Hi, I'm newby too and had almost the same problem.
I do have a Saturn with 32 pins, and got my MODchip in gamegizmo(RIP) and got a PAR 4M by Lik-sang. It worked like Heaven but without a notice it never loaded an original Vampire Savior and then it didn't read a thing at all! :huh
Then I took out the MOD and works perfectly with my originals, then I put the MOD again and nothnig! It continued to get straight to the Music Tracks, no matter it is backup or original.
I got a Japanese Saturn and switched the 21 pin ribbon and still didn't work, but the Japanese Saturn DID work with the other ribbon...
I'm not too involved in electronics, so I have two questions:
1) How can I know what's going on?
2) How can I MOD my Japanese Saturn?
Thanks for your answers...