02-24-2004, 03:45 PM
swap the CDROM for the Plextor, keep it in a box or whatever. This way you can use the Plextor to watch a DVD while you burn a CD-R in the other drive, or at least be able to burn should either of the drives break down.
If you're getting the 708A drive, you're gonna love it - but it doesn't come with an audio cable, only an IDE ribbon. Just use the audio cable that on your CDROM now, and plug it into the same spot on the Plextor. Don't bother with the IDE ribbon either, use Dell's. Also make sure to set the Plextor's jumper settings to Cable Select (I'm assuming the 2 drives you have now both came with the Dell, and as such they set their cd drives as cable select). The manual that comes with the Plextor will show you how, it's real easy.
The Plextor comes with Roxio software to burn DVD's but a lot of people don't like it (including me). If you can, get your hands on a copy of Nero 6, and dont bother installing the Roxio shit. If you're running XP you won't need to install drivers, Windows should see the drive and install it fine (this might work on other OS's, but I'm not sure).
By the way, instead of going crazy looking for and spending lots of $$ on 8x media, get Memorex DVD+R 4x - this drive will burn those DVD's at 8x. If you're going to burn DVD's to watch on your TV, go here and look for your player. It will show you what types of media your standalone player can use (if you don't already know). DVD+R is considered better because it's more compatible with more players, but from a data point of view (for your PC files, MP3's, etc.) either + or - will do (note that Memorex 4x DVD-R will NOT do 8x, only the +R will).
Sorry if I rambled, I just bought this drive last week and I learned all of this real fas so I thought I'd throw it out while it was all fresh in my mind. I need a cigarette now.
If you're getting the 708A drive, you're gonna love it - but it doesn't come with an audio cable, only an IDE ribbon. Just use the audio cable that on your CDROM now, and plug it into the same spot on the Plextor. Don't bother with the IDE ribbon either, use Dell's. Also make sure to set the Plextor's jumper settings to Cable Select (I'm assuming the 2 drives you have now both came with the Dell, and as such they set their cd drives as cable select). The manual that comes with the Plextor will show you how, it's real easy.
The Plextor comes with Roxio software to burn DVD's but a lot of people don't like it (including me). If you can, get your hands on a copy of Nero 6, and dont bother installing the Roxio shit. If you're running XP you won't need to install drivers, Windows should see the drive and install it fine (this might work on other OS's, but I'm not sure).
By the way, instead of going crazy looking for and spending lots of $$ on 8x media, get Memorex DVD+R 4x - this drive will burn those DVD's at 8x. If you're going to burn DVD's to watch on your TV, go here and look for your player. It will show you what types of media your standalone player can use (if you don't already know). DVD+R is considered better because it's more compatible with more players, but from a data point of view (for your PC files, MP3's, etc.) either + or - will do (note that Memorex 4x DVD-R will NOT do 8x, only the +R will).
Sorry if I rambled, I just bought this drive last week and I learned all of this real fas so I thought I'd throw it out while it was all fresh in my mind. I need a cigarette now.