Sony DRU-880S User manual

Operating Instructions
© 2010 Sony Corporation
IT
JP
FR
DE
ES
IT
CS
DVD/CD
Rewritable Drive
DRU-880S

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Table of Contents
Introduction
Package Contents ............................ 4
Features ........................................... 4
System Requirements ..................... 4
Part Names and Functions .............. 5
Setup
Setting up the Drive ........................ 7
Operation
Using the Drive ............................. 11
Supplied Software ...................... 11
Using Generic Software with the
Drive ........................................... 12
Compatible Discs .......................... 13
Recommended Writable Discs ... 15
Writable Discs and
Compatibility .............................. 15
Precautions on Writing/Playing
Discs ............................................. 17
Miscellaneous
Precautions for Use ....................... 19
Support Overview ......................... 20
User Support Web Site ............... 20
Update the Drive Firmware ........ 20
Product and Support
Information ................................. 20
Specifications ............................... 21

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• Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
• Microsoft, Windows and Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
• Other system and product names used herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of their
respective manufacturers, although the ™ and ® marks are not used in the text.
Please Record Responsibly
Before copying anything onto a disc, please be sure that you are not violating copyright
laws. Most software companies allow you to make a backup or archive copy of software.
Check your software’s license agreement for details.
❑Our product warranty is valid only when the supplied accessories (including software) are
used in the specified or recommended system environment, in accordance with the
documentation, and applies only to this DVD/CD rewritable drive. Our customer service
and user support apply only under these product warranty conditions.
❑Please note that we cannot accept responsibility for failure of the computer or other
devices, incompatibility with special hardware, operating problems caused by improper
installation of software, loss of data, discs or other accidental or incidental damage that
might occur when using this product.
❑The guarantee and user support for this product are valid only within the countries or sales
regions specified on the warranty card.
❑Copyright laws prohibit the copying in part or in full of the supplied software and
documentation, or loaning the software, without obtaining permission of the copyright
holder.
❑We cannot accept responsibility for any direct or indirect financial damage or loss of
profit that might occur when using the supplied software.
❑The supplied software can only be used with this product.
❑Specifications of the supplied software may be changed without notice in the interest of
product improvement.

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BIntroduction
Package Contents
Please verify that the package includes the
following accessories with the drive when
unpacking. If any of these items appears to
be missing or damaged, please contact your
supplier.
•Drive
• Screws (×4)
• Product Information
• Quick Start Guide
•Softwaredisc
• Warranty card
Note
Make sure that you back up the supplied software
disc on another disc because the software disc is
not distributed independently.
Features
This product offers the following features.
❑An internal DVD/CD rewritable drive
with Serial ATA interface for
computers.
❑Can be used horizontally or vertically.
❑The drive can write to DVD+R Double
Layer and DVD-R Dual Layer discs.
❑The drive has a maximum 24× writing
capability for high speed DVD+R and
DVD-R discs.
❑The drive can write to DVD-RAM discs.
System
Requirements
The drive should be used with a system that
meets the following requirements1).
❑CPU: Pentium III, 1.0 GHz or higher
(Pentium 4, 2.0 GHz or higher
recommended)
❑256 MB RAM or more (512 MB RAM
for Windows Vista)
❑1.5 GB free HDD space (10 GB for
DVD creation)
❑One available Serial ATA interface
connection2)
❑One empty 5-inch half-height drive bay
❑One available internal Serial ATA
power connector3)
❑Operating system:
Windows XP Home Edition SP3/
Windows XP Professional SP3
(referred to as Windows XP SP3), or
Windows Vista Home Basic SP1/
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1/
Windows Vista Business SP1/Windows
Vista Ultimate SP1, or Windows 7
Home Premium/Windows 7
Professional/Windows 7 Ultimate
1) The above requirements are the minimum
requirements for normal writing and playback
of discs. Under actual operating conditions, the
requirements imposed by your software must
also be met. For details, refer to your software
documentation.
2) The drive does not support connection to a
Serial ATA interface card. Connect the drive to
the Serial ATA interface connector of your
computer’s motherboard.
3) The drive consumes a lot of power when
operating at high speeds. You should therefore
make sure that the rated power output of the
power outlet where you connect all your drives
is sufficient to power all the drives, including
this one. For details about each drive’s power
consumption rating, refer to their
documentation.

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Introduction
Part Names and Functions
Note
The design of the product is subject to change without notice and may differ from the
illustrations depending on your product.
Front Panel
Rear Panel

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ADisc tray
Insert discs here, label side up.
Hint
When you insert a disc into the drive, make
sure that it is under the four pins. When using
the drive vertically, make sure that you set the
disc inside the two lower pins.
BEject button
Press to open and close the disc tray.
CEmergency eject hole
If you cannot open the disc tray with the
eject button, turn off your computer, and
then insert a thin, elongated object into
this hole to eject the disc tray manually.
DBusy indicator
Indicates the drive status.
ESerial ATA connector
Connect to the computer with the Serial
ATA data cable.
FSerial ATA power connector
Connect to the Serial ATA power cable
of the computer.
Lighting • Load/Eject
• Drive read
• Data transfer during FW
update
• Access (seek)
Blinking • Track at once recording
• Format
•Erasingdata
• Writing data
• CD packet write, read
(audio play)
Off The drive is in a state other
than those outlined above.
About 40 mm (1 5⁄8in)

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Setup
BSetup
Setting up the Drive
The installation and setup procedures outlined below assume that you are using
a standard computer. For details about how to install peripheral devices into
your computer, refer to the instructions supplied with your computer.
Before installing the drive
Referring to “Package Contents” in the product information, verify that the
contents of the drive package are complete.
Note
Avoid touching any exposed electronic conductors or contacts on the circuit boards of the
drive or your computer, as they can be damaged by electrostatic discharges from your body.
Make sure that you discharge any static electricity from your body before performing this
operation.
1Turn off your computer, disconnect the power cable from the
outlet, and then remove the computer cover.

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2Connect the cables.
(Make sure the shape of the connectors match.)
CAUTION
• Using the wrong type of cable with this product can cause it to malfunction. Follow the
instructions when connecting the product.
• Use only your computer’s internal power supply.
1Serial ATA connector
2Serial ATA power connector
3Serial ATA cable
4Serial ATA power cable*
* If there is no Serial ATA power cable in your computer, use a commercially
available Serial ATA power adapter.
3Install the drive into a 5-inch drive bay with the supplied screws.

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Setup
4Replace the computer cover, and then reconnect the power
cable to the outlet.
5Start your computer, and make sure that the drive is detected.

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6Insert the supplied software disc into the drive, and then install
the software on the disc.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
For details about the software on the supplied software disc, see “Supplied
Software” on page 11.
Hint
You do not need serial numbers when you install the software on the supplied software
disc. However, in some instances you may have to purchase serial numbers or upgrade
keys to upgrade the software.

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Operation
BOperation
Using the Drive
Use the supplied software to read and write to CDs and DVDs. Refer to the
documentation of each software for details about their operation.
The supplied software disc contains the following softwares.
Nero StartSmart Essentials
Nero StartSmart serves as the command center to quickly start all the software
of the Nero suite.
Nero Express Essentials
Nero Express is a disc writing application that allows you to create CDs and
DVDs through a simple step-by-step process.
Nero Vision Essentials*
DVD-Video and video CD authoring software.
Nero ShowTime Essentials*
DVD-Video and video CD playback software.
Nero CoverDesigner Essentials
CD and DVD cover and label creation software.
Nero Toolkit
The utilities of Nero Toolkit provide information about the system and more.
Nero DiscSpeed tests the speed of the existing drives. Nero DriveSpeed adjusts
the write speed to minimize drive noise. Nero InfoTool provides the main
characteristics of drives, the discs they contain, and the installed software.
* This software is a trial version with a 30-day usage restriction. Some functions such as
DVD-Video playback are restricted in this trial version.
Supplied Software

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Using software other than the supplied software (such as generic software,
shareware, or freeware) to write data to disc with this drive is not under
warranty and Sony offers no customer service if problems arise from using
such software.
Make sure that the supplied writing software and generic writing software do
not coexist on your computer. Taking appropriate steps to avoid this situation,
especially in the case of packet writing software1) or format utility2) will help
prevent erratic operation of the software and/or computer.
If the generic software you are using does not detect the drive correctly, visit
the Web site of the software manufacturer and update the software, as this may
solve the problem.
1) Such as Roxio’s Drag-to-Disc, BHA’s B’s CLIP, and Sonic’s DLA.
2) Such as BHA’s DVD-RAM Driver and Panasonic’s DVD Form.
Using Generic Software with the Drive

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Operation
Compatible Discs
The following discs are compatible with the drive.
DVD
1) This drive is compatible with the DVD-RW disc displaying “ ” mark.
2) This drive is compatible with the DVD-RAM disc displaying “ ” mark.
3) Use a non-cartridge-type disc or a cartridge from which the disc can be ejected.
Disc types Logo Read Write
DVD+R
DVD+R DL (Double Layer)
DVD+RW
DVD+RW (High Speed)
DVD-R
DVD-R DL (Dual Layer)
DVD-RW1)
DVD-RAM2) 3)
DVD-ROM —
DVD-Video —

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CD
Notes
• Only round discs should be used with this drive. Attempting to read odd-shaped discs
(stars, hearts, card shape, etc.) may damage the drive.
• Operation is not guaranteed when writing to or playing back 99 minute discs.
• With 8 cm discs, you must place the drive horizontally.
• When using a double-sided disc, orient the drive horizontally.
Disc types Logo Read Write
CD-R
CD-RW
CD-RW (High Speed)
CD-RW (Ultra Speed)
CD-RW (Ultra Speed Plus)
CD-ROM —
CD-DA (audio only) —
CD Extra —
Video CD —
CD TEXT —
Photo CD —
Disc diameters Read Write
DVD 12 cm
8 cm —
CD 12 cm
8 cm

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Operation
We recommend that you only use discs for which operation has been
guaranteed. You can obtain the latest list of writable discs for which operation
with this drive has been guaranteed at the user support Web site address (see
page 20 for details).
Note
You can safely use most disc formats that comply to the appropriate standards with this drive.
However, bear in mind that some generic discs do not comply to quality or performance
standards necessary for safe use with this drive. If you use such discs, the drive may
automatically adjust the writing speed, writing errors may occur, and discs that have been
written to may generate reading errors, etc.
CD-R discs
Data can be written on this type of disc only once, and once it has been written,
it cannot be erased. Music CDs created on this media can be played on standard
CD players.
CD-RW discs
Data can be written on and erased from this type of disc repeatedly. Typically,
a new CD-RW disc can be rewritten about 1,000 times.
Music CDs created on this media cannot be played on a CD player unless it is
CD-RW compatible.
DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+R DL, and DVD-R DL discs
Data can be written on this type of disc only once, and once it has been written,
it cannot be erased.
DVD+R DL (double layer) and DVD-R DL (dual layer) discs have two layers
on one side of the disc and have double the capacity conventional single-layer
discs.
DVD+RW, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM discs
Data can be written on or erased from this type of disc repeatedly. Typically,
a new DVD+RW or DVD-RW disc can be rewritten about 1,000 times
(100,000 times for DVD-RAM discs).
About playback/reading compatibility
• CD-R and CD-RW discs created and finalized with this drive can be read on
most CD-ROM drives. However, some older CD-ROM drives cannot read
CD-RW discs. Similarly, CD-R music discs created and finalized with this
drive can be played on most CD players, but some CD players and
automobile CD players do not support or guarantee playback of CD-R discs.
Due to differences in CD-ROM drive, CD player, CD-R disc, and CD-RW
disc characteristics between manufacturers, playback may not be possible
depending on the combination.*
Recommended Writable Discs
Writable Discs and Compatibility

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• DVD-Video discs created and finalized with this drive can be played back on
most standard DVD players. In addition, DVD-ROM discs created and
finalized with this drive can be played back on most DVD drives. However,
some drives do not support multi-session or multi-border DVD-ROM discs.
In such cases, the drive may only read the first session or border of the disc.
Due to differences in DVD drive, DVD player, and disc characteristics
between manufacturers, playback and reading may not be possible
depending on the combination.*
• Playback of DVD-RAM discs is only supported on drives and players that
are DVD-RAM compatible.
* Playback compatibility is not under warranty.

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Operation
Precautions on Writing/Playing Discs
Write speed and compatible discs
• When writing data to disc at high speeds, you must use the appropriate type
of disc.
• Configure the writing speed through your writing software. For details about
the setting procedures, refer to your writing software documentation.
• When writing data to disc, the drive may adjust the writing speed to the
quality of the disc in the drive. Depending on the transfer rate, there may also
be limitations on writing speeds.
DVD region codes
The playback of DVD-Video (DVD discs) is protected and controlled by a
region code setting. For the drive to play back DVD-Video, the region code on
the DVD disc, the region code of the drive, and the region code of the
DVD-Video software must all match.
With this drive, the region code can be set up to five times, including the initial
assignment (RPC phase 21) standard). After setting the region code five times,
the setting becomes permanent and can no longer be changed. From this point
on, you are only able to play back DVD-Video whose region code matches the
one set the fifth time.
Do not attempt to make unauthorized changes to the region code. Any
problems resulting from doing so are not covered by the warranty.
Hint
You can change the region code of the drive on it’s properties dialog box accessible from the
Device Manager.
Precautions when playing back DVD-Video
DVD-Video disc playback conditions are sometimes determined by software
manufacturers. Because the drive plays back discs as determined by software
manufacturers, some drive functions may not always perform as expected.
When playing back DVD-Video, refer to the documentation accompanying
each disc.
DVD copy protection technology
Most DVD-Video discs on the market are protected against unauthorized
copy. Attempting to copy protected discs violates copyright laws.
1) Region Playback Control (RPC) standard.

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Copy controlled CDs
This product is designed to play back discs conforming to the compact disc
(CD) standard. Audio CDs encoded with copyright protection technology are
now marketed by various record companies. Be aware that some of these discs
do not conform to the CD standard and you may not be able to play them back
with the drive. When using the drive as an audio CD player, only use audio
CDs with the following mark. Some of these discs are encoded in such a way
as to prevent sampling and/or copy, while others can only be played back
under certain conditions. For details, refer to the documentation of your audio
CD.
Attention Regarding DualDisc Software
A DualDisc is a two sided disc product which mates DVD recorded material on
one side with digital audio material on the other side.
However, since the audio material side does not conform to the Compact Disc
(CD) standard, playback on this product is not guaranteed.

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Miscellaneous
BMiscellaneous
Precautions for Use
Operation and storage conditions
Avoid using or storing the drive in a hot or
humid location, or where it might be subject
to severe vibration or direct sunlight.
On transportation
• Please repack the drive in its original
carton when shipping by itself.
• If the drive is to be shipped while installed
in a PC, remove any disc beforehand.
Whirring noise
During startup, the drive may make a
whirring noise due to balls contained in the
spindle motor. This is normal and does not
indicate a drive malfunction.
Avoiding condensation problems
When you transfer this appliance from a cold
place a hot place abruptly, you may get
water drops on the surface and inside of the
appliance. This is called condensation. If
condensation occurs, turn off the power and
leave the appliance until the condensation
disappears; after the condensation
disappears, you can use the appliance again.
If you use the appliance during
condensation, this may cause the appliance
to malfunction.
Handling discs
• Handle discs only by the edges. Never
touch the recording surface.
• Do not affix labels on discs.
• Do not store discs in dusty, dirty or humid
locations, in direct sunlight, or near heat-
generating devices.
• To protect important data, always keep
discs in their protective cases.
• Do not wipe writable discs to clean them
before recording data. Instead, use a
blower to remove any dust.
• Data may not record properly if a scratch
or dust is present on the unrecorded area of
writable discs. Use special care when
handling.

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Support Overview
If you have problems with the drive, or are
unsure of a procedure or some other details,
please contact your Sony customer support
center.
You can find the following information on
this Web site. The information is
periodically updated, so we recommend that
you visit regularly.
• Information about the drive
• Information about the software supplied
with the drive
• Latest firmware
• Frequently asked questions
• Troubleshooting guide
• Certified compatible computers
• Certified compatible discs
• Operating instructions
• Et cetera
Accessing the user support Web
site
Insert the supplied software disc into the
drive, and in the [Menu Selection] screen,
click [User Support Web Page]. You can
also directly type the user support Web site
address (see Product and Support
Information for details) in the address box of
your Web browser.
Some problems encountered when using the
drive can be solved simply by updating the
drive firmware. Firmware updates are
available on the user support Web site.
Access the site, make sure that there is an
update for your firmware, and follow the
instructions on the screen to proceed with
download and installation.
Product Website Information
(As of March, 2010)
Europe:*
http://www.sony-optiarc.eu/
Hong Kong:*
http://www.sony.com.hk/Electronics/cp
China:*
http://www.sony.com.cn/products/ed/cp/ds
Singapore:*
http://www.sony-asia.com/microsite/cp/
* Local Web sites for computer peripheral
products
About the Bundled Software
Detailed information about the supplied
writing software is available on the Web
sites of the software manufacturers and
software distributors. (Accessible from the
links in each software application)
User Support Web Site
Update the Drive Firmware
Product and Support
Information