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Model PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
DVD±R DL (DOUBLE LAYER/DUAL LAYER),
DVD±R/RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R/RW DRIVE
INSTALLATION AND USERS MANUAL
MARCH 2007
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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
LLC 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 ©2007 Plextor LLC.
First edition, March 2007.
Licenses and Trademarks
Plextor and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks of Shinano Kenshi
Kabushiki Kaisha.
All other licenses and trademarks are property of their
respective owners.
Record Your Serial Number
For future reference, record the serial number in the space provided
below.
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PX-800 Installation and Users Manual iii
CAUTION: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the
equipment.
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 top of the internal drive model, and the bottom of
the external drive model.
The laser beam emitted from the optical pickup is visible and invisible. Accordingly:
• Do not open the optical pickup housing.
• Obtain service only from Plextor-authorized personnel.
CAUTION: To disconnect the internal DVD/CD drive from an electrical current,
pull out the computer’s power plug. To disconnect the external DVD/CD drive, pull
out the plug of the AC adapter.
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iv PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Top View of Internal Drive, Showing Caution Label Location
Detail of PX-800A Laser Caution Labels
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PX-800A Installation and Users Manual v
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PX-800 Installation and Users Manual vi
Table of Contents
1. Getting Started..............................................................................1
About this Manual...........................................................................1
What’s In This Manual ............................................................... 1
Printing the Manual.....................................................................1
Meet Your PX-800A ....................................................................... 2
What the PX-800A Does.............................................................2
Features of the PX-800A.............................................................2
Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-800............................... 5
What You Can Do with the PX-800A.........................................5
About Software............................................................................... 6
Precautions......................................................................................6
Where to Go From Here ................................................................. 7
2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive........................... 8
PX-800A Drive Features and Controls...........................................8
Front Panel—PX-800A Internal Drive ....................................... 8
Rear Panel—PX-800A Internal Drive ........................................ 9
What Else Is In the PX-800A Box................................................10
Save Your Box!.........................................................................10
PX-800A QuickStart Installation.............................................. 12
Mount the PX-800A Drive............................................................12
Open the Computer and Prepare for Installation........................... 13
Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration...............................14
Inspect Your Computer’s Cables.................................................. 15
Confirm That You Have an 80-Conductor IDE Cable..............16
Do You Have Cable Select?......................................................17
Do You Need a Power Cable? ..................................................18
Set the Drive’s Mode Jumper........................................................18
Changing the Mode Jumper on Your PX-800A Drive.............. 19
Select an IDE Configuration.........................................................21
About Cable Select .......................................................................26
Mount the PX-800A Drive............................................................27
Record the Serial Number......................................................... 27
Change the Front-Panel Color...................................................27
Mount the Drive in the Computer............................................. 27
Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables........................................ 33
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Table of Contents
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual vii
Where to Go From Here................................................................33
3. Using Your PX-800A...................................................................35
What Media to Use........................................................................35
DVD Media...............................................................................35
DVD-RAM Media.....................................................................36
CD-ROM Media........................................................................36
More About Media for Your PX-800A.....................................37
Tray Loading and Operation .........................................................37
Handling DVD and CD Media..................................................38
Cleaning Discs...........................................................................38
Mounting Position.........................................................................39
Playing DVDs ...............................................................................39
Writing to DVD Media..................................................................40
Specifying +R/RW or -R/RW ...................................................40
Writing to CD-R and CD-RW Media............................................40
Using the Disc/Busy Indicator ......................................................41
4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting............................................43
Cleaning the PX-800A Drive........................................................43
Upgrading Firmware.....................................................................44
Emergency Eject ...........................................................................45
Changing the PX-800A Front-Panel Color ...................................46
Troubleshooting ............................................................................50
Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized..........................................50
5. Frequently Asked Questions.......................................................52
Appendix A: PX-800A Specifications............................................56
Specifications for the PX-800A Drive ..........................................56
Appendix B: Technical Support.....................................................72
How to Contact Plextor Technical Support...................................73
Before You E-mail or Call for Support.........................................73
Returns ..........................................................................................74
Contacting Plextor’s RMA Department....................................74
Packing Your Drive...................................................................74
Shipping Your Drive to Plextor.................................................75
Appendix C: Warranty...................................................................76
If You’re Outside the U.S. or Canada ...........................................77
Index.................................................................................................78
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PX-800 Installation and Users Manual 1
1. Getting Started
Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing the Plextor® PX-800A, 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.
What’s In This Manual
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.
Printing the Manual
This manual has been sized for viewing on a computer monitor screen.
To print a hard copy of this manual:
1. In Acrobat, select File | Print. You see the Print dialog box.
2. In the Print dialog box, choose the printer.
3. If you want to print on standard 8-1/2 x 11 paper, you can check the
Expand small pages to paper size box. This expands the manual’s
pages so they nearly fill up a standard-sized page.
4. When you have made your selections, click OK. The manual is
printed.
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Section 1. Getting Started
2 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Meet Your PX-800A
The PX-800A is a DVD ReWritable/CD ReWritable drive that provides
professional quality DVD and CD performance for writing, rewriting
and reading.
What the PX-800A Does
For DVDs, the PX-800A:
• Writes DVD+R (“plus” format) and DVD-R (“dash” format) media
at up to 18X speed.
• Writes DVD+R DL (double layer) and DVD-R DL (dual layer)
media at up to 8X speed.
• Writes DVD-RAM discs at up to 12X speed.
• Writes DVD+RW (rewritable DVD, “plus” format) media at up to
8X speed.
• Writes DVD-RW (rewritable DVD, “dash” format) media at up to
6X speed.
• Supports DVD+VR and DVD-VR for mat for read and write.
• Reads stamped DVD discs at up to 16X.
• Reads DVD-RAM discs at up to 12X.
For CDs, the PX-800A:
• Writes to CD-R (recordable CD) media at up to 48X speed.
• Writes to CD-RW (rewritable CD) media at up to 32X speed.
• Reads all CD-ROM and CD-R data media at a maximum of 48X
speed.
• Reads CD-DA (audio) and CD-R/RW audio media at up to 40X
speed.
Features of the PX-800A
• Internal ATAPI
The PX-800A internal drive easily installs in virtually any PC
with an E-IDE ATAPI interface
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Section 1. Getting Started
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 3
• High speed transfers: The PX-800A supports data transfers via Ultra
DMA Mode 4, DMA Mode 2, and PIO Mode 4.
• MMC compliance: Supports the MMC-4 command set.
• Flash memory: Allows upgrading the PX-800A to the latest
firmware revision (available free from the Plextor web site) without
opening the computer or the drive.
• Black tray: Reduces the effect of optical distortion by absorbing
reflections from the laser beam, enhancing read quality.
• Plug and Play: Supports Windows Plug and Play.
• Digital and analog audio outputs in the PX-800A: The PX-800A has
output connectors for both digital (SPDIF) and analog audio output.
• CPRM support: The PX-800A supports Content Protection for
Recordable Media (Read only), so you can play CPRM copycontrolled media.
• Small form factor: To save space inside your computer, the depth of
the PX-800A is just 6.88 inches (175 millimeters), excluding the
bezel.
DVD Features
• Lossless linking for DVD+R/RW and DVD+R DL: Allows
DVD+RW discs to be edited and still play on DVD-ROM players.
• Zero Link for DVD-R/RW, DVD-R DL: Has 0 byte gap bet ween
sessions so the discs are compatible with all players. This allows
DVD-RW discs to be edited and still play on DVD-ROM players.
• Double layer and dual layer DVD discs: Reads and writes DVD+R
DL (double layer) and DVD-R DL (dual layer) discs, so you can
burn up to 4 hours of high quality MPEG-2/DVD video on a single
8.5-gigabyte DVD disc.
• Wide media compatibility: Compatible with a wide range of DVD-
RAM, DVD±R and DVD±RW media.
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Section 1. Getting Started
4 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
• DVD Multi Recorder: Supports the DVD Multi specification for read
and write; can read and write DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, DVD-Video,
multi-border, multi-session and DVD±VR.
• Versatile recording modes for DVD+R/RW: Including disc-at-once
(DAO) for DVD+R DL (double layer) discs; DAO, multi-session,
and incremental write for DVD+R; and sequential write for
DVD+RW.
• Recording versatility for DVD-R/RW, too: Including disc-at-once
(DAO) for DVD-R DL (dual-layer); DAO and multi-border
recording for DVD-R; and DAO, multi-border recording, and
restricted overwriting for DVD-RW.
CD-R and CD-RW Features
• Variety of recording modes: Supports track-at-once, disc-at-once,
session-at-once, multi-session, and variable and fixed packet writing.
• Buffer Underrun Proof Technology: 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.
• OPC and ROPC: Optimum Power Control and Running Optimum
Power Control, which adjust the laser power for the optimum write
strategy.
• CD-TEXT: Supports CD-TEXT for read and write.
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Section 1. Getting Started
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 5
Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-800
Here’s what you’ll need in order to install and use the PX-800 drive.
• Computer:
PX-800A: Computer CPU, Memory, and configuration
dependent on installed application requirements.
• Interface:
PX-800A: IDE ATAPI interface.
• 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, 10 GB of free space is recommended. (For more accurate
guidelines, see the help files or documentation for the recording
software you’re using.)
• Operating System:
PX-800A: Requires Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows
Vista
What You Can Do with the PX-800A
Just look at some of the things you can do with your PX-800A:
• Record slide shows or digital video onto DVD-RAM, DVD+R DL,
DVD-R DL, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs.
• Play DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD+R,
DVD+RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW discs.
• Write onto DVD-RAM discs with your set-top box and read the
discs with your Plextor drive; or write to DVD-RAM with the
Plextor drive, then read those discs on your set-top box.
• Record data or audio onto writ abl e or rew ri t abl e CD m e di a.
• 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 Drag-to-Disc 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.
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6 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
About Software
In order to record on DVD±R DL, DVD±R/RW, and CD-R/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 such software.
Roxio’s Easy Media Creator software is one software suite that lets you
burn DVDs and CDs. The software lets you burn and share anything on
CD or DVD, including music, photos, and videos; and you can easily
back up your critical data to a CD or DVD. One component of Roxio is
Drag-to-Disc, which makes the Plextor PX-800 drive as easy to use as a
hard disk drive. (For more information about Roxio, install this
application and examine the help files.)
For details on software that is 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 that you can use with
your Plextor drive can be found in the Support/Co mpatib ility section of
www.plextor.com.
Precautions
Like the rest of your computer system, your PX-800A 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.
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Section 1. Getting Started
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 7
• 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 experienced service
personnel only.
• Keep your DVDs and 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.
• Do not attempt to clean your drive using solvent-based cleaners or an
air compressor.
• Do not attempt to clean your drive using a CD cleaning disc. These
discs can damage your drive permanently.
Where to Go From Here
• If you have a PX-800A internal ATAPI drive, see Section 2,
beginning on page 8, to learn how to install your drive.
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PX-800 Installation and Users Manual 8
2. Installing the
PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
This section explains how to physically install your PX-80 0A internal
ATAPI drive in your computer.
PX-800A 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—PX-800A Internal Drive
Figure 1: Front panel of the PX-800A internal ATAPI drive
• Tray front door: Attached to disc tray drawer.
• Disc/busy indicator: Illuminated green for disc reading or writing.
• Emergency eject hole: If the automatic eject button does not work,
insert the emergency eject tool, paper clip, or other thin, rigid object
in this hole to eject tray. Turn OFF power before using t his feat ure.
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PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 9
• Eject button: Push once to eject tray. Push again to insert the tray
back into the PX-800A. To prevent wear on the drive, always use the
eject button to insert the tray.
Rear Panel—PX-800A Internal Drive
Also familiarize yourself with the drive’s rear panel.
Figure 2: Rear panel of the PX-800A internal ATAPI drive
• Digital audio output c onnec tor: Outputs a digital stereo signal. Use
this to connect to a sound board that supports Sony/Philip s Digital
Interface (SPDIF) or Digital-In.
• Analog audio output connector: Outputs an analog ster eo signal.
Use this to connect to a sound board or audio amplifier. Use a
standard MPC-3 type, 4-pin connector.
• Mode jumper: Use the mode jumper to select operation as an IDE
master or slave, or for cable select. In general, leave this jumper at
its factory setting, which is master; and ensure that any other device
on the bus is jumpered as slave.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
10 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
• IDE cable connector: Connects to your computer’s IDE (ATAPI)
interface using 80-conductor Ultra cable.
NOTE: Although the PX-800A will operate with a 40-wire IDE cable, it
may not be able to write DVDs at 18X unless an 80-conductor
IDE/ATA cable is used.
• Power connector: Connects to your computer’s power supply to
provide DC +5 volts and +12 volts to the PX-800A.
What Else Is In the PX-800A 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 Plex tor drive was in
their possession. Plextor currently sells the PX-800A drive in this
configuration:
• PX-800A DVD±R DL, DVD-RAM, DVD±R/RW and CD-R/RW
drive
•
Replacement front bezel(beige) and disc tray front panel
• 4 mounting screws
• Extra jumper
• Emergency eject tool
• Plextor software disc with a PDF file of the PX-800A Installation
and Users Manual. Also contains Roxio’s Easy Media Creator.
• Drive Quick Installation Guide
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 74.)
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 11
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.
NOTE: This applies to the Plextor retail box. Your drive may have been
shipped in a different box with other conte nts, depending on whom you
purchased the drive from and what they included inside the bo x.
If your drive came pre-installed, 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.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
12 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
PX-800A QuickStart Installation
For Experienced PC Users Only
If you’ve installed computer peripherals before, use this QuickStart
installation to get up and running quick ly.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To ensure maximum writing speed, you must
connect the PX-800A to an 80-conductor IDE/ATA flat ribbon cable.
(This newer 80-conductor ribbon cable is physically interchangeable
with the 40-conductor cable found in older computers.)
Typical Scenario 1: You have a PC with an IDE interface installed
and you have nothing installed on the secondary IDE port. What to
do: Leave the PX-800A’s jumper set to Master, attach it to the
secondary IDE port, and go. Windows will recognize the drive
automatically.
Typical Scenario 2: You have a PC with an IDE interface installed,
the primary IDE port already has two devices connected and you
have a CD-ROM installed on the secondary IDE port. What to do:
Change the CD-ROM to Slave, leave the PX-800A’s jumper set to
Master and attach the PX-800A to the secondary IDE port.
If neither of these situations applies to you, or you’re not comfortable
with IDE installation, read the rest of this section for more detailed
installation instructions.
Mount the PX-800A Drive
Here’s an overview of what you’ll do to mount the drive:
1. Turn OFF your computer system.
2. Set the jumpers for your new PX-800A drive, if necessary.
3. Mount the drive into an available drive bay inside the computer
system.
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PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 13
4. Make all necessary cabling connections: IDE cable, power cable, and
audio cable.
5. Turn your computer sy stem ON.
The following pages give more details for this procedure.
Open the Computer and Prepare for
Installation
To determine whether your PX-800A will be a Master or a Slave, open
your computer and examine the IDE connections to the motherboard.
To open the computer:
1. Before proceeding, make sure the power to your computer and any
external peripherals is OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED
from its power source.
2. Remove your computer’s cover, following 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 the cover. See
Figure 3 for an example.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
14 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Figure 3: Removing a typical computer's cover
Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration
With your computer open, determine the existing IDE configuration.
You can do this by looking at the IDE ribbon cable (or cables—there
may be two) and seeing what is connected to them.
One end of the IDE cable connects to the IDE por t on your computer’s
motherboard; and there are usually two other connectors for attaching
peripheral devices such as a hard disk, DVD or CD-ROM drive, or your
PX-800A drive. If there are two devices, one is configured as Master
and the other the Slave, as indicated by the position of jumpers on the
back of the drive.
If your computer is set up for Cable Select, or CSEL, both devices will
be jumpered as Cable Select. In older computers, this configuration
required a special Cable Select cable.
If there are two IDE cables, one is for the primary IDE bus and the other
is for the secondary bus.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 15
Before you install your PX-800A, your computer’s IDE configuration is
usually one of the following:
• Configuration A: Hard disks connected as Master and Slave devices
on primary IDE port; DVD or CD-ROM drive connected as the
Master device on secondary IDE port.
• Configuration B: Hard disk connected as Master device and DVD
or CD-ROM drive connected as Slave on the primary IDE port;
nothing connected to secondary IDE port.
• Configuration C: Hard disk connected as Master device on primary
IDE port; nothing connected to secondary IDE port.
• Configuration D: System uses special “Cable Select” cables; all
devices are jumpered for Cable Select.
Inspect Your Computer’s Cables
To ensure that it can write at maximum rated speed (16X), you should
make sure the PX-800A is connected to an 80-conductor IDE/ATA flat
ribbon cable. If you have an older computer, it may still be equipped
with a 40-conductor cable.
NOTE: Although the newer IDE/ATA cable has 80 conductors (wires), its
connectors have only 40 pins, so it’s physicall y interc hangeable with the
older cable. And in fact, your PX-800A drive may work fine with a 40conductor cable. But to ensure writing at maximum speed, it’s best to use
the newer 80-conductor cable. The 80-conductor cable cancels
interference much better than the older model, allowing faster data
transfers.
CAUTION: The length of any IDE cable cannot exceed 18 inches.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
16 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Confirm That You Have an 80-Conductor IDE Cable
How can you tell? The 80-conductor cable is slightly wider than the
older 40-conductor version. The wires in the 80-conductor version are
narrower, too.
Figure 4: Comparing the older 40-conductor cable (top) to the new 80-
conductor type (bottom). Be sure to use the 80-conductor cable.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 17
Do You Have Cable Select?
Many computers from major manufacturers use special Cable Select
cables. The Cable Select cable typically has markings that identify the
connectors for Master, Slave, and Motherboard.
Figure 5: If you have an older 40-conductor Cable Select cable (top),
replace it with the new 80-conductor cable (bottom).
If you have one of these older Cable Select cables, replace it. (All 80conductor cables that meet the ATA specifications also support Cable
Select.) The connector color identifies master and slave.
With the 80-conductor cable:
• The blue connector attaches to the computer motherboard or
controller.
• The gray connector is in the middle of the cable, and goes to any
slave (device 1) drive, if present.
• The black connector is at the opposite end from the host connector
and goes to the master drive (device 0), or to a single drive if only
one is used.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
18 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
If you are unsure whether or not your system has a Cable Select cable
installed, either look at the cable or look at the jumpers on the existing
DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive. If any device is jumpered as Cable
Select, then both devices on that cable must be jumpered that way.
Do You Need a Power Cable?
In most computers, you will find extra power connectors in the
computer ready for your use. When you open the computer, check the
cable running from your power supply to your hard disk drive 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 PX-800A.
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 retail and mail-order
computer stores.
Set the Drive’s Mode Jumper
You specify your drive's Master, Slave, or Cable Select setting before
installing it. You do this by changing the position of a jumper on the
mode jumper block at the rear of the drive.
Your drive ships from our factory with its mode jumper set to operate
the PX-800A as a Master. This will work in most custom system
configurations. If your computer is from a large OEM system
manufacturer such as IBM, Hewlett Packard/Compaq, Dell, or Gateway,
you will need to pay particular attention to whether the co mpu ter uses
the Cable Select scheme.
NOTE: The jumper configuration on the drive has priority over Cable
Select. So if the jumper of one device on a cable is set to Master, the
jumper of the other device must be set for Slave. In this case, location of
the devices on the cable is not important.
If you have only one device, it must be set to Master or Cable Select, and
it must be at the end of the cable.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 19
Changing the Mode Jumper on Your PX-800A
Drive
The drive arrives from the factory with its mode jumper set to Master.
(A function is ON if the jumper is installed and OFF if the jumper is
removed.)
Figure 6: Factory settings for mode jumper at the rear
of the internal drive
Changing to a Master, Slave, or Cable Select
The Master/Slave/Cable Select setting for the drive is determined by the
mode jumper. The jumper is placed over one of the sets of mode pins.
To change the drive from Master to Slave or to Cable Select, you must
move the jumper.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
20 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
For example, to change the drive to be a Slave, move the jumper to the
middle set of mode pins, leaving the other pins uncovered. To change
the drive for Cable Select, move the jumper to the left set of mode pins.
Note that if any device is jumpered as Cable Select, then both devices
connected to that cable must be jumpered as Cable Select. (And if
you’re not using the newer 80-conductor IDE/ATA cable, the cable you
use must be a special Cable Select cable.)
Changing Jumper Settings
• To remove a jumper, pull it off with your fingers or a pair of needle-
nose pliers.
• To install a jumper, push it onto the jumper pins.
CAUTION: Ensure power to the drive is OFF before installing or
removing a jumper.
Figure 7: Install the mode jumper across vertical pairs of pins
CAUTION: Install the mode jumper across the pins as shown (vertically).
Do not connect one pin switch to another by installing the jumper
lengthwise (horizontally). Doing so could resu lt in damage to the drive.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 21
Select an IDE Configuration
Set the PX-800A’s jumper and cable it according to the desired
configuration. Keep these rules in mind:
• For best DVD±RW and CD-RW performance, try to connect the
PX-800A to the IDE port that is not connected to the hard disk drive
or to a DVD or CD-ROM drive. In most cases, this will be the
secondary IDE port.
• For best results, set the PX-800A to be the Master, if possible.
• If you have only one device on a cable, always set its jumper as the
Master, never as the Slave.
Before PX-800A
Installation
How to Install the
PX-800A
A
Hard disks connected as
Master and Slave devices on
primary IDE port; DVD-ROM or
CD-ROM drive connected as
Master device on secondary
IDE port.
Remove the DVD-ROM or
CD-ROM drive, change it to
Slave, and re-connect it to the
secondary IDE port.
Set the mode jumper to Master,
and connect the PX-800A as
Master device to the secondary
IDE port.
Figure 8. How to install the PX-800A if your computer is originally
set up in configuration A
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
22 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
NOTE: The configuration shown in Figure 8 can make it very difficult to
write from the DVD or CD drive to the PX-800A at maximum rated speed
using “on-the-fly” copying.
System configuration and performance will make a big difference.
Depending on how fast the DVD or CD-ROM drive can stream data to
the PX-800A, it may not be fast enough to keep the buffer full. In this
case, the buffer may become empty and a buffer underrun error may
occur. However, because it is equipped with Buffer Underrun Proof
Technology, your PX-800A can still make successful copies if you use
software that supports this feature. (All software shipped with PX-800A
drive retail kits supports Buffer Underrun Proof Technology.)
If you still have problems writing with this configuration, use the image
writing method (that is, write an image to your hard drive, then write that
image onto the DVD±R/RW or CD-R/RW media), or record at a lower
speed. We also recommend that DMA be enabled on your computer, if
your system supports it.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 23
Before PX-800A
Installation
How to Install the
PX-800A
B
Hard disk connected as Master
device, and CD-ROM or DVDROM drive connected as Slave
on the primary IDE port;
nothing connected to
secondary IDE port.
Set the mode jumper to Master,
and connect the PX-800A as
Master to secondary IDE port.
Figure 9. How to install the PX-800A if your computer is originally
set up in configuration B
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
24 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Before PX-800A
Installation
How to Install the
PX-800A
C
Hard disk connected as Master
device on primary IDE port;
nothing connected to
secondary IDE port.
Set the mode jumper to Master,
and connect the
PX-800A as Master to
secondary IDE port.
Figure 10. How to install the PX-800A if your computer is originally
set up in configuration C
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 25
Before PX-800A
Installation
How to Install the
PX-800A
D
System uses special Cable
Select cables; all devices are
jumpered for Cable Select.
Set the PX-800A’s mode
jumper to CSEL, and connect
the drive to the end of the cable
from the computer’s IDE
interface connector.
Figure 11: How to install the PX-800A if your computer is originally
set up in configuration D
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
26 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
About Cable Select
The Cable Select jumper position sets the PX-800A drive to use the
CSEL signal from the IDE interface for configuration purposes. This
signal automatically selects the correct Master/Slave setting for the
drive.
Figure 12: Configuring the PX-800A drive for Cable Select
To use CSEL, you must have:
• A computer that supports CSEL.
• An IDE cable that supports CSEL (Cable Select).
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 27
Mount the PX-800A Drive
Before proceeding to install the PX-800A drive in your personal
computer, double-check your jumper setting.
Record the Serial Number
Record the serial number of your drive on the inside front cover of this
manual.
Change the Front-Panel Color
If desired, you can change the PX-800A’s front-panel color by replacing
the bezel. See “
Changing the PX-800A Front-Panel Color” on page 46
for a detailed procedure. Make this change before mounting your PX800A drive in the computer.
Mount the Drive in the Computer
You can mount your internal drive in any available bay. You must
remove the small panel that covers the bay that you want to use.
NOTE: The drive can be mounted horizontally or vertically
If you don’t have an empty bay, remove the existing IDE DVD-ROM or
CD-ROM drive and install the PX-800A.
You must make a minimum of two cable connections to your PX-800A.
The two cable connections that you must make are:
• IDE cable
• Power cable
There are also two optional cable connections:
• An analog audio cable connection if you are using a sound board in
your computer and plan to connect the PX-800 A’s audio output to
the audio connector on the sound board.
• A digital audio cable connection if the sound board is equipped with
SPDIF or Digital-In and you wish to use the digital audio output
from your PX-800A.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
28 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
To mount the PX-800A drive:
1. Make sure the power to your computer and any external peripherals
is turned OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED from its power
source.
2. If you haven't already removed the cover from your computer,
remove it now, following 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 the cover.
See
Figure 3 for details.
3. Remove the cover panel from the bay that will hold the drive. To
remove the cover panel, pop it out by pressing outward lightly. (In
some older computers, you may have to remove screws that hold the
panel in place.)
Figure 13: Removing the cover panel from a bay
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 29
4. 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. Go to step 6.
NOTE: Plextor does not provide rails. If you need rails, you can
obtain them from the computer manufacturer or from a computer
supply retail or mail-order store.
5. If you must use mounting rails, fasten the rails to the lower pair of
holes as shown in
Figure 14. (In some instances, you may need to
fasten the rails to the upper set of holes.) After fastening the rails,
check their positioning by sliding the drive into the bay before you
mount the drive or connect any cables.
CAUTION: 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.
Figure 14: Installing mounting rails (if needed)
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
30 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
6. Plug one connector of the 80-conductor IDE/ATA cable into the IDE
connector on the rear panel of the drive before you insert the drive
into your computer. Then thread the cable through the front of the
open bay and back toward the motherboard. The drive should slide
smoothly into the bay. If it does not, check for obstructions in the
bay and ensure the side rails are attached properly.
7. If not already connected, attach the other end of the IDE ribbon cable
to the connector on the motherboard.
Figure 15: Connect one end of the IDE cable to the motherboard and
the other end to the drive. If your Plextor drive is the only device on
the cable, attach it at the end of the cable, leaving the
center connector free.
CAUTION: With some IDE ribbon cables, it is easy to accidentally
plug your IDE cable upside down into both your drive and the
motherboard. Be sure you match the red stripe along one side of the
IDE cable to Pin 1 on the motherboard and Pin 1 on the drive. (Pin 1
on the drive is closest to the power connector.) Note that each
connector on most ribbon cables also has a “key” in the middle. This
key should fit into a slot in the middle of each connector of the
motherboard, your PX-800A drive, and any other internal IDE
peripherals.
8. Double-check your work. You must ensure the side of the IDE cable
with the red stripe is matched to Pin 1 on the interface board and on
the drive.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 31
CAUTION: In the case of only one IDE device, you must make
certain that one end of the cable is always connected to the IDE
connector on the motherboard. The other end of the connector must
be connected to a device. The end connector of the cable should
never be left unconnected.
9. Connect a power cable from the computer to the power connector
(DC INPUT) of the drive. In most computers, you will find free
power connectors that are ready for your use.
CAUTION: The power connector on the cable and the receptacle on
the drive are keyed. Do not force the power connector into the drive,
or the drive and/or the computer may be damaged.
Figure 16: Cable connections for an internal IDE drive
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
32 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
10. Connect the analog audio cable if you want to use a sound board in
your system. This cable runs from the four-pin analog audio output
connector on the rear panel of your drive to the CD-ROM audio
connector on the PC or your sound board. See “
Using Sound Boards
and Audio Cables” below for more information about audio cables.
11. Connect a digital audio cable if your sound board is equipped with
the Sony/Philips Digital Interface (SPDIF) or Digital-In, and you
wish to use the digital audio output from your PX-800A. This cable
runs from the digital audio output connector pins on the PX-800A
back panel to the sound board. (This cable is not supplied by
Plextor.)
12. Mount the PX-800A drive in the computer using the four screws that
were supplied with your drive. Use only these screws.
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 or the wrong thread type.
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Section 2. Installing the PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 33
Using Sound Boards 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 the 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.
If you need audio cables, you will have to purchase them. Refer to the
table below. A list of several vendors who offer audio cables is available
on Plextor’s web site.
Audio Connection
Cable
Required
How to Connect It
MPC audio source MPC-
compliant
audio cable
Connect to MPC audio
source, and to analog audio
output connector at the rear
of the Plextor drive.
Sound Blaster or
compatible sound
board
Sound
Blastercompatible
analog audio
cable
Connect to Sound Blastercompatible audio board and
to analog audio output
connector at the rear of the
Plextor drive.
Digital audio output Cable that’s
compatible
with SPDIF
or Digital-In.
Connect to SPDIF or DigitalIn connector on sound board
(if sound board supports
digital audio) and to digital
audio output connector at the
rear of the Plextor drive.
Where to Go From Here
This completes the installation procedure. Go to “Section 3. Using Your
PX-800A” on page
35 to see how to use your PX-800A drive.
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PX-800 Installation and Users Manual 34
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Section 3. Using Your PX-800A
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 35
3. Using Your PX-800A
This section explains how to use your PX-800A driv e and how to load,
handle and care for your DVDs and CDs.
What Media to Use
Use the right media! Your PX-800A drive's capabilities change
depending on which type of compact disc you use.
DVD Media
DVD recordable media is available in two different, non-compatible
formats:
• DVD+R, DVD+R DL (double layer) and DVD+RW
• DVD-R, DVD-R DL (dual layer) and DVD-RW
Your PX-800A can read and write either media format, in single layer
or double layer media. It supports all these types of DVD media:
• Digital Video Discs: You can immediately play pre-recorded DVD
discs, including movies and other DVDs.
• DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, DVD-R: Recordable DVD.
You can record on these discs, but only once. You can also read
them.
• DVD+RW, DVD-RW: ReWritable DVD. You can record and re-
record (up to 1,000 times) on these discs. You can also read them.
Figure 17: The logo identifies the type of DVD media
With double layer media, you don’t need to turn the disc over to record
on side 2.
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Section 3. Using Your PX-800
36 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
DVD-RAM Media
Unlike standard DVD media, you do not need special DVD burning
software to write or read DVD-RAM discs on a computer. You can
access these discs like a
floppy disk or hard drive. You can even write a
DVD-RAM disc with a set-top box, then read it on the PX-800A drive.
The PX-800A supports reading and writing with 4.7-GB (version 2)
DVD-RAM discs.
CD-ROM Media
You can use these types of CD media:
• CD-ROM: You can immediately play or read prerecorded compact
discs, such as audio CDs and data discs.
• CD-R: Recordable CD. You can record on these discs, but only
once. You can also read them.
• CD-RW: Normal Speed, High Speed, Ultra Speed and Ultra Speed
Plus ReWritable CD. These discs support recording and re-recording
(up to 1,000 times). You can also read them.
To achieve a certain writing speed, you must use the appropriate media.
To achieve 48X CD-R writing speed you must use certified 48X (or
higher) media; and to achieve 32X CD-RW writing speed you must use
Ultra Speed Plus CD-RW media.
Remember:
• Using Normal Speed CD-RW discs (that is, NS-RW media) you can
rewrite at 4X.
• Using High Speed CD-RW discs (HS-RW media), you can rewrite at
10X.
• Using Ultra Speed CD-RW discs (US-RW media) in this drive, you
can rewrite at up to 24X.
• Using Ultra Speed Plus CD-RW discs (US+) in this drive, you can
rewrite at up to 32X.
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Section 3. Using Your PX-800A
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 37
You can write to Ultra Speed CD-RW discs only on drives that support
this media. Drives that are capable of writing to Ultra Speed ReWritable
media, such as the Plextor PX-800A, are identified by a “Compact Disc
ReWritable Ultra Speed” logo.
Figure 18: The logo also identifies the type of CD-RW media
More About Media for Your PX-800A
See the Plextor web site at www.plextor.com for a list of Plextorapproved media for your drive
Tray Loading and Operation
To load and unload the tray:
1. While the drive is powered up, push the eject button on the front
panel. The tray drawer slides out in 3–4 seconds.
Figure 19: Loading the tray
2. Lay a CD or DVD disc in the depression in the tray, label side up.
3. Press the eject button again and the tray will slide shut within
seconds.
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Section 3. Using Your PX-800
38 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
NOTE: Always use the eject button to close the tray in a smooth and
secure manner. Closing the tray by pressing the front of the drawer using
your hand is not recommended and risks damage or premature wearing
of the mechanism.
Handling DVD and CD Media
Take care when handling blank CD and DVD media. Dust, scratches,
and fingerprints on either side of the disc can cause write er rors during
recording. When picking up or holding blank media you can either place
your fingers along the outer edge of the disc, or place one finger through
the center hole and one finger on the outer edge. Once you have finished
creating a disc, label it by writing on the top using permanent ink.
CAUTION: We recommend using a “non-toxic” marker, such as a
Sharpie® pen, that conforms to the ASTM D-4236 standard. Some
permanent markers will damage the media. Also, do not press too hard
when writing on the disc.
NOTE: We do not recommend placing self-sticking CD-R labels on the
disc. The weight of the label may unbalance the disc and cause write
errors during recording or read errors during reading. Also, attempting to
remove the label may permanently damage the disc.
Cleaning Discs
For proper read and write performance, your discs must be clean. Trying
to record on a dirty disc may result in a failed session and ruin the disc.
To clean the disc, 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.
Page 47
Section 3. Using Your PX-800A
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 39
Figure 20: Wipe the disc from the center outward
HINT: Keep your frequently used discs in jewel cases at all times to
prevent them from becoming dirty or damaged.
Mounting Position
You can operate your PX-800A drive in either a horizontal or a vertical
position.
Playing DVDs
To play a digital video disc, insert the DVD as you would any other
disc. The drive plays both single layer and double layer discs.
The first time: A code on each DVD allows it to be played only on
players designed for a certain regional area, such as North America,
Europe, etc. When the drive ships from the factory there is no region
code set. The first time a DVD that has a region setting is inserted into
the drive, the drive is automatically set to that region code by the player
application.
Page 48
Section 3. Using Your PX-800
40 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
If you later insert a DVD with a different region code, you are prompted
to either accept changing the new region code or not. If you don’t accept
the change, then that DVD will not play. If you do accept the change,
then the region code setting is changed. But remember: you can chang e
the drive’s region code only 5 times. After that, you can’t change it any
more.
Writing to DVD Media
You need special software that supports writing to DVD+R,
DVD+R DL, and DVD+RW discs; or to DVD-R DL, DVD-R and
DVD-RW discs. Roxio’s Easy Media Creator (on the DVD that
accompanies your PX-800A) contains this software.
You don’t need special software to write to DVD-RAM media.
Specifying +R/RW or -R/RW
You don’t need to specify whether to write to +R/RW or -R/RW. The
selection is automatically made for you, based on the media you insert in
the drive.
Writing to CD-R and CD-RW Media
In conjunction with your drive, mastering and packet writing software
such as Roxio Easy Media Creator allows you to write audio, video,
data, or other information to writable (CD-R) or rewritable (CD-RW)
media. The PX-800A writes to all types of CD-RW media.
Page 49
Section 3. Using Your PX-800A
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 41
Using the Disc/Busy Indicator
The color and blink rate of the front-panel disc/busy ind icator give you
information about the drive’s operation.
When you are writing to a CD-R or CD-RW disc, the color and blink
rate of the front-panel disc/busy indicator show the speed of writing, as
follows:
Operation
LED color
On/Off/Blink
No disc OFF
Loading Green ON
Disc loaded and
ready
OFF
Read or verify
activity
Green ON
CD/DVD write Green ON
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Section 3. Using Your PX-800
42 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
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Page 51
PX-800 Installation and Users Manual 43
4. Maintenance and Tr oubleshooting
This section explains maintenance and troubleshooting procedures for
your PX-800A drive.
With proper maintenance, you can prevent problems. If trouble arises,
you can often solve many simple problems on your own, rather than
wait for assistance from a Plextor representative.
Cleaning the PX-800A Drive
Plextor drives are sealed against external contamination, so in a normal
computer environment and with normal use, your drive should not
require internal cleaning. However, if your drive has been in use for
some time and has just recently started to exhibit read/write problems, it
is possible that dust has accumulated on the laser lens. In this case:
• If your drive is still in warranty and you are experiencing problems,
send the drive to Plextor. (See “
Returns” on page 74.)
• If your drive is out of warranty, before returning the drive for repair
you may want to try a short blast of canned air aimed at the center of
the drive. Use only electronics-grade canned air: sterile, filtered, and
moisture-free. If you notice no improvements after this step, you will
need to return the drive for repair.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to clean your drive using any solvent-based
cleaners. Also, do not use an air compressor, because the high-pressure
blast can damage the drive.
ANOTHER CAUTION: Do not use a CD cleaning disc. Cleaning discs
that use a felt pad can scratch the laser lens surface and render the drive
inoperable. Cleaning discs with brushes may also scratch the lens.
Moreover, these cleaning discs are often out of balance, making their
operation very noisy.
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Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
44 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Upgrading Firmware
Plextor creates firmware revisions to meet the particular needs of large
computer manufacturers. It is rare that these revisions will impact the
performance or operation of your drive. However, we advise that you
always update your drive with the latest available firmware. Among
other benefits, updating firmware ensures that your drive has the latest
media catalog. Before troubleshooting a possible problem with your
PX-800A drive please visit our web site at
7www.plextor.com to check if
you have the latest firmware.
To obtain new firmware for your drive:
1. Go to the Plextor web site at
www.plextor.com.
2. Look for firmware upgrades in the Support area, on the Downloads
page. There is a description of the latest firmware revision and its
intended use.
3. Download the firmware to your computer.
To upgrade firmware in your drive’s flash memory:
1. Run the executable file that you downloaded from Plextor’s web site.
2. Accept all defaults by continuing to click on the Next button until
you see the message:
Firmware update has completed.
3. Restart your system.
Page 53
Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 45
Emergency Eject
If the computer power is turned off or the automatic eject button at the
front of the drive does not work , use this procedure to open the drive.
To use the emergency eject tool to open the drive:
1. Make sure power to the drive is OFF. (That is, turn off your
computer.)
2. At the front of the drive, insert the emergency eject tool, or a paper
clip or other thin, rigid object, into the emergency eject hole.
Figure 21: Emergency eject
3. Push the tool or other object straight in, until the disc tray clicks
open.
4. Carefully continue to slide the disc tray open.
5. Remove the CD or DVD from the disc tray.
6. Carefully push the disc tray shut.
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Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
46 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Changing the PX-800A Front-Panel Color
By using the replacement bezel and disc tray face plate you can change
the PX-800A’s front-panel color in a few moments.
CAUTION: Avoid creating static electricity. Be sure to wear a grounding
strap when performing this procedure.
To install a different bezel and disc tray face plate:
1. If the PX-800A is already installed in a computer, turn the computer
power OFF and open the computer case.
2. If necessary, remove cables from the rear of the PX-800A and
remove the drive. (You may be able to gain access to the necessary
parts of the drive by sliding it forward without removing any cables.)
3. Use the emergency eject tool or a paper clip to open the tray drawer
as illustrated in
Figure 21 above.
4. Turn the drive upside down (or work from the bottom) and locate the
two hooks at the bottom of the disc tray face plate. The hooks are
toward the left and right edges of the tray mask.
Figure 22: Locate the two disc tray face plate hooks
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Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 47
5. Hold the disc tray securely and gently insert a small flat bladed
screwdriver next to one of the tray hooks. Lever the tray face plate
gently away from the tray and push the tray face plate slightly to
release it from the tray. Repeat with the other hook. When both
hooks are released, remove the mask by pressing it off the disc tray.
Figure 23: Unhook the tray mask an d push to release it
6. Locate the three bezel hooks. One is on the bottom of the drive, and
one is on each side. Press inward on the bottom bezel hook to
release.
Figure 24: Locate the three bezel hooks
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Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
48 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
7. With the drive right side up, release the two side bezel hooks. To
release the hooks, press inward using the tip of a screwdriver or the
eject tool.
Figure 25: Press in with the eject tool to
release the two side bezel hooks
8. With the two side bezel hooks released, tilt the bottom of the bezel
slightly upward to release the top catch, then slide the bezel forward
to remove it.
Figure 26: Pull forward gently to remove the front bezel
CAUTION: Do not touch any of the internal components that are visible.
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Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 49
9. Position the new bezel in front of the drive and slide it gently in
place. Ensure that the top clip and all three bezel hooks lock into
place.
Figure 27: Slide the new bezel into position and make sure all three
bezel hooks snap into place
10. Install the new tray face plate by pressing the L-shaped forms on
both sides of the face plate into the rib of the disc tray, and sliding
the face plate downward until the two hooks are fixed.
Figure 28: Install the tray face plate,
close the disc tray gently, and reinstall the drive in the computer
To install the drive in your computer, go to “Mount the PX-800A Drive”
on page
12.
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Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
50 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Troubleshooting
If you have problems during or right after installation of your drive, first
make sure the drive is recognized. If you still have problems, visit the
Plextor web site for tips and troubleshooting help.
Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized
If you’re having trouble after installation, make sure the PX-800A drive
is recognized by your computer. To check whether the drive is
recognized:
To see if the drive is recognized in Windows:
1. Turn the computer ON. After the computer boots up, you should see
the Windows display.
2. Open Windows Explorer or My Computer and ensure there is an
icon for the Plextor drive, the hard disk, and another DVD or CDROM drive, if present. The Plextor icon may be D: or E: or another
designator.
If the PX-800A drive isn’t recognized in Windows:
1. If the PX-800A drive is not recognized in Windows, reboot the
computer and use your computer’s setup program to program the
BIOS to recognize it.
NOTE: Refer to the computer’s documentation for information on how
to run the motherboard BIOS setup program.
For the PX-800A, use the motherboard BIOS setup program to set
up IDE Master and Slave designations, as needed for your
configuration, on the primary or secondary IDE bus. If the IDE
interface is disabled on your computer, you will need to enable it. If
a Master or Slave device is set to “disable” or “none” or a similar
designation, change it as appropriate to “enable” or “auto” (or
something similar, depending on your setup program).
2. Save and exit your CMOS setup to restart your computer with the
new settings.
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Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 51
3. In Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista, right-click on
the My Computer icon and select Properties. Click on the Hardware
tab, then click on the Device Manager button. Click the + sign next
to the DVD/CD-ROM drives heading and look for the “PLEXTOR
DVDR PX-800A” entry underneath.
If you do not see this drive listed as one of the devices, or if it has a
yellow diamond with an exclamation point (!), contact Plextor Technical
Support. (See “
Appendix B: Technical Support” for the different ways
you can contact us.)
Page 60
PX-800 Installation and Users Manual 52
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do I need an 80-conductor IDE cable for the PX-800A?
Your PX-800A will operate with either the older 40-conductor cable or
the newer 80-conductor IDE/ATA cable. However, the 80-conductor
cable improves performance, and the PX-800A may not be able to write
at maximum speed (18X) without it. Although the new cable has 80
conductors (wires), it still has only 40 connector pins, so it’s compatible
with the connector on your PX-800A. (The extra wires are present to
reduce interference that would slow high-speed transfers.)
Q: Is the PX-800A a DVD Multi Recorder?
Yes. The DVD Multi specification requires that DVD Multi Recorders
read and write DVD-ROM (prerecorded), DVD-R (General), DVD-RW
and DVD-RAM discs. Because the PX-800A conforms to the DVD
Multi specification, it can read and write the formats used by today’s
computers and consumer electronic (CE) DVD devices. (Note that DVD
Multi does not prescribe that devices should accommodate DVD-RAM
cartridges or 8-cm discs.)
Q: Which is better, DVD+R and DVD+RW? Or DVD-R and DVDRW?
A: Neither is “better” or “worse.” They’re just different standards, like
English versus met ric measurement.
Different manufacturers support different standards. The DVD+R and
DVD+RW formats are supported by Plextor, Philips, Sony, HewlettPackard, Dell, Ricoh, Yamaha and ot he r manufacturers. DVD-R, DVDRW and DVD-RAM are also supported by Plextor, as well as Panasonic,
Toshiba, Apple Computer, Hitachi, NEC, Pioneer, Samsung and Sharp.
No matter which format a DVD disc is recorded in, it can be read by
most commercial DVD-ROM players.
Page 61
Section 5. Frequently Asked Questions
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 53
Q: What's the difference between "double layer" and "dual layer"?
A: Nothing, really. It's simply a difference of opinion within the industry
about how to label media and drive capabilities. DVD+R DL (as named
by the DVD+RW Alliance) stands for DVD+R Double Layer. DVD-R
DL (from the DVD Forum) stands for DVD-R Dual Layer. Whether
your DL media is labeled "double layer" or "dual layer," the PX-800A
can handle it.
Q: What is “recommended media”?
A: Recommended media are recordable or rewritable CD and DVD
media that have been tested by Plextor and found to operate well
consistently, from one manufacturing lot to another. For each drive,
Plextor engineers test media from many different manufacturers and
manufacturing facilities, creating a recommended media list and
determining the optimum write strategy for that particular media type.
The results are listed as “recommended media,” and are also assembled
into a media catalog and stored in firmware in Plextor drives. (See the
Plextor web site at
7www.plextor.com for a list of recommended media
for the PX-800A.)
From time to time, the media catalog is updated with new manufacturers
and part numbers as Plextor tests additional media. When this happens,
Plextor makes new drive firmware available. You can download this
new firmware and update your drive.
Q: In the list of Recommended Media, what’s the difference
between “rated,” “compati ble,” and “recommended” speeds?
A: “Rated” is the manufacturer’s rated write speed for the media; it’s
what you see on the box. “Compatible” is a looser term that indicates the
maximum safe writing speed according to the manufacturer.
“Recommended” is the Plextor-recommended speed for ensuring topquality writing using this media. Plextor tests media and enters the
“compatible” and “recommended” speeds into the drive’s media catalog.
Page 62
Section 5. Frequently Asked Questions
54 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
For example, 8X-rated media listed as “12X writing recommended” and
“16X compatible” indicates the manufacturer believes this 8X-rated
media can be written at 16X. Plextor factory testing has determined you
will achieve the highest quality write at 12X. Plextor’s testing also
indicates you can write this media at 16X and still achieve good quality,
although perhaps not as high as at the recommended speed.
Just because the vendor rates a disc for a certain speed doesn't mean that
the disc will give you a high-quality write at that speed. However, the
technology in your Plextor drive ensures you will write at the highest
possible speed that still achieves high quality.
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PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 55
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Page 64
PX-800 Installation and Users Manual 56
Appendix A: PX-800A Specifications
This appendix shows specifications for the PX-800A drive.
Specifications for the PX-800A Drive
Usable Formats
Logical DVD
Read/Write
DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, Multi-Border, Multi-Session,
DVD+VR, DVD-VR
Logical CD
Read/Write
CD-DA, CD-ROM Mode-1, CD-ROM Mode-2, CDExtra, CD-ROM XA, Photo CD, Video CD, MultiSession, CD-TEXT, CD-I (FMV) Full Motion Video.
Write
Methods,
DVD+R/RW,
DVD+R DL
DVD+R: Disk-At-Once (DAO), Multi-Session,
Incremental Recording
DVD+RW: Sequential Write
DVD+R DL: Disk-At-Once (DAO)
Write
Methods,
DVD-R/RW,
DVD-R DL
DVD-R: Disk-At-Once (DAO), Multi-Border
Recording
DVD-RW: Disk-At-Once (DAO), Multi-Border
Recording, Restricted Overwrite
DVD-R DL: Disk-At-Once (DAO)
Write
Methods,
CD-R/RW
Track-At-Once (TAO), Disk-At-Once (DAO), Packet
Write (variable and fixed), Session-At-Once (SAO),
Multi-Session
Write
Methods,
DVD-RAM
Random Access Write, Sequential Write
Page 65
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 57
Supported Media
Supported
Media, DVD
Stamped DVDs: Single layer / Double layer
DVD-R: For General Part 1 Physical Specification
Version 2.0
DVD-RW: Part 1 Physical Specification
Version 1.1/1.2
DVD-R DL: Physical Specification Version 1.9
DVD+R: Part 1 Volume 1 Basic Format
Specification Version 1.2
DVD+R DL: Part 2 Basic Format Specification
Version 1.0
DVD+RW: Basic Format Specification Version 1.2
DVD-RAM: Part 1 Physical Specification Version
2.0
Supported
Media, CD
Stamped CDs: Discs compliant with
Red/Yellow/Green/White/BLUE Book
CD-R: Orange Book Part II Volume 1, Volume 2
CD-RW: Orange Book Part III Volume 1, Volume 2,
Volume 3
Supported
Media Size
CD-R/RW: 12 cm, 8cm
DVD+R/RW: 12 cm
DVD-R/RW: 12 cm, 8cm
Page 66
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
58 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Recommended Media
You can use virtually any media in your PX-800A and be assured of the
best possible write quality. However, Plextor-recommended media are
recordable or rewritable CD and DVD media that have been tested by
Plextor and found to operate consistently well, from one manufacturing
lot to another. For each drive, Plextor engineers test media from many
different manufacturers and manufacturing facilities, creating a
recommended media list and determining the optimum write strategy for
that particular media type. The results are listed as “recommended
media,” and are also assembled into a media catalog and stored in
firmware in Plextor drives.
See the Plextor web site at
www.plextor.com for the latest list of
recommended media for the PX-800A.
In the media lists:
• “Rated” is the manufacturer’s rated write speed for the media; it’s
what you see on the box.
• “Compatible” is a looser term that indicates the maximum safe
writing speed according to the manufacturer.
• “Recommended” is the Plextor-recommended speed for ensuring
top-quality writing using this media.
Plextor tests media and enters the “compatible” and “recommended”
speeds into the drive’s media catalog.
Page 67
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 59
Performance Specifications
Stamped
DVD
DVD ±R DL Read Speed,
DVD
SL DL
DVD
±R
DVD
±RW
16x CAV
–
– –
12x CAV
8x CAV –
– –
7x CAV –
–
5x CAV
1x CLV
Speed RAM2(12x) RAM RAM (Ver1)
12x PCAV
– –
8x PCAV
– –
6x PCAV
– –
5x PCAV –
–
3x PCAV –
–
2x PCAV –
–
1x PCAV – –
Page 68
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
60 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Performance Specifications (continued)
Read Speed,
CD
Speed Mode-1 Discs Mode-2 Discs CD-DA
Discs
48x CAV Stamp,R Stamp,R
40x PCAV Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
32x CAV Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
24x CAV Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
20x CAV
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
16x CLV
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
10x CAV
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
8X CLV Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
4X CLV Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Stamp,R,
RW
Play CD-DA: 24x
DAE: Max 40x
Mode2, XA Mode2 Form2: Max 20x
NOTE: “Stamp” indicates commercially pressed “silver” discs.
Page 69
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 61
Performance Specifications (continued)
Write
Speed,
DVD ±
R/RW
Speed +R +RW +R DL –R –RW –R DL
18x CAV
–
–
–
–
16X CAV
– –
– –
13X CAV
– –
– –
12X ZCLV
–
–
– –
8X ZCLV
–
6X ZCLV – –
– –
6X CLV
–
–
4X CLV
2.4X CLV
–
– –
2X CLV – – –
1x CLV
–
– – –
–
Speed RAM2 (12x) RAM (5x) RAM (Ver 1)
12x PCAV
– –
5x ZCAV
–
–
3x ZCAV
–
–
2x ZCLV
–
–
Page 70
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
62 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Performance Specifications (continued)
Write
Speed,
CD-R/RW
Speed CD-R Ultra
Speed+
CD-RW
Media
Ultra
Speed
CD-RW
Media
High
Speed
CD-RW
Media
Normal
Speed
CD-RW
Media
48X
CAV
– – – –
48X
ZCLV
– – – –
40X
CAV
–
–
– –
40X
ZCLV
–
–
– –
32X
PCAV
–
–
– –
32X
ZCLV
– – –
24X
PCAV
– –
– – –
24X
ZCLV
– –
16X CLV
– –
10X CLV –
– –
–
8X CLV
– – – –
4X CLV –
–
–
–
Page 71
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 63
Performance Specifications (continued)
DVD Transfer
Rate (Max)
Speed Write (MB/s) Read (MB/s)
18x 24.7 –
16X 22 22
13X 17.5 16620
12x 16.6 –
8X 11 11
7X 9.7
6X 8.2 8.2
5X 6.9 6.9
4X 5.5 –
3x 4.1 4.1
2.4X 3.3 –
2X 2.7 2.7
1X 1.38 1.38
CD Transfer
Rate
Speed Write (KB/s) Read (KB/s)
48X 7200 7200
40X 6000 6000
32X 4800 4800
24X 3600 3600
16X 2400 2400
10X 1500 1500
8X 1200 1200
4X 600 600
Access Time Time measured from command phase until bus free
(no disconnect):
Random Typical Full Typical
CD 140ms 230ms
DVD± 160ms 250ms
DVD-RAM 210ms 310ms
Sleep Mode Entered 8 min after data transfer stop
Page 72
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
64 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Wake Mode <6 sec to wake up after sleep mode
Environmental Conditions
Mounting
Position
Horizontal or vertical orientation:
Horizontal: 0 degrees ±15 degrees
Vertical: 0 degrees ±15 degrees (front to back tilt)
Left side tilt
+5 degrees /0 degrees Eject button up
0 degrees/-5 degrees Eject button down
Operating
Temperature
5 to 40 degrees Celsius
Operating
Humidity
20 to 80% (non-condensing)
Transportation
or Storage
Temperature
–40 to 60 degrees Celsius
Transportation
or Storage
Humidity
20 to 95% (non-condensing)
Acoustic Noise
Condition Noise
Drive on disc seek Max 4 7.5dB
Non seek Max 47.5dB
Vibration,
Operating
Acceleration
CD: Read 0.3 Grms, Write 0.2 Grms
DVD: Read 0.3 Grms, Write 0.2 Grms
Sweep: 5 to 500 Hz
Direction of Vibration: X, Y and Z axis
Vibration, non
operating
Acceleration: 0.712Grms
Direction of Vibration: x, Y and Z axis
Page 73
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 65
Frequency: 7-800 Hz
Hz G^2/Hz
7 0.0003
20 0.00275
140 0.00275
312 0.00013
400 0.00008
600 0.00008
700 0.00007
Power off, no disc
Shock,
Operating
Data read with retry (no audio play)
Pulse duration and Peak Level
CD Read 6G, write 1.5G
DVD read 6 G, Write 1G
Pulse duration: 11ms, half sine wave
Direction of shock: ±X, ±Y and ±Z axis
once per direction=6 times
Pulse duration and Peak Level
2ms/60G (read) CD and DVD, half sine wave
Direction of Shock: Horizontal (-z) Left side down (-z),
right side
Shock, NonOperating
No disc and power off
Pulse duration and Peak level: 10ms/100G and
2ms/200G, half sine wave
Direction of shock: ±X, ±Y, ±Z axis
Once per direction=6 times
Electrostatic
Discharge
±8KV aerial discharge
±4KV contact discharge
Reliability
MTBF 70,000 hours
25 degrees C, 10% duty cycle read and seek, 90%
duty cycle idle (laser off, motor off)
Tray Loading 30,000 load/unload cycles
Page 74
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
66 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Read Error
Rate
CD-ROM Mode 1: <10
12
block/ bit
CD-ROM Mode 2: <10
9
block/bit
DVD-ROM: <10
12
block/bit
Seek error rate: <10
6
block/bit
DVD Regional Setting
Compatibility
RPC phase-2-compatible
Changing
regional
setting
Max. 5 times
Other Features
Data Buffer 2 MB
Minimum System Requirements, PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
Computer PC configuration (CPU, speed, RAM) dependent on
installed recording applications
Hard Disk Size 1 GB of free space to write to a CD in image mode, or
10 GB of free space to create DVD images. (For more
accurate guidelines, see the help files or
documentation for the recording software you’re
using.)
Interface IDE (ATAPI) supported
Operating
System
Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows Vista
Front Panel, PX-800A Internal AT API Drive
Eject Eject button; manual emergency eject; software eject.
Disc/Busy
Indicator
Steady green when reading disc
Steady green when writing to disc
Steady green while initializing, loading or ejecting
Off when idle or tray empty
Page 75
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 67
Disc Loading Auto
Rear Panel, PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
Power Supply DC +12V,
±10%
DC +5V,
±5%
Typical standby current 20mA 300 mA
Typical DVD read
current (at max speed)
850 mA 950 mA
Typical CD read current
(at max speed)
900 mA 850 mA
Typical DVD write
current (at max speed)
900 mA 1450 mA
Typical CD write current
(at max speed)
900 mA 1400 mA
Peak current 1000 mA 1500 mA
Rear Panel, PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive (continued)
Power
Consumption
Peak 19.5W
IDE Interface
Connector
IDE bus, 40-pin flat ribbon type. Interface complies
with ATA/ATAPI-5. Must use 80-conductor IDE/ATA
cable.
NOTE: Although the PX-800A will operate with a 40conductor cable, it may not be able to write at 18X
unless an 80-conductor IDE/ATA cable is used.
Maximum total cable length cannot exceed 18 in (45.7
cm).
Analog Audio
Output
Connector
Stereo analog output, Molex connector (L*G*G*R),
MPC-3 standard
Output voltage: 0.75 V ±1.5dB
Load impedance: 10k ohms
S/N ratio: >80 dB
Frequency response: 20Hz-2 0kHz ±3 dB
Digital Audio
Output
Digital audio output for input to SPDIF or Digital-In
input
Page 76
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
68 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Connector
Mode Jumper Master (default), slave, cable select (CSEL)
Dimensions and Weight, PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
Dimensions
(W/H/D)
( excluding
front bezel)
5.75" x 1.62" x 6.88"
146 mm x 41.3 mm x 175.0 mm
Weight < 1.65 lbs. (750 g)
Host Interface, PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
Type ATA/ATAPI-5
PIO Transfers Modes 0-4
Multiword
DMA
Transfers
Modes 0-2
Ultra DMA
Transfers
Modes 0-2
ATAPI
Command Set
ATAPI-5, MMC-4
Inquiry string PLEXTOR sp DVDR sp sp sp PX-800A sp sp
(where “sp” is one space)
Page 77
Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 69
Safety, Laser, and EMC Standards, PX-800A Internal ATAPI Drive
Country/
Region
Type Agency Standard
Safety UL
UL 1950
USA
Laser FDA
21CFR 1040.10 and
1040.11
Canada Safety CSA CSA 22.2
No. 950-00
Safety CE EN60950-1
IEC60950-1
Laser CE EN60825-1
Europe
EMC CE EN50022 Class B
EN55024
Taiwan EMC BSMI
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Appendix A: PX-800 Specifications
70 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
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PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 71
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72
Appendix B: Technical Support
Store Plextor’s e-mail, 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 drive,
please refer first to the relevant sections of this manual regarding setup
and installation (Sections 1–3). If you do not uncover the solution there,
please refer next to the maintenance and troubleshooting section that
begins on page
43. You may also wish to refer to the Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) section of our web site to assist you in troublesho oting
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 i n the support area.
Select PlexHelper for online troubleshooting or F AQs for answers to
common questions.
If you have not been successful in y our quest, our Technical Support
Department will help you solve problems that relate specifically to your
PX-800A drive. In many cases, a problem that appears to be caused by
your Plextor drive actually origin ates in another part of your computer.
In such instances, our technical support staff will try to help you identify
the part at fault and will refer you to the manufacturer of that part for
further assistance.
Page 81
Appendix B: Technical Support
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 73
How to Contact Plextor Technical Support
There are several ways for you to contact Plextor’s Technical Support
Department:
• Visit our web site (
www.plextor.com) for answers to Frequently
Asked Questions.
• Send us e-mail
(88techsupport@plextor.com). Include your telephone
number and the hours during which you can be reached. Be as
detailed as possible in describing your problem. Please include
system configuration, hardware and software, as well as versions of
drivers used.
• Call 1-800-204-0332 or 937- 615-1610 and select the tech support
option.
Before You E-mail or Call for Support
Please gather as much of the following information as possible before
contacting us.
• The serial number and TLA (top level assembly) number of your
PX-800A drive. Your serial number and TLA number appear on the
drive label.
• The latest version of firmware you loaded onto the drive, if
applicable.
• The version of the Windows operating system you are using.
• The brand name and model number of your computer (e.g., Dell
466/NP, Hewlett-Packard Pa vi l i on 7 52 n, etc.).
• The type of VGA, Super VGA, or other graphics board you use.
• Brand name and model number of any other peripherals you have
installed or connected to your computer (e.g., CD-ROM, scanner,
fax board, network board).
Page 82
Appendix B: Technical Support
74 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
Returns
In the unlikely event that you need to return a drive to Plextor, you need
an RMA (Returned Materials Authorization) number. You will need this
number before any Plextor drive can be returned for replacement. Here’s
how you get an RMA number and return your drive:
1. Contact Plextor Technical Support. You will receive assistance in
troubleshooting your system. If the drive is determined to be
defective, you will receive an RMA number.
2. Plextor will e-mail you with the RMA number and shipping
information.
3. When you receive the RMA number, pack the Plextor drive securely
in a box, and include the RMA number with the drive.
4. Write the RMA number in large bold numbers on the outside of the
box, and ship it to Plextor.
Contacting Plextor’s RMA Department
You can contact our RMA Department and request an RMA number at:
•
rmasupport@plextor.com
• Or by calling us at 1-800-204-0332 or 937-615-1610.
Packing Your Drive
Check the drive to make sure there is no disc inside, and if possible,
pack your drive in the original box. Some of our customers have not
held on to their boxes and have had to resort to less-than-secure methods
to get drives back to us.
CAUTION: Never ship the drive with a CD or DVD disc inside it.
Page 83
Appendix B: Technical Support
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 75
If you did not receive a box (for example, your drive came pre-installed
in a computer), we recommend you pay a packaging store (such as The
UPS Store) to ship your drive. If you don’t have a pack aging store in
your area, ask for packaging point ers w hen y ou c o nt act us t o get an
RMA number before returning any drive.
Shipping Your Drive to Plextor
Be sure to write the RMA number on the outside of the shipping box.
Any drive sent to Plextor without an RMA number will not be accepted.
NOTE: The RMA number must be clearly visible on the outside of the
shipping box.
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.
Page 84
PX-800 Installation and Users Manual
76
Appendix C: Warranty
PLEXTOR LLC (“Plextor”) warrants your PX-800A drive 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: a) if the unit is operated or stored under abnormal
use and/or 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 subjected 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 e-mail (
89techsupport@plextor.com) or by calling
1-800-204-0332 or 937-615-1610. The Technical Support Department
will attempt to diagnose and correct your problem. If the unit does not
function properly, they will provide you with a Return Material
Authorization (RMA) number. You may be asked to furn ish proof of
purchase to confirm that the unit is still under warranty.
All product returns must be authorized in advance by PLEXTOR.
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.
Page 85
Appendix C: Warranty
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 77
All drives returned to PLEXTOR must be securely packaged and
shipped postage prepaid.
The drive will be returned to the customer at Plextor’s expense when
originating within the United States. For a drive originating outside of
the United States, the customer is responsible for shipping costs in both
directions.
NOTE: Warranty validity is limited to that applicable in the location where
the drive was originally purchased.
If You’re Outside the U.S. or Canada
Note that the warranty and RMA policy only apply to the United States
and Canada. If you are in South America, contact your dealer or reseller
for all warranty and RMA claims.
Page 86
PX-800 Installation and Users Manual
78
Index
A
access time · 63
achieving best performance, PX-
800A · 21, 22
analog audio
cable · 27, 32, 33
output connector · 9, 32, 33, 67
ATAPI command set · 68, 69
audio
analog · 9, 67
digital · 33, 67
B
bay cover panel · 28
black tray · 3
blue book · 57
box contents
PX-800A · 10
buffer · 4, 65
Buffer Underrun Proof Technology
· 4
C
cable
40-conductor IDE · 10, 16
80-conductor IDE/ATA · 10, 15,
16
80-conductor IDE/ATA
required · 10, 52
analog audio · 27
audio · 33
cable select, replacing · 17
digital audio · 27
IDE · 27, 30
IDE/ATA · 10
MPC · 33
power · 18, 27
Sound Blaster · 33
SPDIF · 33
· 34
cable connections, PX-800A · 31
cable select · 14, 25, 26, 67
cable for · 17
configuring PX-800A for · 26
identifying · 17
master · 17
PX-800A installation · 25
setting mode jumper · 19
signal · 26
slave · 17
using 80-conductor Plextor
cable for · 17
CD
formats supported · 56
reading speed · 60
recording modes · 56
write methods · 56
CD cleaning disc, don’t use · 7, 43
CD reading speed · 60
CD-DA reading speed · 2
CD-R
compatibility · 4
media · 35
reading speed · 2
writing · 39
writing speed · 2, 62
CD-R/RW software · 6
CD-ROM, playing · 35
CD-RW
compatibility · 4
high speed · 62
media · 35
Page 87
Index
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 79
normal speed · 62
reading speed · 2
ultra speed · 62
writing · 39
writing speed · 2, 62
CD-TEXT · 4
cleaning disc · 37
cleaning your drive · 43
precautions · 7, 43
closing tray · 37
compatibility
CD-R · 4
CD-RW · 4
DVD · 3
DVD+R · 52
DVD+RW · 52
computer, minimum
PX-800A · 4, 66
configuration
cable select · 26
PX-800A minimum · 4, 66, 69
types of IDE · 15
connection
digital audio · 67
sound board and · 33
connector
analog audio output · 9, 32, 67
digital audio · 9, 32
IDE interface · 10, 30, 67
power · 10, 34
connectors and jumpers
PX-800A rear-panel · 9, 66, 67
controls, front-panel
PX-800A · 8, 66
cover panel, bay · 28
CSEL · See cable select
D
data buffer · 65
digital audio · 33
digital audio output · 67
connector · 9, 32, 33, 67
Digital-In connector · 9, 32, 33, 67
dimensions, PX-800A · 3, 68
disc
cleaning · 37
labels · 37
loading · 66, 69
disc/busy indicator · 8, 34, 66, 69
color · 40, 66, 69
DMA support · 68
double layer
side 2 · 34
writing speed · 2
drive, recognizing in Windows · 50
DVD
compatibility · 3
formats compared · 52
formats supported · 3, 56
media · 34
playing · 38
reading speed · 59
recording modes · 4, 56
regional setting · 38, 65
write methods · 4, 56
DVD multi · 3, 52
DVD+R
compatibility · 52
media · 34
software · 6
writing · 39
writing speed · 2, 61
DVD+R DL
lossless linking · 3
writing speed · 61
DVD+RW
compatibility · 52
editing · 3
media · 34
software · 6
writing · 39
Page 88
Index
80 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
writing speed · 61
DVD±R DL media · 34
drive capabilities · 34
DVD-R DL
writing speed · 61
zero link · 3
DVD-RAM
cartridge not accomodated · 52
media · 35
reading speed · 2
set-top box and · 5, 35
write methods · 56
writing · 39
writing speed · 2, 61
writing without special software
DVD-RW · 52
drive capabilities · 34
writing speed · 61
zero link · 3
E
Easy Media Creator · 39
editing DVD+RW · 3
eject
emergency · 9, 45
methods for · 66, 69
eject button · 9, 34
closing tray · 37
electrostatic discharge
specification · 65
EMC standards
PX-800A · 69
emergency eject hole · 9, 34, 45
emergency eject tool · 9, 10, 34, 45
error rate specification · 65
F
FAQs · 52
features · 2
CD-R · 4
DVD · 3
firmware
obtaining · 44
upgrading · 3, 44, 53
flash memory · 3, 44
formats · 56
CD · 56
DVD · 52, 56
frequently asked questions · 52
front panel
changing color of · 46
controls · 8, 34, 66, 69
replacing · 46
H
hard disk size · 5, 66, 69
high speed CD-RW
media · 35
write speed · 62
host interface, PX-800A · 68
humidity
specification · 64
storage · 64
I
IDE cable, 40-conductor · 16
IDE cable, connecting · 30
IDE configuration
determining for PX-750A · 14
examples · 21
selecting for PX-750A · 21
types of · 15
IDE interface connector · 10, 30,
67
IDE ports · 14
IDE/ATA cable, 80-conductor · 10,
15, 16
Page 89
Index
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 81
initialization time · 63
inquiry string
PX-800A · 68
installation · 34
examples · 21
PX-800A · 8, 13, 23, 24, 27
interface · 4
ATAPI · 4
PX-800A · 66
J
jumper, mode · 10, 18, 67
L
label, disc · 37
laser standards
PX-800A · 69
lossless linking · 3
M
maintenance · 43
master · 14, 21, 67
cable select · 17
PX-800A as · 18
setting drive as · 18
setting mode jumper · 19
media · 34
care and handling · 37
CD-R · 35
CD-RW · 35
DVD · 34
DVD+R DL · 34
DVD+RW · 34
DVD-R DL · 34
DVD-RAM · 35
high speed CD-RW · 35
recommended · 53, 58
size · 57
supported · 4, 57
ultra speed CD-RW · 35
memory, minimum · 4, 66, 69
minimum cable connections, PX-
800A · 27
minimum computer · 4, 66, 69
minimum configuration · 4, 66, 69
minimum RAM · 4, 66, 69
MMC-3 command set · 3
mode jumper · 10, 67
changing · 19, 20
setting · 18
motherboard BIOS setup program ·
51
mounting position · 27, 38, 64
mounting PX-800A · 27, 28
mounting rails · 29
MPC-compliant audio cable · 33
MTBF · 65
N
noise specification · 64
normal speed CD-RW
media · 35
write speed · 35, 62
O
OPC · See optimum power control
opening the computer · 13
PX-800A · 66
optimum power control · 4
optional cable connections, PX-
800A · 27
orange book · 4, 57
P
packing for shipment · 74
PIO support · 68
playing DVD · 38
Page 90
Index
82 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
plug and play, support for · 3
position, mounting · 27, 38, 64
power
cable · 18
connecting cable · 31
· 34, 69
connector, PX-800A · 10, 66, 67
precautions · 6
primary IDE port · 14
achieving best performance · 21,
22
cable connections · 31
configuration examples · 21
connectors and jumpers, rear-
panel · 9
contents of box · 10
controls, front-panel · 8
determining IDE configuration
for · 14
dimensions · 3, 68
host interface · 68
inquiry string · 68
installation · 8, 13, 23, 24
installation examples · 21
installation, cable select · 25
· 2, 4, 66
minimum computer · 66
minimum configuration · 66, 69
mode jumper · 18
mounting · 27
· 5, 66
optional cable connections · 27
power requirements · 66, 67
quickstart installation · 12
rear-panel connectors · 9, 66, 67
selecting IDE configuration · 21
system requirements · 66, 69
weight · 68
Q
questions, frequently asked · 52
quickstart installation, PX-800A ·
12
R
rails · 29
RAM, minimum · 4, 66, 69
read specification
CD · 60
DVD · 59
reading
disc/busy indicator and · 8, 34
reading speed
CD-R · 2
CD-RW · 2
digital audio · 60
DVD-RAM · 2
rear-panel connectors
PX-800A · 9
recognizing the PX-800A drive in
Windows · 50
recommended media · 53, 58
definition · 53
recording modes
CD · 56
DVD · 4, 56
DVD-RAM · 56
red book · 57
region code · 38, 65
regional setting · 38, 65
reliability · 65
returns · 11, 34, 74
RMA number · 11, 74, 75
ROPC · See running optimum
power control
Roxio · 6, 39
running optimum power control · 4
Page 91
Index
PX-800A Installation and Users Manual 83
S
safety standards
PX-800A · 69
screws, mounting · 32
secondary IDE port · 14
security sticker · 11, 34
selecting an IDE configuration · 21
serial number, recording · 27, 34
shipping your drive · 11, 34, 74, 75
shock specification · 65
slave · 14, 21, 67
cable select · 17
setting drive as · 18
setting mode jumper · 19
sleep mode · 63
software · 6
CD-R/RW · 6
DVD+R · 6
DVD+RW · 6
Easy Media Creator · 6, 39
Roxio · 6, 39
Sony/Philips digital interface · See
SPDIF
Sound Blaster-compliant audio
cable · 33
sound board, connections to · 33
SPDIF
cable · 33
connector · 9, 32, 33, 67
specifications · 56
speed
monitoring · 40
reading CD-R · 2
reading CD-ROM · 60
reading CD-RW · 2
reading digital audio · 60
reading DVD · 2, 59
writing CD-R · 2
writing DVD+R · 2
writing DVD+RW · 2
writing DVD-RAM · 2
writing DVD-RW · 2
stereo output signal · 9, 67
support · 72
T
technical support · 72, 73
temperature
specification · 64
storage · 64
TLA code · 27, 34
tray · 34
changing door color · 46
closing · 37
front door · 8
loading and unloading · 36
loading specification · 65
troubleshooting · 50
U
ultra DMA support · 68
ultra speed CD-RW
media · 35
write speed · 35, 62
upgrading firmware · 3, 44, 53
V
vibration specification · 64
W
wake mode · 64
warranty · 76
web site, Plextor · 72
weight
PX-800A · 68
white book · 57
write methods
CD · 56
DVD · 4, 56
Page 92
Index
84 PX-800A Installation and Users Manual
DVD-RAM · 56
writing
DVD-RAM · 35
writing a CD image · 5, 66, 69
writing speed
achieving · 35
CD-R · 2, 62
CD-RW · 2, 62
compatible · 53
DVD+R · 2, 61
DVD+RW · 61
DVD-R · 61
DVD-RAM · 2, 61
DVD-RW · 61
high speed CD-RW · 35
IDE/ATA cable and · 10, 52
maximum · 53
monitoring · 40
normal speed CD-RW · 35
recommended media and · 53
ultra speed CD-RW · 35
writing to CD-R · 39
writing to CD-RW · 39
writing to DVD+R · 39
writing to DVD+RW · 39
writing to DVD-RAM · 39
writing, disc/busy indicator and · 8,
34
Y
yellow book · 57
Z
zero link · 3
Page 93
PX-800 Installation and Users Manual
85
Notes
Page 94
PLEXTOR LLC
48383 Fremont Blvd.
Suite 120
Fremont CA 94538-6509
Phone:
Fax:
E-mail:
510-440-2000
510-651-9755
info@plextor.com
www.plextor.com
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