Plextor PX-43CH Internal, PX-45CH External CD-ROM drive User manual

---- CHAPTER 14 ----

Contacting Plextor’s

Technical Support

Department

YOUR TASK: Learn the variety of methods you can use to contact

Plextor’s Technical Support Department. Learn what information you should gather before contacting Plextor’s Technical Support Department.

YOUR OBJECTIVE: Know how to get in contact with Plextor if you experience any problems installing or operating your 4PleX CD-ROM drive.

YOUR METHOD: Store Plextor’s phone, fax and BBS numbers in a convenient location. Keep your drive’s serial number and a copy of your sales receipt handy, as well.

If you experience a problem while installing or operating your 4PleX drive,

please refer first to the troubleshooting chapter

(Chapter 13) in this manual. It contains solutions to the most common types of problems fielded by our technical support staff.

Our technical support department will help you solve problems that relate specifically to your 4PleX drive. In many cases, a problem that appears to be caused by your

CD-ROM drive actually originates in another part of your computer. In such instances our technical support staff will try to help you identify the part (e.g., SCSI interface board) at fault, and will refer you to the manufacturer of that part for further assistance.

Although we think highly of the capabilities of our technical support staff, we recognize that they do suffer from some limitations; namely, they do not possess psychic or telepathic powers. Therefore, their ability to help you depends a great deal on your ability to help them. You must act as their eyes and ears as they try to diagnose and fix your problem. If you gather the information requested on the following page before your call, you will find that your problem can be resolved much more quickly.

Plextor’s Technical Support Department is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PST. We are closed on weekends and national holidays.

PX-43CH/PX-45CH OPERATION MANUAL

63

CHAPTER 14 ---- Contacting Plextor’s Technical Support Department

Plextor’s Technical Support Department

There are three ways for you to contact Plextor’s Technical Support Department:

1) Call 800-886-3935 and select the technical support extension.

2) Send a fax to the attention of the Technical Support Department at 408-986-

1010. Include your telephone number and the hours during which you can be reached. Be as detailed as possible in describing your problem. It typically is useful if you also send a printout of your autoexec.bat and config.sys files.

3) Log on to our BBS (2400/9600/14.4/28.8/MNP, V.42bis) at 408-986-1569.

You will find a great deal of useful information and software on our BBS. It includes:

•

Device drivers for various SCSI interface boards and soundboards

(available only to those who have purchased these boards directly from Plextor).

•

Utilities to enhance the operation of your drive.

•

Discussions of various technical problems you might encounter, with suggestions as to how you might fix or circumvent them.

In addition, you can upload questions you have about the installation or operation of your 4PleX drive. A member of Plextor’s Technical Support staff will respond to your question either by phone or modem.

Before You Call/FAX/Log On

Please gather as much of this information as possible:

✓ The serial number of your CD-ROM drive (your serial number can be found both on the warranty card that accompanied the drive and on a label on the drive itself).

✓ The name and model number of your SCSI interface board (e.g.,

Future Domain TMC-1610, Adaptec AHA-1515, Trantor T-130).

✓ The version of the software device drivers that came with your

SCSI interface board (this typically is found on the label of the floppy disk which contains the device drivers).

✓ The version of the Windows|DOS|Mac|Novell|OS/2|Unix operating system you are using.

✓ The brand name and model number of your computer (e.g., Dell

466/NP, Micron P66PCI Powerstation, ALR Evolution V, Apple

Performa 575).

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PX-43CH/PX-45CH OPERATION MANUAL

CHAPTER 14 ---- Contacting Plextor’s Technical Support Department

✓ The type of VGA, Super VGA or other graphics card you use.

✓ Brand name and model number of any other peripherals you have installed/connected to your computer (e.g., scanner, fax board, network board).

Returns

You must receive an RMA (

R

eturned

M

aterials

A

uthorization) number from the Technical

Support Department before any Plextor CD-ROM drive can be returned for repair or replacement. Any drive sent to Plextor without an RMA number will not be accepted.

Drives must be sent postage prepaid. We recommend that you insure your shipment, as Plextor cannot be held responsible for any damage that may occur during shipment.

Helpful Contact Phone/FAX/BBS NUMBERS

COMPANY

Product

Adaptec

800 PHONE PHONE

959-SCSI

SCSI interface boards

FAX / BBS

408-945-8600 408-262-2533 / 408-945-7727

206-882-0587 206-861-8391 ---AMC

Audio Cables

882-0587

Always ----

SCSI interface boards

818-597-9595 818-598-0110 / 818-597-0275

408-736-2000 408-730-5750 / 408-524-9301 Diamond

Soundboards

----

DPT 322-4378

SCSI interface boards

DTC ----

SCSI interface boards

Future Domain ----

SCSI interface boards

407-830-5522 407-260-5366 / 407-830-1070

408-942-0052 408-942-4010 ----

714-253-0400 714-253-0913 / 714-253-0432

FWB

Mac device drivers

----

Pacific Inter Connects 934-2839

Audio Cables.

415-474-8055 ---- ----

408-249-7099 408-249-7097

Plextor 886-3935 408-980-1838 408- 986-1010/ 408-986-1569

Audio Cables. Recommendations of SCSI Soundboards.

Trantor (see Adaptec listing)

SCSI interface boards and Mac device drivers

PX-43CH/PX-45CH OPERATION MANUAL

65

Disc

Useable Formats

Disc Diameter

Rotational Speed

Performance

Data Transfer Rate

Non-sync

Sync

Access Speeds:

1/3 stroke

Random Access

Random Seek

Data Buffer

Optical Pickup

Laser

Slide Mechanism

Spindle Motor

Error Rate

---- CHAPTER 15 ----

Specifications

PX-43CH Internal PX-45CH External

Front Panel

Indicator (LED)

Disc Loading

Headphone Jack

Volume Control

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PX-43CH/PX-45CH OPERATION MANUAL

CD-ROM Mode 1;

CD-DA; CD-I;

Video CD (MPEG);

CD-ROM XA Mode-2,

Form 1, Form 2;

Photo CD

CD-ROM Mode 1;

CD-DA; CD-I;

Video CD (MPEG);

CD-ROM XA Mode-2,

Form 1, Form 2;

Photo CD

12 cm. (60 min. & 74 min.) 12 cm. (60 min. & 74 min.)

Inner Track: 2120 rpm

Outer Track: 800 rpm

Inner Track: 2120 rpm

Outer Track: 800 rpm

600 KB/sec.;

Burst: 2.5 MB/sec.

Burst: 4 MB/sec.

235 ms

220 ms

150 ms

1 MB

Semiconductor

Linear Motor

Brushless

Mode 1:

1 Block/10

--12

Bits;

Mode 2:

1 Block/10

--9

Bits

600 KB/sec.;

Burst: 2.5 MB/sec.

Burst: 4 MB/sec.

235 ms

220 ms

150 ms

1 MB

Semiconductor

Linear Motor

Brushless

Mode 1:

1 Block/10

--12

Bits;

Mode 2:

1 Block/10

--9

Bits

Power ON/BUSY

DISC IN

Power ON/BUSY

DISC IN

Manual; standard caddy Manual; standard caddy

Stereo minijack,

0.9V at 32 Ohms

Wheel Knob

Stereo minijack,

0.9V at 32 Ohms

Wheel Knob

CHAPTER 15 ---- Specifications

PX-43CH Internal PX-45CH External

Rear Panel

Power Supply

Power Switch

Interface Connector

Audio Output

Jumper Switches

DC +5V, 0.41A;

DC +12V, 0.6A

----

SCSI Bus, 50-Pin

Header Type

Analog Output,

Molex Connector

(P/N 70066-G 4-pin)

Use Molex Housing

(P/N 70553 4-pin)

SCSI ID, Auto, Parity,

Test, Block, Eject

----

AC 100-240V 50/60 Hz.,

0.3A (Auto Switching)

Tumbler Type: 3A, 250V

SCSI Bus, Two 50-Pin

Centronics

Analog Output, RCA Jacks

----

DIP Switch

Rotary Switch

Environmental Conditions

Operating

Temperature:

Humidity

----

5 to 40 degrees Celsius

20 to 80%

Noncondensing

Storage

Temperature

Humidity

--30 to 55 degrees Celsius

10 to 80%

Noncondensing

Auto, Parity, Test

Block, Eject

SCSI ID

5 to 40 degrees Celsius

20 to 80%

Noncondensing

--30 to 55 degrees Celsius

10 to 80%

Noncondensing

Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions (W/H/D)

Weight

Reliability

MTBF

Caddy Loading

5.75" x 1.63" x 7.95"

2.9 lbs.

150,000 POH

15,000 Times

7.0" x 2.24" x 12.03"

6.2 lbs.

150,000 POH

15,000 Times

PX-43CH/PX-45CH OPERATION MANUAL

67

ABOUT PLEXTOR

Plextor is a subsidiary of the Shinano Kenshi Company (SKC), Ltd.

SKC’s roots stretch back to 1918, when it began to manufacture textiles in Japan’s northern prefecture of Nagano. (Nagano, incidentally, will be the site of the 1998

Winter Olympics.) SKC’s involvement in the electronics industry started in 1962, when it diversified into the production of stepper motors for commercial audio products.

SKC is now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of small motors used in hard disks, floppy disks, tape drives, copy machines, video cameras ---- and your Plextor

CD-ROM drive.

Over the past decade SKC has developed a reputation as an innovator in compact disc and CD-ROM technology. In 1992 it was the second company to begin shipments of double-speed CD-ROM drives. In 1994, it was the first company to begin shipments of half-height quad speed CD-ROM drives. SKC also is a leading manufacturer of compact disc players used for industrial and commercial applications (e.g., background music players for retail stores, restaurants and shopping centers).

Plextor acts as SKC’s sales, service and support arm throughout the world. In addition to CD-ROM drives, Plextor also sells under its own label professional audio equipment used by radio stations, high-speed printing presses, and a CD encoding system developed by SKC that can pack up to eight hours of audio onto a single compact disc.

Plextor’s home office is located in Tokyo. Plextor first opened an office in California’s

Silicon Valley in 1990. Rapid growth has required it to move twice since then to larger offices. Plextor now occupies a 30,000 sq. ft. facility in Santa Clara, CA, which is staffed by sales, marketing, technical support, engineering, administrative and shipping personnel. It’s European office (located in Brussels) began operation in 1994.

The PX-43CH and PX-45CH represent the fifth generation of CD-ROM drives that SKC has brought to the market through Plextor. In addition to stand alone CD-ROM drives,

Plextor also sells drives in kit, bundle and tower (4-bay and 7-bay) configurations.

Model

Plextor’s CD-ROM Drives

Introduced

Data

Transfer Rate

1st generation DM-3020/5020

2nd generation DM-3021/5021

3rd generation DM-3024/5024

4th generation DM-3028/5028

5th generation PX-43CH/45CH

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

150KB/sec

150KB/sec

300KB/sec

335KB/sec

600KB/sec

Access

Speed

430ms

340ms

265ms

240ms

220ms

Buffer

Size

64K

64K

64K

64K

1MB

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PX-43CH/PX-45CH OPERATION MANUAL

Warranty Information

PLEXTOR CORP. (PLEXTOR), warrants your 4PleX CD-ROM drive against any defect in material and workmanship, under normal use, for a period of two years following its date of purchase. In the event this product is found to be defective within the warranty period, PLEXTOR will, at its option, repair or replace the defective CD-ROM drive.

This warranty is void if: a) the drive is operated or stored under abnormal use and maintenance conditions; b) if the drive is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification of alteration is expressly authorized in writing by PLEXTOR; c) if the drive is subject to abuse, neglect, lightning strike, electrical fault, improper packaging, or accident; d) if the drive is installed improperly; or, e) if the serial number of the drive is defaced or missing.

PLEXTOR will not, under any circumstances, be liable for direct, special or consequential damages such as, but not limited to, damage or loss of property or equipment, loss of profits or revenues, cost of replacement goods, or expense or inconvenience caused by service interruptions. Under no circumstances will any person be entitled to any sum greater than the purchase price paid for the drive.

To obtain warranty service, you may contact PLEXTOR’s Technical Support Department by calling 800-886-3935. They will attempt to diagnosis and correct your problem by phone. If the drive does not function properly they will issue a Return

Material Authorization (RMA) number. You may be asked to furnish proof of purchase to confirm that the drive is still under warranty.

All 4PleX CD-ROM drives returned to PLEXTOR must be securely packaged and shipped postage prepaid. All product returns must be authorized in advance by

PLEXTOR’s Technical Support Department. Authorization is confirmed by issuance of the RMA number, which must be written prominently on the outside of the box in which a defective drive is returned to PLEXTOR.

PLEXTOR (U.S.)

4255 Burton Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054

Phone: 408-980-1838

FAX: 408-986-1010 BBS: 408-986-1569

Toll Free: 800-886-3935

PLEXTOR (Japan)

Ueno YHK Building, 7th Floor

7-6 Ueno 7-chome, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110

Phone: 81-3-3847-8281 FAX: 81-3-3847-8288

PLEXTOR (Europe)

Excelsiorlaan 1, 1930 Zaventem, Belgium

Phone: 32-2-725-5522 FAX: 32-2-725-9495

Rev. 2, 10/94