Is the US Gamecube optical drive unit compatible with a Japanese PCB?

Looking good at this point! For testing I bypassed R5 with the method so "lazy idiot" that guides don't even bother to point it out. Wire in hole A, wire in hole B. No solder or switch.

NTSC-J Sonic Mega Collection
NTSC-US DOL-101 consoles, without boot disc.

English mode on APE's nicely modchipped cube:



My attempt to get Japanese on the spare non-modchip cube:

 

Just to point out, you can make the mod you did permanent using some conductive glue.


Glue each end of a wire into the via hole (like you have done) and put a switch on the other end.

Much easier and no soldering. Its no harder than what you have just done above.

Something like:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221043885207#ht_2120wt_1185

 

Thanks. What I did was basic to such an extreme I've never actually heard of a documented prior attempt.

 

Its documented in this very thread - post 13.

Its also a very very common way to test things, the Wii has all the nand points mapped to vias you can reflash the chip without soldering, etc.

 

You're right, just an embarrassing 'reinventing the wheel' moment. That line didn't click with me before.

I had to glance over mmmonkey's diagram to reach the conclusion myself.

 

Tempted to crack open one of my cube's and wire a switch into it. I'm getting 2xQoob Pros and a Wii Key Fusion from Australia (however long that takes via carrier pigeon) and need to rechip my personal cube.

 

gc forever at a guess?

I was eyeing those up yesterday, but the cheapskate in me just cant do it.

 

Getting the three from emu_kidid after negotiating at their IRC channel. I wouldn't have bought them any time soon given the Wii I have is softmodded and I don't have much use for the Qoob Pro's extra features right this second. It was a trade making it very cost effective for the both of us.

 

emu_kidid and gc forever are one and the same.

 

A makeshift-installed switch seems to have worked. I had to carve from the cube's replaceable rear cover to fit it.
Probably best I remove the switch before sending things in. Wrong type to look good on gamecube either way.

Too bad I damaged perhaps the lid sensor or something... I'm not keen on trying to run this minus top. Laser risk and all.

 

I have a GameCube here with a bad optical PCB but a good lid sensor. Even replaced the laser but I don't want to burn more money fixing something barely worth $5.

 

Yeah you'll be OK. Cleaning up after me isn't too bad.

 

This is the switch I installed on my gamecube,I like this better than a toggle.

 

You're right my switches are toggle ones generally used for Sega systems.

 

A rocker switch would feel better and look better in that area. My favorite is a bit expensive at ~$5 but they've proven their worth time and time again:

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSe..._go&lang=en&keywords=SW653-ND&x=0&y=0&cur=USD

 

That chip will be a wait... My hopefully incoming qoob pro was paid June 5th. Heh.

 

That would be ideal for me but the switch I used was in my tool box so I went with that as I'm a lazy ass.:highly_amused:

 

Do you own Star Fox Adventures? I think that's one of the few actual dual language games. As opposed to merely glitches.

 

Nope but that's one game I need to get now that you mention it.

 

Hey I was right. Japanese text is on the US disc, blocked by region check.

http://jul.rustedlogic.net/thread.php?id=15330