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ATAPI / ATAPI-4:
Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface*; part of the PC’s
IDE*/E-IDE* interface* that provides additional commands for controlling IDE* peripherals (e.g.
DVD-R/RW or CD-ROM/-R/-RW writers). The “-4” suffix denotes a later (faster) ATAPI
generation.
BIOS:
Basic Input/Output* System; as part of your PC’s system software, the usually invisible
though critical BIOS is mainly responsible for loading/executing the PC’s operating system and
constitutes the lowest-level interface* to internal and external peripherals (e.g. keyboard,
mouse, printer, DVD-R/RW or CD-ROM/-R/-RW writers, etc.); although it is possible to access
the BIOS yourself, this is best left to computer experts or programmers.
BUFFER UNDERRUN:
The inability of the PC’s “buffer” (i.e. an interim store of information)
to supply a continuous stream of data that matches the speed of writing from the host* device
to the recording device during DVD-R/RW writing operations; the problem is common
to current CD technology and often results in ruined CD-R.
BUS:
part of a chip or circuit board that serves as a route for exchanging signals between a
PC’s various functional units.
CABLE SELECT/CS:
by choosing this jumper setting when installing the drive in a
CS-compatible PC, the TDK DVD-R/RW writer automatically selects the correct master/slave*
configuration using a signal from the IDE* interface*.
CAV:
abbreviation of Constant Angular Velocity. A term referring to the speed of disc reading or
writing. At constant angular velocity, a disc spins with the same number of revolutions no matter
which track the laser reads or writes. At CAV, recording density increases from the outer to the
inner tracks of a disc. See also CLV.
CLV
: abbreviation of Constant Linear Velocity. A term referring to the speed of disc reading or
writing. At constant linear velocity, a disc’s number of revolutions increases from the outer to
the inner tracks during reading or writing. At CLV, all tracks feature the same recording density.
See also CAV.
Glossary of Terms
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