Plextor PX-W4220Te, PX-W4220Ti, 4220, PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 Operation 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

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 41

Troubleshooting

YOUR TASK: Review some of the common problems you may

encounter when installing or operating your
PlexWriter drive.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Gain a better understanding of how your drive

operates. Attempt to prevent problems before they
occur. Quickly fix many simple problems on your
own, 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.

Guidelines

If you experience trouble with your PlexWriter 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 is probably
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 have 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
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.

— CHAPTER 12 —

42 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Upgrading Firmware

The PlexWriter R W 4/2/20 has the ability to upload new firmware to the drive.
Typically, Plextor creates new firmware revisions to meet the peculiar needs of
large computer manufacturers. It is rare that these will impact the performance
or operation of your drive. However, if after you have proceeded through this
chapter with no result, you should check out our web site to learn about the
latest firmware.

Firmware upgrades can be found in either the Technical Support area or on the
Downloads page. There will be a description of the new firmware and its
intended use. Follow instructions for downloading, then simply run the
executable file on your system. The firmware upgrade will occur automatically.

Apple Computer Users:

Read Section 12.3—Apple Macintosh

Technical Support

If you still cannot solve your problem after reviewing the relevant sections of
this chapter , visit the Technical Support and Frequently Asked Questions areas
of our web site.

NOTE: We encourage you to go to 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 Frequently
Asked Questions area. Alink to the FAQ can be found on our home page.

If your problem persists, we ask you to try to isolate the problem before
contacting Technical Support. To do this, you should boot the system to DOS
from a floppy. The contents of this floppy may be available on our web site. If
you cannot locate the files on our web site, you will need to contact Technical
Support following the instructions in Chapter 13. They can help you locate the
files or send them to you via email.

Once you have created the floppy, insert it into the floppy drive and reboot
your system. At the prompt, type the drive letter for the CD-RW drive (e.g. at
the A: prompt, type D:). If the drive is functional and you have a disc in the
drive, you should be able to see a list of directories and files on the CD (type
DIR at the prompt). If the CD-RW drive is functioning properly, you can then
focus on the OS install or configuration of other equipment or software as
likely suspects.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 43

If after further sleuthing you cannot solve the issue, please contact Plextor’s
Technical Support Department (see Chapter 13).

12.1 PC Compatibles: Initial Installation

Symptoms Additional Symptom

• No sound when running a • No sound when playing an audio CD
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 sound board into sound. If you do not have a
sound board or USB speakers, 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-RW drive into sound. You do
not need a sound board 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 sound board is required. These discs use only sound card audio,
not CD-Audio.

To help you determine if you are having a sound board problem or a
CD-Audio problem, try playing an audio CD in your CD-RW 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 sound board 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 sound board and can hear an audio CD when it is played, but

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

44 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

cannot hear sound when you play a CD-ROM disc, you may have configured
your sound board incorrectly . Check the troubleshooting section of your sound
board manual for further advice. If you have a sound board, but you cannot
hear an audio CD when it is played, check the following:

Improper/Missing Audio Cable

If you use a sound board, you must connect the sound board to your CD-RW
drive with an audio cable. See page 32 to ensure you have properly installed this
audio cable. If you have a soundboard and CD-RW drive but lack an audio
cable, contact one of the locations listed on page 60 for information on where
to purchase a cable.

Device Drivers Need to Be Updated

If you can hear an audio CD in your CD-RW drive when it is in CD-Audio 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 your sound card manufacturer for assistance.

Sound Board 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 sound board set too low. Each sound board has different
settings for each input source, including one for CD-Audio. Run your sound
board’s mixer program and verify that the volume is turned up.

Bad Sound Board Audio Cable

If you have verified that you have made the proper cable connections between
your drive and sound board, 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:

1) Unplug the audio cable from the rear of your PlexWriter drive.

2) Plug a set of headphones or speakers that you know are good into the jack
on the front of the drive.

3) 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.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 45

Symptoms

• Cannot view PhotoCD discs

• Can read only first session of a multisession disc

• Receive error messages while reading PhotoCD images

Your PlexWriter drive is capable of reading Kodak PhotoCD multisession discs
if you use the appropriate device drivers and you run a PhotoCD viewing
program (e.g., Adaptec, Kodak’s PhotoCD Access).

Possible Causes and Solutions

Device Drivers Need to Be Updated

If you purchased a SCSI card in a Plextor kit, contact Plextor T echnical Support
for device driver information. If you purchased your SCSI card separately,
please contact the manufacturer of that card.

Bad PhotoCD Disc

If you can see a list of files from your PhotoCD (after issuing a DIR command),
but cannot read them, or experience errors while reading them, you may have
a bad PhotoCD disc. Try another PhotoCD disc. If it works, you should have
the defective disc replaced.

Symptoms Additional Symptom

• Invalid drive specification • Error appears upon initial installation

• No device found of the CD-RW drive and device

• No SCSI interface board found driver software
or no response from SCSI
interface board

• No drives in use

Possible Causes and Solutions

Improper SCSI Device Driver Installation

Your computer needs a SCSI software device driver to link the SCSI interface
board to the CD-RW drive. If this driver cannot be loaded properly, an error
message will normally be displayed on the screen.

Try rebooting the computer. Watch as the CONFIG.SYS file executes, and look
for an error message to appear. You can press the Control and S keys
simultaneously to freeze the display in order to read the error message (use the
Control and S combination again to continue).

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

46 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

If the SCSI device driver cannot be loaded properly, either a software or
hardware conflict exists. Software conflicts are generally caused by memory
managers; hardware conflicts by two peripherals vying for the same address
space. Please read the next two sections on Software and Hardware conflicts.

Software Conflict with Other Device Drivers

The SCSI interface board normally designates the device driver as the first
device driver loaded by the computer. When the computer has a memory
manager (e.g., HIMEM.SYS, 386MAX.SYS, or QEMM.SYS), in most cases the
memory manager is loaded first and the device driver loaded directly
thereafter.

If other device drivers are loading before the CD-ROM driver , place them after
the CD-ROM driver . If the memory manager tries to load the device driver into
high memory (e.g., DEVICEHIGH or LOADHIGH), disable the function so that
the driver is loaded into conventional memory.

Hardware Conflict Between the Interface Board and Your Computer

The SCSI interface board may be in conflict with another peripheral in your
computer. Normally, this conflict can be settled by selecting a different address
for the SCSI interface board. In some cases, you may wish to select a different
address for the conflicting peripheral.

If the driver still does not recognize the interface board, try the following:

1) Remove all non-essential peripherals from your computer (e.g.,
network boards, fax boards, etc.) and their device drivers from the
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

2) Reboot the computer and ensure that the SCSI card’s ASPI and
device driver recognizes the CD-RW drive.

3) Turn OFF the computer and reinstall each peripheral and its device
drivers one at a time.

4) Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until the problem reoccurs. This means that the
problem is with the last peripheral you installed.

Improper MSCDEX Installation

The Microsoft CD-ROM extensions (filename: MSCDEX.EXE) or equivalent
files are required to run your CD-RW drive under MS-DOS. If the SCSI driver
was successfully loaded, check for proper installation of MSCDEX.EXE by
rebooting the computer and watching the AUTOEXEC.BAT file as it executes
for an error message.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 47

SCSI Interface Board Not Properly Seated

If the SCSI interface board is not fully seated into the computer’s expansion
slot, the device driver software will not recognize it. Inspect the interface
board where it seats into the connector on your computer’s motherboard.
There should not be more than a small gap between the interface board and
the connector.

Symptom

• Incorrect DOS version

Possible Causes and Solutions

Conflict Between MS-DOS 5.0 and Microsoft’s CD-ROM Extensions Version

2.2 (or Lower)

MS-DOS 5.0 users should use Microsoft’s CD-ROM Extensions (filename
MSCDEX.EXE) Version 2.25. If you do not have this version and plan to use
DOS 5.0 with MSCDEX.EXE V er 2.2 (or lower), you can resolve this conflict by
doing the following

1) Type the following line into your CONFIG.SYS file:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE

2) Switch to the DOS prompt.

3) Type the following:

SETVER MSCDEX.EXE 4.01

Then press the Enter key.

4) Reboot your computer.

Conflict Between MS-DOS 6.0 and Microsoft’s CD-ROM Extensions
(filename: MSCDEX.EXE) Version 2.21 (or Lower)

MSCDEX.EXE Ver. 2.22 (or higher, preferably ver. 2.25) must be used with
DOS 6.0. Use of an earlier version will result in an Incorrect DOS Version
message. A copy of MSCDEX.EXE ver. 2.25 is included with DOS 6.0. You can
find this file in your C:\DOS directory.

If you previously had loaded MSCDEX.EXE ver . 2.21 (or lower), your computer
might still be recognizing this lower version rather than 2.22 (or higher).

To correct this problem, you must edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file using a text
editor or word processor. Your AUTOEXEC.BAT file will probably contain a
line that may look something like this:

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

48 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

C:\TSCSI\MSCDEX.EXE /D:TSLCD /M:10

In this example, C:\TSCI is the path to MSCDEX.EXE. The path name will vary
depending on the type of SCSI device driver software you use. The D:TSLCD
refers to the device.

Change only the path of this line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so that it finds
the updated MSCDEX.EXE file in your DOS directory. This line should be
edited to read:

C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:PLEX0001 /M:10

in DOS. Save the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and reboot your computer.
In Windows 3.1 the AUTOEXEC.BAT file would read:

C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE/D:PLEX0001/M:10

and the CONFIG.SYS file would look something like this:

DEVICE=C:\SCSI\ASPI8DOS.SYS

(ASPI Manager for AHA2940 controller)

DEVICE=C:\SCSI\ASPICD.SYS /D:DEVICE_NAME

(ASPI Manager CD-ROM driver)

or

When using the Plextor driver (PLEXTOR.SYS) instead of ASPICD.SYS:

DEVICE=C:\PROGRA~1\PLEXTOR\PLEXTOR.SYS /D:DEVICE_NAME

(ASPI Manager CD-ROM driver)

Symptoms Additional Symptom

• No device found • Driver fails to recognize the SCSI

• No SCSI interface board found interface board
or no response from SCSI
interface board

Possible Cause and Solution

Drive Not Resetting

In some cases, even if you restart the computer by pressing its reset button or
the Control, Alt, and Delete keys simultaneously, the drive does not appear to
respond. Try turning the power switches on the drive and computer OFF, then
ON. This complete shutdown should fully reset the drive and computer.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 49

Symptom Additional Symptom

• CDR101 – Not Ready • All commands sent to the drive
Reading Drive [X] result in CDR101 error

Possible Causes and Solutions

Defective CD-ROM, CD-R Disc, or CD-RW Disc

A fingerprint, contaminants, or deep scratches on the disc’s surface may
prevent the drive from reading or writing data. Read Chapter 10 to learn how
to handle and clean discs.

You should also review the low performance symptom discussed on page 54.

Bad Connection Between the CD-RW Drive and the SCSI Interface Board

Inspect the cable, drive, and interface board for recessed, broken, or bent pins.
If a ribbon cable is used, inspect for any signs of distress, such as kinking.
Ensure the red stripe side of the ribbon cable plugs into Pin 1 on both the drive
and the interface board.

Audio CD Disc in the Drive

Plextor CD-RW drives are capable of playing high-quality audio when used
with appropriate audio playback software, or when the drive is set to Audio
CD play mode (see Chapter 11). Since audio compact discs do not have
computer data, typing computer commands while a CD-Audio disc is in your
drive will result in an error message.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

50 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

12.2 PC Compatibles: Existing Installations

Symptoms Additional Symptom

• Invalid drive specification • Interface board driver fails to

• No device found recognize the CD-R drive

• Drive not responding

Possible Causes and Solutions

Drive Is Not On

If you have a PlexWriter external drive, check that its front-panel power switch
is ON. If the drive is the internal model, ensure the power cord from your
computer’s power supply is plugged firmly into the drive power connector.
Power is applied correctly if one of the front panel LEDs are on.

Bad Connection Between the CD-RW Drive and the SCSI Interface Board

Inspect the cable, drive, and interface board for recessed, broken, or bent pins.
If a ribbon cable is used, inspect for any signs of distress, such as kinking.
Ensure the red stripe side of the ribbon cable plugs into Pin 1 on both the drive
and the interface board.

Improper SCSI Bus Termination

Ensure that only the peripheral at the end of the internal SCSI cable and/or the
last peripheral in a daisy chain of external devices is terminated (see Chapter

7). Some peripherals have a setting marked “Termination Power” instead of

“Terminator.” Ensure that termination power switches are set correctly.

Symptom Additional Symptom

• CDR101—Not Ready CD-RW drive responds to directory
Reading Drive [X] (DIR) command but cannot run a

program

Possible Causes and Solutions

Bad Connection Between the CD-RW Drive and the SCSI Interface Board

Inspect the cable, drive, and interface board for recessed, broken, or bent pins.
If a ribbon cable is used, inspect for any signs of distress, such as kinking.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 51

Improper SCSI Bus Termination

Ensure that only the last peripheral on the SCSI bus is terminated (see Chapter

7). Some peripherals have a setting marked “Termination Power” instead of

“Terminator.” Ensure that termination power switches are set correctly.

Defective CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW Disc

Fingerprints, contaminants, or deep scratches on the disc’s surface may
prevent the drive from reading or writing data. Read Chapter 10 to learn how
to handle and clean discs.

You should also review the low performance symptom discussed on page 54.

Conflict with a Network Card

Temporarily remove the network card and all related drivers. Reboot the
computer and check that the SCSI controller and the CD-RW drive are
recognized.

Symptom Additional Symptom

• CDR101—Not Ready • Errors occur intermittently
Reading Drive [X]

Possible Causes and Solutions

Defective CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW Disc

Fingerprints, contaminants, or deep scratches on the disc’s surface may
prevent the drive from reading or writing data. Read Chapter 10 to learn how
to handle and clean discs.

You should also review the low performance symptom discussed on page 54.

Drive Not Terminated

If your CD-ROM drive is the only SCSI peripheral attached to your computer
or is the last SCSI peripheral in a daisy chain (i.e., a cable connecting multiple
SCSI peripherals to a single SCSI interface board), check that its termination
switch is ON. Always turn the drive power OFF before changing the setting of
the rear panel switches (see Chapter 7).

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

52 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Symptom Additional Symptom

• CDR101—Not Ready • All commands sent to the drive
Reading Drive [X] result in CDR101 error

Possible Causes and Solutions

Audio CD Disc in the Drive

Plextor CD-ROM drives are capable of playing high-quality audio when used
with appropriate audio playback software or when the drive is set to Audio CD
play mode (see Chapter 1 1). Since audio compact discs do not have computer
data, typing standard data commands when an a CD-Audio disc is in the drive
will result in an error message.

Defective CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW Disc

Fingerprints, contaminants, or deep scratches on the disc’s surface may
prevent the drive from reading or writing data. Read Chapter 10 to learn how
to handle and clean discs.

You should also review the low performance symptom discussed on page 54.

Bad Connection Between the CD-R Drive and the SCSI Interface Board

Inspect the cable, drive, and interface card for recessed, broken, or bent pins.
If a ribbon cable is used, inspect for any signs of distress, such as kinking.

Symptom Additional Symptom

• CDR103—Not High • Occurs with certain discs only
Sierra Format

Possible Cause and Solution

Incorrect Disc

The disc might be intended for another type of computer , such as a Macintosh
or Sun, or it is not mastered in the High Sierra or ISO 9660 formats.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 53

Symptom Additional Symptom

• CDR103—Not High • Occurs regardless of the discs used
Sierra Format

Possible Causes and Solutions

Incorrect Jumper Setting

You might have the block jumper set to ON. For an internal drive, see page

13. For an external drive, see page 16.

Hardware Conflict

If the SCSI interface board uses DMAchannels, try changing the selected DMA
channel. See the instruction manual for your SCSI interface board.

Memory Manager Conflict

If the SCSI interface board uses memory-mapped addressing or has a BIOS,
exclude the addresses from the memory manager. See your SCSI interface
board instruction manual.

Incorrect Version of Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions

Version 2.00 or higher of MSCDEX is required to read a High Sierra or ISO
9660 format disc.

Symptoms Additional Symptom

• Excessive noise • CDR101 error message

• Disc heard jumping

• Excessive vibration

Possible Causes and Solutions

Defective CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW Disc

Fingerprints, contaminants, or deep scratches on the disc’s surface may
prevent the drive from reading data. See Chapter 10 to learn how to handle
and clean discs.

You should also review the low performance symptom discussed on the next
page.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

54 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

CD-RW Drive Set to Test Mode

Turn this switch OFF. The test mode is for factory use only. Always turn the
drive power OFF before changing the setting of the switches. See Chapter 6.

CD-ROM/CD-R Disc is Poorly Balanced

Poorly manufactured discs that are out-of-balance or discs with poorly
distributed ink-on labeling will cause significant vibration at high speeds. Read
errors may also occur . Such out-of-balance conditions can also exist if the disc
label adds more weight to one area of the disc than another. Adhesive labels
may also cause out-of-balance conditions. Remove any adhesive labels on the
label side of the disc and clean the surface following instructions in Chapter

10. If there is no foreign substance on the disc, you may wish to contact the

disc manufacturer for a replacement.
In DOS or Windows (3.x, 95, 98, NT), use Plextor Manager to lower the drive

speed.

Symptom

• Low performance of CD-ROM application software

Possible Cause and Solution

Drive Automatically Set to Slower Throughput

Plextor’s drives are designed to automatically switch from top speed
throughput to slower speeds when they encounter a defect or a scratch on
your disc. The drive then will continue to read data from the disc at the
auto-selected speed for a period of time. If no read errors are encountered,
then the drive spins up to the top speed possible without read errors. It is also
possible that the disc is dirty . Please refer to Chapter 10 for instructions on how
to clean your CD-ROM disc.

Symptoms

• Disc is ejected after being inserted

• ON/BUSY light flashes 4 times

Possible Cause and Solution

CD Is Unreadable

Plextor’s drives are designed to automatically eject any unreadable CD. Please
be sure that the CD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW disc or audio CD is “label-side” up in

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 55

the tray. If not, this will cause the drive to eject the CD. An incorrectly written
CD-RW disc, or a damaged, scratched, or otherwise unreadable CD will cause
this same symptom. Inserting a known good disc will correct this problem.

12.3 Apple Macintosh

Symptoms

• Invalid drive specification

• No device found

• Drive not responding

Possible Cause and Solution

SCSI Address Conflicts with the Hard Disk Drive

This usually can be corrected by selecting another SCSI address (normally
addresses 1 to 6) for your CD-RW drive.

NOTE: The Macintosh’s hard disk uses address 0 and its internal SCSI adapter

uses address 7.

Bad connection between CD-RW drive and SCSI interface

Check cable for bent pins.

Symptom

• Computer does not respond

Possible Cause and Solution

INIT Conflicts

Remove all INITs except those absolutely needed from your System Folder and
the ones copied from the CD-ROM device driver disk. If the CD-RW drive
functions correctly, reinstall the INITs one at a time, restarting the Macintosh
after each one until the problem is solved.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

56 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Symptom

• Low performance of CD-ROM application software

Possible Cause and Solution

System Set for Virtual Memory

If your Macintosh is using System 7 and is in Virtual Mode, it may exhibit slow
performance during real-time graphics and animation. This is because your
hard disk drive and CD-RW drive must use your computer’s SCSI bus almost
simultaneously. To remedy this, remove Virtual Mode from the system and
restart the Macintosh.

CHAPTER 12 — Troubleshooting

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 57

Contacting Plextor ’s

Technical Support

Department

YOUR TASK: Learn the variety of methods you can use to contact

Plextor’s Technical Support Department. Learn what
information you should gather before contacting
Plextor’s Technical Support Department.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Know how to get in contact with Plextor if you

experience any problems installing or operating
your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 drive.

YOUR METHOD: Store Plextor ’s email, 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 PlexWriter RW
4/2/20 drive, please refer first to the relevant sections of this manual regarding
setup and installation (Chapters 6–9). If you do not uncover the solution there,
please refer next to the Troubleshooting chapter in this manual (Chapter 12). 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 FAQ area. A
link to the FAQ can be found on our home page.

If you have not been successful in your quest, our Technical Support
Department will help you solve problems that relate specifically to your
PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 drive. In many cases, a problem that appears to be
caused by your CD-RW drive actually originates in another part of your
computer. In such instances, our technical support staff will try to help you
identify the part (e.g., SCSI interface board) at fault and will refer you to the
manufacturer of that part for further assistance.

Although we think highly of the capabilities of our technical support staff, we
recognize that they do suffer from some limitations; namely, they do not

— CHAPTER 13 —

58 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

possess psychic or telepathic powers. Therefore, their ability to help you
depends a great deal on your ability to help them. You must act as their eyes
and ears as they try to diagnose and fix your problem. If you gather the
information requested below before you contact them, you will find that your
problem can be resolved much more quickly.

How to Contact Us

There are three ways for you to contact Plextor’s Technical Support
Department:

1) Send us email at [e-mail] or visit our web site for
answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

2) Send a fax to the attention of the Technical Support Department at
408-986-1010. Include your telephone number and the hours during
which you can be reached. Be as detailed as possible in describing
your problem. It typically is useful if you also send a printout of your
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files if you are running a
DOS/Windows 3.X operating system.

3) Call 800-886-3935 and select the technical support extension.

Before You E-mail/Log On/FAX/Call

Knowledge is power (or so some say). Empower our technical support folks
with information. This will save both you and them time and possible
frustration. Please gather as much of the following information as possible
before contacting us.

✓ The serial number and TLA number of your CD-R drive. Your serial

number can be found both on the warranty card that accompanied the
drive and on a label on the drive itself. The TLA number appears both
on the drive label and on a sticker at the rear of internal drives.

✓ The version of Plextor Manager you are using, if applicable.
✓ The latest version of firmware you loaded onto the drive, if applicable.
✓ The name and model number of your SCSI interface board (e.g.,

Adaptec AHA-2940, Advansys ABP-930UA).

✓ The version of the software device drivers, if any, that came with your

SCSI interface board (this typically is found on the label of the floppy
disk which contains the device drivers).

✓ The version of the Windows, DOS, Mac, Novell, OS/2, or UNIX

CHAPTER 13 — Contacting Plextor’s Technical Support Department

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 59

operating system you are using.

✓ The brand name and model number of your computer (e.g., Dell

466/NP, Micron P66PCI Powerstation, ALR Evolution V, Apple
Macintosh, Performa 575).

✓ The type of VGA, Super VGA, or other graphics card you use.
✓ Brand name and model number of any other peripherals you have

installed/connected to your computer (e.g., CD-ROM, scanner, fax
board, network board).

Returns

You must receive an RMA (Returned Materials Authorization) number from our
Technical Support Department before any Plextor CD-RW drive can be
returned for repair or replacement. Any drive sent to Plextor without an RMA
number will not be accepted. Drives must be sent postage prepaid. We
recommend that you insure your shipment, as Plextor cannot be held
responsible for any damage that may occur during shipment.

CHAPTER 13 — Contacting Plextor’s Technical Support Department

60 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Helpful Contacts

COMPANY PHONE FAX BBS, Web, and/or

Product email address

Adaptec 408-945-8600 408-262-2533

SCSI interface boards & CD-R software www.adaptec.com

Advansys 800-525-7443 408-383-9612 408-383-9540

SCSI interface boards www.advansys.com

AMC 800-390-9328 425-861-8391

Devices, cables & accessories [e-mail]

Bason Comp. 800-238-4453 818-727-9064 818-597-0275

SCSI interface boards www.bowin.com

CeQuadrat 800-330-6734 650-843-3799 —

CD-R software www.cequadrat.com

Creative Labs 405-742-6600 405-742-6633 405-742-6660

Soundboards www.creativelabs.com

Creative Digital Research408-255-0999 408-255-1011

Windows UNIX software for CD-R www.cdr.com

Diamond 800-468-5846 408-325-7408 408-524-9301

Soundboards www.diamondmm.com

DPT 407-830-5522 407-260-5366 407-830-1070

SCSI interface boards www.dpt.com

DTC 408-474-0868 408-474-0828 408-546-5671

SCSI interface boards www.datatechnology.com

FWB 650-482-4800 650-482-4858 —

Mac device drivers www.fwb.com

Pacific Inter Connects 408-654-0234 408-982-9329 —

Audio cables www.piccable.com

Plextor 408-980-1838 408-986-1010 408-986-1569

Recommend SCSI boards, audio cables,
and all other technical support needs [e-mail]

Testa CD Labs 520-531-1880

CD-Tach Performance Benchmarks http://tcdlabs.simplenet.com

CHAPTER 13 — Contacting Plextor’s Technical Support Department

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 61

Specifications

PX-W4220Ti/e Internal/External
Disc

Useable Formats: CD-DA; CD-ROM (Mode 1); CD-ROM (Mixed Mode);
Read and Write CD-ROM & CD-DA; CD-ROM XA (Mode 2, Form 1 and Form 2);

Mode 2 Mixed Form; CD-I; Photo CD; CD-EXTRA, Video CD

Useable Formats: CD-DA; CD-ROM (Mode 1); CD-ROM XA (Mode 2, Form 1 and 2);
Read Only CD-ROM (Mixed Mode); Photo CD; CD-EXTRA, Video CD; CD-I

movies (MPEG)

Disc Type ISO 9660-HFS; Rockridge; PhotoCD, Video CD; CD-I; CD-Extra

(CD-Plus); Enhanced CD; CD-R; CD+G; CD-Midi

Disc Diameter 12cm (74 min.)
Writing Modes Track-at-Once, Disc-at-Once, Multisession, Session-at-Once,

Fixed and Variable Packet Writing

Recommended Media:

CD-R 4X, 2X Taiyo Yuden, TDK, Ricoh, Mitsui, Kodak, Fuji, Sony, Imation, Philips
CD-R 1X Taiyo Yuden, TDK, Ricoh, Fuji, Sony, Imation, Philips
CD-RW 2X Mitsubishi, Ricoh (All are rewritable up to 1,000 times)

Performance

Data Transfer Rate CLV Write/CAV Read
Sustained Read/Write: 20X (read only): 3.0MB/sec – Outer track

CD-RW 8X (read only): 1.2MB/sec

4X (read/write): 600KB/sec
2X (read/write): 300KB/sec

1X (read/write): 150KB/sec
CD-RW 2X (read/write/rewrite): 300 KB/sec
Burst Read/Write 10MB/sec (synchronous)

(Fast SCSI) 5MB/sec burst (asynchronous)
Playback Block Size Selective: 512B or 2048B
Average Random 170ms

Access
Data Buffer 2MB
Spindle Motor Brushless

— CHAPTER 14 —

62 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Error Rate Mode 1: Block/10

12

Bits; Mode 2: Block/109Bits

Front Panel

Eject Auto Eject; Manual Emergency Eject; Software Eject
Lights DISC IN; ON/READ; WRITE L; WRITE H
Disc Loading Auto
Headphone Jack Stereo Minijack, 0.8V at 32 ohms
Volume Control Wheel Knob
CD-Audio Controls Play/Track Advance; Stop/Eject

Rear Panel

Power Supply Internal: DC +5V at Average 0.78A (peak 0.93A);

DC +12V at Average 0.7A(peak 1.2A)

External: AC 100-240V 50/60 Hz, 0.3A (Auto Switching)
Power Switch External: Tumbler Type; 3A, 250V

Interface Connector Internal: SCSI Bus, 50-Pin Flat Ribbon Type

External: SCSI Bus, Two (2) 50-Pin High Density
Termination Internal: Jumper Switch

External: DIP Switch
Audio Output Internal: Stereo Analog Output, Molex Connector (L*G*G*R),

MPC3 Standard 1.0V at 10K ohms

External: Stereo Analog Output, RCA Jacks
Jumper Switches Internal: SCSI ID, Parity, Term, Test, Block Size, Eject
DIP Switch External: Parity, Term, Test, Block Size, Media Lock
Rotarty Switch External: SCSI ID

Environmental Conditions

Operating

Temperature 5 to 40 degrees Celsius
Humidity 20% to 80% Noncondensing

Storage

Temperature –35 to +55 degrees Celsius
Humidity 20% to 95% Noncondensing

Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions (W/H/D) Internal: 5.78" x 1.64" x 7.95" (without front panel)

External: 7.0" x 2.24" x 12.03" (without projection)
Weight Internal: 2.5 lbs

External: 5.8 lbs.

Reliability

MTBF 60,000 POH
Tray Loading 200,000 Load Cycles

CHAPTER 14 — Specifications

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 63

Windows 95/98

Installation Guide

Quick Install

Windows 95/98 should automatically recognize and support your SCSI
controller and Plextor CD-RW drive. Microsoft has included a generic
CD-ROM device driver in the operating system. This driver also supports the
PlexWriter as a reader. They have also included numerous controller specific
drivers on the Windows 95/98 CD-ROM. If you connect your Plextor drive to
a previously installed and operating SCSI controller, Windows 95/98 will
recognize it automatically.

You will need to install third party software to use the PlexWriter as a recorder.
If you purchased your SCSI controller in a Plextor kit, you can use either the
Windows 95/98 CD or the Plextor Manager disc to provide the necessary file,
when applicable. If you purchased your new SCSI controller from another
source, you must use the Windows 95/98 CD. If W indows 95/98 does not have
the necessary file, you will need to use software provided by the manufacturer
of the SCSI controller. If you encounter any problems, we suggest you read the
following detailed instructions.

Instructions and Background

If the Quick Install description above does not work, this section will tell you
a little about the Windows 95/98 operating system, help you figure out what
your current system configuration is, and then walk you through the
installation. If you are lucky, this process will be close to “Plug and Play.”
Either way, don’t worry. You will soon be using the highest performance
CD-RW drive around. If you have any problems at all, our technical support
staff will help you.

Microsoft has incorporated “Plug and Play” software into Windows 95/98.
Theoretically, this enables true Plug and Play peripherals, such as your Plextor
CD-RW drive, to configure themselves automatically after installation. You
have been hearing about Plug and Play for a long time now. The unfortunate
thing is that even now things are not quite as automatic as they should be.
That’s all right though — Plextor will make it work for you.

For a true Plug and Play experience while installing a SCSI peripheral, many
things are required. Your system must have Plug and Play BIOS available on
the motherboard and on a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) SCSI

— APPENDIX A —

64 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

controller. All PCI controllers have this capability. Your controller itself must
also have its own Plug and Play capabilities. Again, all PCI controllers include
these features. Your SCSI controller must also be SCAM capable. It may sound
like a con game, but actually SCAM stands for SCSI Configured Auto Magically
(sure it sounds hokey, but we didn’t make it up). Others may refer to it as SCSI
Configured AutoMatically.

Any combination of up to seven internal and external devices can be attached
to a single SCSI controller. Each must be set to a unique ID number (0–6) for
identification purposes in your computer system. (ID 7 is usually reserved for
the SCSI controller itself). SCAM is the Plug and Play feature that overrides
whatever a device’s SCSI ID is set to (physically, via jumpers or switches on
the back of the drive) and makes sure each device has a unique ID.

Your computer ’s capabilities are pretty much out of our control. On the other
hand, your Plextor drive is fully SCAM capable. Benevolent folks that we are,
if you bought a Plextor “kit” you also have a SCAM capable SCSI controller in
front of you — wouldn’t make much sense to sell you a true Plug and Play
drive and some old technology controller board, would it? You can also buy
SCAM capable controller kits off the shelf at most computer stores now. It is
possible that you have a PCI SCSI controller, which means you are in really
good shape, especially if you have already installed Windows 95/98.

So, let’s say your computer is Plug and Play or you have a PCI SCSI controller,
your SCSI controller and Plextor CD-R drive are SCAM capable, and you have
successfully installed Windows 95/98. No problem, right? W rong. In Windows
95/98, various files are used to support different SCSI controllers (think of them
as device drivers). Unfortunately , different files are used in a SCAM environment
than are used in a non-SCAM environment. To make matters worse, some
Windows 95/98 releases will not recognize when your controller is SCAM
capable and load the correct file. Instead, since SCAM was not a requirement
for logo certification by the time Windows 95/98 was released, and most
devices were not yet capable, it automatically loads the files that support the
non-SCAM device.

As you might suspect by now , Plextor fixes this problem for you. Just pay close
attention to the instructions and everything will work out fine. Now that we
have bored you with the history and current state of Plug and Play, it’s time to
get that great new CD-RW drive up and running. Turn the page and let’s get
you started.

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 65

Configuration Identification

The first thing you want to do is figure out exactly what your configuration is
and what you are trying to accomplish. Review the following descriptions and
then go to the appropriate section of this manual.

1) You have purchased a new SCAM capable Plextor CD-RW drive kit
with a SCAM capable SCSI controller. If you purchased the drive
without a SCSI controller, it is also possible that you already had, or
separately purchased, a SCAM capable SCSI controller board, your
computer has a Plug and Play BIOS, or your SCSI controller is of the
PCI variety. You have Windows 95/98 installed. You may have
purchased a new computer with Windows 95/98 installed, or you
purchased an upgrade to Windows 95/98 on floppies and already
installed it. You may also have upgraded to Windows 95/98 from a
CD using an older CD-ROM drive. If this scenario describes your
situation, consider yourself a state-of-the-art computer jockey. Go to
the section titled Plug and Play Installation (page 66).

2) You have a SCAM capable controller, as in the Plug and Play
configuration, but your computer is a little older and does not have a
Plug and Play BIOS. You also do not have a PCI class SCSI controller
to provide Plug and Play BIOS. Go to the section titled Non-Plug and
Play Installation (page 69).

3) You did not buy a Plextor kit and have an older SCSI board that is not
SCAM capable. Go to the section titled Non-SCAM Installation
(page 72).

4) You are currently running DOS or Windows 3.x and have purchased
an upgrade to Windows 95/98 on CD-ROM. Since you do not have
an old CD-ROM drive, you need to install your new Plextor CD-RW
drive first. But you need to run the upgrade while in a DOS/Windows
environment, and you need a device driver. Problem? Not with
Plextor. We provide all the software you need to run under
DOS/Windows and upgrade to Windows 95/98. It’s a bit complex,
but we’ll get you there. Go to the section titled “Upgrading to
Windows 95/98 From DOS/Windows Using CD-ROM” (page 74).

By the way, our instructions generally assume you are installing a SCSI
controller as well as a Plextor CD-RW drive. Of course, it is quite possible you
already have a SCSI controller installed and operating under Windows 95/98. If
so, you can make appropriate adjustments to the procedures. For instance, since
your controller is already functioning under Windows 95/98, it will not ask for
a disk or CD to get support for the controller . We have addressed some potential
problems this may cause in the troubleshooting portion of each section.

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

66 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Plug and Play Installation

Install Hardware

You should be able to simply install your SCSI controller, CD-RW drive, and
all cabling without any concern for things like SCSI ID selection. First, turn
OFF your computer system, then review Chapter 8. You should also familiarize
yourself with Chapter 7: Termination. However, the quick solution here is to
place your internal drive at one end of the SCSI ribbon cable and the SCSI
controller at the other end of the cable. Your drive ships from the factory with
termination enabled, so everything should be fine. If you put another SCSI
device between the controller and the drive, you need to make sure
termination is disabled on that device. For external devices, if your Plextor
drive is the last in a chain of devices, leave termination enabled. If it is not last
in the chain, disable termination. All SCAM capable boards should have the
ability to automatically set termination of the board itself so you should not
have to deal with this. Once your hardware is plugged in, it is time to play . But
first, we have to take care of that little device driver problem.

Install Software

After your CD-RW drive and SCSI controller are installed, it is time to make
the right software file available to complete your Plug and Play environment.
Turn on your computer, and your system should automatically detect and
configure your SCSI controller. When you start Windows 95/98, it will then
recognize that it does not have the right driver available for your new SCSI
controller. A dialog box named New Hardware Found appears, followed
immediately by a dialog box named Insert Disk. At this point, click OK in the
Insert Disk dialog box and a second New Hardware Found dialog box will
appear. It will ask you to insert the Windows 95/98 disk or CD. DON’T DO IT.
If you do put in your Microsoft disk or CD, Windows 95/98 may automatically
load the non-SCAM capable file for the SCSI controller we provided.

Instead, if you purchased a Plextor kit with SCSI controller, insert the Plextor
Manager disk. This disk has the SCAM capable support file for your SCSI
controller to complete your Plug and Play CD-RW environment. After inserting
the disk, select Browse in the dialog box and then select the appropriate drive
letter. The Windows 95/98 configuration process should select the correct file
from the disk and copy it to the correct Windows 95/98 subdirectory on your
hard drive.

If you purchased a SCAM capable SCSI controller separately, the correct file
should be located on a disk provided with the controller. We suggest you try
using this disk (supplied by the manufacturer of your SCSI controller) rather

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 67

than inserting the Windows 95/98 disk. If you do not have this disk (or cannot
find it among all the other disks you have), you can try using the files provided
by Windows 95/98, but we cannot guarantee you will get SCAM support.

Reboot Your Computer

Reboot your machine by selecting Shut Down from the Start Button. In the shut
down dialog box, select Restart the Computer and select Yes. This will reboot
your computer with the new configuration. As your system goes through all its
self checks, you might find it interesting to watch the display and note the SCSI
ID that has been assigned to your CD-RW drive. Your drive came from the
factory physically set to ID 4. It is possible (especially if you have other SCSI
devices) that once you reboot your computer, the configuration process will
reassign the drive to some other SCSI ID number. If so, you have just seen
visual proof of Plextor’s SCAM capabilities. Get out your favorite or most
useful CD and enjoy or install premastering software and write your own.

Troubleshooting

If you followed the previous instructions, you should be up and running
without any problems. If things are not working correctly, there are four likely
problems.

1) You might have overlooked our instructions to use the Plextor
Manager to get the necessary driver support for your SCSI controller.
If you used the Windows 95/98 disk or CD, the configuration process
may have copied the wrong (i.e., non-SCAM capable) driver support.
Then, if some other SCSI device attached to your SCSI controller is
physically set to the same ID as your CD-RW drive, a conflict will
occur. To solve this problem, insert the Plextor Manager or use
Windows Explorer or the following DOS command to copy the
correct file to the applicable Windows 95/98 subdirectory:

COPY D:\*.MPD C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS

Reboot again and everything should work fine.

2) The second likely cause is that your motherboard may not have a
Plug and Play capable BIOS and your Plug and Play SCSI controller
is not of the PCI variety. You will need to turn off your computer and
disable the Plug and Play capabilities on your SCSI controller . Review
the controller’s documentation (check the Quick Start Guide or
similar document first) to determine the location of the disable
switch. After disabling, review the Install Hardware portion of the
Non-Plug and Play Installation section of this manual (page 69). Make
sure termination is set properly on your controller and all devices
attached to it. Restart your computer.

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

68 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

3) It is also possible that the SCSI controller you may have purchased
separately is not really SCAM capable. Not to worry, though. You
simply need to deal with SCSI ID selection. First, turn off your
computer. Review the discussion of SCSI ID selection (Chapter 6) and
then check the physical selection of SCSI ID on your CD-RW drive
and any other SCSI devices connected to your controller. Make sure
that all devices are physically set to unique IDs. Since your board is
not SCAM capable, it will probably not have automatic termination.
You will also need to make sure the termination of your board is set
properly. If you have both internal and external devices attached, the
termination on your controller should be disabled. Review the
controller’s documentation to determine how to do this. If you have
only internal devices, or only external devices, termination of your
SCSI controller should remain enabled. After your IDs and
termination are set properly, restart your system.

4) It is possible that your previously or separately purchased SCAM
capable controller is not being supported properly by Windows
95/98. If you had to use the Windows 95/98 disk or CD to get support
for the controller, it may not have existed, or it may have loaded a
non-SCAM capable version of the file. If the file did not exist, you will
have to contact the SCSI controller manufacturer to obtain the
necessary file (you might first look through your own stack of disks
one more time). Once you have the correct file, you can then use the
Windows 95/98 Add New Hardware Wizard to load it. If Windows
95/98 did load a file during the configuration process, and you have
another SCSI device besides your Plextor CD-RW drive, then you
probably have a conflict with your SCSI IDs. In other words,
Windows 95/98 loaded a non-SCAM capable support file. The quick
fix here is to leap out of the Plug and Play environment and reset the
SCSI ID on one of your devices per the previous paragraph.
Alternatively, you can find or obtain the SCAM capable file from the
manufacturer of your SCSI controller. You will then need to copy that
file to a Windows 95/98 subdirectory using Windows Explorer or the
following DOS command:

COPY D:\FILENAME.EXT C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS

The SCSI controller documentation should tell you which file to copy .
If not, you should contact the technical support department of the
SCSI controller manufacturer. If you cannot reach them, or they
cannot help you, contact Plextor’s Technical Support Department.

5) Finally, if you still suspect the CD-R drive as the source of the problem,

you should boot the system to DOS from a floppy. The contents for

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 69

this floppy may be available on Plextor’s web site. If you do not locate
the files on our web site, contact Technical Support by following the
instructions in Chapter 13. They can help you locate the files or send
them to you via email.

NOTE: We encourage you to visit our 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 Frequently Asked Questions area. A link to the FAQ can be
found on our home page.

Once you have created the floppy, insert it into the floppy drive and
reboot your system. At the prompt, type the drive letter for the CD-RW
drive (e.g. at the A: prompt, type D:). If the drive is functional and you
have a disc in the drive, you should be able to see a list of directories
and files on the CD (type DIR at the prompt). If the CD-RW drive is
functioning properly, you can then focus on the OS install or
configuration of other equipment or software as likely suspects.

Non-Plug and Play Installation

Install Hardware

Refer to the Operation Manual for instructions on installing your SCSI
controller, cabling, and CD-RW drive. If your non-PCI controller has Plug and
Play features, but your computer system is not supporting Plug and Play, you
will need to disable the Plug and Play capabilities on your SCSI controller.
Review the controller’s documentation (check the Quick Start Guide or similar
document first) to determine the location of the disable switch.

You might want to familiarize yourself with the chapter on termination.
However, the quick solution here is to place your internal drive at one end of
the SCSI ribbon cable and the SCSI controller at the other end of the cable.
Your CD-RW drive ships from the factory with termination enabled, so
everything should be fine. If you put another SCSI device between the
controller and the drive, you need to make sure termination is disabled on that
device. For external devices, if your drive is the last in a chain of devices, leave
termination enabled. If it is not last in the chain, disable termination.

Install Software

After your CD-ROM drive and SCSI controller are installed, it is time to make
the right software device driver file available to support your new controller.
Turn on your computer and start up Windows 95/98. Your system should

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

70 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

automatically detect and configure your SCSI controller. If you have just
installed it, Windows 95/98 will then recognize that it does not have the right
driver available. Adialog box named New Hardware Found appears, followed
immediately by a dialog box named Insert Disk. At this point, click on OK in
the Insert Disk dialog box and a second New Hardware Found dialog box will
appear . It will ask you to insert the Windows 95/98 disk or CD. Please, DON’T
DO IT. If you do put in your Microsoft disk or CD, Windows 95/98 will
automatically load the non-SCAM capable file for the SCSI controller we
provided.

Instead, if you purchased a Plextor kit with SCSI controller, insert the Plextor
Manager disc. This disc has the SCAM capable support file for your SCSI
controller to complete your Plug and Play environment. After inserting the
disc, select Browse in the dialog box and then select the appropriate drive
letter (probably A:\). The Windows 95/98 configuration process should select
the correct file off the disc and copy it to the correct Windows 95/98
subdirectory on your hard drive.

If you purchased a SCAM capable SCSI controller separately, the correct file is
hopefully located on a disk provided with the controller. We suggest you try
using this disk supplied by the manufacturer of your SCSI controller rather than
inserting the Windows 95/98 disk. If you do not have this disk (or cannot find
it among all the other disks you have), you can try using the files provided by
Windows 95/98, but we cannot guarantee you will get SCAM support.

Reboot Your Computer

Reboot your machine by selecting Shut Down from the Start button. Select
Restart the Computer and select Yes. This will reboot your computer with the
new configuration.

Troubleshooting

If you followed the previous instructions, you should be up and running without
any problems. If things are not working correctly, there are four likely problems.

1) If you purchased a Plextor kit, you might have overlooked our
instructions to use the Plextor Manager disc to get the necessary
driver support for your SCSI controller. If you used the Windows
95/98 disk or CD, the configuration process may have copied the
wrong (i.e., non-SCAM capable) driver support. Then, if some other
SCSI device attached to your SCSI controller is physically set to the
same ID as your PlexWriter, a conflict will occur. To solve this
problem, insert the Plextor Manager disc and use Windows Explorer
or the following DOS command to copy the correct file to the

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 71

applicable Windows 95/98 subdirectory:

COPY D:\*.MPD C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS

Reboot again and everything should work fine.

2) The second likely cause is that you neglected to disable the Plug and
Play capabilities on your SCSI controller. Turn off your computer.
Review the controller’s documentation (check the Quick Start Guide
or similar document first) to determine the location of the disable
switch.

3) It is also possible that the SCSI controller you purchased separately is
not really SCAM capable. Not to worry, though. You simply need to
deal with SCSI ID selection. First, turn off your computer. Review the
discussion of SCSI ID selection (Chapter 6) and then check the
physical selection of SCSI IDs on your drive and any other SCSI
devices connected to your controller. Make sure that all devices are
physically set to unique IDs. Since your board is not SCAM capable,
it will probably not have automatic termination. You will also need to
make sure the termination of your board is set properly . After your IDs
and termination are set properly, restart your system.

4) Finally, it is possible that your previously or separately purchased
SCAM capable controller is not being supported properly by
Windows 95/98. If you used the Windows 95/98 disk or CD to get
support for the controller, it may not have existed, or it may have
loaded a non-SCAM capable version of the file. If the file did not
exist, you will have to contact the SCSI controller manufacturer to
obtain the necessary file (you might first look through your own stack
of disks one more time). Once you have the correct file, you can then
use the Windows 95/98 Add New Hardware Wizard to load it. If
Windows 95/98 did load a file during the configuration process, and
you have another SCSI device besides your Plextor drive, then you
probably have a conflict with your SCSI IDs. In other words,
Windows 95/98 loaded a non-SCAM capable support file. The quick
fix here is to leap out of the Plug and Play environment and reset the
SCSI ID on one of your devices per the previous paragraph.
Alternatively, you can find or obtain the SCAM capable file from the
manufacturer of your SCSI controller. You will then need to copy that
file to a Windows 95/98 subdirectory using Windows Explorer or the
following DOS command:

COPYA:\FILENAME.EXT C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS

The SCSI controller documentation should tell you which file to copy .
If not, you should contact the Technical Support department of the

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

72 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

SCSI controller manufacturer. If you cannot reach them, or they
cannot help you, contact Plextor’s Technical Support Department.

Non-SCAM Installation

Install Hardware

Refer to Chapter 8 for instructions on installing your SCSI controller, cabling,
and CD-RW drive. If your non-PCI controller has Plug and Play features, but
your computer system is not supporting Plug and Play , you will need to disable
the Plug and Play capabilities on your SCSI controller. Review the controller’s
documentation (check the Quick Start Guide or similar document first) to
determine the location of the disable switch.

Since your SCSI board is not Plug and Play and SCAM capable, you will have
to ensure that all peripheral devices attached to the controller have unique
SCSI IDs (see Chapter 6). Make sure that all peripheral SCSI devices connected
to the controller board are physically set to unique ID numbers (using switches
or jumpers).

You should familiarize yourself with Chapter 7: Termination. However, the
quick solution here is to place your internal drive at one end of the SCSI ribbon
cable and the SCSI controller at the other end of the cable. Your CD-RW drive
ships from the factory with termination enabled, so everything should be fine.
If you put another SCSI device between the controller and the drive, you need
to make sure termination is disabled on that device. For external devices, if
your drive is the last in a chain of devices, leave termination enabled. If it is
not last in the chain, disable termination.

Finally, controllers that are not SCAM capable will not likely have automatic
termination. You will need to make sure termination of your controller is set
properly. If you have both internal and external devices attached, the
termination on your controller should be disabled. Review the controller’s
documentation to determine how to do this. If you have only internal devices,
or only external devices, termination of your SCSI controller should remain
enabled.

Install Software

After your drive and SCSI controller are installed, it is time to make the right
software device driver files available to support your new controller. Turn on
your computer and start up Windows 95/98. Your system should automatically
detect and configure your SCSI controller. If you have just installed a new

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 73

controller, Windows 95/98 will recognize that it does not have the right driver
available. A dialog box named New Hardware Found appears, followed
immediately by a dialog box named Insert Disk. At this point, click on OK in
the Insert Disk dialog box and a second New Hardware Found dialog box will
appear . It will ask you to insert the Windows 95/98 disk or CD. If you do this,
it will automatically load the non-SCAM capable file.

Since your SCSI controller does not support SCAM, this is appropriate. After
inserting the disk or CD, select Browse in the dialog box and then select the
appropriate drive letter. The Windows 95/98 configuration process should
select the correct file off the floppy disk and copy it to the correct Windows
95/98 subdirectory on your hard drive.

It is possible that Windows 95/98 will not have the required support for your
SCSI controller. If that is the case, you will need to call the controller
manufacturer’s technical support department. If you still have problems, call
Plextor’s Technical Support Department at 800-886-3935.

Reboot Your Computer

Reboot your machine by selecting Shut Down from the Start button. Select
Restart the computer and select Yes. This will reboot your computer with the
new configuration.

Troubleshooting

If you followed the previous instructions, you should be up and running without
any problems. If things are not working correctly , there are three likely problems:

1) You might have inadvertently copied the SCSI controller support files
on the Plextor Manager disk into your Windows subdirectory. It is
possible the SCAM files on our disk are not properly supporting your
controller. To solve this problem, delete the applicable *.MPD file(s)
from C:\Windows\System\Iosubsys and then reinstall the correct
support file using the Windows 95/98 Add New Hardware Wizard.
(See “Add New Hardware,” page 77, in the “Upgrading to Windows
95/98 from DOS/Windows Using CD-ROM” section.) Restart your
system and everything should work fine.

2) The second likely cause is that your previously purchased SCSI

controller supports some Plug and Play features, but it is not PCI and
is not SCAM capable, and you also have no Plug and Play BIOS on
your motherboard. You will need to disable Plug and Play on your
controller. Turn off your computer. Review the controller’s
documentation (check the Quick Start Guide or similar document

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

74 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

first) to determine the location of the disable switch. Double-check for
proper termination. Restart your computer.

3) Finally, you may have failed to set a unique SCSI ID for each of your

peripheral devices connected to your controller. Turn off your
computer. Review SCSI ID selection (Chapter 6) and then check the
physical selection of SCSI IDs on your CD-ROM drive and any other
SCSI devices connected to your controller. Make sure that all devices
are physically set to unique IDs. After your IDs are set properly, restart
your system.

Upgrading to Windows 95/98

From DOS/Windows Using CD-ROM

Install Hardware

If you are installing your Plextor drive in a Plug and Play environment (Plug
and Play BIOS on the motherboard and a SCAM capable controller), refer to
“Install Hardware” in the “Plug and Play Installation” section on page 66.

If you are installing your Plextor drive in a non-Plug and Play environment (no
Plug and Play BIOS on the motherboard, and your interface card is not PCI but
is SCAM capable), refer to “Install Hardware” in the “Non-Plug and Play
Installation” section on page 69.

If you are installing your Plextor drive in a non-SCAM capable environment
(your SCSI controller is not SCAM capable), refer to “Install Hardware” in the
“Non-SCAM Installation” section on page 72.

Install Software

In order to use your Plextor drive under DOS or Windows 3.x to upgrade to
Windows 95, you must have a device driver to support it. If you just installed
a new SCSI controller that you did not purchase from us, you also need to load
what is called an “ASPI Manager” for your controller . Refer to your controller’ s
documentation for instructions. If you purchased our kit, the ASPI Manager
will load as part of our CD-RW device driver installation process. If you
purchased our kit, or successfully loaded the ASPI Manager, you are ready to
go. Insert the Plextor Manager disk into your floppy drive. Then enter the
following DOS command to install the Plextor device driver:

A:\INSTALL

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 75

Or, from your Program Manager in Windows, choose File and Run, and enter
the following on the command line:

A:\INSTALL

Install Windows 95/98

Insert your Windows 95/98 CD into your new Plextor CD-RW drive and follow
Microsoft’s instructions for upgrading. During the installation process,
Windows 95/98 will attempt to find and install support for your SCSI
controller, resulting in the following scenarios:

Separately Purchased SCSI Controller

• If you have a previously purchased and installed SCSI controller that

is supported by Windows 95/98, support will be loaded automatically.

• If your previously purchased SCSI controller is not supported by

Windows 95/98, you will be prompted to insert a disk that includes
the appropriate file. That disk should have been provided with the
controller.

If you have a separately purchased SCSI board installed, we cannot guarantee
support will be available on Windows 95/98. After the upgrade finishes, you
can check to see if Windows recognizes your SCSI controller by selecting My
Computer. If a CD-ROM drive icon is shown in this Window, everything
should be functioning properly . If not, then support for your SCSI controller did
not load properly (Windows 95/98 can’t look “through” your controller to see
your drive). Select Control Panel and then double-click the Add New
Hardware icon and follow the instructions. This process will take some time,
but hopefully will find the files necessary to support your SCSI board. If not, it
is possible that Windows 95/98 does not have the necessary file available, or
that non-SCAM capable support was loaded even though you purchased a
SCAM capable controller. You may need to contact the manufacturer of the
SCSI controller to get the correct file. It is also possible that your older
controller simply does not have support available for Windows 95/98 and will
need to be replaced.

Plextor Provided SCSI Controller

• If the SCSI controller provided by Plextor is not supported by Windows

95/98, you will be prompted to insert a disk that includes the
appropriate file. At this point, you can insert the Plextor Manager disk,
point Windows 95/98 to the root directory, and it will automatically
select and install the proper file.

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

76 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

• If your Plextor provided SCSI controller is supported by Windows

95/98, it will automatically install non-SCAM capable 32-bit support
for your SCSI board. If your SCSI controller was not SCAM capable,
this would present no problem. However, since you purchased a
SCAM capable Plextor kit, you may experience problems. After the
installation is complete, copy the *. MPD file(s) from the Plextor disc
to the correct Windows 95/98 subdirectory using W indows Explorer or
the following DOS command:

COPY A:*.MPD C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS

The non-SCAM capable file originally installed will be overwritten.

Disable Plextor Manager

Our preliminary tests indicate that Plextor’s device driver will operate your
Plextor drive under Windows 95/98. However, our device driver is written in
16-bit code and has not been fully tested under Windows 95/98. In addition,
all the utilities (and more) available in 16-bit code Plextor Manager are also
available in 32-bit code Plextor Manager. Therefore, we recommend that you
disable the driver. If you choose to operate your Plextor drive under Windows
95/98 using the Plextor device driver and subsequently encounter any
problems, your first step should be to disable the driver. To disable Plextor’s
DOS/Windows driver, click on the Start button. From the pop-up menu, select
Run. Type NOTEPAD C:\CONFIG.SYS. This allows you to edit the
CONFIG.SYS file using the notepad editor. Find the lines that refer to the ASPI
Manager (example: BTDOSM.SYS or ASPI4DOS.SYS) and device driver called
PLEXTOR.SYS. Type REM in front of each of those two lines. This disables
these lines by marking them as Remarks. Select Save from the File menu, and
then Exit.

Reboot Your Computer

Reboot your machine by selecting Shut Down from the Start button. Select
Restart the computer and then select Yes. This will reboot your computer with
the new configuration.

When Windows 95/98 starts, an icon for a CD-RW drive will appear in My
Computer. If it does not, then the support for your SCSI controller has probably
not loaded correctly . Go to the following section, “Add New Hardware.” Even
if you get the CD-ROM icon, you may want to check that the Windows 95/98
32-bit driver is working properly. Select Control Panel in My Computer and
double-click on System. Click on the tab called Device Manager at the top of
the window. In the new window of devices, double-click on SCSI Controllers.
This displays all the SCSI controllers currently installed in your system. In the

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 77

box called Driver Status, the message should be This Device Is Working
Properly. If you get this message, you can now make full use of your CD-RW
drive with the Windows 95/98 32-bit support.

Add New Hardware

If your SCSI controller is not recognized by Windows 95/98 after installation,
or if the message under Driver Status does not indicate that it is working
properly, you can use the Windows 95/98 Add Hardware Wizard in an attempt
to load the required support. Access My Computer, open Control Panel, then
double-click on the “Add New Hardware” icon and follow the directions. This
will look for and auto-install Windows 95/98 support for your SCSI board and
CD-RW drive, if available. At the end of this process, a screen will notify you
if the SCSI board has been detected. If no new devices are detected, your SCSI
board is probably not supported by Windows 95/98 directly. You may be able
to get support from the manufacturer of the SCSI controller by calling their
technical support department.

APPENDIX A — Windows 95/98 Installation Guide

78 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Windows NT 4.0 (and Below)

Installation Guide

Installation Procedure

To install device drivers for Windows NT from your NT CD-ROM disc, you
first need to verify that your SCSI interface board is supported by NT. Check
your NT manual for information on which SCSI interface boards NT supports.

If your SCSI interface board is on NT's list of supported hardware, you can follow
the installation instructions provided by Microsoft.

If your SCSI interface board is not on NT's list of supported hardware, you
must contact your board's manufacturer and request an NT software device
driver.

The files you obtain need to be added to the NT installation floppy disk(s) that
came with your NT CD-ROM disc. Your SCSI interface board manufacturer
will provide you with specific installation instructions.

Adding CD-RW Drive Support After NT Has Already Been
Installed

1) You first need to verify that your SCSI interface board is supported by
NT. Check your NT manual for information on which SCSI interface
boards NT supports. If your SCSI interface board is included on the
list of supported hardware, skip to Step 3.

2) If your SCSI interface board is not on NT's list of supported hardware,
you must contact your board's manufacturer and request an NT
software device driver.

3) Run NT's Setup program to add support for your SCSI interface board.
Select “Add/Remove SCSI Adapters” from the menu. Choose your
SCSI interface board from the list or add the driver you obtained from
your SCSI interface board manufacturer.

4) Shut down your system and connect your PlexWriter to the SCSI
controller.

5) Turn ON your computer and your PlexWriter drive should now be
visible to the system.

Windows NT Troubleshooting Tip

If you have difficulty getting NT to recognize your CD-RW drive and SCSI

— APPENDIX B —

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 79

interface board, you should first verify that all of your hardware is operating
properly.

This is best done by installing DOS. If your system does not work under DOS,
you probably have a hardware problem that needs to be resolved before you
can go any further. If your system works under DOS, but not NT, review your
device driver installation and verify that the SCSI interface board device driver
and CD-ROM drive support (Step 3, above) are loaded correctly.

As an alternative, you can boot the system to DOS from a floppy. The contents
for this floppy may be available on Plextor’s web site (www.plextor.com).
Please check this first. If you do not locate the files on our web site, contact
Technical Support by following the instructions in Chapter 14. They can help
you locate the files or send them to you via email.

Once you have created the floppy, insert it into the floppy drive and reboot
your system. At the prompt select the drive letter for the CD-ROM drive (e.g.
at the A: prompt, type D:). If the drive is functional and you have a disc in the
drive, you should be able to see a list of directories and files on the CD (type
DIR at the prompt). If the CD-RW drive is functioning properly, you can then
focus on the OS install or configuration of other equipment or software as
likely suspects.

APPENDIX B — Windows NT 4.0 (and Below) Installation Guide

80 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

About Plextor and Plextor Products

Plextor is a subsidiary of the Shinano Kenshi Company (SKC), Ltd. SKC’s roots
stretch back to 1918, when it began to manufacture textiles in Japan’s northern
prefecture of Nagano. (Nagano, incidentally, was the site of the 1998 Winter
Olympics.) SKC’s involvement in the electronics industry started in 1962,
when it diversified into the production of stepper motors for commercial audio
products. SKC is now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of small motors
used in hard disks, floppy disks, tape drives, copy machines, video cameras,
and your Plextor CD-RW drive.

Over the past decade, SKC has developed a reputation as an innovator in
compact disc and CD-ROM technology. In 1992, it was the second company
to begin shipments of double speed CD-ROM drives. In 1994, it was the first
company to begin shipments of half-height quad speed CD-ROM drives. In
early 1995, SKC was the first company to ship a six speed CD-ROM drive. In
early 1996, they shipped the first professional-quality eight speed CD-ROM
drive. Many award winning drives followed. The PlexWriter you now own
represents the highest achievement from the CD-ROM technology leader . SKC
is also a leading manufacturer of compact disc players used for industrial and
commercial applications (e.g., background music players for retail stores,
restaurants, and shopping centers).

Plextor acts as SKC’s sales, service, and support arm throughout the world. In
addition to CD-ROM drives, Plextor also sells under its own label professional
audio equipment used by radio stations, high-speed printing presses, “talking
books” for the sight impaired, and a CD encoding system developed by SKC
that can pack up to eight hours of audio onto a single compact disc.

Plextor has offices in Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Plextor first opened an
office in California’s Silicon Valley in 1990. Rapid growth has required it to
move twice since then to larger offices. Plextor now occupies a 30,000 sq. ft.
facility in Santa Clara, California, which is staffed by sales, marketing,
technical support, engineering, administrative, and shipping personnel. Our
Japanese office opened in 1985. Our European office (in Brussels) began
operation in 1994.

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 81

Plextor CD-ROM Drives

Data Access Buffer

Model Introduced Transfer Rate Time Size
1st generation DM-3020/5020 1990 150KB/sec 430ms 64K
2nd generation DM-3021/5021 1991 150KB/sec 340ms 64K
3rd generation DM-3024/5024 1992 300KB/sec 265ms 64K
4th generation DM-3028/5028 1993 335KB/sec 240ms 64K
5th generation PX-43CH/45CH 1994 600KB/sec 220ms 1MB
6th generation PX-43CS/45CS 1994 600KB/sec 170ms 256K
7th generation PX-63CS/65CS 1995 900KB/sec 145ms 256K
8th generation PX-43CE/45CE 1995 675KB/sec 130ms 256K
9th generation PX-83CS/85CS 1996 1200KB/sec 115ms 256K
10th generation PX-12CS/12TS 1996 1.8MB/sec 105ms 512K
11th generation PX-20TS 1997 1.8–3.0MB/sec 85ms 512K
12th generation PX-32CS/PX-32TS 1997 2–8MB/sec 85ms 512K
13th generation PX-40TS/TSUW 1998 2.6-6.0 MB/sec 85ms 512K

Plextor CD-R Drives

Max

Record Max Data Access Buffer

Model Introduced Speed Transfer Time Size
1st generation PX-R24CS 1996 2X 300KB/sec 390ms 512K
2nd generation PX-R412CS 1997 4X 600KB/sec 190ms 2MB
3rd generation PX-R820T 1998 8X 1.2MB/sec 170ms 4MB

Plextor CD-RW Drives

Max

Record &

Re-Record Max Data Access Buffer

Model Introduced Speed Transfer Time Size
1st generation PX-W4220T 1999 2X 300KB/sec 170ms 2MB

About Plextor and Plextor Products

82 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

Warranty Information

PLEXTOR CORP. (“PLEXTOR”) warrants your PlexWriter RW 4/2/20 against any defect
in material and workmanship, under normal use, for a period of one year 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 if: a) 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 subject 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 packaged 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.

PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL 83

84 PX-RW 4/2/20 OPERATION MANUAL

PLEXTOR (U.S.A.)
4255 Burton Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Web Site: www.plextor.com
email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone] BBS: 408-986-1569
Toll Free: 800-886-3935

PLEXTOR (Japan)

8F Kyodo-building 1-4-21 Yaesu
Chuou-ku, Tokyo, Japan 103
Web Site: www.plextor.co.jp
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]

PLEXTOR (Europe)

Excelsiorlaan 1, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium
Web Site: www.plextor.be
Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]