Saturn frequently restarts

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bawitback
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Saturn frequently restarts

Post by bawitback »

I'm having trouble playing one of my saturn games. Whenever I start it up, about 2 minutes into gameplay my saturn restarts. I've bought the original imported version of my game and ripped it at 2X speed using Alcohol 120. I've patched it and rebuilt the errors as usual. This game does requre the 4MB RAM cart as well. But, when the Japanese text about the 4MB RAM appears, it goes through. Sometimes it restarts on the LOADING screen before the logo of the game shows up.

Do you know whats causing this to happen? I'm guessing my saturn is dusty... maybe the RAM Cart fails when it tries to process the game (in the middle of playing) Has this happened to anyone else?
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racketboy
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Post by racketboy »

I'd open it up and clean it out.
retrogamer

Post by retrogamer »

I agree with racket on that one. You would be suprised how much dust can accumulate in a console, more so if you have any pets. I have to clean out my PC approx every 3 months becuase of my dog which sheds alot of hair. Sounds like your Saturn is running a bit hot. Also make sure you have it on a flat hard surface so it can breathe on the underside. If you have it set on top of the carpet that would cause it to overheat.
If none of these suggestions work than it could be a cracked, defective solder joint which shorts when the console gets hot. Saturns are very well built so it would be a rarity if this were the case and would only be cause by poor quality solder. This is a common problem with RCA tv sets made in the late 90's.
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bawitback
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Post by bawitback »

Thanks for the suggestions. I've went on a cleaning-spree today, getting rid of dust on my PC, PS, and Saturn. My PC and PS gathered a bunch of dust as you said retrogamer. But surprisingly my saturn wasn't that bad. I cleaned all around, and reconnected everything.

When I inserted the game and 4MB RAM cart and starting playing it worked, for a good twenty minutes. That was the longest it stayed on. But unfortunately, a bit later when the next level was loading my saturn restarted and returned to the control panel. From there on, I can only get about 4 minuties of gameplay before it restarts.

I have two things in mind. Either, the disk is the problem or the cart IMO. whenever it gets to the loading screen it reads the disk a couple times, then restarts. I'm not sure.
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