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Foreword
page 2
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
Copyrights
Copyright © 2003 LaCie. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
written consent of LaCie.
Trademarks
Apple, Mac and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows 98 SE,
Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000 and Windows XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All
trademarks mentioned in this manual are the property of their respective owners.
Changes
The material in this document is for information only and is subject to change without notice. While reasonable efforts have
been made in the preparation of this document to assure its accuracy, LaCie assumes no liability resulting from errors or
omissions in this document, or from the use of the information contained herein. LaCie reserves the right to make changes or
revisions in the product design or the product manual without reservation and without obligation to notify any person of such
revisions and changes.
Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement (FCC)
WARNING: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
LaCie Slim Optical Drive USB 2.0
sU2
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
Tested To Comply
With FCC standards
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to correct the interference by one of the following
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antennas.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the reseller or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Shielded cables and I/O cards must be used for this equipment to comply with the relevant FCC regulations.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Foreword
page 3
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
Canada Compliance Statement
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Manufacturer’s Declaration for CE Certification
We hereby certify that this device is in compliance with both the EMC Directive (89/336/EEC) and the Low Voltage Directive
(73/23/EEC) issued by the Commission of the European Community.
Compliance with these directives implies conformity to the following European Norms:
Class B EN60950, EN55022, EN50082-1, EN61000-3-2
With reference to the following conditions:
73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive
89/336/EEC EMC Directive
Laser Products
This equipment is certified to comply with DHHS Rule 21 CFR Chapter I, subchapter J in effect as of date of manufacture. This
equipment is classified as a Class I Laser product and no hazardous laser radiation is emitted outside the drive.
Precautions
page 4
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
Health, Safety and General Use Precautions
The drive you have just purchased includes a laser diode device, which classifies it as a "Laser Class I" product. This laser is
not dangerous for the user under normal operating conditions. However, we strongly advise you not to place any reflective
objects in the disc loading system, due to the risk of exposure to laser emissions that may be reflected by such objects.
Always follow the basic precautions listed below to use your LaCie drive safely and correctly. Respecting these guidelines will
help to avoid the possibility of personal injury to yourself or others, as well as to prevent damage to your device and other
computer equipment. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:
Health and Safety Precautions:
• Read this User's Manual carefully, and follow the correct procedure when setting up the device.
• Do not look inside or place your hand over the open DVD/CD media tray. Never look directly or indirectly (with a mirror)
at the laser diode, even when the device is not in operation. If you expose your eyes or skin to the laser inside you drive, you
risk damage or loss of your vision or other personal injury.
• Do not open your drive or attempt to disassemble or modify it. Never insert any metallic object into the drive to avoid any
risk of electrical shock, fire, short-circuiting or dangerous emissions. Your drive contains no user-serviceable parts. If it
appears to be malfunctioning, have it inspected by qualified LaCie service staff.
• Never expose your device to rain or use it near water or in damp or wet conditions. Never place containers on it
containing liquids that may spill into its openings. Doing so increases the risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting, fire or
personal injury.
• Make sure that the computer and drive are electrically grounded. If the devices are not grounded, there is an increased risk
of electrical shock.
• Do not listen to audio with headphones at an excessive volume for prolonged periods of time. Doing so increases the risk of
hearing damage or loss.
• Before listening to music with your drive, set the volume control to minimum. Sudden bursts of sound at loud volumes can
cause immediate hearing damage or loss.
Precautions
page 5
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
General Use Precautions:
• Do not expose the drive to temperatures outside the range of 5° C to 45° C (41° F to 104° F). Doing so may damage the
drive or disfigure its casing. Avoid placing your drive near a source of heat or exposing it to sunlight (even through a
window). Inversely, placing your drive in an environment that is too cold or humid may damage the unit.
• Always unplug the drive if there is a risk of lightning or if it will not be used for an extended period of time. Otherwise,
there is an increased risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting or fire.
• Do not place heavy objects on top of the drive or use excessive force on its buttons, connectors and tray. Doing so increases
the risk of damage to the device.
• Always place your drive in a horizontal position before using it. Otherwise, it may fall, causing damage to the device and
/ or corruption or loss of data.
• Always remove the disc from the disc tray before transporting your drive. Otherwise, written data may be destroyed or the
drive's internal components may be damaged.
• Never use excessive force on the disc loading system; discs should be inserted effortlessly into your drive. If you detect a
problem, consult the Troubleshooting section.
• Protect your drive from excessive exposure to dust during use or storage. Dust can build up inside the device, increasing the
risk of damage or malfunction.
• Never use benzene, paint thinners, detergent or other chemical products to clean the outside of the drive. Such products will
disfigure and discolor the front panel and casing. Instead, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe the device.
Unpacking Your LaCie Drive
page 6
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
1. Unpacking Your LaCie CD-RW Drive:
You’ll tear through your work with your new LaCie Combo CD-RW Drive. Boasting over 485 times the capacity of floppy
disks, CD media is the perfect tool for sharing information between different systems. You can create discs full of word
documents, spreadsheets, music, pictures and video, and pass them along to any other computer with a CD-ROM drive. And
the drive also has the capability of reading DVD-ROM and DVD-Video discs.
1) LaCie Combo CD-RW Drive
2) External Power supply
3
1
3) Hi-speed USB 2.0 mini certified cable
4) LaCie CD Utilities CD-ROM
5) Blank LaCie CD-R media (1)
6) USB Power sharing cable
6
4
5
2
1.1. Minimum System Requirements
1.1.1. Hardware Requirements:
•PC or Mac with USB 2.0 or 1.1 interface*.
•Intel Pentium 233MHz compatible processor or greater; 32MB RAM minimum
•Minimum 800MB hard disk space for copying a CD onto the hard disk
Tech Note: *In order to play-back DVD-Video discs with your USB 2.0 LaCie Drive, your computer must be installed
with a USB 2.0 host bus adapter card. USB 1.1 does not offer the capacity required for DVD-Video playback. If your
computer is not equipped with a USB 2.0 host bus adapter card, either natively or through a third party reseller,
LaCie offers USB 2.0 PCI cards. Please contact your LaCie reseller or LaCie Customer Support for more details. See
section 4.1 Advice for Optimizing USB 2.0 Connections for more info.
1.1.2. System Requirements:
•Mac OS 9.1 and 10.1.2 or later
•Windows 98 SE (Second Edition), Windows Me (Millennium Edition), Windows 2000, or Windows XP
1.1.3. Additional Requirements for DVD Playback and Pre-mastering:
• Video Card supporting DirectDraw Standard
• Audio Card supporting 44.1KHz or 48KHz sampling rate
• Monitor Resolution of 1024 x 768, 24-bit color
• Microsoft DirectShow 6.4 or greater
Getting Connected
page 7
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
Follow these steps to quickly get your LaCie Drive powered on and connected to your computer. Click on
a step to get started!
2.2. Connect the Power Supply and Switch On the Drive
2.3. Connect the USB 2.0 Cable to Your LaCie Drive and to Your Computer
Once you’ve gotten the drive powered on and connected to your computer, move on to section 3. Using
Your LaCie Drive for important information on how to utilize your drive.
Getting Connected
page 8
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
Step 2.1. –
From you LaCie CD Utilities CD-ROM, open the software folders, click on the install icons (Windows Users: click on the
Setup.exe icon; Mac Users: double-click the Installer icon) of the various programs and follow the on-screen instructions to
install the programs. For more information about the various programs, please refer to the Help sections of the specific
software program.
LaCieCDUtils (D:)
Windows Users
Windows 98 SE and Windows Me Users!
Before continuing, first install this important software to help you configure and manage your LaCie drive.
From the LaCie DVD Utilities CD-ROM:
A) Double-click the USB 2.0 Drivers folder.
B) Double-click on the LaCie_USB_Driver_Install.exe icon. The LaCie USB2 Storage Driver screen will appear. Click
on Next.
C) Installation will finish automatically.
Step 2.2 –
Connect the power supply and switch on the drive.
Your LaCie Drive includes two types of external power supplies: an external power supply (Option A) and a USB Power
Sharing Cable (Option B). Use Option A when you are using your drive near an electrical outlet, and use Option B when you
do not have access to an electrical outlet and wish to draw power from your computer.
Getting Connected
page 9
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
Power Supply -Option A
3
2
1
Option A
1) Insert the round end of the external power supply into the port on the rear of your drive.
2) Plug the large end of the external power supply into a properly grounded electrical outlet.
3) Slide the switch to the "EXT" position.
Warning! Use only the AC adapter supplied with your specific LaCie drive. Do not use a power supply from another
LaCie drive or another manufacturer. Using any other power cable or power supply may cause damage to the device
and void your warranty. Always remove the AC adapter before transporting your LaCie drive. Failure to remove the
adapter may result in damage to your drive and will void your warranty.
Power Supply -Option B
2
1
3
Option B
1) Insert the round end of the USB Power Sharing Cable into the port on the rear of your drive.
2) Insert the USB end of the power sharing cable into an available USB port* on your computer.
3) Slide the switch to the "USB" position.
Important Note: *In order for the USB Power Sharing Cable to draw a sufficient amount of power from your
computer, it must be plugged into a powered USB port.
Getting Connected
page 10
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
Step 2.3. –
Connect the USB 2.0 cable to your LaCie Drive and to your computer.
USB 2.0 Logo
2
1
USB 1.1 Logo
1) Examine the cable carefully and make sure that you have the USB 2.0 cable properly aligned, then insert the cable firmly
into the USB port on the back of the drive for a stable connection.
2) Look for a USB 2.0* logo (which generally is used to identify the port) next to the connector on the front or back of your
Tech Note: Please refer to section 4.1 Advice for Optimizing USB 2.0 Connections for important information on
disconnecting USB 2.0 devices and ensuring optimum performance.
Tech Note: *To achieve USB 2.0 speeds, your drive must be connected to a USB 2.0 host port. If it is connected to a
USB 1.1 port, your drive will operate at USB 1.1 speeds. For more details, see 4.1 Advice for Optimizing USB 2.0
Connections.
Using Your LaCie Drive
page 11
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
3. Using Your LaCie CD-RW Drive
Your LaCie CD-RW Drive will let you create, save and share your digital files to CD-R and CD-RW media. The included
software will allow you to format and write to both CD-R and CD-RW discs.
CD-R Discs:
• Best sutied for: recording audio CDs, store photos and data CDs.
• Files can not be deleted from CD-R discs, and you cannot write over existing files on a CD-R disc.
CD-RW Discs:
• Best suited for: passing medium sized files around an office or among students.
• Discs can be reformated up to 1,000 times, and files can be written over.
• Most CD-ROM drives and audio CD players cannot read CD-RW discs.
3.1. Supported CD Formats
Use your LaCie CD-RW Drive to:
Your LaCie drive is compatible with most popular CD formats:
• Create audio CDs
Format
CD
Type of Disc
CD-R
Record Read
• Create data CDs
• Create a backup
• Duplicate a CD
• Watch DVD-Videos
• Use DVD-ROMs
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
CD-RW (supports AM2)
CD-ROM
CD-Extra
--
--
--
--
DVD
DVD-ROM
DVD-Video
Your new LaCie drive opens up a whole world of possibilities for copying data and audio onto disc. Please be responsible in
your use of this technology. Before copying anything onto CD media, make sure you are not violating any copyright laws.
Most software companies allow licensed owners to make one (1) backup or archive copy of their software. Check your
software's license agreement for specific details.
Ideal recording techniques:
• Close all other open programs and disconnect from the internet;
• Copy data to your hard drive first;
• Use the correct media with the appropriate speed rating;
• Use media that is free of scratches and fingerprints;
• See our Web site for a list of LaCie recommended media.
Using Your LaCie Drive
page 12
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
3.1.1. DVD-Video Zone
Nearly all commercially-available DVD discs feature a Region Protection Code (RPC). In order to watch DVD-Video discs, the
RPC needs to match the setting on the DVD player. By default, all LaCie DVD-Video-compatible drives are set to the RPC zone
of the country in which it was purchased. This RPC setting may be changed using your hardware or software MPEG-II
decoder (please refer to the documentation supplied with your decoder for more information). DVD-Video discs that do not
feature RPC II encoding may be played on all DVD players set to Zone 1.
The worldwide RPC zones are:
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
USA and Canada
Europe, Japan, the Middle East and South Africa
Southeast Asia (including Hong Kong)
Australia, New Zealand, Central and South America
Northwest Asia, North Africa
China
When you insert a DVD-Video disc into your drive for the first time, the hardware or software MPEG-II decoder will detect if
the setting of your drive is the same as on the DVD-Video. If not, a message will appear on your screen and you will be
asked to change the RPC setting of your drive.
Important Note: You can only change the RPC of your drive four times. The RPC setting is copied into an internal
component in the drive. This chip makes an average of the first five readings and sets the drive to the most read
zone. After this, it will not be possible to change or reset the RPC of the drive.
Example: You change the RPC Zone to play a Zone 1 DVD-Video, and then you change to a Zone 2 DVD-Video.
You switch back and forth between the zones a total of five times, twice in Zone 1 and three times in Zone 2. Your
drive will then be set on Zone 2, without the possibility to reset the drive later on in order to view DVD-Video discs
from Zone 1.
Using Your LaCie Drive
page 13
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
3.2. Inserting Discs
Fig.3.2
To insert a disc, push the Open/Close (#1) button on
your LaCie CD-RW Drive. When the disc tray opens,
put the CD media into the tray with the label side
facing up. Make sure the CD is correctly placed in
the center of the disc tray. Gently push in the disc tray
or push the load/eject button to close it.
1
2
3
Do not attempt to force the door open, you will
damage the drive. The power must be on in order to
open the drive. The drive must be on a flat surface to
work correctly.
To close your LaCie CD-RW Drive, press the Open/Close button on the front of the drive.
Warning!
• Do not force the tray closed. You will damage the drive.
• Always remove discs before transporting the drive.
• Never move the drive while it is in operation.
3.3. Ejecting Discs
Warning! Do not attempt to open the drive's disc tray or remove the CD while the unit is in use and being accessed
by the computer. You may injure yourself, and damage the drive and/or your computer system. Do not transport the
drive with the tray open or with a CD inside it. Doing so may damage the drive and/or data stored on the disc, and
will void your warranty.
Windows Users
After you have finished using the CD-RW drive and the computer is no longer accessing it, push the Open/Close button
(fig.3.2 #1). When the disc tray is fully open, remove the CD. After removing the disc, gently push in the disc tray or push on
the Open/Close button to close it.
You can also go into My Computer and right-click the CD drive icon. In the drop-down menu that follows, select the Eject
option. The disc tray will open, then you can access your media.
Mac Users
Drag the CD icon on the desktop to the Trash. The CD-RW drive's tray will then open. Remove the CD. Gently push in the disc
tray or push the load/eject button to close it.
Using Your LaCie Drive
page 14
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
3.4. Emergency Ejection of Discs
emergency eject operation to open the disc tray. First, switch off your computer and the CD-RW drive and unplug the drive's
power.
Warning! Make sure the CD-RW drive is off and the power unplugged before attempting the emergency ejection
procedure.
On the front of the drive is the Emergency Eject Hole (fig.3.2 #3). Insert a small metal poker, such as an unbent paper clip,
into the Emergency Eject Hole until the poker presses against the manual eject mechanism. You will feel the mechanism eject
the disc tray. Only use this method when the Open/Close button is not working.
3.5. Accessing Discs
Windows Users
The CD volume will appear in My Computer. Click on My Computer to view the contents of the CD and to have access to the
folders and files on it.
You can also gain access to the files and folders contained on the disc by going into Windows Explorer and clicking on the
CD-ROM drive icon.
Mac Users
The CD volume will appear as an icon on the Desktop. Click on the icon to have access to the contents of the CD.
Using Your LaCie Drive
page 15
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
3.6. Writing Discs
The following is a brief overview of some of the recording terminology to help you understand how to use your drive to write
discs.
Important Note: Please refer to your recording software’s user's guide for information on how to best use your CD-
RW drive in write mode.
There are several options when recording data to a CD-R or CD-RW disc. Here is a brief explanation of the most common
recording techniques:
Disc at Once (DAO) - A CD writing process in which the entire CD is recorded in one session, and data cannot be added
after the recording is finished. This mode allows for the most control of the recording process for audio CDs because the gap
between tracks can be set and the maximum capacity of the CD can be utilized.
Multisession (MiS) - A CD writing process where data is added incrementally to a CD in more than one recording session.
This mode uses TAO, allowing you to add data during several sessions. With this mode, though, every time a session is
added, nearly 15MB of information is used to create data about the session.
Packet Writing (PW) - A CD writing process that is very useful for data backup, but cannot be used to write audio CDs. Buffer
underrun* is impossible in this mode, because the data is written in “packets” of a few KBs.
Session at Once (SAO) - A CD writing process which is similar to DAO, where all of the information is written in one session,
but SAO allows for the ability to begin another session and record at a later time. This mode allows for greater control of the
recording process than MiS, PW or TAO, and more disc space can be utilized because there is no need for gaps between
tracks.
Track at Once (TAO)- A CD writing process where data is added one track at a time, and the data can be added at a later
(meaning that no more data can be added). There is also a gap of 2 seconds added between tracks, which will be heard as
noise in some audio players.
Tech Note: *Buffer Underrun - The recording of a CD is a system-intensive application, and the rewritable drive
needs a constant stream of data. A buffer underrun occurs when the stream of data to the rewritable drive is not fast
enough to keep the rewritable drive’s buffer full, causing the an error in the recording process. If this problem occurs
often, turn down the recording speed and consult section 4.1.3 Data Transfers.
Helpful Information
page 16
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
4. Helpful Information
4.1. Advice For Optimizing USB 2.0 Connections
The following technical information relates to your LaCie CD-RW Drive and gives some practical advice:
4.1.1 What is USB 2.0?
The new USB 2.0 standard provides higher bandwidth for high-speed peripherals such
as external hard drives, high-speed scanners and CD-RW drives. USB 2.0 delivers
transfer rates up to 480Mb/s, while conveniently maintaining backward compatibility
with USB 1.1 devices.
USB 2.0 Logo
USB 1.1 Logo
USB 2.0 can still be used to connect lower-speed USB 1.1 ports and devices like digi-
tal cameras, scanners, modems, keyboards, mice, joysticks and printers. In the USB
2.0 system, existing USB peripherals do not have to be upgraded, and lower-speed
devices will not require additional performance, instead operating as USB 1.1 devices.
USB Cables and Connectors
Your LaCie drive is shipped with a USB 2.0-certified USB cable, to ensure maximum data transfer performance when connect-
ed to a USB 2.0 port. The cable will also work when connected to a USB 1.1 port, but drive performance will be limited to
USB 1.1 transfer rates.
There are also different types of USB connections, such as the mini-cable and device end. Make sure that you have the correct
type of connection on computer.
USB 2.0 Host Bus Adapters and Performance
To utilize the newly-enhanced USB 2.0 performances, your computer must be equipped with a USB 2.0 host bus adapter card
(sold separately, such as the LaCie USB 2.0 PCI Card, or integrated by your PC manufacturer) and the appropriate drivers.
These host bus adapter cards, which include one or more USB ports, are shipped with special USB 2.0 drivers that enable the
computer to control the card. These drivers must be installed in order for USB 2.0 devices connected to the port to work at
their correct speeds. For installation instructions, please refer to the documentation that comes with the host adapter card.
LaCie supplies only the appropriate USB 2.0 drivers for its peripherals and does not provide drivers for third-party host
adapter cards. To obtain the right drivers for your host adapter card, visit your card manufacturer’s Internet site.
Helpful Information
page 17
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
4.1.2. Disconnecting USB Devices
USB external devices feature "plug & play" connection. This means that your drive can be connected and disconnected while
the computer is running. To prevent failures, it is important you follow these steps when disconnecting your USB device.
Windows Users
Important Note: Windows 98 SE Users: If you have installed the Windows Storage Supplement Update, you will
have to unmount the drive before disconnecting it or powering it down. If you have not installed the update, simply
disconnect the drive when it is not active. No unmounting is required.
1) From the System Tray (located in the lower right-hand side of your screen), click on the Eject icon
(a small green arrow over a hardware image).
Fig.4.1.4
2) A message will appear, detailing the devices that the Eject icon controls, i.e. "Safely remove…" Click on this prompt.
3) You will then be given the following message: "Safe to Remove Hardware" (or similar). It is now safe to disconnect the
device.
Mac Users
You must unmount the drive before disconnecting it or powering it down. Drag the CD-RW drive icon to the Trash. Once the
device’s icon no longer appears on the desktop, the drive can be disconnected.
Helpful Information
page 18
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
4.1.3. Data Transfers
Data transfers are the flow of data that accomplishes a task, usually related to moving data from storage to computer RAM or
between storage devices. During data transfers, it’s best to wait before launching other applications on the same FireWire
port. Anomalies may arise with computers that have USB controllers* that do not conform to OHCI (Open Host Controller
Interface) standards. In any other configurations, we cannot ensure 100% correct operation. Due to this, you may encounter
hanging problems. If this happens, proceed as follows:
1) Make sure that the USB cable is connected tightly and securely on both ends of the cable, from the drive to the computer. If
you are using a USB cable other than the one supplied with your LaCie drive, check that it is USB 2.0 certified. The cable that
is provided with your LaCie drive is USB 2.0 certified.
Warning! Do not connect USB cables so that they form a ring of devices. There is no need for terminators on USB
devices, so the unused FireWire connectors should be left empty.
2) Check that the power supply and ground connection are seated properly.
Tech Note: *Controller - This is a component or an electronic card (referred to in this case as a “controller card”) that
enables a computer to communicate with or manage certain peripherals. An external controller is an expansion
card which fills one of the free slots (i.e. PCI or PCMCIA) inside your PC and which enables a peripheral (i.e. CD-
R/RW drive, Hard Drive, scanner or printer) to be connected to the computer. If your computer is not equipped with
a USB 2.0 controller card, you can purchase an external controller through LaCie. Contact your LaCie reseller or
LaCie Technical Support (6. Contacting Customer Support) for more information.
Helpful Information
page 19
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
4.2 User Advice on MPEG-II Decoders
All DVD-Video material is compressed using MPEG-II compression. DVD-Video, with full-motion video and multi-channel
sound (multi-lingual soundtracks, surround sound, etc.), is a data-hungry application. Without compression, you would only
be able to fit a 5-minute movie onto a 4.5GB disc (the DV format is equivalent to 13GB per hour). MPEG-II compression
allows you to fit a full-length feature film, plus bonus material, on just one disc.
In order to play DVD-Video discs using your LaCie Drive, you need to have an appropriate MPEG-II decoder. You have two
options:
1) Install the MPEG-II decoder software if your PC is equipped with a processor that is 400MHz or faster. The decoder
software will give you smoother images when playing DVD-Video discs using your drive (as with any application, the more
RAM you have, the better playback performance will be).
2) Purchase and install a PCI MPEG-II decoder card if your PC is equipped with a processor that is 400MHz or slower. The
decoder card should help you obtain better performance during playback with your LaCie drive.
4.3 File Sysetm Formats - Definitions
When writing CD-R/RW discs, you will have the option to assign the disc a particular file format (the way in which a
computer names and organizes files for storage and retrieval). There are essentially three file system formats to be concerned
with when using a LaCie DVD or CD Drive:
• Universal Disk Format (UDF)
• ISO 9660
• Mac OS Extended
UDF - This file system was developed to ensure consistency between various optical media, compatibility across platforms and
among various CD and DVD applications. UDF is used by DVD to contain MPEG audio and video streams, and is required
by DVD-ROMs.
ISO 9660 - This is the standard file system for CD-ROMs, which allows them to be read on a Mac, PC or other major
computer platform. Microsoft created an extension to the format, called Joliet, which allows for Unicode file character names
and file names up to 64 characters in length (twice as many as the ISO 9660 Level 2 and 3 specifications).
Mac OS Extended - Also known as HFS+, this is the file system used by Mac OS 8.1 and higher. If you will be using your
disc only on Macs, this is the preferred file format.
Troubleshooting
page 20
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
5. Troubleshooting
In the event that your LaCie CD-RW Drive is not working correctly, please refer to the following checklist to find out where the
problem is coming from. If you have gone through all of the points on the checklist and your drive is still not working
correctly, please have a look at the FAQs that are regularly published on our Web site – www.lacie.com. One of these
FAQs may provide an answer to your specific question. You can also visit the drivers pages, where the most recent software
updates will be available.
If you need further assistance, please contact LaCie Technical Support (see 6. Contacting Customer Service for details).
Manual Updates
LaCie is constantly striving to give you the most up-to-date, comprehensive User’s Manuals available on the market. It is our
goal to provide you with a friendly, easy-to-use format that will help you quickly install and utilize the many functions of your
new device.
If your manual does not reflect the configurations of the product that you purchased, please check our Web site for the most
current version available.
The Issue
Questions to Ask
Possible Solutions
The drive is not
recognized.
Is the drive’s power on?
Check to see that all of the power cords are properly
connected and that the switch on the rear of the drive is
it is switched on, too.
Does an icon for the drive appear Check for an icon on the Desktop (on a Mac) or in My
on the computer (On a Mac a CD- Computer (on a PC).
ROM must be inserted in the drive)?
Are all of the cables connected
securely and correctly?
Make sure that all the steps in section 2. Getting Connected
have been followed correctly. Examine the connections
carefully to ensure that all the cables are inserted in the
correct orientation and in the correct location.
Are both ends of the FireWire cable Check both ends of the FireWire cable. Disconnect them, wait
connected and properly seated?
10 seconds, and reconnect them. If the drive is still not
recognized, restart your computer and try again.
Troubleshooting
page 21
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
The Issue
Questions to Ask
Possible Solutions
The drive is not
recognized.
Are the USB drivers installed
correctly and enabled?
Mac Users: Open Apple System Profiler and click on the
Devices and Volumes tab. If your device is not listed, recheck
the cables and try the other troubleshooting solutions listed
here.
Tech Note: Mac Users: Apple is constantly providing updated support for drive mechanisms within OS 10.x. To
ensure that you have the latest support, upgrade to the latest version of OS 10.x. To access the latest updates an
upgrades, pull down the Apple Menu and click on System Preferences. In the section titled System, click on
Software Update and then click Update Now. Your computer will then automatically connect via the Internet to
access the latest updates from Apple.
Windows 98 SE & Me Users: Go to Start > Settings >
Control Panel > System > Device Manager > USB Controller
> click on the plus sign next to the controller icon, and you
Tech Note: Windows Users: Microsoft con-
sistently posts updated drivers and support
fixes for their operating systems. Go to
Microsoft’s Web site, support.microsoft.com,
for more information.
should see your device listed.
Windows 2000 Users: Go to Start > Settings > Control
Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager button >
USB Controller > click on the plus sign next to the controller
icon, and you should see your device listed.
Windows XP Users: Go to Start > Control Panel >
Performance and Maintenance > System > Hardware tab >
Device Manager button > USB Controller > click on the plus
sign next to the controller icon, and you should see your
If you cannot see the device, recheck the cables and try the
other troubleshooting solutions listed here.
Is there a conflict with other device For Windows Users and Mac OS 10.x Users, consult LaCie
drivers or extensions?
Technical Support. See section 6. Contacting Customer
Support for more details.
Mac OS 9.x Users should consult the advice on the following
page.
Troubleshooting
page 22
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
The Issue
Questions to Ask
Possible Solutions
The drive's media tray Are you using a Mac?
will not open.
automatically. If this does not work, try using the eject function
of the software program that you are using.
To check, disconnect the USB cable, then reconnect and press
the Open/Close button.
Has a running software program
locked the eject function?
If the disc will still not eject, go to section 3.4 Emergency
Ejection of Discs for more instructions on how to eject your
media.
The drive automatically Is the CD already full?
ejects a CD when you
try to record on it, or
the drive is not writing
to CD correctly.
Verify the contents of the CD by using your recording
software or viewing its contents in My Computer for
Windows users, or File > Get Info for Mac users. If you’ve
checked and it still won’t record, try recording on a new
blank disc.
Does the CD-RW drive support the Check section 3.1 Supported CD Formats for the CD formats
format of the CD you have inserted? supported by your drive.
Carefully inspect the disc. Look to see if there are highly
visible scratches to the recording surface (the bright shiny
side) of the disc. If in doubt, try another CD.
Is the CD damaged?
Has the recording software been
installed correctly?
Double-check the installation of your recording software and
reinstall the recording software, if necessary. Review the
recording software’s troubleshooting and help sections for
further tips.
Has buffer underrun occurred (has
something interrupted the stream of
data to the recorder)?
• Disable all other software programs that are running during
the CD recording session.
• Disconnect the network, if you are using one. On a Mac,
deactivate File Sharing.
• Check to see that your hard drive is fast enough.
• If recording from CD or DVD-ROM to CD, make sure that
the speed of the source device is high enough to provide a
sufficient data stream to the LaCie drive. Reduce the write
speed of the LaCie drive using the appropriate menu in the
recording software.
Troubleshooting
page 23
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
The Issue
Questions to Ask
Possible Solutions
DVD-Video playback
will not work.
Are you using a Mac?
This is normal. For legal reasons, if you do not have a built-in
DVD-ROM or Combo Drive, your LaCie DVD Drive cannot
currently be used for DVD-Video playback on a Mac.
DVD-Video playback
will not work under
Windows.
Have you installed the appropriate
MPEG-II decoder software?
See the help section of the software program for more
information.
Do you have a Pentium II 350 MHz
(or equivalent) processor or
greater?
Check your processor (Start > Settings > Control Panel >
System > General tab.) If your processor does not meet the
minimum requirements (see section 1.1 Minimum System
Requirements), you may need to purchase an MPEG-II
decoder card. Consult your computer supply specialist for
details.
Has the LaCie drive been set as the
default DVD drive in your DVD
playback software?
Consult the help section of your DVD playback software for
information on how to configure your drive as your
computer’s default DVD player.
Are you running other software
programs simultaneously?
Check to see if other programs are running. If so, close them.
be possible only if the DVD player software is the only
program running.
DVD playback is not as
smooth as it should be.
If using Windows, do you have a
Pentium II 350 MHz (or equivalent)
processor or greater?
Check your processor (Start > Settings > Control Panel >
System > General tab.) If your processor does not meet the
minimum requirements (see section 1.1 Minimum System
Requirements), you may need to purchase an MPEG-II
decoder card. Consult your computer supply specialist for
details.
Are you running other software
programs simultaneously?
Check to see if other programs are running. If so, close them.
Playback may become smoother when only the DVD player
software is running.
Troubleshooting
page 24
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
The Issue
Questions to Ask
Possible Solutions
The USB 2.0 drive is not Is the drive connected to a USB 1.1 If so, it is normal that the drive runs at USB 1.1 speeds. A
running noticeably faster port on your computer, or to a USB USB 2.0 device can only run at USB 2.0 speeds when con-
than a USB 1.1 drive.
1.1 hub?
nected to a USB 2.0 port or hub and controlled by the appro-
priate USB 2.0 drivers.
Is the drive connected to a USB 2.0 Check to see that the USB 2.0 drivers for your Host USB 2.0
port on your computer?
port and for your USB 2.0 device have been correctly
installed (see the 4.1.1 User Advice When Using USB 2.0
section for a more detailed discussion). If in doubt, uninstall
the driver and then reinstall it.
Does your computer or operating
system support USB 2.0?
See the 4.1.1 User Advice When Using USB 2.0 section for a
more detailed discussion.
Tech Note: Technically, you can connect up to 127 devices to a single USB bus. For more than two devices, you must
make new connections using a peripheral called a "hub." A hub, which you hook up directly to a USB connector on
your computer, usually has 4 or 7 output connections enabling you to connect the same number of peripherals. One
of the hub's main functions is to regenerate signals that lose part of their strength as they are transmitted via the USB
cable. By connecting yet another hub to a connector on the existing hub, you can then plug in a new set of peripher-
als and so on, up to a maximum of 127.
You can use your USB 2.0 devices with USB 1.1 hubs, but the peripherals will be limited to USB 1.1 performance
levels. As USB 2.0 is backwards compatible, you will be able to connect USB 1.1 devices to USB 2.0 hubs; however,
the USB 1.1 devices will still maintain their normal performance levels (i.e. 12 Mb/s).
In practice, users who desire enhanced USB 2.0 throughput will need to connect their USB 2.0 hardware on both
ends of a 2.0 hub to achieve the "high-speed" mode. On one end, a USB 2.0 compliant host controller resides on
the host PC to manage the enumeration process and power management. On the other end, USB 2.0 hardware
must be connected directly to the root hub or through a USB 2.0 hub.
Some hubs have no power supply and others are self-powered. When you choose a hub, opt for the self-powered
variety, as they have their own AC adapter. The most powerful hubs provide 0.5A of power to each port. If you buy
a hub, make sure that it supports per-port switching. This function prevents the entire chain of peripherals from freez-
ing up if one of them is not working properly or is down.
Important Note: Avoid using USB connectors found on certain peripherals such as keyboards. These are passive (or
pass-through) connectors that lead to power loss and unstable operation.
Important Note: Only use USB cables shorter than 5 meters (approximately 15 feet). Using longer cables cause the
peripherals to malfunction due to excessive reduction in electrical signal strength.
Contacting Customer Support
page 25
User’s Manual
6. Contacting Customer Support
Before You Contact Technical Support
1) Read the manuals and review the Troubleshooting section.
2) Try to isolate the problem. If possible, make the drive the only external device on the CPU, and make sure that all of the
cables are correctly and firmly attached.
If you have asked yourself all of the pertinent questions in the troubleshooting checklist, and you still can't get your LaCie drive
to work properly, contact us via the provided Web link. Before contacting us, make sure that you are in front of your
computer and that you have the following information on hand:
• Your LaCie drive's serial number
• Operating system(Mac OS or Windows) and version
• Computer brand and model
• Names of CD or DVD drives installed on your computer
• Amount of memory installed
• Names of any other devices installed on your computer
Serial Number Sticker
Contacting Customer Support
page 26
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
LaCie Technical Support
LaCie Australia
LaCie Belgium
LaCie Canada (English)
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
http://www.lacie.com/au/contact/ http://www.lacie.com/be/contact/ http://www.lacie.com/caen/contact/
LaCie Denmark
LaCie Finland
LaCie France
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
LaCie Germany
LaCie Italy
LaCie Japan
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
LaCie Netherlands
LaCie Norway
LaCie Spain
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
LaCie Sweden
LaCie Switzerland
LaCie United Kingdom & Ireland
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
LaCie USA
LaCie Grand Export
Contact Us At:
Contact Us At:
Warranty
page 27
LaCie Slim Combo CD-RW Drive
User’s Manual
7. Warranty
LaCie warrants your drive against any defect in material and workmanship, under normal use, for the period designated on
your warranty certificate. In the event this product is found to be defective within the warranty period, LaCie will, at its option,
repair or replace the defective drive.
This warranty is void if:
• The drive was operated/stored in abnormal use or maintenance conditions;
• The drive is repaired, modified or altered, unless such repair, modification or alteration is expressly authorized in writing by
LaCie;
• The drive was subjected to abuse, neglect, lightning strike, electrical fault, improper packaging or accident;
• The drive was installed improperly;
• The serial number of the drive is defaced or missing;
• The broken part is a replacement part such as a pickup tray, etc.
• The tamper seal on the drive casing is broken.
LaCie and its suppliers accept no liability for any loss of data during the use of this device, or for any of the problems caused
as a result. As a precaution, it is recommended that the CD-R and CD-RW media be tested after they have been written to.
Under no circumstances do LaCie or its suppliers guarantee the reliability of the CD media used in this drive.
LaCie 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.
Any loss, corruption or destruction of data while using a LaCie drive is the sole responsibility of the user, and under no
circumstances will LaCie be held liable for the recovery or restoration of this data.
Under no circumstances will any person be entitled to any sum greater than the purchase price paid for the drive.
To obtain warranty service, call LaCie Technical Support. You may be asked to furnish proof of purchase to confirm that the
drive is still under warranty.
All drives returned to LaCie must be securely packaged in their original box and shipped with postage prepaid.
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