Japanese Sega Saturn Model 1 modded with a Universal V3 chip, boot method query

Hi,

I have just modded my Model 1 Japanese Saturn and installed the chip fine, yet its weird as backups are only recognised if the console has the lid closed on boot. If the console is booted with the lid open, disc inserted and then closed, it recognises them as audio discs and originals have no problem either way closed or open. Its just the CD-R's that do this and under further inspection, I have noticed the drive spins up fast with them when this occurs.

Tried to do a brief search on google but there does not seem to be much info on this and most issues with mod chip installations are to do with the "Racketboy" chip, which is different to mine. I have this one in this tutorial:

http://retrojunkie.net/guides/guides-sega-saturn-model-1/saturn-va0-modchip-installation/

 

What happens if you press reset?

Specifically. Power on with lid open. Then put in CD-R and close the lid. Does it boot? You said it won't. What if after that, you press Reset? Does it boot then?
What happens if you power on with the lid closed and CD-R inside, but you keep pressing reset for a couple seconds before actually letting it try to boot?

The reason I ask is, I have seen PS1 modchips that start working at power up, but after some time they no longer function until they are powered off and back on again.

 

Hi,

Answer to the first question - Specifically. Power on with lid open. Then put in CD-R and close the lid. Does it boot? You said it won't. What if after that, you press Reset? Does it boot then?

Console still refuses to boot even after pressing reset a number of times if booted with the lid open and then closed (5 times I tried) and can hear the drive spinning fast which it shouldn't do.

Answer to 2nd question - What happens if you power on with the lid closed and CD-R inside, but you keep pressing reset for a couple seconds before actually letting it try to boot?

50/50 as it seems to be a hit and miss and very picky when detecting a CD-R from further testing. I tried one CD-R game that booted and played it fine, which I then turned of the console to play a 2nd CD-R, which worked fine. However, I tried to boot the first CD-R again by turning it off (lid closed) and back on with the disc in. The console then refused to read the disc (loud spinning noise) and even after pressing reset a few times. Turned of the console for 10 mins with the same CD-R in, then turned it back on and it booted 1st time. Its really weird and a headache as its not consistent.

 

UPDATE:

I have adjusted the laser and it has fixed the 50/50 issue so far. However, I still have to have the lid closed on power up (boot) and then insert the CD-r, as otherwise "Question one" above occurs, yet did some more digging and it appears its a common issue with the Model 1 versions

 

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Thanks for the info and very interesting. I have noticed that PAL Exhumed crashes 100% half way through the FMV intro on boot, yet it can be skipped beforehand.


Would that have something to do with the chip or the model 1 of the JAP saturn, as I tried it on a friend's PAL region free 50/60hz bios + modchipped Model 2 and it works fine. At first I thought it was the disc, so I made others at different speeds before and after I adjusted the laser but all failed at the same section in the intro.

 

I've had some that do this and others that don't, it also appears that the type of Saturn (and type of optical controller board inside) affect things. Some Sanyo based Saturns I've had refuse to boot from anything but the following:

Starting cold:
1)Boot Saturn to BIOS
2)Open lid
3)Pop in disc
4)Close
5)Start Application

Nothing else would work for that particular Saturn when it came to CD-R burns. No idea why.

 

Exactly the same procedure as mine:witless:

 

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