Slight problem...

BlackAura · Post by **BlackAura** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 4:16 am

My Dreamcast has gone into another round of "reset whenever you touch it". I can boot it, but if I try to, for example, swap the disc out and replace it with another one, it resets. Or, alternatively, shuts off completely (no video signal, doesn't appear to be doing anything). A few times, it's got stuck in a loop at the Dreamcast logo, getting part way through booting and then resetting again.

It will start up, but it's not particularly reliable when doing so. In addition to that, I don't have a working coder's cable at the moment, so I've been using multisession CD-Rs instead. I can't do that anymore, because attempting to swap CDs pretty much always results in a reset.

There are a load of other factors that may be contributing to not being able to swap CDs in the drive. I've recently got a new hard drive, I have a different operating system on there, I'm using different versions of the burning programs, I'm using a different CD burner (a DVD burner, actually), and a freshly compiled version of KallistiOS that I've not tested on anything yet. I'm going to try to work those out - I still have an image of the old OS and tools, I still have the old CD burner (it just needs re-installing), and I have a few known-good programs that I can test KOS and the DC toolchain with. However, I doubt that any of that is the problem here. I think the DC's just about had enough.

The upshot of all this is that I'm stuck. I have no way to test stuff, so I can't really do much development work. Which effectively means that all my projects are at a standstill. Just what I need when I finally get around to working on them again after a few week's break...

So this post is a combination of three things:
1 - Letting you all know that, for the time being, I can't actually do anything.
2 - Asking if anyone knows what might be wrong with the thing, and how I might fix it?
3 - And finally, does anyone have a spare coder's cable they don't need anymore?

Nyarlathotep · Post by **Nyarlathotep** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:28 am

I know the mods don't usually allow referral links in signatures, but I don't think any staff would have a problem if you set up a paypal donations account and linked it in your sig to buy yourself a new DC / coders cable (hell, maybe a BBA if youre lucky)

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:06 am

2 - Asking if anyone knows what might be wrong with the thing, and how I might fix it?

It sounds like a simple PSU fix, but if it powers up and theres no video it could be a dead mobo

InvisixIsLeet · Post by **InvisixIsLeet** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 12:28 pm

Maybe the video chip died on it.

curt_grymala · Post by **curt_grymala** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 12:59 pm

Nyarlathotep wrote:I know the mods don't usually allow referral links in signatures, but I don't think any staff would have a problem if you set up a paypal donations account and linked it in your sig to buy yourself a new DC / coders cable (hell, maybe a BBA if youre lucky)

Or for that matter, he might be able to get one of those things that Axlen's putting together in the CV devver's forum.

And I think you're right - I don't see anyone getting too upset. Hell, someone might even be really generous and send him a DC (especially since I've heard that DC's are really expensive in his part of the world).

arrowhead · Post by **arrowhead** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 3:28 pm

Try checking the fan, it might be overheating. That is always the first thing I check when Im having reset problems. Also, unless someone is going to GIVE you a coders cable, it is cheaper to buy another DC. COders cables are about 25 bucks and DC's go for about 15 in EB games.

Good luck, check the fan.

Post by **|darc|** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 3:49 pm

I've a coder's cable you can have. Its yours if you paypal me the shipping costs if shipping to you would be over a few dollars. PM me with details and we can get this to you.

Its unused by me so I don't know how well it works; I got it from Will Sams a while back--I traded him for a PSX game. Considering I have no DC anymore I might as well part with it as it would have a better home with you.

BlackAura · Post by **BlackAura** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:51 pm

The video chip appears fine - it actually runs stuff fine, when it boots up, and if it doesn't reset itself...

It sounds more likely to be either overheating, a bad connection somewhere, or a dirty drive mechanism. I'll take the thing apart and have a look.

COders cables are about 25 bucks and DC's go for about 15 in EB games.

Not in this part of the world they aren't. An NTSC Dreamcast is of absolutely no use to me whatsoever, and Dreamcasts over here (Australia) still cost quite a lot. Then again, virtually nothing ever seems to decrease in value when sold second hand over here. The Aussies (or at least the ones in Queensland) seem to think that they can sell a five year old bit of kit for the same price as a new one unless it's heavily damaged.

If I can get it working well enough to play GDs, even if it's not enough for development, I know someone who has a Dreamcast and exactly one game. I might be able to swap it. Maybe.

One more question... Does anyone know if I can actually get a Paypal account without giving them my bank details? I don't really trust Paypal that much.

Post by **|darc|** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:00 pm

BlackAura wrote:One more question... Does anyone know if I can actually get a Paypal account without giving them my bank details? I don't really trust Paypal that much.

You don't. I don't have mine set up with the bank account details, either.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 10:39 pm

|darc| wrote:
BlackAura wrote:One more question... Does anyone know if I can actually get a Paypal account without giving them my bank details? I don't really trust Paypal that much.
You don't. I don't have mine set up with the bank account details, either.

You need to enter either your bank account info, or give them a valid credit card. If you want to send money.

BlackAura · Post by **BlackAura** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:02 pm

You don't. I don't have mine set up with the bank account details, either.

Oh good. In that case, I'll see what I can do...

Stef.D · Post by **Stef.D** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:16 pm

Something which happen a lot on Dreamcast and also happened to mine.
The power box inside the dreamcast... actually it's connected to the mother board by 6 pins. the contact with these pins can be a bit oxyded or alterated with time :

http://www.metagames-fr.com/Article94_R ... amcast.php

Look at the screen shot, the point C is probably where the problem is.
Just try to clean and repair improve the contact

cagmere · Post by **cagmere** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:57 pm

I'll send one of my Dreamcasts if needed. It's worth being able to play the genesis on my DC. Let me know.

DanteJay · Post by **DanteJay** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 3:53 am

I've done this before:

Try removing the case and taking all the pieces apart. Use some alcohol on the board and scrub all pins and parts that make contact/connection. Do this on all the boards. Also check for pins that may have become lose/ disconnected (usually due to cold solder) and make sure no wire film on any parts of the boards have been burnt up. If they have, just join the two nearest points of contact.

~Dant

Hawke · Post by **Hawke** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 10:02 am

A few times, it's got stuck in a loop at the Dreamcast logo, getting part way through booting and then resetting again.

I've had this happen before. But it was from a bad boot disc. Maybe there's something wrong with the GD/ROM? It might be acting tempermental or something.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:57 am

Yeah GD's are very tempermental

Post by **Christuserloeser** » Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:09 am

I know it sounds stupid, but if it all doesn't help, try to smack it without using too much force but also not beeing too soft, from a height of maybe 10cm to the desc. Don't let go, but smack it. Hope my wording is okay to explain what I mean... Anyway, it helped my brother out with his modified US DC - it lately had that prob, we cleaned it, it ran, it kept resetting again, we smacked it onto the desc and it ran perfectly since then

It really seems that these 1st JP DCs are the best, I never had a problem with mine - it runs like a Dream

BaldMonk · Post by **BaldMonk** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:14 pm

Yeah, the method Stef.D mentioned is a common problem... happened to me in November... and I've had mine since 2000... and it's not resetting anymore... because of the heat the DC generates, it warps the pins connecting the motherboard to the powerboard, and everynow and then they expand away from each other, causing the reset... you just need to push the pins back into place... SOFTLY... and not too far. And it should run like new

BlackAura · Post by **BlackAura** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:55 am

I haven't taken it apart yet, but it appears to have started working. My brother played Sonic Adventure 2 on it, and it seemed to work fine. Maybe he hit it while I wasn't looking? Anyway, seems fine now...

BaldMonk · Post by **BaldMonk** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:02 pm

Well, just for the record, I'm pretty sure you can find a tutorial on Console Vision