy chain. We
recommend using active termination.

NOTE: The PlexWriter uses active termination.
If you have internal SCSI peripherals only, or external SCSI peripherals only

(but not both), then you should be using an internal ribbon cable or external
cable (or cables), respectively (but not both). In this case, all devices between
the host adapter and the last peripheral on the opposite end of the ribbon
cable, or the last peripheral at the end of your daisy chain, should have their
termination removed, disabled, or turned OFF. The last peripheral should have
its termination enabled, or turned ON.

If you have both internal and external SCSI peripherals (both the internal and
external connectors of your host adapter are used), then the termination of
your SCSI host adapter should be removed, disabled, or turned OFF. The last
peripheral on your internal cable and the last peripheral on your external daisy
chain should retain their termination. All other SCSI peripherals connected to
the host adapter should have their termination removed, disabled, or turned
OFF.

NOTE: Some host adapters and peripherals have the ability to disable and

enable termination power . This should not be confused with termination
itself. Termination power can and should be provided by at least one
device attached to your SCSI host adapter. Your Plextor drive
automatically supplies termination power. Any additional devices
supplying termination power will not cause any problems.

— CHAPTER 7 —

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 19

REMEMBER: Only the last SCSI peripheral in a daisy chain should have

termination enabled. If you have any SCSI devices chained after
your PlexW riter R W, you must disable or turn OFF the PlexWriter’s
termination using the following instructions:

Internal Termination

The PlexWriter RW internal drive is shipped from the factory with its
termination enabled (ON).

To disable termination, remove the jumper from the termination pins on the
back panel of your drive. Refer to the diagrams on page 13 for the location of
the termination pins (labeled “Term”). They are the fifth set of pins from the left.

If your drive is already installed in your computer, be sure to turn off your
computer before removing (or reinstalling) the jumpers. We recommend that
you retain the jumpers so you can reinsert them onto the termination pins if
you later need to turn the drive’s termination ON.

External Termination

The PlexWriter RW external drive is shipped from the factory with its
termination turned ON.

To turn the termination OFF, first turn off the drive’s power, then change the
second DIP switch on the rear panel of the drive to the OFF position. Refer to
the pictures on page 16 for the location of the termination switch (labeled
“Term”). It is the second of the five switches.

CHAPTER 7 — Termination

20 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Hardware Installation

By itself, your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 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 RW 4/2/20 uses a SCSI interface as its
link.

Plextor strongly recommends the use of a high performance bus-mastering
SCSI interface board, preferably a PCI card. You may have purchased a Plextor
kit with such a board included. If you purchased your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20
without a SCSI interface board, we suggest you do not connect it to a
non-bus-mastering interface board (PIO). If you use an ISAbus-mastering card,
we recommend you do not connect any other SCSI peripherals to the same
board. Connecting the PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 to a parallel-to-SCSI interface or
to the SCSI interface on a sound board is not recommended, because it will
slow performance.

— CHAPTER 8 —

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 21

Board Installation

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

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Provide the hardware link needed to enable your

CD-RW 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-RW 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 R W 4/2/20, 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, 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 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 SCSI interface board 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. 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 are OFF and your computer is
UNPLUGGED from its power source.

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

22 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

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 CD-RW 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.

Plug the SCSI interface board into the slot you have selected. Rock the board
from end to end to ensure that it sits 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.

Expansion Slot Cover

Rear Panel

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 23

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

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

24 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Drive Positioning

YOUR TASK: Determine where you want to install your CD-RW

drive.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Position the drive in the proper manner so that it

operates correctly.

YOUR METHOD: If you have an internal drive, find an open bay in

your computer. If you have an external drive, find an
open space on your desktop.

The PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 should only be installed horizontally. We do not
recommend installing this drive vertically.

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

Horizontal

Horizontal

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 25

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: Identify the drive bay where you will mount your

drive. Remove bay cover. If necessary, use mounting
rails to install drive in bay.

Your PC probably looks something like this:

You can mount your drive in any available bay. You must remove the small
panel that covers the bay that you want to use. Typically, this 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). Refer to your computer’s user manual for more
details.

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.

Available bay with

cover panel removed

26 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

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

NOTE: Plextor does not provide rails. If rails are necessary, it is up to the

computer/chassis manufacturer to provide them.

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 four screws were supplied with your drive. Use only these
screws. After fastening the rails, check their positioning by sliding the drive
into the bay before you connect any cables.

Check Your Jumper Settings

Once you have determined: a) that you have properly mounted the 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 and be sure to record the serial number of your drive for future
reference. It may also be helpful to record the four-digit number (the “TLA”
code) found on the back or top of your drive.

If you have no other SCSI peripherals (e.g., CD-ROM, hard disk, scanner,
printer, etc.) in your system other than your CD-RW drive, you should not
change the jumpers from their factory setting or remove the termination resistors.

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

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

Be sure not to mistake the inner and

outer face of the rail when attaching.

Typically, the smooth side of the rail

faces away from the

drive’s chassis.

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 27

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

Cable Connections

You must make a minimum of two cable connections to your CD-RW drive. A
third cable connection will need to be made if you are using a sound board in
your computer and plan to connect the PlexWriter’s audio output to the audio
connector on the sound board.

The two cable connections that you must make are:

1) SCSI cable

2) power cable

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 CD-ROM drive or 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 and Pin 1 on the drive. Connectors on
most SCSI ribbon cables have 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.

Personal Computer

Audio Connector

Jumpers

DC Power Supply

DC+12V 0.6A

DC+5V 0.3A

Power Supply
from Personal
Computer

SCSI Interface Connector

Power Connector

SCSI Ribbon Cable

SCSI Host Adapter

CD-RW
drive

28 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

The easiest way to install your SCSI cable is to plug it into the SCSI connector
on the rear panel of the drive before you insert the drive into your computer.
Then you can thread the cable through the front of the open bay you plan to
use and back toward the SCSI interface board. Connect the cable to your SCSI
interface board and finish mounting your drive in the proper position. The
drive should slide smoothly into the bay. If it does not, check for obstructions
in the bay and ensure the side rails (if needed) are attached properly.

You now need to make the power connection. In most computers, you will
find additional power connectors that are ready for your use. Check the cable
running from your power supply to your hard disk and see if it has extra
connectors on it. If so, you can plug one of these into the power connector
found on the rear panel of the CD-RW drive.

If you do not find any additional connectors (either because they were not
supplied or they are all in use), you will have to buy a “splitter” or a “Y-connector.”
These can also be found at most computer stores.

A third cable, an audio cable, must be used if there is a sound board in your
system. This cable runs from the four-pin audio output connector on the rear
panel of your drive to your sound board. See page 32 for more information
about audio cables.

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

To Pin 1
Either end of the cable may be connected
to the CD-RW drive or the SCSI interface
board

Pin 1

#1

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 29

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

Installation of your internal drive is now complete. Skip to page 39.

External Drive Installation

YOUR TASK: Connect cables from your external drive to your PC

or Mac. Check to see if switch, dial, and terminator
settings need to be adjusted.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: A well-functioning drive that does not conflict with

any other peripherals in your computer system.

YOUR METHOD: Follow the directions below for making cable

connections. Review your current computer setup to
see if potential conflicts exist. If so, make the
necessary switch, dial, and/or terminator changes.

If you are installing a single PX-W4220Te and you have no other SCSI
peripherals attached to your system, you should leave the switches, dial, and
terminator found on the rear panel of your drive at their factory settings. If you
do have additional SCSI peripherals (e.g., CD-ROM, scanner , printer) attached
to your computer, you may need to change your dial and terminator settings.
See Chapters 6 and 7 for information on how to change these settings.

If you are installing a single PX-W4220Te external drive, connect it as shown
on the next page.

30 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

PC Connection

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

SCSI Cable

SCSI Interface Board

Personal Computer

Y

AC Power

Supply

PX-W4220Te Rear Panel

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 31

If you are installing more than one PX-W4220Te external drive (or one
PX-W4220Te and other external SCSI peripherals), connect them as shown
below:

NOTE: Performance of SCSI devices may suffer if total cable length in daisy

chain plus cabling in external case exceeds 1.5 meters. Assume
cabling in external case equals about 20cm when adding up total
cable length. Quality of cabling is also important. Use shielded cables
when possible.

PC or Mac Connections — Multiple Drives

Personal Computer

SCSI Cable

All connections are
50-pin High Density

No terminator

No terminator

Termination enabled using
DIP switch setting

SCSI

Interface

Board

Daisy

Chain Cable

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

32 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Regarding Sound Cards and Audio Cables

Whichever category your sound board falls into, you will find that the best
source of information about installing the sound board in your computer is
your sound board's manual. Once you have successfully installed the sound
board in your computer, you can continue below for a description of the
different cable connections that need to be made. Even if your sound board
has a SCSI connector, Plextor strongly suggests not using it to control your
PlexWriter RW 4/2/20.

Audio Cables

Plextor provides audio cables in kits with SCSI controllers because we are
assuming this will be the primary, or possibly the first, SCSI drive in your
system. Our “bare drive” kits include no cabling. In kits with a SCSI card, two
cables come with an internal kit and one set with an external kit. One cable
delivered with your internal drive is MPC compliant, and the other has
connectors designed for use with Sound Blaster sound cards. The cable
delivered with your external drive has two RCA-type color-coded connectors
at one end, which connect to your drive, and a single stereo mini-jack at the
other end, which plugs into the line-in receptacle on your soundboard (at the
back of your computer).

If you purchased an internal drive SCSI card kit and you have a sound card
other than Sound Blaster that is not MPC compliant, you will have to purchase
a different audio cable from a computer supply store. We can help by
recommending several vendors who offer audio cables and can get them to
you quickly at a reasonable price. See page 60 of this manual.

The following diagram illustrates where the SCSI cable and audio cable need
to be connected to your internal CD-RW drive:

Sound Board without SCSI Interface

CHAPTER 8 — Hardware Installation

1 Audio Connector
2 Power Connector
3 SCSI Connector

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 33

Device Driver and Software

Installation

YOUR TASK: Install the correct version of software device drivers

into your computer system.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Enable your CD-RW drive to communicate with the

rest of your computer system.

YOUR METHOD: Insert the floppy disk containing the device drivers

into your floppy disk drive. Follow the directions
provided by their supplier in order to copy the drivers
to the proper location in your computer.

Device Drivers

A device driver is a software program that allows your computer to interact
with your drive. The device driver is required in order for the computer’s
operating system to detect that the PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 is installed and
operational.

For the purpose of setup and installation, the primary source of the device
driver you require to support your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 CD-ROM function
should be your operating system or Plextor . Your PlexW riter R W 4/2/20 acts as
a “CD-ROM drive” for the purpose of setup and installation. This allows it to
be easily recognized and supported by the generic CD-ROM device driver
files in Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT.

• For Windows 95/98 installation: See the Windows Installation Guide

in Appendix A, page 63.

• For Windows DOS/Win 3.1 installation: See the Plextor Manager

manual or Readme file.

• For Apple computer users: Refer to your Mac manual.

• For PC users with Windows NT: See Appendix B, page 78.

• For other OS users, refer to the applicable SCSI CD-ROM installation

procedures provided with that OS.

You will also need to have an ASPI Manager file for DOS/Windows 3.x or a
mini-port driver file (.MPD) for Windows 95/98, or a system driver file (.SYS)
for Windows NT to support your SCSI host adapter. ASPI Managers are

— CHAPTER 9 —

34 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

provided by SCSI host adapter manufacturers. Mini-port and system drivers are
generally included with Windows 95/98 or NT. However, if your SCSI host
adapter was released recently, it may not be supported by your release of
Windows 95/98 or NT. In this case, you should contact the host adapter
manufacturer who should have provided the required .MPD file or .SYS file.

A more common problem is that the ASPI Manager and/or the Device Driver
that you received with your SCSI interface board at the time of purchase needs
to be updated in order to work with your PlexWriter R W 4/2/20. SCSI interface
board manufacturers are continuously updating their ASPI Manager to provide
support for new SCSI peripherals as they enter the market. Most of these
companies will provide you with an update at little or no cost. In addition, if
you have a modem, you can call the bulletin board or web site that many of
these companies maintain and download the most recent version.

Before installing drivers, check that all the cable connections between your
CD-RW drive and PC are correct and that all jumpers, switches, dials, and
termination are set properly. If you are using a PX-W4220Te external drive,
turn the power switch to OFF. Once the drive installation is complete,
remember to turn the drive’s power ON before turning your computer on.

If you purchased a drive kit with software or a drive kit with a SCSI host
adapter and software, we have included a special Plextor device driver for use
with a DOS/Windows 3.x. This device driver was custom designed by Plextor
to ensure optimum reading performance of your PlexWriter. Please refer to the
separate Plextor Manager User’s Manual provided for PC installation.

If you are installing your drive on a UNIX workstation, please refer to your
system’s documentation. UNIX operating systems also provide CD-ROM device
drivers. Remember, third party software is required for mastering and
recording CDs.

CHAPTER 9 — Device Driver and Software Installation

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 35

Applications Software

All of the above issues regarding device drivers are primarily applicable to
operating your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20as a CD-ROM device (reader) and for the
drive to be recognized by your operating system. In order to take advantage of
the PlexWriter RW 4/2/20’s ability to record on CD-RW or CD-R media, you
will also need special applications software on your PC, Mac, or UNIX system.

There are many different varieties of applications on the market that will let
you explore the full capabilities of your PlexWriter drive. Some of these were
probably shipped right along with your drive, while others may be available
from other vendors — or even from the web.

In software only or SCSI and software kits, Plextor also provides a HDD disaster
recovery program in these kits; it is called CD Res-Q™. For those who own a
Plextor 12PleX or faster CD-ROM, the DiscDupe™ feature in Plextor Manager 96
allows you to copy CDs directly from the CD-ROM to the CD-R drive.

Also included are mastering software and packet writing software. Packet writing
software or DLA software allows you to use the drive as a read/write CD-ROM
drive in Windows 95/98 and NT 4.0. If you purchased a retail kit with software
and/or SCSI card, this software is included.

Here are some popular applications from Plextor and what you can do with
them:

Plextor Manager: Includes several different applications, such as:

• Audio Capture: A program that allows you to capture CD audio tracks

to Windows-compatible .WAV files on your hard disk. You can specify
the track or starting location, the length of time to copy, and the
destination.

• A/V Player: A simple audio-video player for your Plextor CD-RW

drive. Besides the standard Play , Stop, Pause, Track Reverse, and Track
Advance buttons, this player also lets you change the view size of your
screen for video files or configure the amount of RAM assigned to your
audio files.

• Audio Control: Lets you set the basic audio output characteristics of

your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20, including controlling audio volume
without the necessity of a sound board software mixer.

• DOS/Windows 3.1, 3.11 Utilities: Let you operate the PlexWriter RW

4/2/20 in a DOS or Windows 3.1 environment. Also useful when
installing Windows 98 or W indows 95 on a new computer that has no
CD-ROM device driver installed.

CHAPTER 9 — Device Driver and Software Installation

36 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Plextor DiscDupe: A handy program for duplicating CD-ROM disks. This

utility creates image copies from a source CD-ROM disc to a target disc. For
those who own a Plextor 12PleX or faster CD-ROM, DiscDupe™ allows you to
copy CDs directly from the CD-ROM to the CD-RW drive.

Plextor CD Res-Q™: Guides you through the process of creating a rescue CD-R
or CD-RW disc for your system. This remarkable utility actually backs up an
entire hard disk, including the operating system. It creates an image of your
data, compressing it so even multi-gigabyte disks can be backed up. The
software allows spanning of several CDs, too. Plus, you can make the CD
bootable, so you can start and restore your system right from the CD. This is
an invaluable utility for backup and disaster recovery.

This is just an example of some of the applications available. You may have
different ones shipped with your PlexWriter 4/2/20 CD Re-Writable drive, or
you may want to assemble your own set of utilities and other software.

CHAPTER 9 — Device Driver and Software Installation

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 37

Using CD-ROM, CD-R, and

CD-RW Discs 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: Practice loading discs into trays.

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) If this is the first time using the drive,

remove the plastic protective strip.

3) Lay the bare CD into the
depression in the tray, label side
up. The CD should lay flat in the
drive; you do not need to use the
clips in the tray.

4) Press the Eject button again and the tray will slide shut within

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 and risks damage or premature
wearing of the mechanism.

Types of Discs

The three types of discs you will use are:

• CD-ROM: Recorded discs such as audio CDs and software discs.

• CD-R: Discs on which you can record once, using a CD-R drive or a

CD-RW drive.

• CD-RW: Discs that support recording and re-recording (up to 1000

times) using a CD-RW drive such as the PlexWriter RW 4/2/20.

— CHAPTER 10 —

38 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Handling CD-R and CD-RW Media

Care should be taken when handling CD-R or CD-RW media. Dust, scratches,
and fingerprints on the data side of the disc can cause write errors during
recording. When picking up or holding media you can either place your
fingers only on the outer edge of the disc or place one finger through the
center hole and one finger along the outer edge. Once you are finished
creating a disc, you can then label it by writing on the top using permanent
ink or by using self-sticking CD-R labels.

NOTE: We recommend placing self sticking labels after recording as the

weight of the label may unbalance the disc and cause write errors during
recording.

Cleaning the Disc

For proper read and write performance, it is important that your CD-R, CD-RW ,
and CD-ROM discs be clean. Trying to record on a dirty disc may result in a
failed session and ruin the disc.

If the disc is merely dusty , you may use a commer cially available dust removal
spray such as Dust-Off or Vari-Air to blow dust particles off the disc. You
should not use liquid or chemical cleaners. They may damage the disc and
make it unusable.

After removing the dust particles, you may 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.

If blank CD-R or CD-RW media becomes dirty or soiled with grease or other
contaminants not removable by wiping, you should probably discard the disc.
It will probably fail during the recording process.

HINT: Keeping your frequently used CD-R and CD-RW discs in jewel cases

at all times will prevent them from becoming dirty or damaged.

CHAPTER 10 — Using CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW Discs and Trays

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 39

How to Play Audio CDs

on Your Drive

YOUR TASK: Learn how to use your CD-RW 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: You may choose from a variety of methods. You can

use anything from front panel controls or very basic,
bare bones audio CD software utilities 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 PlexWriter R W 4/2/20 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 CD-Audio
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, press the
Stop/Eject button once to stop audio play and a second time to eject
the CD.

2) 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.

3) Mac users can run a program such as CDT Remote (which is typically

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 panel. You can also 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.

NOTE: The volume control on the front panel of your drive adjusts only the

sound level of the headphone jack. It has no impact on the volume
level of the rear panel audio outputs. Plextor Manager software can

— CHAPTER 11 —

40 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

CHAPTER 11 — How to Play Audio CDs on Your Drive

Stereo Mini-Plug

(To headphone jack)

Audio Amplifier

Audio Input

RCA-Type Plugs

(To audio out)

RCA-Type Plugs

Audio Amplifier

Audio Input

control volume level of the signal from the rear panel audio outputs.
Please refer to the Plextor Manager manual for information regarding
this function.

PX-W4220Ti

PX-W4220Te