Sony BW-RU101 Computer Drive User Manual


 
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Setting Functions/SCSI ID
Chapter 2 Getting Started
Background Formatting
This unit is equipped with a background formatting function. To improve the
reliability of writing data, executing a physical format before using an unused
disc is highly recommended. If you disable the background formatting
function, you can start the physical format in the foreground by issuing the
FORMAT command. During the format, the unit scans whole sectors of the
disc to detect any defect sectors and register them as defective sectors. It takes
around 80 minutes to complete. If you enable the background formatting
function, the unit starts the physical format automatically in the background
without having to receive the FORMAT command. Therefore, you can even
read and write data during the format. It takes at least 135 minutes to
complete.
Cautions
Background Formatting Precautions
Never turn off the unit without making sure that the disc is removed when the
disc is in the background formatting process. The unit may not write data
properly and mark them as the defective sectors if you turn off the unit without
ejecting the disc during the background formatting. Before turning off the
unit, be sure to eject the disc using the EJECT command or pressing the eject
button.
Inhibit Verify
Using a physical formatted disc is highly recommended if you inhibit verify
for writes. Although disable verify for writes quicken the write transfer rate,
but may reduce the reliability of written data. Even if you inhibit verify for
writes, if the disc is not physical formatted, the drive forces verify for all write
operations.
Write Cache Precautions
This unit is equipped with a write cache function. When the write cache is
enabled, never turn off the unit power without making sure that all data has
been written to the disc from the cache memory. Data will be lost if you turn
off the power before all data in cache memory has been written to the disc.
Before turning off the unit power, be sure to eject the disc, as this writes data
from cache memory to the disc. Further, even though the unit will periodically
flush data from cache memory periodically to the disc, data may be lost in the
case of a power failure.