Hey everyone. I just purchased my first Dreamcast a week ago, and today the laser gave away and it won't read disks anymore (it starts up, makes a weird noise, then goes back to the OS and won't boot up game again). I tried tweaking the laser and it worked for a little while, then went back to the same issue. It can't read the disks but the disks are spinning. Everything else on the console is fine. It is a rev 1 model.
I've tried looking elsewhere, but I can't find any more help. So my question is: how do I fix this? Is this issue fixed in rev 2's? Anyone have any other guides or ways of repairing this? What's the best way of going about this? Any and all advice would be appreciated.
Edit: This is for official games. I don't care about burnt games.
Fid wrote:First and foremost congratulations on getting your first Dreamcast. I just got my first one not too long ago myself. Second, sorry to see that you are already having troubles.
When it comes to laser repair I believe there is a YouTube video telling one how to repair it. And you may be able to find spare parts on eBay rather cheap. Other than that I would search on Craigslist or some site like that for a replacement. Usually Dreamcasts only run about 20-25 bucks for the system itself from what I saw. Might just be quicker and easier to just replace the console itself.
Thanks.
I did follow the youtube video(s). All of the ones I see either show cleaning the laser or doing the common instructions of opening it and turning the little metal screw bit (I believe this controls the disk speed). None have worked. I haven't been able to find any spare parts. I'm thinking of getting another broken Dreamcast and just mutilating it for it's disk drive, but most of them are broken in that way.
I was thinking about replacing the console too, but this is a common problem. Surely there is a genuine fix? How can people play this thing for years without this problem happening? I just want to be like that and not have to buy 10 more DC's that might have this or develop it to have a decent one.
I believe the little screw controls either laser intensity or laser focus. The problem is that the GD drive may not use a standard laser assembly used by other devices. If it is custom hardware there likely wouldn't be any replacement laser units floating around.
I tried cleaning the laser but it didn't work. I've been trying to move the laser focus screw thing but it won't budge at all. Do I need to apply more pressure? I just don't want to break it.
I've been trying to move the laser focus screw thing but it won't budge at all. Do I need to apply more pressure? I just don't want to break it.
from the Original position the POT was at it should take anywhere from 1-10 tries to get it to boot a GDROM , also the amount of each turn should be done at the thickness of a human hair not huge turns of the screw.
I find the best screwdriver to use is a Jewelers Screwdriver its possible your using a SD that is to big for the screw.
I've been trying to move the laser focus screw thing but it won't budge at all. Do I need to apply more pressure? I just don't want to break it.
from the Original position the POT was at it should take anywhere from 1-10 tries to get it to boot a GDROM , also the amount of each turn should be done at the thickness of a human hair not huge turns of the screw.
I find the best screwdriver to use is a Jewelers Screwdriver its possible your using a SD that is to big for the screw.
s8n
Alright, I got it. I turned it back roughly to where it was (I was turning it way too much). But the Dreamcast still won't work. I either did ruin it, or it was broken in the first place. I suppose I'll have to save for another DC or a replacement laser. Thanks for the help btw.
@Mumbojumbo:
Boneheaded question, as i'm sure you HAVE done so, but did you try turning the screw in the opposite direction?
I was having DC laser problems, in that it would fail to read the disc, only on Resident Evil: Code Veronica. Weirdly, the copy i bought came with two disc 1s, which would stop being read randomly, or would have weird things like no voices at certain points, then would hang at a black screen when loading rooms.
I also looked up the various tutorials on adjusting the laser, and when i adjusted mine, i turned it clockwise, to around 1 or 2 o'clock. This made the RE:CV loading problem worse, as they would then simply not load at all, with the drive making weird noises. I therefore reopened the DC and turned the screw back anticlockwise, to 10-11 o'clock, and now both of those disc 1s load perfectly. Result!
Well, i'm sure that you have tried both options, so this probably doesn't help you, but maybe others with similar problems to mine might benefit.
BTW- new here, although have been lurking since around January. Glad to finally be posting.
dust_hound wrote:@Mumbojumbo:
Boneheaded question, as i'm sure you HAVE done so, but did you try turning the screw in the opposite direction?
BTW- new here, although have been lurking since around January. Glad to finally be posting.
I did try that, and it was working for a little bit, then it stopped. Maybe I should have turned it more? Of course I think I turned the laser way too much clockwise, so I suppose I'll have to mess with it.
Congrats. Similar to me. Been lurking for a while and finally decided to join up.
