For starters, here's what I've got:
US/NTSC Model 1 (20pin) Saturn (no modchip, no region or 50/60 switches)
Originals: NiGHTS, Dragon Force (using D.F. as swap disc for the ring)
Backups: Radiant Silvergun (patched to US), Shining Force 3 (US)
Until recently, all discs have worked fine. Using double swap method to boot CD-Rs
This morning, I was playing R.S., I did a soft reset (ABC, Start) to go back to the title screen. It never came back up. I didnt think anything of it at the time.
Came back later to play SF3, performed double swap as usual, the disc spins at the black/blue "Sega" logo screen for a minute then dumps to the cd player, and says "Checking Disc Format". Tried it again, thinking I had messed up the swap somehow, same result. So I tried booting Dragon Force on it;s own. The boot process runs normally, reads TOC, reads ring, switches to "Sega" logo. It waits a little longer then usual, the screen goes black, then flashed blue for an instant, then it dumps out the the cd player screen, again saying "Checking Disc Format". After the check, the cd player cursor jumps to "Start Application". If I do this, the process repeats.
Here's what I've done so far:
1. Checked D.F. for scratches: none (cleaned CD anyway)
2. Nights has a deep scratch right at the ring, so I can't boot it without a swap.
3. Cleaned the laser lens with q-tip/alchohol
4. Tried making minor adjustments to the laser voltage screw. no change except when I turn the screw too far left, it doesnt even try to spin the disc.
5. Looking at the 4 pots on the side, I marked their initial positions with a sharpie.
6. I made a minot adjustment to the F.G. (Focus Gain?) pot. no effect.
7. Minor adjust to the T.G. (Tracking Gain?) pot. no effect.
8. Made minor adjustments to the other pots with no effect.
9. Re-seated the CD-drive ribbon cable at both ends.
10. Went out on a limb and made a more major adjust to the laser screw. Got D.F. to boot this way, but I'd rather not leave the laser set so high. SF and RS still dont boot, even like this.
Any Ideas, or is my Saturn toast?
Thanks,
Adam
US/NTSC Model 1 (20pin) Saturn (no modchip, no region or 50/60 switches)
Originals: NiGHTS, Dragon Force (using D.F. as swap disc for the ring)
Backups: Radiant Silvergun (patched to US), Shining Force 3 (US)
Until recently, all discs have worked fine. Using double swap method to boot CD-Rs
This morning, I was playing R.S., I did a soft reset (ABC, Start) to go back to the title screen. It never came back up. I didnt think anything of it at the time.
Came back later to play SF3, performed double swap as usual, the disc spins at the black/blue "Sega" logo screen for a minute then dumps to the cd player, and says "Checking Disc Format". Tried it again, thinking I had messed up the swap somehow, same result. So I tried booting Dragon Force on it;s own. The boot process runs normally, reads TOC, reads ring, switches to "Sega" logo. It waits a little longer then usual, the screen goes black, then flashed blue for an instant, then it dumps out the the cd player screen, again saying "Checking Disc Format". After the check, the cd player cursor jumps to "Start Application". If I do this, the process repeats.
Here's what I've done so far:
1. Checked D.F. for scratches: none (cleaned CD anyway)
2. Nights has a deep scratch right at the ring, so I can't boot it without a swap.
3. Cleaned the laser lens with q-tip/alchohol
4. Tried making minor adjustments to the laser voltage screw. no change except when I turn the screw too far left, it doesnt even try to spin the disc.
5. Looking at the 4 pots on the side, I marked their initial positions with a sharpie.
6. I made a minot adjustment to the F.G. (Focus Gain?) pot. no effect.
7. Minor adjust to the T.G. (Tracking Gain?) pot. no effect.
8. Made minor adjustments to the other pots with no effect.
9. Re-seated the CD-drive ribbon cable at both ends.
10. Went out on a limb and made a more major adjust to the laser screw. Got D.F. to boot this way, but I'd rather not leave the laser set so high. SF and RS still dont boot, even like this.
Any Ideas, or is my Saturn toast?
Thanks,
Adam