Plextor PX-W4012TSe User manual

INSTALLATION AND USERS MANUAL
SCSI CD-R/CD-RW DRIVE
APRIL 2003
Models:
PX-W4012TS (Internal)
PX-W4012TSe (External)

Plextor reserves the right to make improvements in the products described in this
manual at any time without prior notice.
Plextor makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents hereof
and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for
any particular purpose. Further, Plextor Corp. reserves the right to revise this manual
and to make changes in its content without obligation to notify any person or
organization of such revision or change.
This manual is copyrighted, all rights reserved. It may not be copied, photocopied,
translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form without
Plextor’s prior permission.
Manual copyright ©2003 Plextor Corp. Third edition, April 2003.
Licenses and Trademarks
Plextor and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks of Plextor Corp; and PlexWriter,
PoweRec is a trademark of Plextor Corp. Other brands and products are trademarks of their
respective holders.
Record Your Serial Number
For future reference, record the serial number and the TLA code (found on your
drive’s label) in the space provided below.
TLA/Firmware Revision Number

FCC NOTICE
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Subpart B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy, and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment causes harmful interference to radio or television reception, which
can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Any changes or modifications should be approved by the party responsible for compliance with FCC
Rules; otherwise, the user loses 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 or the bottom of the external
drive. The label reads:
“CAUTION – CLASS 3B INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO
THE BEAM.”
Detail of Laser Caution Labels Top View of Internal Drive or
Bottom View of External Drive
Showing Location of
Laser Caution Labels
The laser beam emitted from the optical pickup is invisible. Accordingly:
• Do not open the optical pickup housing.
• Obtain service only from experienced personnel.
CAUTION: To disconnect the CD drive from an electrical current, pull out the power plug.

Ü
G-Vfg.243
VORSICHT: DIE TRENNUNG VOM NETZ ERFOLGT DURCH ZIEHEN DES NETZSTECKERS.
Zur Einhaltung der Funk-Entstörung von nicht selbständig betreibbaren
Hochfrequenzgeräten (periphere Anlagenkomponenten).
Dieses Gerät entspricht als Einzelgerät den Funk-Entstöranforderungen der
Postverfügung Nr. 243/1991.
Wird das Gerät innerhalb einer Anlage zusammen mit anderen Geräten
betrieben, so muss bei Inanspruchnahme der “Allgemeinen (Betriebs-)
genehmigung”nach der BMPT-AmtsblVfg Nr. 243/1991 die gesamte
Anlage folgenden Richtlinien entsprechen:
• Grenzwertklasse B der EN55022
• Auflagen nach §2 der BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991
Dies ist bei der Zusammensetzung einer Anlage (z.B. Computersystem) aus nur einzeln geprüften Geräten
nicht immer erfüllt.

PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual v
Table of Contents
1. Getting Started.................................................................................................1
About this Manual..............................................................................................1
Meet Your PlexWriter 40/12/40S ......................................................................1
What the PlexWriter 40/12/40S Does............................................................1
Features of the PlexWriter 40/12/40S............................................................2
Minimum Configuration to Use the PlexWriter 40/12/40S ...........................2
What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 40/12/40S........................................3
What's in the Box............................................................................................... 3
Save Your Box!.............................................................................................. 3
PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls............................................................4
Front Panel—Internal SCSI Drive ................................................................. 4
Front Panel—External SCSI Drive ................................................................ 4
Rear Panel—Internal SCSI Drive ..................................................................6
Rear Panel—External SCSI Drive ................................................................. 7
About Software.................................................................................................. 8
Precautions.........................................................................................................8
2. Installing Your PlexWriter.............................................................................. 9
Quickstart SCSI Installation—For Experienced PC Users Only....................9
Set SCSI Drive Jumpers..................................................................................... 10
Do I Have to Change My PlexWriter’s SCSI ID Number?............................ 10
Do I Have to Change My PlexWriter’s SCSI Termination Setting?..............12
Do I Have to Change Other PlexWriter SCSI Settings? ................................ 13
Setting Jumpers on a PlexWriter Internal SCSI Drive................................... 14
Setting Switches on a PlexWriter External SCSI Drive................................. 17
Install a PlexWriter Internal SCSI Drive............................................................ 18
Record the Serial Number and TLA Code..................................................... 18
Mount the PlexWriter Internal SCSI Drive....................................................18
Install a PlexWriter External SCSI Drive........................................................... 24
Connect a Single External SCSI Drive ..........................................................25
Connect Multiple External SCSI Drives........................................................26
Starting an External PlexWriter .....................................................................27
Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables............................................................. 27
What Else Do I Need?........................................................................................28
Recording Software........................................................................................ 28
SCSI Adapter Drivers ....................................................................................28
3. Using Your PlexWriter.................................................................................... 29
What Media to Use ............................................................................................ 29
Achieving Maximum Rated Writing Speed...................................................29
Writing at Lower Speeds................................................................................29
Tray Loading and Operation.............................................................................. 30
Handling CD Media....................................................................................... 30
Cleaning Discs ...............................................................................................31
Using the Writing Speed Indicators ................................................................... 31

Table of Contents
vi PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
Advantages of BURN-Proof Technology ..........................................................32
Advantages of VariRec Technology ..................................................................32
How the Default VariRec Setting Is Determined...........................................32
Changing the VariRec Setting........................................................................33
When You Write with VariRec......................................................................33
4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting.................................................................35
Upgrading Firmware..........................................................................................35
Troubleshooting .................................................................................................35
Using the Self-Test Diagnostics.........................................................................36
Performing the Self-Test on an Internal Drive...............................................36
Performing the Self-Test on an External Drive..............................................38
After the Self-Test..........................................................................................40
Appendix A: PlexWriter Specifications..............................................................41
Appendix B: Technical Support..........................................................................47
How to Contact Plextor Technical Support........................................................47
Before You E-mail/Log On/FAX/Call...............................................................48
Returns ...............................................................................................................48
Contacting Plextor’s RMA Department.........................................................49
Packing Your Drive........................................................................................49
Shipping Your Drive to Plextor......................................................................49
Appendix C: Warranty........................................................................................51
If You’re Outside the U.S. or Canada ................................................................52
Index......................................................................................................................53

PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual 1
1. Getting Started
Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing the Plextor®PlexWriter™40/12/40S, a
reliable, high-performance CD rewriter, recorder and reader that connects to your
computer with a SCSI cable. We appreciate the confidence you have shown in us.
Our goal is to put you—and keep you—on the leading edge of CD technology.
About this Manual
This manual explains how to connect and use your internal or external PlexWriter
40/12/40S drive. The installation process is simple. And if you have problems,
Plextor’s technical support staff is here to help.
Please read this manual carefully and keep it handy for easy reference. Use the
manual for installation, operation and troubleshooting. See your dealer or call
Plextor’s Technical Support Department if your drive needs service. And if you run
into a problem that doesn't seem to be covered, please contact us. (See “Appendix B:
Technical Support”for the different ways you can contact 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 repair to them.
But we will never know unless you contact us.
Meet Your PlexWriter 40/12/40S
The PlexWriter 40/12/40S is a CD-ReWritable drive that provides professional
quality CD performance for writing, rewriting and reading. It is available as an
internal drive or an external drive, with an internal or an external SCSI interface,
respectively.
What the PlexWriter 40/12/40S Does
The PlexWriter 40/12/40S:
• Writes data and CD-DA (digital audio) to CD-R (recordable CD) media at up to
40X speed.
• Writes to high speed CD-RW (rewritable CD) media at up to 12X speed.
(Naturally, the drive can also write to conventional CD-RW media at 4X speeds.)
• Reads all CD-ROM and CD-R media at a maximum of 40X speed with an
average access time of less than 120 milliseconds. (Maximum read speed of
CD-RW media is 32X.)

Section 1. Getting Started
2PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
Features of the PlexWriter 40/12/40S
• Ultra SCSI-3 interface: Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) lets you
connect up to seven devices on the same line.
• Orange Book compatibility: Compatible with Orange Book, Parts II and III.
• MMC compliance: Supports the MMC-3 command set.
• Variety of recording modes: Supports track-at-once, disc-at-once, session-at-
once, and multi-session, as well as variable and fixed packet writing.
• UDF support: UDF file system implemented through packet writing.
• Plug and Play: Supports Windows Plug and Play.
• Flash memory: Allows upgrading the PlexWriter to the latest firmware revision
(available from the Plextor web site) without opening the computer or physically
accessing the drive.
• OPC and ROPC: Optimum Power Control and Running Optimum Power
Control, which adjust the laser power for the optimum write strategy.
• PoweRec: Plextor Optimized Writing Error Reduction Control (PoweRec)
extends OPC and ROPC to adjust laser power and writing speed so they’re at the
optimum settings for that particular disc.
• VariRec: Lets you record at low speeds (1X and 4X) for highest quality, while
providing user adjustment of the recording power above or below a default level.
This adjustment lets you customize the optimum laser power to your own needs.
• BURN-Proof: With 4-megabyte buffer, eliminates buffer underrun errors, so you
can safely use your computer for other tasks while you’re writing to a CD-R or
CD-RW disc.
• Mt. Rainier (MRW) functionality: Ready for Mt. Rainier.
• Self-diagnostics: The drive can actually determine if it is working properly, an
invaluable feature for troubleshooting.
Minimum Configuration to Use the PlexWriter 40/12/40S
• Computer: Pentium II 300-MHz CPU or faster.
• Minimum RAM: 64 MB.
• Interface: Ultra SCSI-3, 50-pin.
• 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.

Section 1. Getting Started
PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual 3
What You Can Do with the PlexWriter 40/12/40S
Just look at some of the things you can do with your PlexWriter 40/12/40S:
• Record data or audio onto writable or rewritable CD media.
• Play music CDs.
• Save photos and other images on rewritable or writable CDs.
• Share information with colleagues—just use software such as Roxio’s DirectCD
to drag and drop files onto CD-R or CD-RW media, then continue adding files
and sharing the same CD disc.
• Archive images and video to CD.
• Master new software programs on CD.
What's in the Box
What you find in your Plextor box depends on what the company that sold you the
box put in—or took out—while the Plextor drive was in their possession.
NOTE: This applies to the Plextor retail box. Your box’s contents may be different.
In the box you’ll find:
• PlexWriter 40/12/40S CD-RW drive
• SCSI cable
• Emergency eject tool
• 4 mounting screws (internal drive only)
• Quick install guide
• Extra jumpers for setting drive options (internal drive only)
• 1 piece of approved CD-R media
• Plextor CD with authoring software bundle
• PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
• AC power cord (external drive only)
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.
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 everything is
present. If something is missing, contact the party from whom you purchased the
box.
Save Your Box!
Be sure to save the box after you have
installed your PlexWriter drive. The
box and its packaging material were
designed and drop tested to ensure your
PlexWriter 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 48.)

Section 1. Getting Started
4PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
PlexWriter Drive Features and Controls
Use these illustrations to become familiar with your drive’s controls and features.
Front Panel—Internal SCSI Drive
Figure 1: Front Panel of the PlexWriter 40/12/40S Internal Drive
Front Panel—External SCSI Drive
Figure 2: Front Panel of the PlexWriter 40/12/40S External Drive

Section 1. Getting Started
PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual 5
• Tray front door: Attached to tray drawer.
• Emergency eject hole: Insert emergency eject tool, paper clip, or other thin,
rigid object to eject tray if automatic eject button does not work. Turn OFF power
before using this feature.
• Headphone jack: Stereo mini-jack for headphones and powered speakers.
• Volume control: Controls volume of headphone jack.
NOTE: The volume control on the front panel of your drive adjusts only the sound
level of the headphone jack. It has no impact on the volume level of the rear-panel
audio outputs.
• DISC indicator: Green when disc is in the drive and power is ON.
• ON/READ indicator: Green when power is ON and no disc is in drive. Green
flashing when disc is being read. Green when BURN-Proof active during writing.
• WRITE L indicator: Amber when recording CD-R discs at 1X-24X speed, or
CD-RW discs at 4X or 10X speed.
• WRITE H indicator: Amber when recording CD-R discs at 32X and 40X speed,
or CD-RW disc at 12X speed.

Blink interval:
40-millisecond blink interval: Recording CD-R at 40X
80-millisecond blink interval: Recording CD-R at 32X or CD-RW at 12X
• CD-audio play/skip forward button: With an audio CD in the drive, push once
to begin playing an audio CD. Push the button multiple times to skip to a selected
track (e.g., press three times to reach track 3). Push and hold down this button
more than one second to fast forward.
• Stop/eject button: Push to eject tray. During CD play mode, press once to stop
playback; press twice to eject the disc.
• Power switch (external drive): To turn the drive’s power ON or OFF.

Section 1. Getting Started
6PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
Rear Panel—Internal SCSI Drive
Figure 3: Rear Panel of the PlexWriter 40/12/40S Internal Drive
• Audio output connector: Outputs stereo analog signal. Use to connect to sound
board or audio amplifier. Use standard MPC-3 type, 4-pin connector.
• Jumpers: Use to select SCSI ID, parity, SCSI termination, or block size. Leave
these jumpers at their factory settings unless one or more of the following
situations pertains to you:
 SCSI ID: If you are using more than one SCSI peripheral, you may have to
change your SCSI ID number; see page 10 for details.
 PRTY: Parity. In some cases, you may need to turn parity off; see page 13.
 TERM: SCSI termination. In some situations, you may need to set this
jumper to turn the PlexWriter’s SCSI termination off; see page 12 for details.
 TEST: For factory use only. Do not change this setting.
 BLOCK: Block size. You may need to change this setting if you are
working in a UNIX environment and want to boot from your PlexWriter; see
page 13.
 SPDIF: Sony/Philips digital interface (digital audio out). If your sound
board supports the Sony/Philips digital interface, you can connect it here.
• SCSI interface connector: Connects to SCSI interface board using
50-pin-to-50-pin flat ribbon SCSI cable.
• Power connector: Connects to your computer’s power supply to provide
DC +5V and +12V to the PlexWriter.

Section 1. Getting Started
PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual 7
Rear Panel—External SCSI Drive
Figure 4: Rear Panel of the PlexWriter 40/12/40S External SCSI Drive
• AC power input: Use the power cord supplied with your drive.
• SCSI ID dial: Use this dial to designate SCSI ID numbers. Rotate the dial to
change the number. If you are using more than one SCSI peripheral, you may
need to change your SCSI ID number; see page 10.
• DIP switches: Use to select parity, SCSI termination or block size. Leave these
switches at their factory settings unless one or more of the following situations
pertains to you:
 PRTY: Parity. In some cases, you may need to turn parity off; see page 13.
 TERM: SCSI termination. In some situations, you may need to set this
jumper to turn the PlexWriter’s SCSI termination off; see page 12 for details.
 TEST: For factory use only. Do not change this setting.
 BLOCK: Block size. You may need to change this setting if you are
working in a UNIX environment and want to boot from your PlexWriter; see
page 13.
• Audio output connectors: Output stereo analog signal. Use to connect to sound
board or audio amplifier. Use standard RCA jack connectors.
• SCSI-In and SCSI-Out interface connectors: Use one connector to link your
PlexWriter to your SCSI interface board. Use the other to link your PlexWriter to
another SCSI peripheral in a chain; see pages 25 and 26. You may use either
connector for either purpose.

Section 1. Getting Started
8PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
About Software
In order to create CD-R and CD-RW discs you will need to have mastering, packet
writing, or duplication software installed on your computer system. If you purchased
a retail kit from Plextor, you’ll get software packages that include this software.
For details on the various software packages for writing to CD-R or CD-RW, please
visit the web sites of the companies whose software you are interested in, refer to
their user’s manuals, or look at the help option within the software. A list of various
software packages that you can use with your Plextor drive can be found in the
Support/Compatibility section of www.plextor.com.
Precautions
Like the rest of your computer system, your PlexWriter requires reasonable care in
its installation and use.
• Do not put your computer monitor (or anything weighing more than 30 lbs.) on
top of a PlexWriter external drive.
• 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 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 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, use a radial motion: start at
the center of the disc and proceed to the outer edge.
CAUTION: Install your PlexWriter so it is oriented horizontally. Plextor does not
recommend installing the drive so it is mounted vertically.

PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual 9
2. Installing Your PlexWriter
This chapter illustrates how to
physically install the PlexWriter
internal SCSI drive in your computer,
or how to attach the PlexWriter
external drive to the SCSI interface.
The steps you’ll need to do are as
follows:
1. Turn OFF your computer system.
2. Set the SCSI ID for your new
PlexWriter drive as necessary.
3. Set the PlexWriter’s termination.
(By default, termination is
enabled.)
4. If you have a new PCI SCSI
interface board, insert it into an
available PCI slot in your
computer. (Consult your board
vendor’s installation instructions.)
5. If you have an internal model
Plextor drive, mount the drive in
an available bay inside the
computer system.
6. Make all necessary cabling
connections: SCSI cable, power
cable, and audio cable.
7. Turn your computer system ON.
The following pages give more
details for this procedure.
Quickstart SCSI
Installation—For
Experienced PC Users Only
If you’ve installed computer peripherals
before, you’re in luck with the
PlexWriter drive. Use this “quickstart”
installation designed to get you up and
running quickly.
Scenario 1: You purchased a Plextor
PlexWriter drive, the PlexWriter is your
only SCSI peripheral, and you have a
Windows operating system.
What to do: Purchase and install a
Plug-and-Play SCSI interface board
(with SCAM support). After it is
properly installed and configured, plug
in the PlexWriter, and go. Windows XP,
2000, Me, 98, or 95 will automatically
recognize the board and prompt you for
the SCSI interface board drivers. The
board’s manufacturer usually supplies
the latest available driver, either with
the board or on the manufacturer’s web
site. (In Windows NT you will need to
install the drivers manually through
Control Panel/SCSI Adapters.) After the
SCSI board drivers are installed and the
board is functioning correctly, the
drivers for your CD-RW drive will
automatically be installed by the
operating system.
NOTE: Most newer SCSI controllers are
Plug-and-Play-compliant.

Section 2. Installing Your PlexWriter
10 PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
Set SCSI Drive
Jumpers
Your PlexWriter SCSI drive needs to
be flexible enough to work with a
variety of available computer systems
and a number of other SCSI
peripherals. To provide this
flexibility, Plextor lets you specify
the drive’s settings before it is
installed.
On an internal SCSI drive, you
determine settings by the position of
jumpers on the jumper block at the
rear of the drive. On an external
drive, you determine settings by the
position of DIP switches and the
rotary dial on the rear panel of the
drive.
Your drive ships from our factory
with its jumpers, switches, and/or dial
set to work in the most commonly
found environment. You should leave
those switches and jumpers at their
factory settings, unless: 1) you plan to
use another SCSI peripheral (e.g.,
CD-ROM, hard disk, scanner) with
your computer system in addition to
your PlexWriter; or 2) you find it
necessary to change the block size
setting (most likely in an older UNIX
system).
Do I Have to Change My PlexWriter’s SCSI ID Number?
Your PlexWriter SCSI drive is shipped from the factory with its SCSI ID number set
to 4. The SCSI interface lets you chain several SCSI peripheral devices to a single
SCSI interface board, or to the SCSI port or SCSI adapter of an Apple computer,
with no loss of performance.
Quickstart Installation
(Continued)
Scenario 2: You have a Plug-and-
Play/SCAM SCSI interface board
installed already, the PlexWriter is your
only SCSI peripheral, and you have a
Windows operating system.
What to do: Plug in the PlexWriter,
and go. Windows will recognize the
drive and install the correct drivers
automatically.
Scenario 3: You have a SCSI interface
board installed that is not Plug-and-
Play/SCAM-capable, and you have a
Windows operating system.
What to do: Set a unique SCSI ID
number for the PlexWriter, and make
sure all other peripherals, including the
SCSI adapter board, have their own
SCSI ID numbers. Set the termination
of each peripheral OFF; except set the
termination of the last peripheral
devices on each end of the SCSI chain
to ON.
Other scenarios, or if you have
problems: Better take a closer look at
this chapter.

Section 2. Installing Your PlexWriter
PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual 11
NOTE: The total cable length of all cables of a single SCSI chain of devices should
not exceed 3 meters. (Should not exceed 1.5 meters if more than four SCSI devices
are connected to the cable chain.) Shorter cable lengths are better, especially when
using multiple devices, or faster SCSI interfaces such as Ultra SCSI, Ultra Wide
SCSI, and other types. To achieve maximum performance if you are connecting more
than four SCSI devices, we recommend you balance the installation on two or more
SCSI adapter boards.
Each peripheral must have a unique SCSI ID number—your PlexWriter can have
any of 8 numbers (0-7). SCSI ID 7 is typically reserved by the SCSI interface board.
You probably don’t need to physically set the SCSI ID if:
• Your PlexWriter drive is the only SCSI peripheral: In this case, don’t change
the SCSI ID. Leave it set to the original factory setting of 4.
• You have a SCAM-compliant SCSI interface board: Your Plextor drive is also
SCAM-compliant, so if you have Windows 95, 98, 2000, Me, or XP, you don’t
have to worry about setting SCSI ID numbers. (SCAM sets up SCSI addresses
automatically. If SCAM is enabled when you turn on your computer, the SCSI
interface board detects whether there is SCSI ID conflict between multiple
devices. Because your PlexWriter also supports SCAM, the drive automatically
resets its SCSI ID internally to avoid any conflict with other devices.) SCAM
overrides any hardware settings.
You may have to physically set the SCSI ID if you have more than one SCSI
peripheral device and:
• Your SCSI interface board is not SCAM-compliant: If you separately
purchased or already own a SCSI interface board, it may not be SCAM-
compliant. In this case, you should determine the SCSI IDs of all peripheral
devices and change the PlexWriter’s ID to a unique number.
• You don’t know if your SCSI interface board is SCAM-compliant: In this
case, to be on the safe side, determine the SCSI IDs of all peripheral devices and
change the PlexWriter’s ID to a unique number.
• You may have an older driver: Since SCAM was not a requirement when Plug-
and-Play specifications were written, original Windows 95 CDs may not include
a SCAM-compliant driver for your SCSI interface board. In this case, you should
determine the SCSI IDs of all peripheral devices and change the PlexWriter’s ID
to a unique number.

Section 2. Installing Your PlexWriter
12 PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
Do I Have to Change My PlexWriter’s SCSI Termination
Setting?
The PlexWriter is shipped from the factory with its SCSI termination set ON. You
can leave the PlexWriter’s SCSI termination setting to ON if:
• Your PlexWriter drive is the only SCSI peripheral: In this case, don’t change
the SCSI termination setting. Leave it set to the original factory setting of ON.
• Your PlexWriter drive is the last peripheral in a chain: If you are using
multiple SCSI peripherals with your computer and the PlexWriter is positioned as
the last peripheral in a chain, don’t change the PlexWriter’s termination setting.
Leave it set to ON. (However, make sure that any other peripheral devices on this
chain have termination OFF or disabled.)
NOTE: The PlexWriter uses active termination.
Figure 5: What Termination Settings to Use
You should change the PlexWriter’s SCSI termination setting to OFF if:
• Your PlexWriter is in the middle of a chain: If you have multiple SCSI
peripherals and the PlexWriter drive is not the last device in the chain, set its
SCSI termination to OFF. (In this case, remove, disable, or turn off termination
for all devices between the SCSI interface board and the last peripheral on the
opposite end of the chain. Set the termination of the last device in the chain to
on.)

Section 2. Installing Your PlexWriter
PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual 13
REMEMBER: Only the last SCSI peripheral in the chain should have termination
enabled. If you have any SCSI devices chained after your PlexWriter, you must
disable or turn OFF the PlexWriter’s SCSI termination using the instructions later in
this chapter.
Termination Power
Some interface boards and peripherals have the ability to disable and enable
termination power. (This should not be confused with termination itself.)
Termination power must be provided by at least one device attached to your SCSI
interface board. Your Plextor drive automatically supplies termination power. Any
additional devices supplying termination power will not cause any problems.
Do I Have to Change Other PlexWriter SCSI Settings?
You probably won’t have to change any of the other settings on your PlexWriter
SCSI drive’s switches or jumpers. Use this table to help decide.
SCSI Switch
or Jumper
Setting
Where to Set It
PRTY Parity setting. Leave this ON. The parity check provided by the
ON setting enhances the reliability of the SCSI bus. Set to OFF
only if your computer system, another peripheral on the SCSI
bus, or the SCSI interface board specifically requests that parity
be disabled.
TERM Termination setting. This enables or disables (turns ON or OFF)
SCSI termination. Factory setting is enabled (ON). See page 12
for an explanation of SCSI termination and to determine if you
need to change this setting.
TEST Leave this OFF. Set it ON for diagnostic testing only.
BLOCK Block size. Leave this OFF, unless you are working in a UNIX
environment and want to boot from your PlexWriter drive. If so,
set this jumper ON. Also set this ON for diagnostic testing only
SPDIF Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format (digital audio out). If your
sound board supports SPDIF or Digital In, use an SPDIF cable
(not supplied) to connect it to these pins. (SPDIF is available
only on internal drives.)

Section 2. Installing Your PlexWriter
14 PlexWriter 40/12/40S Installation and Users Manual
Setting Jumpers on a PlexWriter Internal SCSI Drive
Use this procedure to set jumpers on your PlexWriter internal SCSI drive. (However,
if you already have a SCSI interface board installed, an internal PlexWriter is the
only SCSI peripheral you will use with your computer, and you do not need to
change any settings, skip now to “Install a PlexWriter Internal SCSI Drive”on page
18.)
Factory SCSI Jumper Settings
Figure 6 shows the factory settings of the SCSI jumpers. The functions shown are
ON if the jumpers are installed and OFF if the jumpers are removed.
Figure 6: Factory Settings for Jumpers at the Rear of the Internal SCSI Drive
Changing SCSI Jumper Settings
To remove a jumper, pull it off with your fingers or a pair of needle-nose pliers.
Figure 7: Install Jumpers Across Vertical Pairs of Pins
CAUTION: Ensure power to the drive is OFF before installing or removing jumpers.