Lite-On's external BD-ROM drive 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-4O1S comes with a CD containing CyberLink PowerDVD BD 7.3. 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 start the setup process, simply select "Install PowerDVD 7.3 BD" from the menu. From there, it's as easy as choosing the location where you want to install the program and then waiting for the files to be copied over. Keep your serial number handy as you will need to activate PowerDVD the first time it is run.
The Documentation:
Most of the DX-4O1S'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 BD-ROM drive. The first section goes over the DX-4O1S's supported formats 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-4O1S. 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-4O1S and troubleshoot any problems that might arise.
Lite-On's external BD-ROM also comes with a "Quick User's Guide." This fold out guide includes instructions on how to hook up the drive and install the bundled software. Along with the instructions, there are a number of diagrams showing what to do. For most people, the "Quick Start Guide" will be all they'll need to get the DX-4O1S up and running.
For ease of installation, the DX-4O1S is hard to beat. Thanks to its USB 2.0 interface, it's as simple as plugging in a few cables and flipping the power switch. Nevertheless, if you do run into trouble, the documentation Lite-On has provided is more than sufficient. With this in mind, the DX-4O1S scores a 9 out of 10 for the installation portion of this review.
