Dreamcast Power Randomly Resetting.

[BogusMeatFactory]

Hi guys, I have come across a serious problem which I need some help on. I have a Sega Dreamcast, which I have owned personally for about 4 years now. Recently, when playing a game, the system will randomly restart on me. After a couple attempts at playing anything, the system will now reset almost repeatedly after booting up. Anyone know what the cause of the problem is or how to fix it?

[mjmjr25]

What AV input are you using? Have you tried using just composite to see if it still does it? Tried on multiple TV's?

Some newer TV's have trouble connecting, particularly on higher resolution input.

For example, my Toshiba Regza will not load my VGA Dreamcast if the Dreamcast is on first, but it will load it if it is on first and i'm using composite. If I turn the TV on first, and then the system, it will load it no matter what AV in im using.

My Bravia will continually reset if using S-vid or VGA, but plays just fine in composite.

Try messing around with multiple TV's and AV ins to narrow down if it is the console or more likely, a compatibility issue.

[pierrot]

Yep, I know that issue. You can try:

a) gently cleaning the lens with a cotton swab and some alchohol

b) cleaning the pins that connect to the contacts on the PSU board

c) adjusting the laser strength

[BogusMeatFactory]

thanks for the speedy reply. I am gonna spend some time today fiddling with it. Trying out some things. to see if it works and I will let you all know what I found. When it comes to things like cleaning the pins, as suggested by pierrot, I don't really know how to do that, so I will try the others first before asking questions on exactly how to perform that.

thanks again guys and.....fingers crossed!

[pierrot]

Here's a pretty good video on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOzyKXkMNNg

Re-calibrating the lens should be a last resort, and there are plenty of videos on that as well, but a word of warning: I attempted all of these fixes on one of my Dreamcasts to no avail. The most probable culprit is dirty pins connecting to the PSU, and hopefully it will be that simple for you, but there is an outside chance that your GD-rom drive may be failing.

[BogusMeatFactory]

I think I found the issue and that was with the power cable. I replaced it and it seems to be running fine. Hopefully that was the real answer! Fingers Crossed