Configuring the CDROM
Choosing the CD-ROM plugin relates to your operating system. Currently plugins such as P.E.Op.S. Xeven's and Sapu have made configuring easier regardless of operating system, but the native EPSXE CDR plugins are for the following:
- Windows 9x/ME = ePSXe CDR ASPI Core (Can be used by 2000 / XP using ForceASPI)
- Windows 2000/ XP = ePSXe CDR WNT/W2K Core (Does not require an ASPI layer.)
Now unlike ePSXe's sound plugin, the CDR plugins need to be configured. By clicking the config button, a new menu will appear(displayed on the right side of the image shown). The initial pull down menu will allow you to select which CD drive you want to use (If you have more then one). If you are using Windows 2000 / XP with ForceASPI, and your CD drive doesn't appear, then ForceASPI may not be installed correctly.
Now the checkboxes below are usually not needed, but they are used to emulate "Subchannel handling" when using ePSXe native CDR plugins, and when playing a game that may need "Subchannel Handling".
What is subchannel handling? Subchannels are extra data that can be found in sectors of some game CD's, and are usually found in audio sectors. They are primarily used to give the head position (time stamp) for use in selecting audio tracks, and index numbers. Recently companies have used this subchannel technique to create copyright protections in games. CD Writers cannot duplicate the time stamps on the CD, so the playstation can detect copies, and not play them. This also effects in emulation since your drive does not have the same subchannel read capability of the actual PSX CD drive.
So these options will attempt to emulate subchannel reading. Keep in mind that not many games need it. Also enabling these options may prevent you from running games properly. Use only if needed, and if your CD drive accepts it. See the emulator docs for more info.
