Author Topic: I found me a Dreamcast!... now what? (Read 13718 times)

IchigoNoTenshi · « **on:** July 08, 2009, 08:25:24 AM »

Ok, I'd just like to clarify that I don't want intstructions on how to buy the Dreamcast.
Now, onto my little predicament:
I've found a relatively cheap DC on eBay (if I won, it'd be about $10.50 - $11 plus $15 p&h), but in the item description it says:

Quote

Console is in working condition BUT Does get Disc Errors from time 2 time, Please be aware of this before bidding.

I know that there are tutorials on how to fix this kind of thing, but if they only happen every once in a while, is it worth it?

willplayer · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2009, 09:29:04 AM »

really depends on how frequent it happens ... I would just get one that works, since this is your first dreamcast it'd probably be best if it worked all the time instead of sometimes ...

unless you're really up for a challenge and you think you can take it apart and fix this problem it has!

IchigoNoTenshi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:37:47 AM »

I think I'd be up to the task of trying to fix it, apparently I just have to calibrate the laser or something. Some dude on YouTube said to twist this screw around a little bit after you open up the DC and detatch the GD-ROM reader.
This is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTgpWACBYYw

call_me_sir · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2009, 11:10:15 AM »

My dreamcast has read errors all the time but after rebooting a few times it always works eventually. The DC is sort of an old maid of a console anyway, it's damn loud, louder than a launch model xbox 360. Sometimes it only works when it feels like it. And sometimes it refuses to read burned games. The read problems may only be mine (any dc will be loud though) And the more you play burned games, the faster the laser will keel over and die.
So why do I like my dreamcast? Because it's got character.

No idea about fixing one, but if it only fucks up once in a while it sounds normal to me.

IchigoNoTenshi · « **Reply #4 on:** July 08, 2009, 01:54:34 PM »

Haha... its got character. Sounds like the most egotistical video game console on the planet. Oh, I've also found another one, it comes with six games, two controllers with a VMU each, a keyboard and a mouse. Starting bid is a buck but postage is $20. Only problem is the DC's MB battery needs replacing, and so do the batteries in the VMU. Could I buy these batteries at a Dick Smith (Aussie iteration of Radioshack) or something? Or can I only get them off the internet?
In any event, which deal seems more worth it?

Elite Evil · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2009, 07:01:22 PM »

I wouldn't get one that has read errors because another one will come along for the same price and not cause any hassle. You don't need to replace the VMU batteries really, maybe once to satisfy your curiosity, and I would guess that if the mobo batteries are starting to die so will everyone else's fairly soon.

You might find that the mobo isn't a problem once it is running regularly and it will keep time.

willplayer · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2009, 09:30:08 PM »

I just know it's easy to screw up the laser in anything that reads cd's dvd's etc ... I have a dvd player just sitting here on the floor because I screwed up with the laser eye too much, and before it was able to read the dvd, just skipped a lot. Now it won't work at all. So much for that.

Joshid · « **Reply #7 on:** July 09, 2009, 01:34:32 AM »

Quote from: IchigoNoTenshi on July 08, 2009, 10:37:47 AM

I think I'd be up to the task of trying to fix it, apparently I just have to calibrate the laser or something. Some dude on YouTube said to twist this screw around a little bit after you open up the DC and detatch the GD-ROM reader.
This is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTgpWACBYYw

HAHAHA Get ready for a bunch of pain my friend.

That dreamcast is going to be a real bitch.

I have the same problem and just fixed my dreamcast by following that a few months. It now takes me 10-20 trys to get it to read CD-Roms.

I recommend you just buy one at a used game store for 30$.

Wasn't NiGHTS selling dreamcasts for like 15$?

call_me_sir · « **Reply #8 on:** July 09, 2009, 01:37:27 AM »

Quote from: Joshid on July 09, 2009, 01:34:32 AM

Wasn't NiGHTS selling dreamcasts for like 15$?

Not sure, I know he was selling modded gamecubes and dc vmu's for cheap.

IchigoNoTenshi · « **Reply #9 on:** July 09, 2009, 04:47:13 AM »

I think I'm just gonna get the one that needs battery replacements. Its way cheaper and easier to fix. I even found a guide on Snes-O-Rama for using two rechargeable AAA batteries in place of the ML-2032 you generally use.
By the way, an ML-2032 is basically the rechargeable form of the CR-2032, which is a coin battery you might find in watches.

Joshid · « **Reply #10 on:** July 09, 2009, 06:47:47 AM »

Quote from: IchigoNoTenshi on July 09, 2009, 04:47:13 AM

I think I'm just gonna get the one that needs battery replacements. Its way cheaper and easier to fix. I even found a guide on Snes-O-Rama for using two rechargeable AAA batteries in place of the ML-2032 you generally use.
By the way, an ML-2032 is basically the rechargeable form of the CR-2032, which is a coin battery you might find in watches.

Well good luck.

IchigoNoTenshi · « **Reply #11 on:** July 09, 2009, 08:14:42 AM »

What does that mean?

call_me_sir · « **Reply #12 on:** July 09, 2009, 08:45:22 AM »

It sounds easy enough, hopefully you won't have a problem getting it running.

Elite Evil · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2009, 04:27:23 PM »

Well if it is rechargeable just leave it running for a few hours before you buy a new battery, it probably just lost its charge.

willplayer · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2009, 04:11:23 AM »

Why are you looking for a "project" Dreamcast? Are you really good at making things difficult? A lot of us are saying just go get a Dreamcast that works the first time, not 1 out of 100 times ... lol

IchigoNoTenshi · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2009, 06:28:40 AM »

Meh, replacing a battery is easier than cleaning the GD-ROM drive. Besides, this DC has got the works, and all the others I found were WAY out of my price range.

Joshid · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2009, 07:42:55 AM »

Quote from: IchigoNoTenshi on July 10, 2009, 06:28:40 AM

Meh, replacing a battery is easier than cleaning the GD-ROM drive. Besides, this DC has got the works, and all the others I found were WAY out of my price range.

I agree, and price range I disagree.

willplayer · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2009, 11:48:09 AM »

Price range? lol ... price range with dreamcast means nothing to me

IchigoNoTenshi · « **Reply #18 on:** July 10, 2009, 12:53:23 PM »

Its just that I don't have the $150 or so that some are expecting. One guy was selling a faulty dreamcast for $25, saying that it couldn't read discs whatsoever. I think the deal I found is better than the rest of them.

willplayer · « **Reply #19 on:** July 12, 2009, 06:06:53 AM »

$15, not $150 ... lol