Saturn won't boot

it's the laser's POT probably.

 

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I don't have the VA6 details, but I can tell you that the correct procedure is to check the RF level of the laser diode (on a VA0/VA1 it should be 0.8V - 1.4Vpp) - the laser needs replacing if it is less. There's a variable resistor on the APC board which is factory set and shouldn't be adjusted - this could damage the laser diode.

After that, you adjust the Focus Error bias (R114 on a VAO/VA1) and focus gain (R111 on a VA0/VA1), then the Focus Error balance (R104 on a VA0/VA1) and tracking gain (R113 on a VA0/VA1). These steps require an oscilloscope and a special test CD. Oh, and a NON-metallic screwdriver.

You were lucky to get it if you didn't use a trimmer tool and just went for the try and pray method! 35 degrees is a pretty big adjustment. I can't guarantee how long it'll last - if poorly adjusted you risk killing the laser diode quicker. Hopefully it'll be all well and good, though.

You do? :110:

 

yeah, totally;-):lol::lol::lol:

 

Hey guys, now it's my other Saturn who decided to become a problem-child. -_-

A white HST-0019 Saturn in nice shape. It actually works perfectly, but some games just won't load. The screen stays black after the "licensed by SEGA" screen. This occurs i.e. with Tokimeki Memorial Puzzle Dama or after random cut scenes in Initial D. I already used a cleaning disc and tried to clean the cartridge slot, but this doesn't bother Mr. Saturn at all.
Most games work flawlessly though. I just played Thunder Force V, SF Zero 2', Touge 2 and Hiyake no Omoide - nothing. Then again, that TokiMemo Puzzle Dama thing won't even boot up (disc has no signs of usage, really like new).

What can I do?

PS: The other Saturn with the mainboard error is suffering by the same problem again since a few weeks. I will probably just replace it someday, or is there a chance to really repair it (apart from buying a new mainboard/junk saturn to get a spare mobo)?

 

I know when adjusting PS2/XBOX/GCN laser pots back in the day, I'd get it to a point where it reads my test game, and then sometimes I'd try a few more to verify and one wouldn't work. Adding a tiny bit more voltage (er... less resistance?) would get that game to boot as well.

Someone punch me if I'm on the wrong track.

 

Maybe find a replacement drive? How hard would that be?

 

Harder than it would be to find a replacement console, and not THAT much cheaper either. He'll either have to get lucky finding something or find a free fix.

 

better to replace the laser with a new unit as it will last for years than buying other saturn

 

Is it easy to acquire such a thing?

 

I've got a complete working optical block.

It's from a pal v2 saturn, but fits and works in a japanese white saturn (tested myself).

I'd like to trade it for a nice saturn game ^^

 

How nice does it need to be?^^
I have some Mogitate discs available for trade (those w/Segata Sanshirou spots, making ofs, reports on events, visits at developers).

 

got any shooters / fighting games?

 

Not really I guess. I might win an auction with doubles today but it would still take a long time to arrive.

 

Right, just pack some obscure doubles you have already lying around :lol:

rest through pm?

 

As I mentioned before, if you're just going to fiddle with pots, you WILL kill the laser prematurely. You need to do it correctly. If you're out of the specs I gave you, the laser's had it.

I can still get lasers, but they're not cheap (i.e. it might be cheaper to buy a Saturn). There are IIRC 3 different ones. You need to know which you have.

Your new problem could be the laser needing a fine tweak, or it could be a problem with the discs. Hold them up to the light and see if you can see any pin prick holes where the light comes through - quite common with Saturn games. Is the machine modded at all? Freezing happens more frequently on modded machines.

 

Just got alphagamer's CD block but it doesn't seem to work. The laser is not moving at all and the CD of course can't be found.

@retro
Just checked that tokimemo game... no holes. It's not modded. The original laser block has "ASSY CD UNIT SAT JVC EXL P608" on it, the replacement one from alphagamer's PAL Saturn is an EXL P605 one.

/edit
Alright, neither of them moves anymore ~_~

 

oh shit X_X

i hope it wasn't my spare part that f***ed your saturn.

i tested it before i shipped it, in both a pal and a jap white saturn.

 

The Saturn's not fucked up at least - the old CD block works. I seem to have done something wrong last time I tested it, but the new PAL CD unit still refuses to move at all.

Any one here who can help me? Two sick Saturns in one room is worrying

 

Are you replacing just the laser unit or the whole board? There are different boards so that might be your problem. What VA number is your board? What VA number did the spare come from?

Do the lasers look exactly the same?

 

If my memory is not playing pranks on me, the last revisions of the Saturn (the ones with round power and reset buttons) used a new version of drive which uses a Mitsubishi microcontroller and as far I know there is two versions of it.

The older one has yellow ink on the board for parts markings and the newer one has the ink white. I am almost sure these won't work on anything but with their respective revisions of motherboards.

So a Saturn motherboard that had a yellow ink drive would not work with a white one or the inverse.

Also, the last model of the Saturn had a big "dual-core" SH2 chip instead of two separated SH2 parts.