Dreamcast fails to load a disc

[spiritplx]

I had no luck searching the forums for my specific issue, so I apologize if this has been covered before.

I had borrowed Skies of Arcadia from a friend, and after finishing disc 1, I saved and then switched to disc 2. The screen went black, and then stayed that way for a couple of minutes. I decided this wasn't normal, so I went ahead and turned it off, and turned it back on. The screen loads to the Dreamcast logo, then goes to the Sega logo screen. However, it then goes to the Play/Options/Memory screen. I choose play, it goes back to the Sega screen, and then drops back to the Play/Options/Memory screen again.

I told my friend about it, and he tried it in his Dreamcast, and it booted fine. I am not sure if this indicates that my laser is going bad, or what. My Dreamcast has played a handful of real games, and even more backups without any problems. However, the one disc that does not work is an original.

If anyone has any tips for how to fix this, I would greatly appreciate your help. This is the first game that has failed to load, so I am not sure what to think. If all games were having issues, that seems like it would mean something else. But just the one having issues seems odd.

Needless to say, I really don't want to be stuck in the middle of my game.

Thanks for the help!

[ShadicChao]

my friend has a problem with his sa2 copy and it doesnt boot but on my dreamcast it does


The only questions i can ask you to help out is

1.how long have you owned that dreamcast?
2.how much do you play it?
3.have you played any ack ups on it?
4.does it have problems with scrated games
5.does this happen with any other disks

[spiritplx]

Hmm, perhaps it is common for DCs to have trouble reading that disc?

1. About 5 months
2. At least a few hours each day
3. I mostly play "backups", without any problems
4. Do you mean scratched? The disc isn't scratched (more than normal), about the same as the first disc, yet the first disc plays just fine. So I haven't had any experience with scratched discs.
5. This is the first disc that has done this.

Hope this helps. Let me know if I can provide anything else.

Thanks!

[Hallow]

When my dreamcast stopped reading CD's , I tried fixing it using MN12Bird video and it helped me.

[spiritplx]

When my dreamcast stopped reading CD's , I tried fixing it using MN12Bird video and it helped me.

Well, my DC still reads CDs and GDs, with the exception of this one disk. I want to avoid a laser adjustment if at all possible. I really don't want to screw up my system, and from what I have read, it has the possibility of shortening the laser's lifespan.

If I can't get the game to play any other way, I will attempt the mod. If anyone has any other suggestions to try first though, I am willing to give those a shot.

[Hobie-wan]

The disc isn't scratched (more than normal), about the same as the first disc, yet the first disc plays just fine.

Well, normal would be no scratches at all. There's no telling if one is just in the wrong place or just a little too deep. Scratches that are circular and follow the curve of the disc are a lot worse than ones that go straight from the center out. If the other discs are reading ok, I'd suspect the disc first. You might try getting it resurfaced.

[lwcook]

The disc isn't scratched (more than normal), about the same as the first disc, yet the first disc plays just fine.

Well, normal would be no scratches at all. There's no telling if one is just in the wrong place or just a little too deep. Scratches that are circular and follow the curve of the disc are a lot worse than ones that go straight from the center out. If the other discs are reading ok, I'd suspect the disc first. You might try getting it resurfaced.

GD-Roms can be affected by little scratches more than other discs. I've had retail games that look almost fine, but when closely inspected, there could be a small scratch on the inside of the disc that is causing the problem.

[spiritplx]

Well, normal would be no scratches at all. There's no telling if one is just in the wrong place or just a little too deep. Scratches that are circular and follow the curve of the disc are a lot worse than ones that go straight from the center out. If the other discs are reading ok, I'd suspect the disc first. You might try getting it resurfaced.

Well, I meant nothing more than typical scratches you might expect from a used game. However, as I mentioned above, the disc loads up just fine in my friend's DC. Perhaps the disc is bad, but it can definitely be read by a DC (just not mine).

Hopefully we can try to get it resurfaced, but that is more up to my friend. It still seems curious that my DC can't read it when his can, but that I have had no issues of my DC not reading a disc before.

[Hobie-wan]

His DC might just be in slightly better condition, or it could be a different model with the different drive. What number is yours versus his? That might explain the difference.