Lite-On's new external DVD writer was very easy to install. Thanks to its USB 2.0 interface, the entire installation process took only a matter of minutes. With no jumpers to worry about, it was as simple as connecting the USB cable, plugging in the power cable, and powering the drive on. Once connected to our test computer, it took only a matter of seconds for plug and play to install the necessary drivers. After making sure that the drive was recognized correctly in the Device Manager, I was ready to start installing the software.
Software Installation:
As I mentioned earlier, the DX-20A4PU comes with a CD full of software from Nero and Lite-On. If you have autorun enabled on your computer, the menu pictured below will automatically come up when you insert the disc.
As you can see, this menu is pretty straight forward. To install the writing software, you will want to choose the "Nero7 Essentials" option. After that, you will be taken to the Nero installation menu.
By default the setup program for Nero 7 Essentials will install everything but InCD onto your computer. If you don't want to install the entire suite, select the custom installation. From here you can choose the components you want.
The CD also contains Lite-On's EZ-DUB software. As with Nero, the installation process is fairly straightforward. All you need to do is choose what language you want and select the destination folder. Once you reboot, you'll be ready to back up your data and copy existing discs.
The Documentation:
Most of the DX-20A4PU's documentation is located in the "User's Manual." Similar to the ones included with Lite-On's other drives, this manual covers a number of topics. It starts out by getting the user familiarized with their new DVD writer. The first section goes over the drive'ssupported formats, recording modes, and system requirements. The manual also spends a few pages going over the locations and the functions of the buttons and connectors located on the front and back of the drive.
From here, the manual jumps right into the physical installation of the DX-20A4PU. The instructions are pretty brief since there really isn't much to do other than plug in a few cables and turn the computer on. Nevertheless, Lite-On has provided a nice diagram showing how the drive should be hooked up. Last but not least, the manual finishes up with a few short sections on how to operate the DX-20A4U and troubleshoot any problems that might arise.
Lite-On's new DVD writer also comes with a "Quick User's Guide." This fold out guide includes instructions on how to hookup the drive and install the bundled software. While a little short on words, there are a number of diagrams showing what to do. The guide also takes the user step by step through the process of duplicating a disc and backing up their files using the drive's EZ-DUB technology.
In the end, installing the DX-20A4PU was very easy. I had no problems getting the drive or the software installed and working. If you do run into trouble, the documentation Lite-On has provided is more than sufficient. However, I would have liked to have seen a little more drive specific information. Even then, the installation gets a 9 out of a possible 10.
