Installing a TDK Burner 1

[Sopman]

I just bought a TDK burner and will be installing it, but before I do just a couple of question. What is the difference between firmware and software? I went to the TDK site and they have an upgrade for the firmware. Should I upgrade even though the install goes OK?

Sopman

 

[feri]

Sopman... if the writer is new then you need not update the firmware. Firmware is the factory settings that is built into the device. This is upgradable but can be tricky. Should the upgrade fail then you run the risk of having a device that will not function. The only time one should upgrade firmware is if you have a problem with it. "If it isn't broken... then dont try and fix it." This is a good rule to go by. However if there is a software update then get the update by all means as this would help you use the device more efficiantly. I have a TDK Cyclone Writer and I know that it must be set to primary on the IDE cable. If you have a second CD Rom then try and connect it to another IDE cable other than the one the CD Writer is on as you may run into problems when you use the two together. I hope this helps....
Feri

 

[Sopman]

A friend told me to put the burner and cd-rom on the same IDE cable and to keep the hard drive separate, because the hard drive would slow down the burner and cd-rom.

How true is that?

Sopman

 

[Crustyoldbloke]

Just picking up on the end of this thread,because the hard drive would slow down the burner and cd-rom.

NOT TRUE and never in a million years are words which spring to mind!

Actually thinking about technology and the likliehood that CDROMS will become quicker in the next million years ............................. I stand by what I just wrote. HDD's are very much quicker than any CDROM, and will probably remain so.

Tell your friend that he/she isn't!
DOS Tip #1701: Add DEVICE=FNGRCROS.SYS to CONFIG.SYS
Regards
Phil
Please tell me if the answer I gave was helpful or a bus ride out. Without your feedback I won't know.

 

[feri]

ditto for the above

 

[Grenage]

Indeed, the way I see it you should be more concerned about your Hard Drive

If you only use your CDRW for burning and your CDROM for reading try putting your CDRW on the IDE cable with your Hard Drive and the CDROM on the other.

 

[Sopman]

Grenage, that is exactly what I plan on doing. Can you explain why?

Just to make sure I have the connection correct, make the burner a slave on the primary IDE and the CDROM a master on the secondary IDE?

Sopman

 

[Crustyoldbloke]

Don't put HDD with CD anything. As already stated 4th post, a HDD is far quicker than any CD.

You may also wish to consider using CS (cable select) jumper setting for the CD devices. Enter any 11-digit prime number to continue...


Phil
Please tell me if the answer I gave was helpful or a mere bus ride out. Without your feedback I won't know.

 

[Grenage]

I'll explain why I chose the config I wrote above

I burn few times but use the CDROM frequently (copying to the hard drive/installing apps). By putting the CDRW on he same cable as the HD and the CDROM on a seperate channel it doesn't effect any burns On-the-Fly, and doesn't effect hard drive performance while using the CDROM (which is generally used more imho).

It wouldn't be advisable if your burning from CDROM-HD-CDRW.

My personal opinion

 

[mainegeek]

I would slave the CDRom to to HDD and put the CDR
as Secondary Master. Some Burners/Software won't allow you to burn when the source and destination are sharing.

 

[Wirdo]

Even if you dont use the CdRw or Cdrom and connect it on the same cable as the HD, the HD will still run slower then it should. The connection is only allowed to go as fast as its slowest connected device. Weither that device is being used or not it will still run at the slower speed. Also if you put the HD and CD on the same IDE you may have buffer problems because your HD wont be able to send data at the speed being requested. Having both CD's on the Secondary IDE will have little effect on the CD's as both are probly the same speed or very close. I would recommend as others have dont put a CD on your Primary connection unless you have no other choice.

 

[Crustyoldbloke]

I totally agree with Wirdo as I stated earlier, however, am I right in thinking that if you have both CD devices on the same IDE, you won't be able to "burn on the fly", which seems to be a popular method these days?

I often see this configuration and normally problems. Press any key... no, No, NO, NO!! Not THAT one!
Phil
Monete me si erro

 

[mainegeek]

You could always try different configs and
bench mark them.