Plextor PX-504A User manual

ATAPI DVD+R/RW AND CD-R/RW DRIVE
INSTALLATION AND USERS MANUAL
FEBRUARY 2003
Model PX-504A

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. First edition, February 2003.
Licenses and Trademarks
Plextor and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks of Plextor Corp. All other licenses and
trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Record Your Serial Number
For future reference, record the serial number and the TLA code (found on your
drive’s label) in the space provided below.
TLA/Firmware Revision Number

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 of 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. The label reads:
“CAUTION – CLASS 3B RADIATION WHEN OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO THE BEAM.”
Detail of Laser Caution Labels Top View of 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 Plextor-authorized personnel.
CAUTION: To disconnect the 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.

PX-504A Installation and Users Manual v
Table of Contents
1. Getting Started.................................................................................................1
About this Manual..............................................................................................1
Meet Your PX-504A..........................................................................................1
What the PX-504A Does................................................................................1
Features of the PX-504A................................................................................2
Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-504A............................................... 3
What You Can Do with the PX-504A............................................................3
What’s In the Box ..............................................................................................4
Save Your Box!.............................................................................................. 4
PX-504A Drive Features and Controls ..............................................................5
Front Panel.....................................................................................................5
Rear Panel...................................................................................................... 6
About Software.................................................................................................. 7
Precautions......................................................................................................... 7
2. Installing Your PX-504A.................................................................................9
QuickStart Installation—For Experienced PC Users Only............................ 9
Open the Computer and Prepare for Installation................................................9
Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration .................................................... 10
Set the Drive’s Mode Jumper............................................................................. 11
Changing the Mode Jumper on Your Internal PX-504A Drive......................11
Select an IDE Configuration..............................................................................12
About Cable Select.............................................................................................15
Identifying Whether Your System Uses Cable Select....................................16
Locating the Master Position on a Cable Select Cable...................................16
Install the PX-504A Drive .................................................................................16
Record the Serial Number..............................................................................16
Mount the Drive in the Computer ..................................................................16
Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables.............................................................21
Choosing and Connecting Audio Cables........................................................21
Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized................................................................... 22
3. Using Your PX-504A .......................................................................................23
What Media to Use ............................................................................................ 23
DVD Media....................................................................................................23
CD-ROM Media ............................................................................................23
Tray Loading and Operation.............................................................................. 24
Handling DVD and CD Media.......................................................................24
Cleaning Discs ...............................................................................................25
Playing DVDs.................................................................................................... 25
Writing to DVD Media ......................................................................................26
Writing to CD-R and CD-RW Media ................................................................26
Advantages of Buffer Underrun Proof Technology...........................................26

Table of Contents
vi PX-504A Installation and Users Manual
4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting.................................................................27
Upgrading Firmware..........................................................................................27
Troubleshooting .................................................................................................27
Appendix A: PX-504A Specifications.................................................................29
Appendix B: Technical Support..........................................................................35
How to Contact Plextor Technical Support........................................................35
Before You E-mail/Log On/FAX/Call for Support............................................36
Returns ...............................................................................................................36
Contacting Plextor’s RMA Department.........................................................37
Packing Your Drive........................................................................................37
Shipping Your Drive to Plextor......................................................................37
Appendix C: Warranty........................................................................................39
If You’re Outside the U.S. or Canada ................................................................40
Index......................................................................................................................41

PX-504A Installation and Users Manual 1
1. Getting Started
Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing the Plextor®PX-504A a reliable, high-
performance recordable DVD and CD writer, rewriter, and player. We appreciate the
confidence you have shown in us. Our goal is to put you—and keep you—on the
leading edge of DVD and CD technology.
About this Manual
Please read this manual carefully and keep it handy for easy reference. Use the
manual for installation, operation and troubleshooting. If your drive needs service,
see your dealer or call Plextor’s Technical Support Department.
In this manual you should find all the information you need to successfully install,
operate and troubleshoot your drive. If you run into a problem that doesn't seem to be
covered, however, please contact us. (See “Appendix B: Technical Support”for the
different ways you can reach us.) You will be connected to our friendly, helpful band
of tech support engineers. What might seem like an uncooperative drive to you could
very well be a 30-second fix to them. But we will never know unless you contact us.
Meet Your PX-504A
The PX-504A is a recordable DVD/CD-ReWritable drive that provides professional
quality DVD and CD performance for writing, rewriting and reading.
What the PX-504A Does
For DVDs, the PX-504A:
• Writes DVD+R (recordable DVD) media at up to 4X speed.
• Writes DVD+RW (re-writable DVD) media at up to 2.4X speed.
• Supports DVD+VR real time editing.
• Reads DVD discs at up to 12X. (Fixed at 2-5X for video.)
• Supports DVD+RW background format.
For CDs, the PX-504A:
• Writes to CD-R (recordable CD) media at up to 16X speed.
• Writes to CD-RW (re-writable CD) media at up to 10X speed.
• Reads all CD-ROM and CD-R data media at a maximum of 40X speed.
• Reads CD-RW and CD-DA (audio) media at up to 32X speed.

Section 1. Getting Started
2PX-504A Installation and Users Manual
Features of the PX-504A
• ATAPI interface: Easily installs in virtually any PC with an E-IDE ATAPI
interface.
• High speed transfers: Supports PIO Mode 4, DMA Mode 2, and Ultra DMA33.
• MMC compliance: Supports the MMC-3 command set.
• Flash memory: Allows upgrading the PX-504A to the latest firmware revision
(available from the Plextor web site) without opening the computer or physically
accessing the drive.
• Black tray: Reduces the effect of optical distortion on the laser beam, enhancing
read quality.
• Plug and Play: Supports Windows Plug and Play.
DVD Features
• Lossless linking: Allows DVD+RW discs to be edited and still play on DVD-
ROM players.
• Wide DVD+R and DVD+RW media compatibility: Compatible with a wide range
of DVD+R and DVD+RW media.
• DVD+VR: Supports DVD+VR format.
• Multiple DVD types: Supports DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, multi-border for
DVD-RW read, multi-session for DVD+R/RW read and write.
• Versatile recording modes: Including sequential write, random access write, disc
at once.
CD-R and CD-RW Features
• Variety of recording modes: Supports track-at-once, disc-at-once, session-at-
once, and multi-session, as well as variable and fixed packet writing.
• Buffer-Underrun-Proof technology: With 2-megabyte buffer, eliminates buffer
underrun errors, so you can safely use your computer for other tasks while you’re
writing to a CD-R or CD-RW disc.
• Wide compatibility: Wide CD-R and CD-RW media compatibility.
• Orange Book compatibility: Compatible with Orange Book, Parts II and III.
• UDF support: UDF file system implemented through packet writing.
• OPC and ROPC: Optimum Power Control and Running Optimum Power
Control, which adjust the laser power for the optimum write strategy.

Section 1. Getting Started
PX-504A Installation and Users Manual 3
Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-504A
• Computer: Pentium III 500-MHz CPU or faster.
• Minimum RAM: 128 MB.
• Hard disk size: To write to a CD in image mode (that is, to write an image of a
CD to your hard disk), you need 1 GB of free space. For a DVD, 6 GB of free
space is recommended. (For more accurate guidelines, see the help files or
documentation for the recording software you’re using.)
• Operating System: Windows XP, Me, 2000, 98, 98SE.
What You Can Do with the PX-504A
Just look at some of the things you can do with your PX-504A:
• Record slide shows or digital video onto DVD+R and DVD+RW discs.
• Play DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW discs.
• Record data or audio onto writable or rewritable CD media.
• Play music CDs.
• Save photos and other images on rewritable or writable CDs.
• Create a CD or DVD “sneakernet”to share information with colleagues—just use
software such as Roxio’s DirectCD to drag and drop files onto DVD+R,
DVD+RW, CD-R or CD-RW media, then continue adding files and sharing the
same disc.
• Archive images and video to DVD or CD.
• Master new software programs on DVD or CD.

Section 1. Getting Started
4PX-504A Installation and Users Manual
What’s In the Box
What you find in your Plextor box depends on what the company that sold you the
box put in—or took out—while the Plextor drive was in their possession.
Plextor currently sells its drive in this configuration:
• PX-504A DVD+R/RW and CD-R/RW drive
• 40-pin IDE ribbon cable
• 4 mounting screws
• Extra jumper
• Emergency eject tool
• 1 piece of approved CD-R media
• 1 piece of approved DVD+R media
• Plextor CD with bundled software for writing DVDs and CDs
• PX-504A Installation and Users Guide
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
contents, depending on whom you
purchased the drive from and what
they included inside the box.
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.
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 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 36.)