Sega Saturn not booting games

[scoobypercent]

Hi, so I have a model 2 pal Sega Saturn which was working just fine until the other day. It can load the main menu, but if you put a game in it, it will crash. If you boot a game from a cold boot nothing will load, but the disc will be spinning. If anyone has any ideas on how to get it working again I would be very grateful. 

[bizzgeburt]

I own the same version of Saturn, never had any problems like this...

Are you using memory backup cartridges? Those tend to fail sometimes but I never had these cause problems with the disc not being read or bootet oO

Is it one specific or ANY game?
Is the internal memory still working?

[tripredacus]

Test a music CD.

[scoobypercent]

Same thing happens with music CDs. As soon as it tries to load it 'crash'.

[scoobypercent]

No memory backup cartridges are being used. Save battery hasn't run out. It happens with every game. It's very strange as I've never had any problems with the Saturn before. 

[bizzgeburt]

That sounds like something's wrong with the discdrive    I've no experience in the technical aspects of this console. Guess there might be someone lurking discord who could repair that. Searching YouTube helped me a lot when it comes to disassembling consoles. Maybe there's an affordable option to change the drive ... ? 

[scoobypercent]

Thank you. I think that might be the case. I might take it apart myself and see if I can find any obvious faults.

[tripredacus]

What does a crash look like?

[bizzgeburt]

Thank you. I think that might be the case. I might take it apart myself and see if I can find any obvious faults.

If you can't play games with it right now, you can't make it worse by taking it apart

[marvelvscapcom2]

Try method of operations #3.  My dad is a wizard at it. 


Method of operations #1 - Remove power, wait 30 seconds. Reapply power.

Method of operations #2 - Consult a manual. And do what the manual says if applicable.


Method of operations #3 - Firm slap.  To the side or rump region of the device.  In such to jostle any possible debris, contact corossion or overall knock sense into the device.



95 percent chance it doesnt work. But that 5 percent.... that 5 percent is glorious.


Reality is.  Their is a ribbon cable that leads from the optical disc drive to the motherboard.  Try disconnecting it carefully with electronic foreceps, clean the contacts with isoproprly alchol 90 percent or higher.  Air dry with compressed air.  Then clean any contacts or sections that look dirty with electronic parts cleaner. 


Reattatch the ribbon cable, remove all dust.  Keep power supply removed for about an hour. 


Then if it doesnt work. Probably looking at a blown capacitor or a faulty connection. Which will be problematic. 


Good luck friend.

[scoobypercent]

What does a crash look like?

From a cold boot it tries to load the Saturn logo, but just keeps looping the first part of the start-up sound. If you try to load a game from the menu it freezes.

[scoobypercent]

Try method of operations #3.  My dad is a wizard at it. 


Method of operations #1 - Remove power, wait 30 seconds. Reapply power.

Method of operations #2 - Consult a manual. And do what the manual says if applicable.


Method of operations #3 - Firm slap.  To the side or rump region of the device.  In such to jostle any possible debris, contact corossion or overall knock sense into the device.



95 percent chance it doesnt work. But that 5 percent.... that 5 percent is glorious.


Reality is.  Their is a ribbon cable that leads from the optical disc drive to the motherboard.  Try disconnecting it carefully with electronic foreceps, clean the contacts with isoproprly alchol 90 percent or higher.  Air dry with compressed air.  Then clean any contacts or sections that look dirty with electronic parts cleaner. 


Reattatch the ribbon cable, remove all dust.  Keep power supply removed for about an hour. 


Then if it doesnt work. Probably looking at a blown capacitor or a faulty connection. Which will be problematic. 


Good luck friend.

Thank you for the advice! I will be attempting a fix next week. I will up-date the post if anything changes.

[tripredacus]

I don't think anyone mentioned using a CD lense cleaner yet.

[scoobypercent]

Update on the Sega Saturn. Unfortunately after opening it and giving everything a good clean it's still not working. There is a lot of discolouration so it might have just died with age. Thank you all for all your advice it's still very much appreciated.