Quick question. Do you need special dev hardware to read a GD-R? Like those used for writing betas and preview code? Or can I use a retail Dreamcast? Thanks Mike
A retail Dreamcast can read GD-Rs but without a System Disc 2 you won't be able to boot them. Or rip them.
Semi-True, there's still ways to dump a gd-r with a retail dreamcast using a swap trick and trap discs, with either sd-card adapter or BBA, or even with a rare dvd-drive (lite-on ltd-165h) using an analoguous swap trick. I've made progress in this topic with dot50cal somewhere on these forums years ago, works well for most games. [EDIT] Managed to find the tutorial back: http://www.mediafire.com/download/cnbkymnjomt/GD-R_Ripping.rar This can be easily adapted for dumping with sd-card (even in data/2352 mode).
I don't know the fundamental reasons behind it, but it handles the higher cd density area quite well and doesn't complain about out-of-spec TOC (122min) and reading at that address. A sturdy and flexible firmware/hardware in my opinion. Most drives simply refuse to read pass 99min, and some simply have problems reading the hd area of a gd-rom even under 80min. This one has some issues reading more than 80 mins of data at once (or dumping a big chunk containing LBA360000), but dumping in two parts yields good results. (i.e. 45000 to 359999 and 360000 to 549150) Let's say it's a resilient little drive. AFAIK it's the only drive that has ever dumped a complete gd-rom using the swap trick. More here (french): http://www.metagames-eu.com/forums/...om-avec-un-lecteur-cd-dvd-possible-77213.html
