Model PX-504UF
USB/FIREWIRE DVD+R/RW AND CD-R/RW DRIVE
INSTALLATION AND USERS MANUAL
JUNE 2003
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 ©2003 Plextor Corp. Second edition, June 2003.
Licenses and Trademarks
Plextor and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks of Plextor Corp; and
PoweRec is a trademark of Plextor Corp. All other licenses and trademarks are
property of their respective owners.
Record Your Serial Number
For future reference, record the serial number and the TLA code (found
on your drive’s label) in the space provided below.
TLA/Firmware Revision Number
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION STATEMENT
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.
CAUTION: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the
equipment.
CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS
STATEMENT
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department
of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme a la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual iii
LASER INFORMATION
These products have been designed and manufactured according to IEC 60825-1 on the
Safety of Laser products. This product comes under “Class 1 Laser Products.”
CAUTION: Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other
than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure.
A Laser Caution Label is attached on the bottom of the external drive model. The label
reads:
“CAUTION – CLASS 3B INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN.
AVOID EXPOSURE TO THE BEAM.”
Bottom View of External Drive Showing Caution Label Location
Detail of Laser Caution Labels
iv PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
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.
CAUTION: To disconnect the CD drive from an electrical current, pull out the
computer’s power plug.
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual v
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vi PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
Table of Contents
1. Getting Started ..............................................................................1
About this Manual...........................................................................1
Meet Your PX-504UF.....................................................................2
What the PX-504UF Does...........................................................2
Features of the PX-504UF...........................................................2
Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-504UF.......................... 4
What You Can Do with the PX-504UF.......................................5
What’s In the Box ...........................................................................5
Save Your Box!...........................................................................6
PX-504UF Drive Features and Controls .........................................7
Front Panel ..................................................................................7
Rear Panel ...................................................................................9
About Software .............................................................................11
Software for the PC................................................................... 11
Software for the Macintosh ....................................................... 11
For More Details about Software ..............................................12
Precautions ....................................................................................12
2. Installing Your PX-504UF..........................................................13
Determine Your Computer’s Operating System............................14
Determine What Interface to Use.................................................. 14
Connect the PX-504UF Drive ....................................................... 15
Record the Serial Number and TLA Code ................................15
Install the Drive in Your Windows Computer...........................15
Identifying Cables and Ports .....................................................17
If You Have Windows 98SE and FireWire...............................18
If You Have Windows 98SE and USB......................................18
Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized..............................................19
Switching Between USB and IEEE 1394 Interfaces .....................20
If You’re Using FireWire..............................................................21
If You Have a Macintosh ..............................................................21
3. Using Your PX-504UF ................................................................23
What Media to Use........................................................................ 23
DVD Media............................................................................... 23
CD-ROM Media........................................................................ 24
Plextor-Recommended Media...................................................24
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual vii
Table of Contents
Mounting Position......................................................................... 25
Tray Loading and Operation......................................................... 25
Handling DVD and CD Media.................................................. 26
Cleaning Discs .......................................................................... 26
Playing DVDs ............................................................................... 27
Writing to DVD Media ................................................................. 28
Writing to CD-R and CD-RW Media ........................................... 28
4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting............................................ 29
Upgrading Firmware..................................................................... 29
Troubleshooting ............................................................................ 30
Emergency Eject ........................................................................... 30
5. Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................... 31
Appendix A: PX-504UF Specifications ......................................... 33
Appendix B: Technical Support .................................................... 43
How to Contact Plextor Technical Support...................................44
Before You E-mail/Log On/FAX/Call for Support....................... 44
Returns.......................................................................................... 45
Contacting Plextor’s RMA Department.................................... 45
Packing Your Drive .................................................................. 46
Shipping Your Drive to Plextor ................................................ 46
Appendix C: Warranty................................................................... 47
If You’re Outside the U.S. or Canada........................................... 48
Index................................................................................................. 49
viii PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
1. Getting Started
Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing the Plextor® PX-504UF a
reliable, high-performance recordable DVD and CD writer, rewriter, and
player. We appreciate the confidence you have shown in us. Our goal is
to put you—and keep you—on the leading edge of DVD and CD
technology.
About this Manual
Please read this manual carefully and keep it handy for easy reference.
Use the manual for installation, operation and troubleshooting. If your
drive needs service, see your dealer or call Plextor’s Technical Support
Department.
In this manual you should find all the information you need to
successfully install, operate and troubleshoot your drive. If you run into
a problem that doesn't seem to be covered, however, please contact us.
(See “Appendix B: Technical Support” for the different ways you can
reach us.) You will be connected to our friendly, helpful band of tech
support engineers. What might seem like an uncooperative drive to you
could very well be a 30-second fix to them. But we will never know
unless you contact us.
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual 1
Section 1. Getting Started
Meet Your PX-504UF
The PX-504UF is a recordable DVD/CD-ReWritable drive that provides
professional quality DVD and CD performance for writing, rewriting
and reading.
What the PX-504UF Does
For DVDs, the PX-504UF:
• Writes DVD+R (recordable DVD) media at up to 4X speed.
• Writes DVD+RW (re-writable DVD) media at up to 2.4X speed.
• Supports DVD+VR real time editing.
• Reads DVD discs at up to 12X. (Fixed at 2-5X for video.)
• Supports DVD+RW background format.
For CDs, the PX-504UF:
• Writes to CD-R (recordable CD) media at up to 16X speed.
• Writes to CD-RW (re-writable CD) media at up to 10X speed.
• Reads all CD-ROM and CD-R (data) media at a maximum of 40X
speed.
• Reads CD-RW and CD-DA (audio) media at up to 32X speed.
Features of the PX-504UF
• Dual USB 2.0 and FireWire® (IEEE 1394) interfaces: Easily
connects to a PC or Macintosh computer with either of these highspeed interfaces.
• USB 2.0 or 1.1: Supports both Hi-Speed USB 2.0 (480 megabits per
second) and Full-Speed USB 1.1 (12 megabits per second).
• MMC compliance: Supports the MMC-3 command set.
• Flash memory: Allows upgrading the PX-504UF to the latest
firmware revision (available from the Plextor web site) without
opening the computer or physically accessing the drive.
• Black tray: Reduces the effect of optical reflection on the laser beam,
enhancing read quality.
• Plug and Play: Supports Windows Plug and Play.
2 Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
Section 1. Getting Started
DVD Features
• Lossless linking: Allows DVD+RW discs to be edited and still play
on DVD-ROM players.
• Wide DVD+R and DVD+RW media compatibility: Compatible with
a wide range of DVD+R and DVD+RW media.
• DVD+VR: Supports DVD+VR format.
• Multiple DVD types: Supports DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, multi-
border for DVD-RW read (for closed discs), multi-session for
DVD+R/RW read and write.
• Versatile recording modes: Including sequential write, random
access write, disc at once.
CD-R and CD-RW Features
• Variety of recording modes: Supports track-at-once, disc-at-once,
session-at-once, and multi-session, as well as variable and fixed
packet writing.
• Buffer Under Run Proof technology: With a 2-megabyte buffer,
eliminates buffer underrun errors, so you can safely use your
computer for other tasks while you’re writing to a CD-R or CD-RW
disc.
• Wide compatibility: Wide CD-R and CD-RW media compatibility.
• Orange Book compatibility: Compatible with Orange Book, Parts II
and III.
• UDF support: UDF file system implemented through packet writing.
• OPC and ROPC: Optimum Power Control and Running Optimum
Power Control, which adjust the laser power for the optimum write
strategy.
• PoweRec™: Plextor Optimized Writing Error Reduction Control
(PoweRec) extends OPC and ROPC to adjust laser power and
writing speed so they’re at the optimum settings for that particular
disc. You can enable and disable PoweRec, too.
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual 3
Section 1. Getting Started
Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-504UF
• Computer:
PC: Pentium III, 800-MHz CPU or faster is required.
Pentium III, 1.6-GHz CPU or faster is recommended
Macintosh: Must be capable of running Mac OS 9.1 or higher.
• Minimum RAM: 128 MB.
• Hard disk size: To write to a CD in image mode (that is, to write an
image of a CD to your hard disk), you need 1 GB of free space. For a
DVD, 6 GB of free space is recommended. (For more accurate
guidelines, see the help files or documentation for the recording
software you’re using.)
• USB or FireWire port: Your computer needs a FireWire (also
known as IEEE 1394) port or a USB port. An adapter card is
required in most systems for optimum performance. Macintosh
computers provide FireWire, and most new desktop IBM-compatible
PCs have USB 2.0.
• Operating System:
PC: Windows XP, Me, 2000, 98SE
Macintosh: For FireWire and USB 1.1, OS 8.6.1 or higher; OS
9.1 or higher recommended. For USB 2.0, OS X.
NOTE: The built-in USB ports on older computers (and even on
inexpensive new ones) provide only USB 1.1—that is, Full-Speed (12
Mbps) USB. This limits the CD-RW drive performance to 4X write, 4X
rewrite, and 6X read, while DVD performance with USB 1.1 is 0.7X. For
optimum performance if your PC or Macintosh does not have built-in
USB 2.0, use the FireWire port, if available. Or, for PCs, you can
purchase and install a third-party PCI USB 2.0 plug-in host adapter card.
4 Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
Section 1. Getting Started
What You Can Do with the PX-504UF
Just look at some of the things you can do with your PX-504UF:
• Record slide shows or digital video onto DVD+R and DVD+RW
discs.
• Play DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW discs.
• Record data or audio onto writable or rewritable CD media.
• Play music CDs.
• Save photos and other images on rewritable or writable CDs.
• Create a CD or DVD “sneakernet” to share information with
colleagues—just use software such as Roxio’s DirectCD to drag and
drop files onto DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R or CD-RW media, then
continue adding files and sharing the same disc.
• Archive images and video to DVD or CD.
• Master new software programs on DVD or CD.
What’s In the Box
What you find in your Plextor box depends on what the company that
sold you the box put in—or took out—while the Plextor drive was in
their possession.
Plextor currently sells its drive in this configuration:
• PX-504UF DVD+R/RW and CD-R/RW drive
• USB 2.0 cable
• IEEE 1394 (FireWire) cable
• AC adapter
• Power cord
• Emergency eject tool
• Cradle for vertical operation
• 1 piece of approved CD-R media
• 1 piece of approved DVD+R media
• Plextor DVD with bundled software for writing DVDs and CDs
• PX-504UF Installation and Users Guide
• Quick Install Guide
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual 5
Section 1. Getting Started
If the security sticker on top of your box is cut, there may be a good
reason: for example, a dealer may have added other components or
software. Carefully check the contents to ensure nothing has been
removed. If something is missing, contact the party from whom you
purchased the box for an explanation.
This applies to the Plextor retail
box. Your drive may have been
shipped in a different box with
other contents, depending on
whom you purchased the drive
from and what they included
inside the box.
If your drive came preinstalled, some or all of the
items above may have been
installed and may not be
separately available. See the
Plextor web site for locations to
purchase additional or
replacement accessories.
Save Your Box!
Be sure to save the box after you
have installed your drive. The box
and its packaging material were
designed and drop tested to
ensure your drive can endure
rough treatment and still arrive in
working order. If you have to ship
your drive back to Plextor, you’ll
want to send it in the original box.
(For more details about returning
your drive to Plextor, see page
45.)
6 Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
Section 1. Getting Started
PX-504UF Drive Features and Controls
Before proceeding, become familiar with the controls and features of
your Plextor drive. Match the parts of your drive to the illustrations
below.
Front Panel
Figure 1: Front panel of the PX-504UF drive
• Disc tray: Slides out to allow you to insert a disc.
• Emergency eject hole: If the automatic eject button does not work,
turn the POWER switch to OFF, then insert the emergency eject
tool, paper clip, or other thin, rigid object in this hole to eject the disc
tray manually.
• Power indicator: Illuminated blue when the PX-504UF drive power
is ON.
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual 7
Section 1. Getting Started
• Eject button: Push once to eject the tray. Push again to load the tray
back into the PX-504UF. To prevent wear on the drive, always use
the eject button to load the tray.
• Disc/busy indicator: Illuminated green for disc loading, ejecting,
initializing, playing, and writing.
• Headphone jack: Stereo mini-jack for headphones and powered
speakers.
• Volume control: Controls volume of headphone jack.
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.
8 Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
Rear Panel
Section 1. Getting Started
Figure 2: Rear panel of the PX-504UF drive
• AUDIO OUT RCA jacks: Output of analog stereo signal. Connect a
sound board or audio amplifier here, if desired. Connectors are
standard RCA type. Red connector is right channel.
• IEEE 1394 4-pin connector: Connect an IEEE 1394 (also known as
FireWire) cable with a 4-pin connector here.
• IEEE 1394 6-pin connector: Connect an IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
cable with a 6-pin connector here.
NOTE: The PX-504UF does not get its power from the IEEE 1394 bus or
the USB bus. It must be connected to the AC adapter.
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual 9
Section 1. Getting Started
• Interface switch: Switch the PX-504UF drive to operate with a
different interface (USB, IEEE 1394). This lets you keep several
interface cables attached to your drive and switch between them. If
you change interfaces with this switch, you must also cycle the PX504UF power. (That is, turn the POWER switch off, then on again.)
• USB 2.0 connector: Connect the USB cable here. You can use a
USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 interface.
CAUTION: Use only the USB cable shipped with your PX-504UF.
• DC 12 V power connector: Connect the AC adapter here.
CAUTION: Use only the AC adapter shipped with your PX-504UF.
• POWER switch: Press this switch to turn the power on or off. Press
the “0” down to turn power off. Press the “1” down to turn power on.
10 Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
Section 1. Getting Started
About Software
In order to record on DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R and CD-RW discs you
will need to have mastering, packet writing, or duplication software
installed on your computer system. If you purchased a retail kit from
Plextor, you’ll get software packages that include this software.
Software for the PC
You can use Roxio’s Easy CD Creator DVD Edition to burn both DVDs
and CDs. The software lets you burn and share anything on CD or DVD,
including music, photos, and videos. You can also back up your critical
data to a CD or DVD.
One component of Easy CD Creator is DirectCD, which makes the
Plextor PX-504UF drive as easy to use as a disk drive. You can drag and
drop files, rename files, delete files, and create new directories right on
the recordable CD or DVD disc. You can even save files directly from
your word processing software, spreadsheet, or other application directly
to the disc. DirectCD takes advantage of the PX-504UF’s ability to write
small packets of data to the disc, providing fast, uninterrupted data flow
and optimum use of disc space.
For more information about Easy CD Creator, install the application and
examine the help files.
Software for the Macintosh
Roxio’s Toast Lite is DVD and CD burner software for the Macintosh.
Toast enables you to create, organize, share and store all of your digital
content on CDs or DVDs. Toast also lets you share data with Windows
PC users.
Toast is the perfect burning companion to iMovie and iTunes. It’s built
for OS X, and works great with OS 9, too. (OS 9.1 or higher is
recommended.) To get more information, install Toast on your
Macintosh and take a look at the help files.
Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual 11
Section 1. Getting Started
For More Details about Software
For details on other software packages that are available for writing to
DVDs or CDs, please visit the web sites of the companies whose
software you are interested in, refer to their user’s manuals, or look at
the help option within the software. A list of various software packages
that you can use with your Plextor drive can be found in the
Support/Compatibility section of www.plextor.com
.
Precautions
Like the rest of your computer system, your PX-504UF requires
reasonable care in its installation and use.
• Keep the area around your drive clean from dust, smoke, and other
contaminants.
• Do not allow moisture or liquids, including water or cleaning fluids,
to touch the drive. Thinner, benzene, or alcohol-based solvents can
mar your drive’s surface.
• Do not drop or jolt the drive.
• Do not move, carry or transport a disc in the drive because this can
cause damage.
• 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.
• Keep your CDs free of dirt or other contaminants, by storing them in
jewel cases. Use only industry-standard discs. Do not insert dirty,
warped, poorly balanced, or cracked discs into the drive.
• Do not clean discs using a circular motion. Instead, using a soft, dry
cloth, wipe gently in a radial motion; start at the center of the disc
and proceed to the outer edge.
12 Plextor PX-504UF Installation and Users Manual
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