Factory Sealed and Brand new Dreamcast manufactured in Nov 2000 not reading discs

Yeah. I got this from the Property Room and it's been sealed for 12 years. 3 days later, I can't even read diiscs anymore. The laser doesn't even move or attempt to read the disc. I've tryed taking the lid off and holding the switch ad nothing happened. So I assume it's the laser. But it shouldn't be, I just got this 3 dayys ago and it's BRAND NEW. I DID attempt to read MIL-CDs on it and only some worked, and the ones that did not would boot after 1 minute or so of reading the disc. And after doing that today, the discs stopped being read after the 3rd attempt. GD-ROMs included too. Does my Pot need to be adjusted? Or is the laser so unused that it's bad?

 

That sucks. I would say to open it and check the laser deck for signs of damage / clean it well, but I cant because it is a new Dreamcast.

Get some compressed air, and force it into the laser assembly where to reflectors / diode is. Also get a q-tip with alcohol and clean it carefully, and wipe it dry with the other end (carefully).

 

Open it up and detach the GD-ROM module. Attach and detach it several times until you "feel" it might be making proper contact with the mainboard again.

Do the same thing to the power supply connector as both might have oxidized on all the years it has been stored. :thumbsup:

 

Also while the unit is open, check the gears(that move the laser), and see if one of them didnt get dislodged,we had it on a psone once, brand new out of the box and somewhere down the line one of the gears got dislodged(probably got dropped during shipping from sony or at the retailer)...

 

Perhaps that's the white gear which was attached to the mechanism by a small plastic clamp on it's bottom ? The DC has nothing like that on it's gear mechanism. Actually the only possible problem there would be actually broken teeth on the gear. But the thing is new... :shrug:

 

Sorry I am mistaken then, I never really dissembled the Dreamcast laser assembly to look...

 

I'll try reattatching the GD-ROM assembly. Is it safe to do it while the console is on?

 

I also don't think the metal is oxidized at all. It looks shiny and brand new as it should. I'll still attempt reconnecting it.

 

Welp, in the process of trying to take the cover off of the Dreamcast I manage to break both of the two corner things that hold the lid down and I have no clue where to disconnect anything on this. I'll try cleaning the laser.

 

Never mind, I guess it fixed itself. I left the DC unplugged for a week at least and now the issue is solved. The power had to probably completely drain. If anyone comes across this issue, leave the DC unplugged for 3-5 days if the issue refuses to be solved.