Sega Dreamcast Dev-Box Drive problem

Hello. I have come into ownership of a Sega Dreamcast Dev. Unit. The unit works fine but it needs a new GD-ROM drive. This one's drive just sticks out(if you push it back in it'll just shoot out again) and from the looks of it has had the lazer taken out. I do not think the drive functions at all actually.

The model number on it says:

HKT-0120
Dev-Box

So I need to find a new GD-ROM or a compatible drive for the unit so I can use it. Here are some pics of it:








If anyone has or knows of where I can find one..or what kind of drive I need..please let me know. If this can not be fixed...I would be interested in obtaining a 2nd Dev box that is fully working.



Thanks

 

Well I heard it's exactly the same drive as the retail, so you can just swap-drives!

 

It is the whole drive...not just the laser and spindle part thats broken. The whole drive I am learning is unique and from what I hear so far...cant be replaced....if this is the case I am stuck w/ a useless dev. box

 

I'll continue my advice here from Segakatana.com:

I'm not 100% sure on this (the interfacing may be different), but it looks like the GD-ROM assembly is the exact same one found in a retail unit, just inside a push door housing. If that's the case (no pun intended ), then replacing the actual laser assembly won't be a problem. As far as fixing the door goes, you may want to try my suggestion about removing the spring mechanism. As long as the switch on the door is activated to tell the system that the tray is in the close position, it should work.

Just be very careful when removing the GD-ROM unit. It isn't too easy to get out. Make sure you remember what screw / cable goes where.

 

Hey. Well I figured I would post this issue on several different forums as I really want to get this thing working. I will attempt to get the drive out myself. I wish I knew someone who could help me with the disassembly of the unit's drive as I am not too good w/ that kinda stuff right now. I am honestly very worried that I will screw something up while attempting to do so.

I was hoping to maybe find a guide or a very detailed diagram w/ guide coaching me through the disassembly of the unit.

I can say so far anyway I have tried to place a game in the drive and hold it closed and nothing at all occured. Nothing...not the disc spinning or anything.

If anyone on this site...or what not..is trustworthy enough...I would happily send my unit to them to be fixed if they were able to do it w/o worry of failure as I am.

Anyway...thank you very much for your help thus far Dreamcast...hopefully this unit will be made to work one way or the other

 

What country do you live in?

I've actually been planning to completely disassemble the kit and create a diagram from top to bottom. When I took mine apart I drew a picture on a piece of paper and made little squares pointing to their location on the unit so could I stand them on their head(so I had somewhere to put them and know which screw went where).

If you can wait a little bit (a day or two), I'll put together a quick sketch of it. However, if you're not comfortable taking it apart, it's really best that you have someone who's familar with the unit and general repairs fix it instead because there's a lot you have to disassemble just to get to the GD-ROM unit. Doesn't just slide out like a PC's 5 1/4'' CD-ROM drive, unfortunately.

 

Hello. As far as what country I live in is concerned...I live in the US...Massachusetts is the state I am in. A diagram would be nice but I may need to take your advice and leave this to someone who really knows what they are doing...it sounds very complicated from what you tell me. Maybe I will luck out and find someone willing to undertake this task. I just got the unit so I am just now learning about it(I never thought I'd ever get my hands on one).

Anyway..if you can refer me to someone who you think is qualified to do this, it would be greatly appreciated. If not that is ok as well.

Keep me posted on the diagram status but do not rush. I am in no hurry to attempt to disassemble this monster myself.

Thanks for all your help thus far!!

 

Ah, OK. Just wondering. You're in a good location. There's a lot of great guys that could help who happen to live on the east coast as well. So it won't cost a fortune for the shipping.

It's definitely a challenge at first, but once you get it set up properly, it'll be worth the effort.

 

Haha...i have found my location to kinda lack anyone into the hobby like I am...anywho you say there are people in the east coast who could help..do you know of anyone off hand?

I know that it will be worth the effort in the end as Dev kits have always been something I have been interested in...but never able to actually obtain. Dreamcast is one of my favorite home consoles and a Working Dev. Kit for it is like a dream come true for me. Now that I finally have one I would like to do as much with it as possible. Get use of it and such. I would have sold this one right away if I thought the drive issue would keep me from enjoying it.

Anyway...thanks as always for your help with this.

 

Hey...Dreamcast, IF you can get me the diagram that would be great. I found someone who would be more than happy to take the unit apart for me and fix the laser assembly(if necessary). So if you could get me the diagram atleast for them to use that would be great.

Again I thank you for your help. I never knew this site existed until reciently. It seems the site is full of great usefull info and nice members. I am sure I will enjoy this site a great deal!

 

I took a bunch of pics when I disassembled my drive tray on one of my units. Ill see if I still have them around...

 

Hey thanks! That would be most helpful. If I need to do it myself I need as much help guide wise as possible. I really hope I can get this thing working...it seems like a great unit.

 

I'll have time today to get the schematics done for you today. I apologize for the delay. Work's kept me busy.

 

Hey...its not a problem at all. I have waited many a year to get my hands on one of these...I can wait a bit longer. You being nice and helping alone is more than I can ask for. So take all the time you need. I wont be able to use it past an enhanced Dreamcast console if I can get it working anyway. I do not have any cords to hook it up to a PC, nor do I have programs, or a GD burner or anything so its no rush.

Thanks for the help tho..I do appreciate it.

 

I'm in Western Mass but don't have any time to fix other people's stuff. A CD tray mechanism couldn't be difficult to fix, at least give it a shot.

 

Hey. Haha its nice to actually see someone in my state interested in this kinda thing. Anywho...I would give it a shot myself but I am still waiting on a guide of sorts from Dreamcast here or klarth. I do not trust myself to just hop into this without knowing exactly what I am doing beforehand. This thing was not easy to obtain and its not cheap so the last thing I want to do is carelesly break it even if its unintentional.

I am sure at some point this thing will be fixed one way or the other.

 

Doesnt look good, i couldnt find the pictures on my harddrive and the CF i took the pictures on is missing... I'll let you know if it turns up

 

O well...thanks for trying though. I appreciate it. I can wait as long as it takes to get this thing working. I do not care if I have to wait months for it to get fixed as long as it does eventually.

I am very interested in learning about the unit and learning how to work it. So hopefully this thing will be fixed more sooner than later. But as stated I can wait as long as it takes.

Thanks for all your help everyone

 

I don't know if you ever resolved this issue, but if there's a problem with your drive closing then you most likely need a new internal touch latch.

I had this same problem many months ago and was able to find a Sugatsune PR-4PK Non-Magnetic Mini Touch Latch at this online store:
http://www.homedecorhardware.com/ss-pr-4pk.html



This is the cheapest I could find anywhere, since most of the stores I drove to didn't carry such an item. To install, just remove your Dev.Box GD-ROM drive, open it up with a standard screwdriver, and you should be able to spot the touch latch towards the end of the unit. Just pop it out if you need to.

I hope that helps.

 

He also mentioned that when he just held the drive closed it still wouldn't work... I would have thought that would have been enough (just for a quick fix, at least), so maybe there's more wrong with it?

If you still haven't fixed it, and don't mind sending it to California, I'd be more than willing to take a look at it. I can fix the latch at least for sure (now that I know where to buy them, thanks for that!) Then, if the drive itself is bad, I can swap one from a normal Dreamcast (that does work, right? Someone mentioned it here, but I've never had to go that far with mine...)

I'm on vacation until January, but send me a PM if you are still trying to get it fixed...