Hi, had some time for testing and working with my Katana. First i installed the R11b SDK and setup any correctly. So i flashed the firmware from the sdk. after that i go to the DA-Check tool from the SDK and flashed the DA to 4.9 0a and the GD-M to 2.9 1b. After that i start the check and anything OK all test passed. Than i switch to GD-Rom mode and start my Katana with a retail game. The drive start checking the discs but i got nothing back. Disc not start. So i put in a audio cd with the same result. Unlikely i have no debugg disc. But a audio cd musst play for sure? regards Chris
With the exception of Crazy Taxi and a few others, every retail game works on a Katana (assuming you set the correct region). But as you say, an audio CD must play for sure. So it seems this has nothing to do with your retail disc or audio CD, it's the laser/gd-drive which is most likely broken. The internal drive is replaceable with a stock retail one, depending on which model retail DC you have.
I have heard many times of recalibrating the disc drive somehow. Although its a Katana I assume you should be able to do it.
I vaguely remember that there were a few settings of the rotary region switch for which the gdrom drive didn't do anything at all. If i am correct, these settings were not assigned to any region. However, i can't check it again because i have no gd-roms with me now. Make sure to check the developer's "gettings started" manual and try to absolutely match the region of your gd-rom. It might be a bit obvious, but also make sure that you have enabled the actual gdrom drive instead of the hdd emulation mode. Since you flashed the devbox, i suppose you have a valid scsi connection and the necessary software. In case nothing works, you could try swapping the actual drive mechanism with one from a retail unit. I think the pcb is a bit different, but the motor and lens mechanisms are the same, so it should suffice to use them. If this doesn't work ... well ... u could emulate the game of your choice on the hdd.
And, before you gut a dreamcast for it's gd drive don't forget that dc lasers can be replaced with old pc cdrom lasers. And they read gdroms just fine. There are at least four threads about it here. http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/extensive-dc-reconstruction.33762/ http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/replacement-laser-for-dreamcast.48170/ http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/guide-use-a-pc-cdrom-lens-in-your-dreamcast.26721/ http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/recovering-repairing-restoration-of-gd-rom-drive.59603/
I have a replacement Laser unit from a retail DC. But will be great when someone can explain how to load a image of a game into the emulator.. I read the "Get started" manual but not really clear how to do it. First at all I open GD-Workshop and create a new project. Than I need a image, GDI? Or have to be a extracted iso? A tutorial what todo will be nice.. We have this for the PS-emu and the 360 but not for the DC.
I don't have a step for step guide available, but from the top of my head the easiest way is to start with a 3 TRACK .GDI image, track 1 for those .TXT files, track 2 for the audio message and track 3 for the games data.
For programming purposes, the emulator is more than enough. For release builds you can burn and test on a real dreamcast. However, if you intent to use the devbox for gaming, i would suggest to try and find out what is wrong with the actual drive and repair it. The hdd has very limited capacity to host multiple games and transfers are usually slow. Plus, you would need a pc and gd workshop every time you need to select a game.
Ah ok good to know, i was thinking i put the game on the hdd, config the katana into emu mode and it will autoboot without pc. But ok Its only to play ikaruga . I try another drive first and post the result.
