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Thread: Dreamcast (Insert Game Disc)

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    Insert Coin (Level 0) sav127's Avatar
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    Default Dreamcast (Insert Game Disc)

    I picked up a used dreamcast and it is when i try to play a game it keeps saying "Insert Game Disc"

    Anybody have any suggestions other than tossing it?

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    Kirby (Level 13) megasdkirby's Avatar
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    Could be the lens. Try cleaning it using a qtip slightly dipped in alcohol (not too much, just slightly) and with care clean the lens in a circular motion. Apply enough force just to clean the lens, not to actually break it. This is a very delicate procedure.

    If it reads discs afterwards, awesome! If not, you can tweak the potentioneter. I don't recall to what number exactly but it does say somewhere on the net. Figure out what is the lens you have (company and model) and use that specification only.

    If still nothing, replace the lens.

    If still nothing...replace it.
    Proud owner of a Neo 25 Neo Geo Candy Cab!

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    Strawberry (Level 2)
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    couldnt it be just the lid switch?

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    Bell (Level 8) Smashed Brother's Avatar
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    Does the DC display that message with every game that you try, or just a particular one? I ask this, because I've had a new out-of-the-box DC reject a couple of perfectly fine games for absolutely no reason. I replaced the games themselves (only 2 of them were problematic) and everything was fine afterwards.

    If it's just one game that doesn't play, then it's the game itself. If every game you play does that, well then, take the advice of the previous posters.

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    Great Puma (Level 12) Steve W's Avatar
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    Two out of the five Dreamcasts I've picked up in thrift stores have done this. I just don't think the Dreamcast is a very robust system. The other three DCs have the bad controller port problem. And meanwhile, I still consider buying them in the wild, just on the off chance I'll find one that works so I can have a backup for my original.

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    Insert Coin (Level 0) sav127's Avatar
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    Thanks for the replies. I only have 1 game (sonic adventure) but I tried some music Cds and it didn't play those either.

    What is the disc lid problem you guys speak of? I tried cleaning the lens real good with alchohol and that hasn't fixed it.

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    Peach (Level 3) aclbandit's Avatar
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    Actually, at least in my case, this was an EASY fix -- my laser just needed realigned. Pretty simple to do, just follow these steps:
    http://www.ilovetheinternets.com/200...bration-trick/

    Mine did this after playing it like twice, then after following these steps it works like new. It still doesn't play burned games... but depending on who you talk to, it's either "defective" (I doubt it since it plays everything put into it BUT burned games, including burned audio CDs) or it was manufactured after Oct-Nov 200X (mine was in December of whatever that year is). Either way, it fixed everything that is (arguably) fix-able.
    Last edited by aclbandit; 05-18-2009 at 01:35 PM.

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    Kirby (Level 13) megasdkirby's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by aclbandit View Post
    Actually, at least in my case, this was an EASY fix -- my laser just needed realigned. Pretty simple to do, just follow these steps:
    http://www.ilovetheinternets.com/200...bration-trick/

    Mine did this after playing it like twice, then after following these steps it works like new. It still doesn't play burned games... but depending on who you talk to, it's either "defective" (I doubt it since it plays everything put into it BUT burned games, including burned audio CDs) or it was manufactured after Oct-Nov 200X (mine was in December of whatever that year is). Either way, it fixed everything that is (arguably) fix-able.
    It's a great fix, but I notice that, at times, my Dreamcast will "magically" go back to it's "dead" value. For example, if I tweaked it and it worked fine, when I turned it off and on again, it would go to the default value once more, the value that did not work the first time around.

    How can I prevent this from happening?

    Also the TAB thing is an easy fix....a crude but quick way to repair it to make sure the lid tab is always pressed, even when its opened or closed.
    Proud owner of a Neo 25 Neo Geo Candy Cab!

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