Please Help! Why Won't My Sega CD Play Games?

[Metropolisforever]

On my Model 1 Sega CD, it starts up with that funky logo music thing, and then it takes me to some CD player menu thing. It absolutely will not play games. There is 125 blocks of memory space. I have a memory cartridge and the machine says there is no memory cartridge. How the hell am I supposed to play a game with this thing?

I am going to scream.

I bought it on eBay a while ago. My memory cartridge arrived - I bought it in the hopes that it would finally allow games to be played.

There is no directions button, nor is there an application button.

When I turn it on, I see the logo screen. Then it takes me to the CD menu. Going to options just tells me how much memory I have (and how the system thinks I don't have a RAM cart, even though I do). Then, it takes me to a screen that doesn't allow me to copy data from the cartridge, since I apparently have none.

It makes no sense.

I'm playing North American games on a North American Sega CD.

The last thing I need is a broken machine.

All I want is to play games on my Sega CD.

I don't know how to clean the lens or anything.

Please help.

[Dangerboy]

My model 1 Sega / CD combo has an odd issue. First things first:

a. Do you have the heat plate on the genesis?
b. Use a small amount of glass cleaner, decensitized alcohol, or goo gone (itty bitty) to clean the contacts of the genesis chip that plugs into the deck.
c. Re-sit the deck into the CD Drive port.


A few weeks ago my CD simply pop the tray back open, and if it stayed shut, it wouldn't read the disc. After doing the above, and then tossing in a music cd one or twice, it played games just fine.

[crom]

It sounds like a lense issue if you can turn it on and go into the options screen...

[Steve W]

As far as the memory cartridge goes, I suggest doing the obvious... get a cotton swab, dipping it in alcohol, and clean the pins on the memory cart. You'll be surprised how filthy those things were when you look at the dirty swab afterward. Let the alcohol dry off the cart before plugging it back in and then give it a shot. I've been buying a whole lot of Genesis games in stores lately, all of which are at least a little dirty. Many of them won't play on the first attempt, but after a good pin cleaning they always work fine.

[Metropolisforever]

How do I clean the lens? I really don't know how, and I don't want to do anything wrong and make it even worse.

[PapaStu]

Moved to Tech and Resto.


**shimmy**

[Metropolisforever]

Moved to Tech and Resto.


**shimmy**

Okay, but I still need

[Metropolisforever]

Well, I cleaned the cartridge. The cartridge works!

But I tried playing a music CD on my Sega CD and it gave me the same thing as when I tried to play a game.

Does anyone know what to do?

[crom]

you can get lense cleaners at the dollar store...

its basicly a cd with a little brush on the disc that you put a tiny bit of alcohol on... you pop it in let it play...

I dont think ive had the best luck with them in the past... i usually by pass that and get a q-tip with alcohol on it and gently clean the lense... dont dry it off with anything, let it dry itself off...

[Metropolisforever]

Well, I tried opening the CD drive, sticking a wet q-tip into the Sega CD, and moving it around, but it didn't work. The Model 1 Sega CDs are very hard to clean.

[Metropolisforever]

Does anyone know how to get my Sega CD to play discs?

[Metropolisforever]

Can someone please tell me what to do? All I want is for my Sega CD to play discs.

[FABombjoy]

Open it up and properly clean the lens.

8 screws for the case (6 bottom, 2 at the ext. port)
2 or 3 screws for the CD shielding

Assuming that doesn't work, read this to see what CD drive repair entails:
http://repairfaq.org/sam/cdfaq.htm

[dendawg]

Can someone please tell me what to do? All I want is for my Sega CD to play discs.

I hate to say it, but if after cleaning the lens, it still won't work, then there's a good chance that your unit is FUBAR'D.

It might simply be easier to look for a Model 2 unit, as there are people out there far more willing to repair a Model 2.

[Metropolisforever]

Open it up and properly clean the lens.

8 screws for the case (6 bottom, 2 at the ext. port)
2 or 3 screws for the CD shielding

Assuming that doesn't work, read this to see what CD drive repair entails:
http://repairfaq.org/sam/cdfaq.htm

O-open it up?... Yikes...

I wouldn't know what to do, and I'm afraid of breaking it.

[Metropolisforever]

How do I clean the lens?

[dendawg]

How do I clean the lens?

Once you get your unit opened up and the lens exposed, use a Q-Tip soaked in alcohol (%70 minimum).
Wring out the excess alcohol and gently wipe the lens. Use as little pressure as possible.
Use a dry Q-Tip and wipe up any alcohol that hasn't dried.
Make sure there is no cotton or anything whatsoever on the lens.
Reassemble and pray.

[FABombjoy]

I wouldn't know what to do, and I'm afraid of breaking it.

It's already broken, eh? If you're afraid to open it then that pretty much limits your remedies to variants of the Fonzie kick.

[Metropolisforever]

Well, I just don't really know how to open it up.

Hell, I'm having a hard time just removing it from the Genesis!

[Metropolisforever]

Okay, so I keep trying to unscrew the bottom of the Sega CD - but it won't unscrew. Those screws are so deep and so tight that it would require an electric drill to get them out.