racketboy.com

Ok this has happened quite a few times before and it keeps on happening. I am playing a game on my dreamcast and everything goes fine for an hour or two, then the disc starts skipping and I end up having to shut the machine off and restart. However, when I try to load up the game again it loads the system settings screen and when I click on Play I get "Please insert game disc". This will continue for days and I cannot play anything, so I end up puttin the old system in the closet. Then when I get the urge to play a month or so later everything works fine...until the disc starts skipping again and the whole cycle starts over.

Anybody have the same problem? I would appreciate any suggestions on how to cure my poor dreamcast...only being able to play 2 hours of Jet Grind Radio a month is very lame

(P.S. if this is in the wrong forum, feel free to move it)

I believe technical help is a better forum for this. Now are you playing backups or legit games?
In my experience, Sometimes(every once in a great while) the disc will not work, and acts as if there is not a game disc present. Though, restarting always repairs this. Honestly, though, if restarting doesn't cure this, here's a couple more tips to help your dc out.

Note: Everything you do with your dreamcast is at YOUR risk. Just getting this out of the way. I don't wanna be held accountable at your mistake if you happen to make one.

1. It's possible that your DC internals overheat, this can be caused by dust, especially if the dust is near the fan. So the simple solution here is to well, get rid of the dust. No, don't use a duster, that's stupid, use compressed air cans. Note, it may be hard to get the dust OUT, when you're blowing air IN. So you'd probably need to remove the systems shell. If you do remove the shell though, remove it with caution, you don't want to mess up your DC completely.

2. Seeing as how the DC is no longer supported(the hardware anyway) I highly doubt you'd be able to send it somewhere to get it repaired. So Solution? buy a new dreamcast.
GASP! That's right, buy another dreamcast. In my experience, you can find them in used game shops and on the internet for a measly 20-25$ (usd) Which is cheaper than getting it repaired in the first place. Also, the Dreamcast is quite commen, so you should have no problem getting ahold of one.(note: while they are used, they should work like new, and if it doesn't, exchange it for another. The second market is usually very great in terms of warrenty. I buy systems used all the time, I find it a cost efficiant, and safe way of buying goods. You don't have to pay for the warrenty, it's a given.)

Sounds like the GD-Rom is on the fringe of death. Or maybe it just needs a slight lens adjustment.

**thread moved**

Yeah, if a lens adjustment, doesn't work, on top of dust, then go with my number 2. Get a new dreamcast.

I am playin legit dreamcast games, mine is a model 2 :-/ so I am think bout gettin a new one anyways so I can play burned stuff.

Im almost certain it is not overheating, especially since even if I let it cool down for a day I still get the same error.

I think that it has to be a lens problem, even though that doesnt explain how the problem cures itself after a month of no use, but its still worth a shot, so how exactly do I adjust the lens?

well I just adjusted the lens and it works lol, thanks for the suggestion