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Hardware Installation

By itself, your CD-ROM drive is incapable of communicating with your computer.
You must use a hardware link that enables your drive to ‘‘talk’’ with the rest of your
computer.

Plextor’s 4PleX Plus drives use a SCSI interface as their link. If you own a PC, there
are four ways in which you can make the SCSI connection:

1) Use a separate 16-bit SCSI interface board. This is the most common method

for both internal and external drives. We recommend using a 16-bit SCSI
interface board to maximize the drive’s potential. Using an older 8-bit SCSI
interface board will reduce the performance of your 4PleX Plus.

2) Use a soundboard that also has a SCSI interface built onto it. This helps save

a slot in your computer by combining the functions of two boards (SCSI
interface board and soundboard) into one. 

Caution:

 Many older sound-

boards use only an 8-bit SCSI chip. If you need the performance a 16-bit
SCSI interface board provides (see page 32), you’ll have to buy a separate
SCSI board or a soundboard with a 16-bit SCSI interface built into it.

3) If you have an external drive, you can also use a parallel-to-SCSI interface.

This is a device that plugs into the parallel port (the one your printer normally
is connected to) of your computer. It is convenient, but typically at a cost of
reduced performance to your CD-ROM drive.

4) If you have an external drive and a portable computer with a PCMCIA slot

(Type II or III), use a PCMCIA-to-SCSI card. This is a small, credit-card size
device that plugs into the PCMCIA slot. It also is convenient, but provides
less performance than a direct connection to a 16-bit SCSI interface board.
PCMCIA connections should, however, provide better performance than a
parallel-to-SCSI interface.

---- CHAPTER 8 ----

20

  PX-43CE/PX-45CE OPERATION MANUAL

Summary of Contents for 4PS-2

Page 1: ...ard and soundboard into one Caution Many older sound boards use only an 8 bit SCSI chip If you need the performance a 16 bit SCSI interface board provides see page 32 you ll have to buy a separate SCSI board or a soundboard with a 16 bit SCSI interface built into it 3 If you have an external drive you can also use a parallel to SCSI interface This is a device that plugs into the parallel port the ...

Page 2: ...TherearedozensofSCSIinterfaceboardsandsoundboards on the market Each one is installed somewhat differently Therefore our instructions for this section should only be considered as guidelines For more detailed instructions on how to properly install your SCSI interface board soundboard you should refer to the installation operation manual that you received when you purchased the board Caution If st...

Page 3: ...al bundles so you must use a vacant 16 bit slot 16 bit slots are longer than 8 bit slots If you install an internal drive try to pick a slot that is closest to where the drive will be installed Remove the cover plate for this slot from the back panel of your computer Keep the screw from the cover plate nearby as you will need it in a moment Save the cover plate in case you need it at a later date ...

Page 4: ...Once you have successfully inserted the board fasten it in place using the cover plate screw that you removed earlier CHAPTER 8 Hardware Installation PX 43CE PX 45CE OPERATION MANUAL 23 ...

Page 5: ...n bay in your computer If you have an external drive find an open space on your desktop The PX 43CE and PX 45CE may be installed either horizontally or vertically If installed vertically make sure that the eject button is positioned near the top of the drive PX 43CE PX 45CE Vertical Horizontal CHAPTER 8 Hardware Installation Vertical Horizontal Eject Button UP Eject Button UP 24 PX 43CE PX 45CE OP...

Page 6: ...ases you may have to remove screws that hold the panel in place You now need to determine if you must install mounting rails on the sides of your drive To do so insert the drive into the open bay If the drive fits tightly with little or no clearance on either side of the drive you will not have to use mounting rails The drive can be mounted directly into your computer Caution Do not mount your dri...

Page 7: ...nnect any cables Check Your Jumper Settings Once you have determined a the correct set of holes to use to attach mounting rails or b that you don t have to use mounting rails you are almost ready to finish your drive s installation However before doing so check your jumper settings one last time If you do not have any SCSI peripherals e g hard disk scanner printer etc in your system other than you...

Page 8: ... 7 of this manual for setting the termination of the devices If you have more than one other SCSI peripheral besides your Plextor drive you will need to acquire a SCSI ribbon cable with more connectors one connector for each SCSI device plus an additional connector for the host adapter refer to Chapter 3 Refer to Chapter 7 of this manual for setting the termination of the devices CAUTION It is eas...

Page 9: ...rive in the proper position The drive should slide smoothly into the bay If it does not check for obstructions in the bay and ensure the side rails if needed are attached properly You now need to make the power connection In most computers you will find additional power connectors that are ready for your use Check the cable running from your power supply to your hard disk and see if it has extra c...

Page 10: ...o output connector on the rear panel of your drive to your soundboard See page 33 for more information about audio cables Installation of your internal drive is now complete Skip to page 32 External Drive Installation YOUR TASK Connect cables from your external drive to your PC or Mac Check to see if switch dial and terminator settings need to be adjusted YOUR OBJECTIVE A well functioning drive th...

Page 11: ...erface Board SCSI Cable Secure with the cable connector screws Personal Computer AC Power Supply PX 45CE Rear Panel X Y SCSI Cable Plugs into Y Plugs into X above CHAPTER 8 Hardware Installation PC connection 30 PX 43CE PX 45CE OPERATION MANUAL ...

Page 12: ...as shown below Y CHAPTER 8 Hardware Installation PC connection Mac connection rear view of a Mac SCSI Interface Board Personal Computer Termination DISABLED SCSI Cable Daisy Chain Cable 50 pin Centronics X SCSI Cable Plugs into Y Plugs into X above Termination DISABLED Termination ENABLED PX 43CE PX 45CE OPERATION MANUAL 31 ...

Page 13: ...pectrum 16 Diamond SonicSound Prometheus Aria 16SE Any SCSI CD ROM drive can be attached to this type of soundboard and should work if the proper device drivers are used If you own a soundboard that falls into category 1 or 2 and want to use it with your 4PleX Plus drive you also must buy a separate SCSI interface board e g Future Domain TMC 1610 Adaptec AHA 1515 You should follow the directions s...

Page 14: ... and it seems that each of them uses a different audio connector To date a standard has yet to be determined We now include two audio cables with your internal CD ROM drive and one cable with your external drive This is as close as we can get to a standard at this time One cable delivered with your internal drive is MPC compliant and the other has connec tors designed for use with Sound Blaster so...

Page 15: ...connected to your internal CD ROM drive CHAPTER 8 Hardware Installation Soundboard without SCSI Interface 1 Audio Connector 2 Power Connector 3 SCSI Connector Soundboard with SCSI Interface 1 Audio Connector 2 Power Connector 3 SCSI Connector 34 PX 43CE PX 45CE OPERATION MANUAL ...

Page 16: ...do not use a device driver or you use an outdated version of the required device driver you will not be able to operate your CD ROM drive The lack of a device driver or the use of an improper version of a device driver are the most common causes of calls to Plextor s Technical Support Department For PC users with DOS Windows please see page 36 For Apple computer users please see page 42 For PC use...

Page 17: ...nd the SCSI host adapter manual for instructions If your drive includes a Plextor supplied SCSI host adapter programs provided by the host adapter manufacturer do not need to be installed If you purchased your drive without a Plextor supplied SCSI host adapter you must load the ASPI manager before installing Plextor Manager The ASPI manager should have been supplied by the manufacturer of your SCS...

Page 18: ...t or automatically loaded when you boot your system by placing them into your AUTOEXEC BAT file The DOS utilities are used by typing the word Plextor followed by a space and then a slash and an option code If you have more than one Plextor drive installed in your computer and wish to limit applicability to a single drive you may add a qualifier at the end for example PLEXTOR option d Command line ...

Page 19: ... PLEXTOR L E lock CD ROM drive E Plextor Manager for Microsoft Windows 3 1 3 11 The Windows based Plextor Manager provides access to all utilities in a graphical user interface type environment It also provides access to additional utilities not available in DOS Plextor Manager is divided into four different pages or sheets To switch pages click on the notebook tabs at the bottom of the window Dri...

Page 20: ...us and Windows 95 disks designed for AutoPlay This option is only available when the Plextor Manager is running Drive Setup Page The Drive Setup page allows you to control the speed spindown time and eject functions of your drive The Speed Control option allows you to set your drive to any of its supported operating speeds The Spindown Time option al lows you to set the inactivity time before the ...

Page 21: ...For ward Scan and Track Advance Scan is a unique feature from Plextorthatallowsyoutohearthe audio track while you fast forward until you get to the desired location You may scan a recording by clicking on and holding down the forward reverse Scan buttons The Track Advance button will automatically start the next audio track on the CD The Track Reverse button will restart the current audio track To...

Page 22: ... CD Audio page will open the Plextor Audio Capture window where you may specify the Plextor CD ROM drive in which the audio CD is inserted the track number you wish to capture and various quality and performance characteristics The quality charac teristics you specify will affect the size of the file created The estimated file size will be displayed The captured audio will yield a perfect digital ...

Page 23: ...d to their appropriate places SYSTEM 6 USERS All files already are where they need to be No further commands are necessary 3 Select Shut Down or Restart from your Mac desktop After restarting your Mac you should see the CD ROM device driver as the Mac boots up If the icon appears crossed out check to see that the CD ROM drive power is on and that the SCSI ID does not conflict with another device O...

Page 24: ...o verify that your SCSI interface board is supported by OS 2 Check your OS 2 manual and the README file on the floppy disk that comes with the OS 2 CD ROM for information on which SCSI interface boards OS 2 supports If your SCSI interface board is included on the list of supported hardware you can skip to step 3 2 If your SCSI interface board is not on OS 2 s list of supported hardware you must co...

Page 25: ...f supported hardware you can follow the installation instructions provided by Microsoft However if your SCSI interface board is not on NT s list of supported hardware you must contact your board s manufacturer and request an NT software device driver see listing of key contact phone fax BBS numbers on page 69 The files you obtain need to be added to the NT installation floppy disk s that came with...

Page 26: ... now should be visible to the system Windows NT Troubleshooting Tip If you have difficulty getting NT to recognize your CD ROM drive and SCSI interface board you first should verify that all of your hardware is operating properly This is best done by installing DOS If your system also does not work under DOS you probably have a hardware problem that needs to be resolved before you can go any furth...

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