Went through two Dreamcasts. Both have the same problem!

[Kevman]

So my second Dreamcast decided to die on me. The first one stopped reading disks and I don't hear the laser moving or anything moving for that matter. This one I can still hear stuff going on but it won't read disks. It goes through this weird cycle where it will say "Please Insert Disk" when I select play game but then it will try to boot up the game and go back to the main screen.

The only theory I have is the burned games I have been playing on them are wearing the parts down. I heard somewhere that playing burned games makes consoles work harder to read disks. I didn't think it would take only about 3 weeks for this to happen.

So basically how can I fix these two systems (or just one)? Can I even fix them or do I have to buy yet another console? Am I right about the burned games screwing with my console?

[slowslow325]

What a shame. Died on his birthday.

[Hobie-wan]

Have you tried carefully cleaning the lens? Is your place smoky or dusty? Do you have a pet?

[Kevman]

Have you tried carefully cleaning the lens? Is your place smoky or dusty? Do you have a pet?

Yes cleaned the lens before the incident. Actually it was only about 2 weeks ago. I don't have any pets and I don't smoke.

[jinn]

Try to burn a new CD-R using JVC media. Lowest speed.
With crappy CD-R will go bad after time.
One more thing to try is to swap GD-ROM drive and adjust the POT

[Kevman]

Try to burn a new CD-R using JVC media. Lowest speed.
With crappy CD-R will go bad after time.
One more thing to try is to swap GD-ROM drive and adjust the POT

I actually just cleaned the lens and it works now. I guess I'll just be more careful with burning games for now on.

[Kevman]

Try to burn a new CD-R using JVC media. Lowest speed.
With crappy CD-R will go bad after time.
One more thing to try is to swap GD-ROM drive and adjust the POT

Well it just died again. What exactly is the POT?

[CRTGAMER]

Well it just died again. What exactly is the POT?

Potentiometer, an adjustable resistor to vary current going to laser eye. Too high shortens life of laser.

Good quality CDRs that are clean of scratches and fingerprints.

Try unplugging and reseating all the internal connectors first.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-reset.htm

POT adjustment, remember where you start and go in very small increments.
http://www.ilovetheinternets.com/2004/0 ... ion-trick/

[Kevman]

Well it just died again. What exactly is the POT?

Potentiometer, an adjustable resistor to vary current going to laser eye. Too high shortens life of laser.

Good quality CDRs that are clean of scratches and fingerprints.

Try unplugging and reseating all the internal connectors first.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-reset.htm

POT adjustment, remember where you start and go in very small increments.
http://www.ilovetheinternets.com/2004/0 ... ion-trick/

Thanks! Opened up my Dreamcast and found it but unfortunately I do not have the proper tools to adjust it at the moment. I noticed it is already at a angle with the flat part of the adjuster facing slightly counter-clockwise. I thought they all were supposed to be facing straight up?

Anybody have any idea how to fix my first Dreamcast? It's a little more mint and seems to be in better condition (first I got off ebay CIB, second was at a flea market) so I would like to play that rather than this second one. It boots up but I don't hear the laser moving and the disc doesn't even spin.

[CRTGAMER]

Thanks! Opened up my Dreamcast and found it but unfortunately I do not have the proper tools to adjust it at the moment. I noticed it is already at a angle with the flat part of the adjuster facing slightly counter-clockwise. I thought they all were supposed to be facing straight up?

Anybody have any idea how to fix my first Dreamcast? It's a little more mint and seems to be in better condition (first I got off ebay CIB, second was at a flea market) so I would like to play that rather than this second one. It boots up but I don't hear the laser moving and the disc doesn't even spin.

No default position of POT, just remember the baseline.

FIRST, do all the other steps I posted.