Action Replay Plus 3 in 1 questions

[DinnerX]

I may be overlooking the obvious here, but I just got an AR+ 3 in 1 and I can't figure out how to get the system to boot to the spaceship cd player menu with the AR+ in. Should I just tell the AR+ to start the "game" while I have a music CD in?

Also, does anyone know if the AR+ boards without the parallel port have the solder contacts for one?

[flamepanther]

I may be overlooking the obvious here, but I just got an AR+ 3 in 1 and I can't figure out how to get the system to boot to the spaceship cd player menu with the AR+ in. Should I just tell the AR+ to start the "game" while I have a music CD in?

Also, does anyone know if the AR+ boards without the parallel port have the solder contacts for one?

Part of how the AR works seems to be by forcing the system to skip that software. Just pull the cart out and you'll get the CD player.

Although personally, I'd reserve my Saturn's laser assembly for the games instead of wasting it on music CDs.

[DinnerX]

Part of how the AR works seems to be by forcing the system to skip that software. Just pull the cart out and you'll get the CD player.

I was afraid of that. I don't want to were out the cart slot though. I've read they wear out pretty easily.

Although personally, I'd reserve my Saturn's laser assembly for the games instead of wasting it on music CDs.

Do they were out quickly from just regular use? I thought it was mainly DCs that had problems.

[flamepanther]

I was afraid of that. I don't want to were out the cart slot though. I've read they wear out pretty easily.

They can, but mostly if you've had a GameShark in there. Those used a circuit board that was too thick. Mine still works fine after years of inserting and removing three different non-GS cartridges. I don't blame you for being cautious though.

Do they were out quickly from just regular use? I thought it was mainly DCs that had problems.

Not quickly, but all lasers and motors do wear out eventually. I'd rather know mine was used entirely on gaming. When I want to play a CD, I've got lots of more easily replaced devices that do that just fine.

[DinnerX]

I was afraid of that. I don't want to were out the cart slot though. I've read they wear out pretty easily.

They can, but mostly if you've had a GameShark in there. Those used a circuit board that was too thick. Mine still works fine after years of inserting and removing three different non-GS cartridges. I don't blame you for being cautious though.

Do they were out quickly from just regular use? I thought it was mainly DCs that had problems.

Not quickly, but all lasers and motors do wear out eventually. I'd rather know mine was used entirely on gaming. When I want to play a CD, I've got lots of more easily replaced devices that do that just fine.

Thanks for all the info flamepanther. Too bad they didn't add in some sort of button combination you could hold to boot up regularly for convenience.

Makes since to try and save the drive. I really like the spaceship animations though so I think it's worth playing music cds if I'm only getting regular drive wear. On a related note, I already planned on not using any burned music CDs to reduce the stress on things.

[flamepanther]

Makes since to try and save the drive. I really like the spaceship animations though so I think it's worth playing music cds if I'm only getting regular drive wear. On a related note, I already planned on not using any burned music CDs to reduce the stress on things.

Fair enough, as long as you're enjoying something unique to the Saturn!

FWIW, burned games and music CDs shouldn't cause any extra stress on the drive. That's a problem more or less unique to the Dreamcast. It happens because of the way files get reordered on the disc, not becuase it's a recordable disc.

[PSony]

Just open the drive door then power on the console. It will go to the Saturn's bios instead of the AR, without you having to pull out the cartridge.

[xan_racketBOY_fan]

Just open the drive door then power on the console. It will go to the Saturn's bios instead of the AR, without you having to pull out the cartridge.

Doesn't work for me.

[DinnerX]

Just open the drive door then power on the console. It will go to the Saturn's bios instead of the AR, without you having to pull out the cartridge.

Doesn't work for me.

Didn't work for me either, but I never got around to posting. Could be some version difference.

[spiritplx]

With the AR cartridge in, start the Saturn with an actual game. Once past the AR menu and the game has loaded, open the lid. That should bring up the CD player. Swap out with a CD and close the lid. It will re-read the disc and allow you to play music.

Tested on my model 1 (didn't test on my model 2).