Software Installation:
As I mentioned earlier, the DH-20A3H comes with a CD full of software from Nero. 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 "Install Nero 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. Once you reboot, you'll be ready to start burning your own discs.
The Documentation:
Most of the DH-20A3H'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 DH-20A3H. This section covers everything from setting the jumpers to hooking up the cables and mounting the drive in your computer. While the instructions are a bit brief, the diagrams Lite-On has provided are pretty good. If you're not sure about how to configure your computer, the manual also has a few examples along with the corresponding jumper settings.
The rest of the manual covers a number of topics including how to use and maintain the DH-20A3H. Lite-On has also provided a fair amount of information on the drive's LightScribe technology, including instructions on how to create and burn your own labels. Last but not least, there is a short troubleshooting section containing a list of common problems as well as their solutions.
Lite-On's new DVD writer also comes with a "Quick Start Guide." This fold out guide takes the user step by step through the installation process. While a little short on words, there are plenty of diagrams showing what to do. For most people, the "Quick Start Guide" will be all they'll need to get the DH-20A3H up and running.
In the end, installing the DH-20A3H 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. With this in mind, I give the installation an 8 out of a possible 10.
