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Plextor PLEXTOOL Installation And Operation Manual

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PlexTools®
Installation and Operation Manual
15/04/2003

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Summary of Contents for Plextor PLEXTOOL

  • Page 1 PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual 15/04/2003...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Erasing a CD-RW / DVD RW disc. 4.14 Customising general settings. 4.15 Customising freedb settings. Test Functions. CD Test. Read Transfer Rate Test: Write Transfer Rate Test. Extra Features. Options. Help. Glossary. Error Messages. Tips & Tricks. Contacting Plextor Technical Support. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 3 Updates and translations are available on Plextor’s website (http://www.plextor.com). Disclaimer: Plextor S.A./N.V. reserves the right to revise this manual and to make changes in its contents without the obligation to notify any person or organisation of such revision or change.
  • Page 4 Credits: Microsoft Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Acrobat Reader is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson Multimedia. Monkey’s Audio is Copyrighted by Matthew T. Ashland. (http://www.monkeysaudio.com) PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 5: System Requirements

    Windows XP Operating System installed. Operational SCSI controller (installed with all necessary drivers) when Plextor SCSI devices are installed, or operational IDE interface when a Plextor ATAPI device is used. Installed ASPI layer (with updated 32-bit device drivers for Windows) when Plextor devices are installed.

  • Page 6: Installation

    Installation. The latest version of PlexTools® is shipped on CD-ROM. Updates will be made available on the Plextor Website ( http://www.plextor.com To install PlexTools®, insert the CD-ROM in your drive. If the AutoRun feature of your system is enabled, the installation procedure will launch automatically.

  • Page 7: How To

    This section shows you how to execute the most frequently used functions..launch the software. PlexTools® can be started by selecting it in the 'Start/Programs/Plextor' menu, or by double clicking the System Tray icon (to change startup settings, see 4.14 Customis- ing general settings.)

  • Page 8: Select An Adapter And A Drive

    ... select an adapter and a drive. Selecting an adapter and a drive is done in the same way as in the Windows Explorer program. Just click on the desired adapter in the hardware window, and you will see General Information about this adapter appear in the right hand window (as shown on the previous page).

  • Page 9: Plextools® Functions

    PlexTools® functions. General information. To find more information about a Plextor drive, select the drive and choose the Gen- eral Information option. Some of the information found in the General Information window: For SCSI drives only: • Jumper Settings: gives a visual indication of the settings on the selected drive •...
  • Page 10 • Buffer Capacity: indicates the drive’s buffer memory capacity. Note: CD-ROM drives and peripherals from other manufacturers will also be shown in the hardware list if they are supported and functional, but only for Plextor drives all information will be shown.
  • Page 11 For Adapters: • Host Adapter Type: shows the type of the selected adapter. • ASPI Manager: shows the installed ASPI manager. • Adapter number: shows the number of the selected adapter. • SCSI ID: shows the adapter’s SCSI ID. • Max Targets: shows the maximum number of devices that can be connected to this adapter.

  • Page 12: Changing Drive Settings

    Changing drive settings. To change a drive's reading speed, spindown time or audio output settings, click on the drive settings command and then select and change the desired value. To save these settings, select 'Options' in the toolbar, select 'Preferences' and check the 'Save settings on exit' checkbox in the 'General' tab.
  • Page 13 • Disable PoweRec: With PoweRec enabled (default) the Plextor drive will write discs at the optimised speed determined by PoweRec. With PoweRec disabled the Plextor drive will write discs at the speed setting selected by the user. ARNING F THE DISC IS WRITTEN FASTER THAN IS RECOMMENDED BY...
  • Page 14 • VariRec: This function allows you to change the laser power when writing CD-DA on CD-R at 4X. (TAO or DAO) The default setting reflects an optimised laser power with lowest jitter. Changing this setting will result in a change of sound or sound quality and an increase of playability or compatibility with existing players.

  • Page 15: Drive Information

    Drive Information. This function allows you to see more information about your Plextor drive. General: The drive’s read and write capabilities are shown here. • Interface: shows the interface type of the selected Plextor drive. • Access Time: shows the average access time for your Plextor drive.
  • Page 16 CD Read: Shows all possible read speeds for each type of CD. • Note: shows additional information regarding these features. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 17 CD Write: Shows all possible write speeds for each type of CD. • Note: shows additional information regarding these features. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 18 DVD Read: Shows all possible read speeds for each type of DVD. • Note: shows additional information regarding these features. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 19 DVD Write: Shows all possible write speeds for each type of DVD. Note: shows additional information regarding these features. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 20: Retrieving Cd/Dvd Information

    Retrieving CD/DVD Information. CD/DVD Info shows more information about the inserted disc. For CD’s this information comprises: • Type, Label: indicates the CD type and label. • Capacity: shows the capacity of the disc in sectors, MSF (Minutes, Seconds, Frames) and MB's (Megabytes). •...
  • Page 21 For DVD’s this information comprises: • Type, Label: indicates the DVD type and label. • Capacity: shows the capacity of the disc in sectors and MB's (Megabytes). • Copyright protection: shows the copyright protection being used on the DVD. • Track Path: possibilities are OTP and PTP (for more info see 6. Glossary) •...

  • Page 22: Using Multimedia Player

    Using Multimedia Player. Multimedia Player uses the MCI drivers installed on your system to play Audio tracks and other types of Multimedia files. The list of possibilities with Multimedia Player var- ies from system to system, depending upon the installed MCI devices. If the selected device plays files, you will be prompted to select the file you want to play with Multimedia Player.
  • Page 23 • Load: add the selected files to the playlist The MCI device list can be extended by installing the latest version of Windows Media Player from Microsoft® Some of the possibilities are: • All supported formats: can play the most common audio and video files available. •...
  • Page 24 • Create/Edit Playlist: brings up the following window: • Add Files: add the selected files to the playlist. • Add Directory: add all valid files from the selected directory to the playlist. • Add List: add a playlist (*.m3u or *.pls) to the current playlist. •...

  • Page 25: Audio Cd Player

    Audio CD Player: If a device is selected that can play tracks directly from a CD, and a suitable CD is in- serted, it is possible to play all the tracks from the disc. Get CD TEXT information from: • CD: uses (if available and your drive supports this feature) the CD TEXT informa- tion on the CD to display the Disc Title, Track Title and Artist name.

  • Page 26: Extracting Audio Tracks

    Extracting audio tracks. PlexTools® allows Digital Audio Extraction at high speed. Selecting the Digital Audio Extraction function will show the disc and track informa- tion. If the audio disc has CD TEXT information and your drive supports this feature, it will also be displayed instead of the default 'Track01' name.
  • Page 27 Right-clicking on a track will show the following options: • Extract Selected Tracks: this option will extract all the selected tracks. • Play track: plays the currently selected track (digitally). • Select all • Select none • Edit Track: allows the name of the track to be altered. •...
  • Page 28 The Print/Save buttons can be used for printing or saving this information, together with certain info about your Operating System and controllers. The resulting log page can be completed and sent to Plextor Technical Support for assistance in solving problems. Please do not forget to fill in your personal data.

  • Page 29: Changing Advanced Settings For Digital Audio Extraction

    Changing advanced settings for Digital Audio Extraction. To change the settings for audio extraction, select 'Options' in the toolbar, select 'Pref- erences' and go to the 'Digital Audio Extraction' tab. • WAV Filename Options: indicates the options for the automatically assigned file- names.
  • Page 30 • DAE Error Recovery: the DAE function of PlexTools can detect Uncorrectable Read Errors. This detection is based on the C2 flag that is read together with the audio data. It is impossible to correct these errors, but PlexTools offers a choice of smart strategies that attempt to recover the original data.These strategies consist out of combinations of re-reading the data and changing the read speed.Depending on the type and se- verity of the damage, each strategy will give a different result.
  • Page 31 Recover the best bytes (least errors) per sector: When Uncorrectable Errors are found, the damaged area will be read again for a number of times (Retries) at the selected speed. When the errors stay, the bytes with the least errors will be used to re-assemble the original data.
  • Page 32 • WAV Format Options: PCM (wave): here you can select which sampling options such as: the number of samples taken per second, the size of the samples and the sound mode (Stereo or Mono) is to be used during extraction. MP3 (Windows encoder): select this option if you want to extract audio tracks to MP3 format using the installed Windows encoder.
  • Page 33 Monkey’s Audio: Select this option if you want to extract to *.ape format. For more information about these settings, please visit the Monkey’s Audio web- site. (http://www.monkeysaudio.com) Ogg Vorbis: select this option if you want to extract to *.ogg format. For more information about these settings, please visit the Ogg Vorbis website.

  • Page 34: Audiocd Maker

    AudioCD Maker. AudioCD Maker allows the creation of custom AudioCD’s by simply importing *.wav / *.mp3 / *.ogg / *.ape files. The Digital Audio Extraction function can be used for creat- ing these files. Note: the only supported *.wav format at this moment is 44.1KHz, 16 bit stereo. After clicking the ‘Add Tracks’...
  • Page 35 Right clicking on a track will allow the track to be played or deleted from the compila- tion. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 36 • Properties: The disc and track properties can be changed by double clicking the track list or by pressing the ‘Properties’ button. Disc properties: the CD TEXT information such as title and artist for the entire disc can be changed or added here. Also UPC/EAN code can be altered. Set Artist for all tracks: the current Artist name is set for each track.
  • Page 37 • Start: Destination: selects the recorder and write speed. Write options: You can choose to do a simulation first and then write if simulation was successful. When the simulation is activated, the burning process will be simu- lated. Nothing will be written on the CD-R. Other options allow the recording of CD TEXT, UPC/EAN and ISRC code on the disc.
  • Page 38 During writing you will see a progress indicator. If any errors occur, they will be dis- played in the activity log window. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 39: Cd-Rom Maker

    4.10 CD-ROM Maker CD-ROM Maker allows the creation of custom CD-ROM’s by simply dragging and drop- ping files and folders into the window and starting the write process. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 40 • Options: • Identifiers: • ISO 9660: the created CD-ROM will be in the ISO 9660 format. • Joliet: the created CD-ROM will be made using the Joliet standard (default set- ting). • Volume Identifier: This field contains the name that is given to the ISO 9660 vol- ume.
  • Page 41 • Copyright: Identifies the file in the root directory that contains the copyright notice for this volume. • Abstract: Identifies the file in the root directory that contains the abstract state- ment for this volume. • Bibliographic: Identifies the file in the root directory that contains bibliographic records.
  • Page 42 • Use Specified Date: The specified date will be used on all files. • Preferences: • Character Set: specifies whether the ISO 9660 , DOS or ASCII character set should be used. • ISO Level: Level 1: the filename cannot contain more than 8 d-characters and the filename extension not more then 3 d-characters.
  • Page 43 • Max. (Maximise): Maximises the CD-ROM Maker window to the size of Plex- Tools®. • Min. (Minimise): Restores the CD-ROM Maker window to its standard size. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 44 • Start: Opens the write dialog. Before writing starts, an ISO image file will be created. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 45: Copying A Disk

    After reading has finished you will be asked to insert a blank disc into the CD-recorder to start writing. This is very handy for systems that contain only a Plextor CD-recorder. To make a copy, insert a blank disc in your recorder and select the source drive in the source window.
  • Page 46 The Print/Save buttons can be used for printing or saving this information, together with some info about your Operating System and controllers. The resulting log page can be completed and send to Plextor Technical Support for assistance in solving problems. Please do not forget to fill in your personal data.

  • Page 47: Changing Advanced Options For Cd Copy

    4.12 Changing advanced options for CD Copy. To change the settings for CD Copy, select 'options' in the toolbar, select 'Prefer- ences' and go to the 'CD Copy' tab. • Include CD+G: By selecting this option PlexTools® will copy CD+G information if available.
  • Page 48 • Allow Overburning: the expression 'overburning' is used for an action where more data is written on a CD-R than the disc format allows. This will create a non-stan- dard disc and the result is neither guaranteed nor supported. You may expect irreg- ular behaviour as a result of an overburned disc, such as reading problems, program halts on writing, strange or poor drive performance, etc.
  • Page 49 • Use timestamp: when enabled, this setting will show the time for each operation listed in the progress dialog. Use actual time: uses the actual time. Reset starttime to zero: resets the time to zero. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 50: Erasing A Cd-Rw / Dvd Rw Disc

    4.13 Erasing a CD-RW / DVD RW disc. This function is only available on the Plextor ReWriters / DVD recorder in combination with a CD-RW / DVD RW disc. There are two ways of erasing a CD-RW / DVD RW.

  • Page 51: Customising General Settings

    'Preferences'. • Automatic run on computer startup: When this checkbox is on, PlexTools® will run automatically when the system starts. The Plextor icon will be placed in your System Tray. • Startup minimised / maximised: Makes it possible to select the window size at start-up.
  • Page 52 • Clear Registry Settings: This function will clear the registry settings for PlexTools. Only the PlexTools settings will be influenced. The functioning of PlexTools will not be disrupted upon (restart and) exit of PlexTools, new values will be saved in the registry when 'save settings on exit' is activated.

  • Page 53: Customising Freedb Settings

    4.15 Customising freedb settings. freedb is an information database containing artist, disc title, track titles and other in- formation for digital audio compact discs. For more information about freedb please visit the freedb website. www.freedb.org • Retrieve Options: • Use freedb server: use the freedb server to retrieve CD information. •...
  • Page 54 • Server Settings: • Server: List of several freedb HTTP servers. Use the Get Active List button to get additional servers. • Cgi-path: this is the path used for HTTP access on the freedb servers. • Port: this is the port used to connect to the freedb server. •...
  • Page 55 • Submit / Save Options: • Submit to freedb server: submits the CD information to the freedb server. • Submit email address: this field specifies the email submit address. • Submit through: specifies whether to submit the CD information using HTTP or email.

  • Page 56: Test Functions

    Test Functions. CD Test. This function will scan the complete disc and detect read errors. The Print/Save buttons can be used for printing or saving the results. PlexTools® Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 57: Read Transfer Rate Test

    Read Transfer Rate Test: Read test for written CD-R/RW and stamped CD's This test will perform a sequential reading of all sectors on the disc while calculating the transfer rate at the same time. Start: shows the read speed at the beginning of the test. End: shows the read speed at the end of the test.
  • Page 58 • Preferences: Read Test Options: Sample Length: sets the sample length Test every: sets the test interval time. Read Test Graph Options: Max. Read Speed Indication: sets the maximum read speed shown on the graph. CD Length Indication: sets the maximum CD length shown on the graph. PlexTools®...

  • Page 59: Write Transfer Rate Test

    Write Transfer Rate Test. Write test for blank CD-R/RW media. This test will perform a sequential write test while calculating the transfer rate at the same time. Start: shows the write speed at the beginning of the test. End: shows the write speed at the end of the test. Current: shows the current write speed.
  • Page 60 • Preferences: Write Test Options: Simulate: When checked, no data is actually written onto the disc. (on by default) Test every: sets the test length on the graph. Write Test Graph Options: Max. Write Speed Indication: sets the maximum Write speed shown on the graph. CD Length Indication: sets the maximum CD length shown on the graph.

  • Page 61: Extra Features

    Extra Features. Options. The extra features can be found under the 'options' command in the toolbar. • Print / Save information: PlexTools® allows you to easily print and save system information. Our Technical Support people can use this information to help you solve certain problems.

  • Page 62: Help

    Help. The PlexTools® help feature can be found under the 'help' menu in the toolbar. • PlexTools® Help or F1: starts the windows help system for PlexTools®. • PlexTools® Manual: opens this manual. • System Info: displays some info about the installed ASPI layer and your Operating System.

  • Page 63: Glossary

    • Drive speed: Plextor drives allow a wide variety of different read speeds. They range from single speed (1X or 150 KB/s), double speed (2X or 300 KB/s) to the maximum speed.
  • Page 64 come problems like the reading of scratched or unbalanced discs that may cause vibration at certain speeds. • BURN-Proof: (Buffer UnderRuN proof) This technology avoids buffer underruns by suspending and restarting the write pro- cess when the writer's buffer empties. •...

  • Page 65: Error Messages

    This error may occur on 2 occasions: • the Windows 95/98/ME system has no valid ASPI software installed while a SCSI controller and Plextor SCSI devices are used Please install the necessary ASPI software if it is not present. If it is already present, it may be defective, corrupted or obsolete, in which case you may try to repair or upgrade it to the latest version.
  • Page 66 Since it is impossible to give a more detailed description for each possible error, you may contact ***Plextor Technical Support when an error occurs. Please provide all details, preferable with the printouts or logging as provided by the software.
  • Page 67 058500 ILLEGAL REQUEST: AUDIO ADDRESS NOT VALID 062800 UNIT ATTENTION: NOT READY TO READY TRANSITION 062900 UNIT ATTENTION: POWER ON, RESET OR BUS DEVICE RESET OCCURRED 062A01 UNIT ATTENTION: MODE PARAMETER CHANGED 0B4300 ABORTED COMMAND: MESSAGE ERROR 0B4500 ABORTED COMMAND: SELECT/RESELECT FAILURE 0B4800 ABORTED COMMAND: INITIATOR DETECTED ERROR MESSAGE RECEIVED 0B4900...

  • Page 68: Tips & Tricks

    • ATAPI devices To ensure the best performance from your Plextor ATAPI device it is recommended that you install a busmaster driver for the IDE chipset of your system, and enable the DMA capability of your drive in the Operating System (Control panel / device settings).
  • Page 69 • ATAPI drive not recognised If your Plextor ATAPI drive is not recognised check if it is correctly installed and that the IDE drivers are operational. If you have a recent BIOS the ATAPI drive is detected at boot time, and if this is not the case you should check that proper IDE settings in the BIOS are set.

  • Page 70: Contacting Plextor Technical Support

    Contacting Plextor Technical Support. Plextor Europe: Plextor Technical Support can be contacted on weekdays (except Belgian holidays) between 8h00 and 18h00 on the following numbers: • Phone: +32.2.718.03.99 • Fax: +32.2.718.03.90 • E-mail: support@plextor.be • Website: http://www.plextor.be/english/technical/feedback.html. Plextor US : •...

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