I just installed one of the SegaStyle mod chips in my U.S. Sanyo drive Saturn and I can't get any backups to work. I get the "disc is not suitable for this system" message with every game, even NA games that show up as U on the Sega Saturn Region Patcher. I've also tried patching JP games but those don't work either. No commercial games to try on hand, but prior to modding it did run official discs fine.
I noticed in the SegaStyle tutorial they said some Sanyo boards just won't play backups even after a successful chip installation. Could I just be one of the unlucky 10% of Sanyo board Saturn owners? Or is it possible that I was burning them wrong? So far I've only used bin+cue files with ImgBurn on Sony data discs.
I bought the console with the primary intention of playing Japanese backups on it, if I can't do that I may have to get rid of it. Any relevant info whatsoever is appreciated. Thanks.
Saturn mod chip problem
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
If it shows the "unsuitable" message, that usually means it's a good burn but the region is wrong. If it was a bad burn or a bad image, it would just show up as audio tracks. This is assuming the chip was installed correctly, and that it works. It would be very helpful if you had a retail game to test with. If the console is no longer booting a retail game, then you can assume the chip wasn't installed correctly or that it is broken.
Are you sure that you've installed it correctly? Solder joints and all that?
Are you sure that you've installed it correctly? Solder joints and all that?
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
I redid one of the solder joints that I thought looked kind of sloppy but it didn't help. Looking through it all again I just noticed the connectors on my chip are kind of shoddy looking, some kind of smudges or strains and one of the connectors on the end is half silver instead of all gold. Could this be indicative of any kind of chip problem?
Side note: I don't know if this matters but none of my backups are recognized by Saturn Region Patcher as Saturn discs, but I can mount them in Daemon Tools.
Side note: I don't know if this matters but none of my backups are recognized by Saturn Region Patcher as Saturn discs, but I can mount them in Daemon Tools.
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
See if you can push the mod chip in only half way so that it's making contact with the gold part of that one contact. Not that I really think that's the problem, but it's worth a shot. That picture is too blurry for me to really make out what all those spots are. Are those spots the gold worn away? Or just blotches on the finish? You can try cleaning those contacts with some rubbing alcohol (like you would a game cart).
I'm a little confused with your side note. Do you mean to say that if you try to load an image (BIN/CUE or ISO+mp3 or whatever) in Saturn Region Patcher that it wont detect it as a Saturn game, but if you mount the image in Daemon Tools, then Saturn Region Patcher will detect it as a Saturn game, is that what you mean?
I'm a little confused with your side note. Do you mean to say that if you try to load an image (BIN/CUE or ISO+mp3 or whatever) in Saturn Region Patcher that it wont detect it as a Saturn game, but if you mount the image in Daemon Tools, then Saturn Region Patcher will detect it as a Saturn game, is that what you mean?
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
I tried pulling the chip out a little and it displayed the red spheres at the menu and still didn't load discs. Pulled the chip out, cleaned the connectors, they don't look much better but it didn't help anyway. It might be wear on the gold but from the looks of it none of them are worn through except maybe the leftmost one that isn't all gold.
What I meant by the other thing is that I've burned images that show up in SRP but then the backup is not recognized as a Saturn disc by SRP. Judging by your response I guess SRP isn't meant to do that anyway but I figured it would because same backup discs are recognized and mountable in Daemon Tools just like mountable image files for an emulator.
I was unsure how to connect the power wire for the chip earlier but I think it's in correctly now since I tried putting it in another socket and leaving it out and it gave me a different message("checking disc format"). If it runs retail games but no backups could I then be completely sure that I've got one of the no-backups Sanyo boards?
What I meant by the other thing is that I've burned images that show up in SRP but then the backup is not recognized as a Saturn disc by SRP. Judging by your response I guess SRP isn't meant to do that anyway but I figured it would because same backup discs are recognized and mountable in Daemon Tools just like mountable image files for an emulator.
I was unsure how to connect the power wire for the chip earlier but I think it's in correctly now since I tried putting it in another socket and leaving it out and it gave me a different message("checking disc format"). If it runs retail games but no backups could I then be completely sure that I've got one of the no-backups Sanyo boards?
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
How did you wire up the connections? On my Sanyo model I tried the A-B connection as recommended and it did not work for me; I had to run a wire to the main board as in SegaStyle's tutorial.
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
If you burn an image to a disc, SRP should be able to detect that disc.
If you test a retail disc and it works, I would think that you're having a problem with your burns before anything else. And if your burns turn out to be perfect, I would think that the chip is either damaged or not installed correctly. I really don't buy that "Some Sanyo models wont work." Though if the mod chip is damaged or not installed correctly, I don't think retail games would be working either.
Try testing the images (mounted in a virtual drive if you have to) and the burns in an emulator and see what happens.
Other than the pin connectors looking weird, how does the rest of the chip look? I know those boards are really thin. Is there any cracks? Examine it closely, do you see any damaged traces, popped solder joints? Any cold solder joints?
On the back of the mod chip, do you have the 0019 solder pad bridged? This is apparently very important to do with the Sanyo Saturns.
For the signal wire, did you solder to that point on the PCB or directly to the IC? If you soldered directly to the leg on the IC, are you sure you didn't bridge 2 or more legs together? Check closely, use a magnify glass if necessarily.
Whether you soldered to the leg on the IC or the point on the board that traces back to the leg, you can check this connection with a multi meter. Put your multi meter in continuity mode (or ohms so that when you touch the two probes together it reads 0). Touch and hold (or clip if possible) one probe to point A on the mod chip. Now, if you've soldering the wire to the point on the board, touch the other probe to the leg on the IC. If your solder connection is good, your meter should beep or read zero (whatever setting you have it on). And if you soldered to the leg, vice versa. Touch the other probe to that point on the board that traces back to the leg.
You can do the same test for the 5v connection as well. Touch one probe to the 5v connection (try to test by both touching the probe to the solder joint and touching the probe to the metal but not the solder joint) and the other probe to point point B on your mod chip.
If you test a retail disc and it works, I would think that you're having a problem with your burns before anything else. And if your burns turn out to be perfect, I would think that the chip is either damaged or not installed correctly. I really don't buy that "Some Sanyo models wont work." Though if the mod chip is damaged or not installed correctly, I don't think retail games would be working either.
Try testing the images (mounted in a virtual drive if you have to) and the burns in an emulator and see what happens.
Other than the pin connectors looking weird, how does the rest of the chip look? I know those boards are really thin. Is there any cracks? Examine it closely, do you see any damaged traces, popped solder joints? Any cold solder joints?
On the back of the mod chip, do you have the 0019 solder pad bridged? This is apparently very important to do with the Sanyo Saturns.
For the signal wire, did you solder to that point on the PCB or directly to the IC? If you soldered directly to the leg on the IC, are you sure you didn't bridge 2 or more legs together? Check closely, use a magnify glass if necessarily.
Whether you soldered to the leg on the IC or the point on the board that traces back to the leg, you can check this connection with a multi meter. Put your multi meter in continuity mode (or ohms so that when you touch the two probes together it reads 0). Touch and hold (or clip if possible) one probe to point A on the mod chip. Now, if you've soldering the wire to the point on the board, touch the other probe to the leg on the IC. If your solder connection is good, your meter should beep or read zero (whatever setting you have it on). And if you soldered to the leg, vice versa. Touch the other probe to that point on the board that traces back to the leg.
You can do the same test for the 5v connection as well. Touch one probe to the 5v connection (try to test by both touching the probe to the solder joint and touching the probe to the metal but not the solder joint) and the other probe to point point B on your mod chip.
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
Alright, just now getting back to this after the tumultuous start of the new semester. I went and got a retail disc and it works fine. I guess that means it's my burns. What do I need to know to make working backups? I want to reiterate that all my burns work in SSF but aren't recognized by Saturn Region Patcher.
While I've got this retail disc I also want to try to rip it and then burn it. If that works it may help me determine what I'm doing wrong with my burns. What software do you guys recommend for ripping Saturn games for burning?
I'm also going to try to burn a disc at the lowest speed I can, I was previously using 4x but I heard newer drives might need it to be on the lowest to make a compatible disc.
While I've got this retail disc I also want to try to rip it and then burn it. If that works it may help me determine what I'm doing wrong with my burns. What software do you guys recommend for ripping Saturn games for burning?
I'm also going to try to burn a disc at the lowest speed I can, I was previously using 4x but I heard newer drives might need it to be on the lowest to make a compatible disc.
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
http://www.imgburn.com/
Use ImgBurn to rip you disc to BIN/CUE. Put the Saturn game in your optical drive and launch ImgBurn, click on "Create image file from disc." Click on the button to choose a destination, name the file, and make sure where it says "Save as type" you select BIN from the drop down menu.
Some things to consider: When you rip the game to a BIN image, it will also create a CUE file that goes along with it. Before you rip, I suggest you create a folder for the game image and put nothing else in that folder. Also, if the disc that you're ripping is in good condition (no scratches and whatnot) then you can probably just leave the read speed on max. If the disc has some abuse, of if your optical drive isn't too great, you might consider lowering the read speed to avoid errors. You can also verify the image (against the disc) to check and see if it was read with out any errors.
This guide goes over ripping and burning in more detail: http://www.racketboy.com/retro/hacks/ho ... e-software
What brand of CD-R's are you using? Sometimes, from what I've read, a console might not like a particular brand of CD-Rs. Or possibly your burner in your computer doesn't like a particular brand of CD-Rs. Also, there's a lot of hate on the Internet toward the cheaper brands. Memorex in particular gets a lot of heat.
After you have burned a disc, you can use ImgBurn to verify the disc against the image (just the opposite as mentioned above when create an image from a disc).
edit: Did you try the suggestions I've made in my last post before this one? Specifically, the solder bridge (0019). From what I've read, it is very important when installing in a Sanyo model. And also, my suggestion about verifying your connections with a multi meter?
Use ImgBurn to rip you disc to BIN/CUE. Put the Saturn game in your optical drive and launch ImgBurn, click on "Create image file from disc." Click on the button to choose a destination, name the file, and make sure where it says "Save as type" you select BIN from the drop down menu.
Some things to consider: When you rip the game to a BIN image, it will also create a CUE file that goes along with it. Before you rip, I suggest you create a folder for the game image and put nothing else in that folder. Also, if the disc that you're ripping is in good condition (no scratches and whatnot) then you can probably just leave the read speed on max. If the disc has some abuse, of if your optical drive isn't too great, you might consider lowering the read speed to avoid errors. You can also verify the image (against the disc) to check and see if it was read with out any errors.
This guide goes over ripping and burning in more detail: http://www.racketboy.com/retro/hacks/ho ... e-software
What brand of CD-R's are you using? Sometimes, from what I've read, a console might not like a particular brand of CD-Rs. Or possibly your burner in your computer doesn't like a particular brand of CD-Rs. Also, there's a lot of hate on the Internet toward the cheaper brands. Memorex in particular gets a lot of heat.
After you have burned a disc, you can use ImgBurn to verify the disc against the image (just the opposite as mentioned above when create an image from a disc).
edit: Did you try the suggestions I've made in my last post before this one? Specifically, the solder bridge (0019). From what I've read, it is very important when installing in a Sanyo model. And also, my suggestion about verifying your connections with a multi meter?
Re: Saturn mod chip problem
Ziggy has provided a lot of great tips..........
With my 1st modded Saturn i had great difficulty in getting ISOS to run but finally did , below are a few of my own tips.
1. If your downloading games try and get Redump.org and TOSEC images instead of random images.
2. Dont push and pull the Modchip in and out of the Motherboards Socket as it will damage the Modchips pins.
3. When burning a ISO to test , try and make the game native to your Saturns Region so SRP isnt used at all. Once a game has been tested and still not working SRP should not be the culprit of your problems.
4. Use high quality CD-R's such as Taiyo Yuden and burn at X4
With my 1st modded Saturn i had great difficulty in getting ISOS to run but finally did , below are a few of my own tips.
1. If your downloading games try and get Redump.org and TOSEC images instead of random images.
2. Dont push and pull the Modchip in and out of the Motherboards Socket as it will damage the Modchips pins.
3. When burning a ISO to test , try and make the game native to your Saturns Region so SRP isnt used at all. Once a game has been tested and still not working SRP should not be the culprit of your problems.
4. Use high quality CD-R's such as Taiyo Yuden and burn at X4