Sega CD RAM/Battery Question

[wake_me]

OK, so my Sega CD battery seems to be dead as I get a message telling me to format the memory every time I play a game, and I can't save. I am wondering if I bought one of those ram backups, would I be able to save games and not get that error, or would it still occur.

My understanding is it isn't too simple to replace the battery in the system, and I am afraid of bricking it as I am not familiar with modding myself.

[AppleQueso]

I wouldn't worry about bricking the system in trying to replace the battery. I imagine the only difficulty involved would be related to it perhaps being in an awkward place or being a somewhat difficult to find part.

This is assuming you know how to soldier of course. Sega CD luckily is pretty easy to work with, and something like replacing the battery might be a good beginner project.

I don't know the details of replacing the battery on a Sega CD specifically though, so I'm just kinda speculating.

[wake_me]

I wouldn't worry about bricking the system in trying to replace the battery. I imagine the only difficulty involved would be related to it perhaps being in an awkward place or being a somewhat difficult to find part.

This is assuming you know how to soldier of course. Sega CD luckily is pretty easy to work with, and something like replacing the battery might be a good beginner project.

I don't know the details of replacing the battery on a Sega CD specifically though, so I'm just kinda speculating.

I have a little experience, but from instructions I read on replacing the battery a while ago, it is more than a novice job and can take up to 45 minutes. Maybe I'll see if a local modder would be able to do it for some cash. Sucks that I can't save Snatcher or other great games.

thank you for your response.

[Jagosaurus]

My internal save batt is also dead. You need to access the save menu (hit C IRRC at start up, then save menu is available from CD player area). Reformat internal memory. Should avoid error now.

1. Save game to internal batt
2. Hit reset - NOT power
3. Access save menu from BIOS
4. Move file from internal to RAM Cart
5. Upon next start up, reformat internal batt, move previous file from cart to internal batt
6. Repeat when saving again

Allows you to bypass replacing internal batt but takes about 2-3 mins.

[wake_me]

My internal save batt is also dead. You need to access the save menu (hit C IRRC at start up, then save menu is available from CD player area). Reformat internal memory. Should avoid error now.

1. Save game to internal batt
2. Hit reset - NOT power
3. Access save menu from BIOS
4. Move file from internal to RAM Cart
5. Upon next start up, reformat internal batt, move previous file from cart to internal batt
6. Repeat when saving again

Allows you to bypass replacing internal batt but takes about 2-3 mins.

Thanks, so it would be possible then.. I wish they weren't so expensive, but may be more reliable than buying another Sega CD with a potentially shoddy battery.

[Jagosaurus]

Welcome. I would try reformatting internal RAM first & see if that fixes your error. If so, what I call the "bypass reset method" with RAM cart would work.

Yeah they're pricey. I hawk-eyed eBay & snagged one for $20ish shipped.

FYI, theres another cart (Mega Cart IRRC) that saves progress & can also be used as a flash cart for ROMs.

[theclaw]

Plus RAM is simply RAM. OK to get a Japanese cart if able to find one cheaper.