Troubles with burning DC games

[Ack]

Yeah, I just started downloading DC games to try to burn. I keep hitting snags, even with Fastbilly throwing directions at me over the phone, so I figured I'd ask a few questions. I'm using Daemon Tools to mount everything, and I've got a DVD-RW drive.

Yeah, I tried not using burning software and it hasn't worked. The Dreamcast reads them as audio CDs if it reads them at all. Currently I'm downloading a trial for Nero to see if burning a few CDs will work. But I've got some questions.

First, what CDs do you guys find are the best? Any particular kind? What about size?

Second, what programs are you using to put the files onto the disc? As I said, I'm mounting the image with Daemon Tools, and if possible I'd prefer to keep using it, but if there's a better program I'd love to know.

Yeah, I know, I should probably know this by now, but I just got my first Dreamcast in so I've never attempted this before, and I'm trying to make a few games for my girlfriend. For the record, the test games I'm using are Street Fighter III Third Strike and Guilty Gear.

[Hatta]

I don't understand. Why are you mounting things with Daemon tools? How do you try "not using burning software" to burn a CD? Why are you trying to put things on the disk? It's a disk image, it should be burned as is.

It's been a little bit since I burned a dreamcast CDI, but IIRC I've used cdi2nrg and burned them with NERO linux. I'm sure there are tools for windows that will directly burn a .cdi as well.

[Ack]

So I'm not supposed to be mounting the CDI? And the DVD-RW is supposed to copy over information onto CD-R and DVD-R discs without additional software.

[Hatta]

The .cdi is an image file, much like an .iso (If you've seen those). It contains the files on the disk *and* the filesystem information that organizes everything. Your software doesn't know the difference unless you tell it, so if you just burn it as you would a regular file it will try to create its own filesystem information which won't work at all.

Your software should provide a way to explicitly burn an image. Unfortunately, .cdi is a proprietary format, so not just any software supports it. Disc Juggler is the native software that uses .cdi. I know Alcohol 120% will work too. It shouldn't be hard to do with either, just look for an option that says "burn image" and use that.

[IcKy99]

use BootDreams (google it) very simple to use just select the CDI image pop in a blank CDR then click burn image. Works wonders for me i have about 10 DC games i made with it

[equalsign]

I always used Alcohol 120%. You have to use burning software and you have to burn it as an image. There are tutorials on how to burn DC games with most burners out there, so just look them up or ask here.

With Alcohol you drag the files in, right click them, select image burning wizard, pick the lowest write speed, select the data type to be RAW DAO, and maybe one more thing... but maybe not. It's been quite a while. Sorry.

[bonefish]

I've used bootdreams+cdi images and had great results But, there are some things to note, my old crappy laptop couldn't burn a dreamcast disc through bootdreams at all no matter what (toshiba drive I think). But my 52x lite-on dvd/cd burner churns em out like a champ. But the laptop drive can burn 3do isos fine...

[Ack]

Well, I downloaded BootDreams and tried that, and I now have a working copy of Street Fighter III! Unfortunately I can't figure out what to do Guilty Gear. The times I've tried to burn it, the Dreamcast considers it an audio disc. I don't know what's up with it. But at least I've got something to work with.

[equalsign]

Maybe you need to use a boot disc like Utopia first? I dunno really. I never used boot dreams myself.

[tylerbgood]

sometimes a disc image you download off the internet is self booting, meaning it will run just like a retail disc. Other times the disc image needs to be launched via a boot disc. Google "utopia boot disc" and you should find a download. Burn the disc, place it in the dreamcast, and switch it out for the burned game when prompted.