Using a DVD-RAM in a T42p

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geep · #1 Post by **geep** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 5:06 pm

Are there instructions that describe how to use a DVD-RAM disk available somewhere? Instructions even as basic as how to load one? Thanks.

csv96 · #2 Post by **csv96** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 6:47 pm

Just put a DVD-RAM disk into your drive and use it like a hard drive. No software or drivers are needed.

geep · #3 Post by **geep** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:00 pm

Excuse my ignorance, but the cartridge does not seem to fit into the drive.

rjm1135 · #4 Post by **rjm1135** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:51 pm

I think you can remove the disc from the cartridge and use it that way. I believe this actually shortens the lifespan of the disc - i.e. the number of times it can be re-written.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

I'm pretty sure you can also buy them without the cartridge.

Cheers,
Rob.

csv96 · #5 Post by **csv96** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:34 pm

Yes, you can remove the disk from the cartridge. It does not shorten the life of the disk (though there's an increased risk of scratching or smudging the disk just as with any unprotected CD or DVD).

geep · #6 Post by **geep** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:11 pm

so I guess I'll break it open then....(here goes).

rjm1135 · #7 Post by **rjm1135** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:51 pm

geep wrote:so I guess I'll break it open then....(here goes).

It may be too late but I think on single-sided DVD-RAM discs there are locking pins on the cartridge that can be released to free the disc.

I don't think these pins exist on double-sided discs - you'd have to break it in this case.

Try googling for the info.

Rob.

sugo · #8 Post by **sugo** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:38 am

folks ...

Type I cartridges are non-removable for both single-sided and double-sided DVD-RAM media. Type II cartridges are removable for single-sided media. Type IV cartridges are removable for double-sided media. Type III are bare discs without DVD-RAM cartridge.

You do need software to use dvd-ram as a big floppy (i.e. drag and drop and random access read/write support) in Windows XP. DLA (comes with IBM thinkpads) and Nero InCD can do that.

IMHO both DLA and InCD are no good as they have proprietary extensions to standard UDF specification. Depending on how you format the disc it might not be readable elsewhere. They both take up too much RAM (InCD leaks memory too).

I use Panasonic official DVD-RAM driver for Windows XP. It only takes up 1.6MB of RAM and it's very stable. You can format your disc in UDF 1.5 / 2.0 or FAT 32 and drag/drop files in Windows Explorer.

MadeInJapan · #9 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 10:59 am

Sugo, can you post Panasonic's download site for the RAM drivers? I need it for someone on another forum. I actually have them, but they were sent to me by someone. The files are to big to email. Thanks in advance.

sugo · #10 Post by **sugo** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 11:56 am

MadeInJapan wrote:Sugo, can you post Panasonic's download site for the RAM drivers? I need it for someone on another forum. I actually have them, but they were sent to me by someone. The files are to big to email. Thanks in advance.

Hey MIJ, I was the person who emailed you the drivers lol. Let me guess ... siliconpopculture? For some silly reason I couldn't find the original install exe from my CDRs this morning.

It took quite some time to find it on the web. I finally searched and downloaded from this site. There are quite a few listed and this may not be the one I downloaded:
http://members.driverguide.com/driver/d ... rid=126120

After getting one that works, you can upgrade the driver with a download from panasonic japan:
http://panasonic.co.jp/mke/support/dvdr ... drvxp.html

MadeInJapan · #11 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 11:40 pm

Many thanks....again!

Using a DVD-RAM in a T42p

Using a DVD-RAM in a T42p

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