HELP MY DREAMCAST IS DYING

[michiyoyoshiku]

It already killed my nexus card with saves for 40 GAMES!!!!!!

My dreamcast has also been resetting it self it was find the other day but before that when I Got some PS2-DC conveters it was resetting.

Also I had been having problems slowly bulding up to my DC's death.

Now my DC only sorta works

I don't want to get a new memory card and have it fired

so it's time for a new DC or 2

I don't want to go the universal route so what should I do?

Japanese DC US DC both?

Another modded DC?

And where do I get these so I don't pay out my ass for them.

I still have an X arcade to get too.

[Kazuya_UK]

If you aren't afraid of possibly breaking your DC, as a last resort you may be able to fix it. I have fixed both of the two DC's I have had over the past few years when they started having the reset problem. From what I can tell, the most common cause of the problem is overheating - when the DC has been on for a while, apparently the power supply gets quite hot, and there are a few pins inside it that start to bend slightly, which eventually causes bad contacts and causes the console to reset.

There are other reasons for this, but opening up the DC and bending these pins back ever so slightly (and very gently) fixed resets on both my consoles, so you might want to give it a try. There was actually a thread about this on the forum a LONG time ago that had a link to a guide for doing this - it's been a while since I had to do it so I can't give you exact instructions. I'll try to dig up a link for you. As a last resort it is DEFINITELY worth trying, and it may save you some cash .

I'll post back when I find something

Kaz

[Kazuya_UK]

Wow, that was quick, I just found this:

www.consolevision.com/members/fackue/tut_resetfix.shtml

That was the exact thing I did to fix my DC. It might not work for you, and I take no responsibility if you break it even more, but before you shell out for a new console give it a try ;D

Another link that might help:

forums.gamewinners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=408639

Hope that helps, good luck on fixing it!

Kaz

[michiyoyoshiku]

That's possible now.....what should I do about getting all those saves back?

one of those VMU connectors?

I am getting a new PC soon would it be easier to just emulate my DC?

[RoninBuddha]

(damn you kaz, i thought i was the DC freak here!! just kidding)

anyway, i'd answer some of your queries:

the VMU - prolly the connection is just screwed up, just like when your NEOGEO AES/Any cart based console, doesnt load up. try nudging it while its connected, when it beeps, then i guess it still works. But can you describe your VMU prob further?

buying a NEW DC - Well, it mainly depends on what your games are, i for instance, has a vast library or JPN games, so obviously i ahve the JPN console, i wouldnt suggest modding though, although many have said that its quite OK, at least better than ruining your lenses (i think) by the boot disk process. plus, if you're worried about region differences, there's a great BootDisk out there called DC-X, which is simply a Region Converter (EUR->US->JPN, etc.)..

this i assume you have LEGIT games, not downloaded rips if most of your games are burned backups/bootlegs, you wont have a problem getting any Console region.
(but i still suggest getting a JPN, hehe, just for preference i guess)

DC Emulation - i am not against Emulation, i fact, i LOVE MAME, and otehr great emulators, but as a fellow DC fan. I would reccomend to just BUY the real thing. Even though DC emulation is at its near perferctedness, tis still great to support the company who made such a great console. Plus, you can never go wrong with teh real thing.

[michiyoyoshiku]

The Memory card I use is a Nexus Card.

It was changing blanks when My dreamcast reset and now it's shot (Blinking E of Doom) the nice folks at EMS told me to Reformat the Card and how to do it. But I think I'll lose my data.

I think I have to get the Parellel cable so I can download the saves I lost

Unless there is a USB thing I can get to transfer saves to a memory Card.

All my Games are legit Copies,all 40 of them and I'll tell you it's no fun losing saves for 40 games. (Espcally for a game like Samba de amigo where it's not as easy as just unlocking everything)

I won't mod this time (this way I can get the system repaired if it dies)

Is Sega Parts still around they have a website up but I diddn't get an E-mail about fixing my DC.

What do you think led to the demise of my DC?

I do put it away when I am done could all that cord tugging have dislodged something?

Or did the DC-___________ adapters do it?

[RoninBuddha]

michiyoyoshiku said:

What do you think led to the demise of my DC?

I do put it away when I am done could all that cord tugging have dislodged something?

Or did the DC-___________ adapters do it?

Well, simply said, Electronics have flaws dont last forever

the RESET problem was due to the material used for the connector PINS, and how it WARPS due to heat. its not your fault, the DC was just built That way. and based on personal experience, when i "move around/pack up" my DC, the reset problem gets worse, i suggest keeping it intact for long periods of time, and not packing it up everytime you're done with it.

[michiyoyoshiku]

Would it be a good idea to get one of those cooler fans for DC#2?

How about Emulation is DC Emulation far enough along so I can enjoy all my games with few glitches?

[RoninBuddha]

^its up to you man. imo, it wount actually "help" in making it last longer, plus, the DC fan is enough cuz it was made for that purpose, yet another fan wouldnt hurt. still if its one of those mod type things, and you're a newb, i suggest dont tamper with it without proper knowledge and assitance.

DC emulation has a long way to go, sure it playd a few game perfectly, but just that. as i said, its up to you. IT still nothing like the real thing. far from it
AND, if you said all you ahve are LEGIT copies... THEY WILL NOT WORK. DC games are in GD-ROM format, NOT CD-ROM, and a PC cannot read GD-ROMS (only certain tracks of it), so you would have to resort to RIPS/ISOS (which lacks some stuff on most games). SO simply said, its pretty much USELESS, if you said you have LEGIT copies...

[gray117]

Yah the bending is just due to cheap production method. The pins allowed them to just swap a different power connector to the same pcb depedning upon the region they were making it for... hence unless u fancy crafting a sturdier setup this may happen again ... But imho there's nothing to worry about... your dc will probably die due to a moving parts fault ...

As for emu ... shrugs ... buy a spare dc for now