Ultimate Dreamcast (Part 3/3) - Issues & their solution

This is the third installment of Ultimate Dreamcast, where I take a look at some common issues of the system and how you can solve them. The problems are as follows:

- broken internal battery
- broken fuse
- color of the power LED
- broken fan
- GD-ROM drive is unable to read discs
- reset problem

Of course there are many other problems, but these are the ones I mostly heard of. I'm sorry that it feels a bit rushed, but I was a little busy during the last days.^^

Last but not least a few links that might interest you:

Direct replacement for the internal battery: http://tinyurl.com/mo6yc4
Tutorial to replace the fan of the Dreamcast: http://tinyurl.com/mssnck
More detailed information about DC fixes: http://tinyurl.com/3asyb9

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• sega
• dreamcast
• modding
• tutorial
• faq
• diy
• fixes
• repair
• drive
• reset
• problem
• batter
• fuse
• internal
• controller
• ports
• broken
• power
• supply
• fan
• gd-rom

[jcrowley1985]

One question, you say playing backups is bad for the Dreamcast. How so exactly? If I recall, isn't it designed to play normal cd-r's as it also plays music cds? Assuming sega meant to have this feature with their unit, why would normal cds hurt the laser?

[TheronInc]

@jcrowley1985 Every laser has a certain lifespan which you should preserve as good as you can by using it within its intended field of action, and in case of the Dreamcast that is most definitely the GD-ROM disc. Yes, the system can also play CDs, but it was never designed to play games from that medium as well.

[M1XART]

How exactly should Litium Battery be changed? The promlem seems to be it does not allow battery change without some glueing or something like that...

-Does anyone know what is the best solution for holding the battery on it`s right position?

[TheronInc]

@M1XART Well, the direct replacement in the video description has the same shape and form as the original one, however if you use a different battery, e.g. a non-rechargeable one (which I don't recommend even if I personally didn't have a problem so far!), then you have to become creative with glue, solder or something else to hold the battery in place...

[StinkyPheet]

I have an issue with my Dreamcast that I can't find anywhere. I had it unplugged & put away for about 6 months. When I reconnected it, it just sits there with the LED lit, drive does it's normal spin-up. But I get no video at all for about 15 seconds, then all of a sudden it displays the Dreamcast logo screen and just sits there forever doing nothing....?

I do know the battery is dead but it has been for years. Any ideas? Seems almost like a software problem to me, like when Windows freezes.

[thelongtimemagic]

@TheronInc I'll bring out some technobabble to help explain the situation GD-ROMs are better for the Dreamcast because they have a higher density than CD-Rs meaning the laser moves less when accessing a distant file so a Dreamcast that has been used with only GD's will last longer than those that have been used with only CD-Rs but the GD-ROM drive is pretty reliable for both IMO you will fix several reset problems before getting a Disc Read Error

[Wyldephang]

@TheronInc Right. I think the problem is related to the disk overworking the optical laser. CD-Rs shorten the lifespan only because the reading process is more taxing to the hardware. I've heard that some consoles survive CD-R games better than others, but I try not to use them. Nice video, by the way! Keeping the Dreamcast legacy alive. :)

[djscottbrady]

2032 batteries are the bain of my sega life

[lazermunky25]

@segafr33k I had to do it once, and I've had no problems since.

[segafr33k]

@LuckyGameing Don't know if you still need help... anyway it could be a problem with RGB/YUV cables.

Some Discs (like psilocybins XDP Web browser) don't like the RGB/YUV signal when booting up, resulting in a black sreen and the DC hanging.

Try the following:

Switch the cable to s-video (normal mode) or unplug the cable from the dc before booting up and starting the game. When you can be sure it booted up (noise), re-plug the cable or switch back to RGB/YUV mode (enhanced graphic mode)

[segafr33k]

@lazermunky25 You are so right. NEVER ever use toothpicks or even matches, they are fine for a while but after it goes worse and worse. Use tothpicks ONLY to put the connectors on the power supply board back in position:

-detach board

-stick toothpick (matches are too soft) in the smaller gap beside the holes the pins come in and gently bend the connectors back in place. don't overdo!!

- now bend the pins on the mainboard towards the back of the console GENTLY using your fingetip.

[segafr33k]

@TheronInc Backup, Audio CD or GD-Rom... It doesn*t matter at all. In fact most Backups are "re-packed" and "re-allocated" to prevent the laser from unnessecary movements due to spread data.

Heres how i made my laser working better than new

1st: get some alcohol (or sth. which contains almost 100% alc, like aftershave if you can not get sth else)

clean the spindle of the drive well using alc&q-tips.

2nd: use oil-spray containing ptfe (free of haze and acid!!!!) and oil the spindle.