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I just posted this in the Sega forum, but I'll post it here as well as it's about a technical problem I'm having.

I've just got my Saturn out of the loft because we're moving house soon and I thought I'd plug it in and have a go.

Unfortunately, it seems to crash while loading (usually before it's displayed the Saturn logo). If I don't put a disc in, it gets as far as the Configuration/CD player screen. It sometimes crashes upon loading that and quite a few times, I've left it running for 15-20 minutes on that screen and it's not crashed. So far, I've managed to load up one game just once. I played it for about 15 minutes and then it crashed.

Any idea on how to solve the problem? Is this a hardware problem (therefore meaning it's broken and I should throw it in the bin) or could it just be due to dirty circuit boards causing a crash?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

No need to double post.
Most of use search for all new posts anyway.

To get started, why don't you open the case up and see if it needs to have some dust and such cleaned out.
Also when you say "crash", what do you mean? shut off? restart? freeze?

Sorry for double posting.

I mean it freezes. Sometimes it freezes while loading the Sega logo, sometimes it gets a little way into the game and it crashes. I had to take the lithium battery out because it was dead (it's the same battery that I had in there when I first bought the machine) and so every time I turn off the Sega and turn it on, I have to go to the Config screen and set the language and clock. Sometimes it crashes there.

I've taken off the top and given it a good blow inside and it seems to have helped a little, but it's still not working as well as it should.

Could part of the problem be old, scratched up disks? That could be the explanation why it gets a little into the game and then crashes...

you tried originals or audio cds already?

Pullmyfinger wrote:you tried originals or audio cds already?

Just to clarify, I don't think this is a modded system?...

Not tried Audio CDs, but earlier, I managed to do 18 laps on Daytona USA CE before it crashed. I managed one race on Sega Touring Cars before it crashed. Destruction Derby and Andretti Racing crashed before loading properly.

EDIT: No, it's not modded.

Last night, after a few hours break, I decided to screw the top back on and start playing it and now it won't get past the Saturn logo screen.

I have this feeling that the power supply may be failing in it.. It almost seems that way... I don't have a Saturn, so I don't know if the suppply is external or internal..

I have a feeling it's that, because I had a PC like this, and it was the power supply just not giving enough juice anymore...

The Saturn power supply is internal