Sega Saturn Language/Date/Time screen

Hello,

I am at my wits end. I am getting the same "select language" "select date/time" screen every time I boot the Sega Saturn up. Yes, I am fully aware this is normally a battery issue. I have spent the last 3 days researching this before coming here for help.

The console is a model 1.

Here are the steps so far I've tried:

-Changed the battery with a new store bought CR2032 Energizer 3volt battery. Yes I tested it with a multimeter, it has charge.

-Checked to see if the console stores save game files, and it does! Even if left unplugged!

-Visually inspected motherboard, looks in to be in good condition, no apparent blown caps or other damage.

-Checked chip IC35 which is said to be related to the storing of language/date settings for voltage, and checked out it was getting 2.5 volts from battery while the system was unplugged.

-Left the system running for a few hours after setting the language/date. Still gives me that screen.

-Set the date/time/language through the Saturn menu that comes up when no disk is inserted.

-Pressed the blue button located near the battery, for more than 5 seconds and single press to wipe the slate clean.


The system keeps my save files, even when I unplug the console for a period of time, so it seems the battery is working and the battery contacts are good.

I bought this system off ebay recently, and installed a phantom universal chip bought from Zero. The chip works, and I am able to play backups fine. I have tried with the action replay cart both in and out of the system.

It would be greatly appreciated if anyone has a solution.

 

Totally guessing here, but... Maybe a kind of "Y2K bug" (ie a sanity check in the BIOS)? What's the console do when you set the date to, say, 1998-ish?

edit: Nah that doesn't seem to be it...

Spoiler

http://www.gamefaqs.com/saturn/916393-sega-saturn/faqs/6458

 

there's a cap next to the bios chip that goes bad. replace it and report back.

 

The IC that handles the battery backup also dies.

IC35 or IC25 off the top of my head. It is what handles switching to battery power.

 

Seeing how the SRAM seems to still work, battery power in general appears to be OK, no?

Is the RTC a separate IC?

 

There are 2 power monitor/watchdog chips, probably one handles each (sram/time).

Edit:
Google-fu says ic35 is the one that handles settings/etc.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=642434

 

Which? I took some screenshots of the mobo down below. If you could point it out that would be wonderful. I do not see any caps near the immediate vicinity of the bios chip.

I checked that post before coming here, which is what led me to test the IC35 for voltage as recommended by that user. It was getting voltage around 2.5 without the power cord in, meaning the battery was supplying it. So I figured it checked out. In the utmost last case scenario if I do not figure this out before I get to that point, I might try what he did. I just am not sure about the parts he is referring to changing. I am a novice with this stuff.



I took some photos of the motherboard, and some key areas:

The entire board

Motherboard model

I believe this is the Bios


Possible cap skyway is referring too?
The one on the right side of the picture is on the other side of the board, and is the only close cap I see near the vicinity of the bios..


Battery holder
I am unsure if the cap below the battery holder has flux on the board or if that's somehow something else stuck to the board.

IC35
Here is the ic35 chip mentioned.

 

Sadly the Saturn RTC is inside the 4bit MCU which handle I/O and controller inputs.

https://siliconpr0n.org/archive/doku.php?id=d356:sega:315-5744_smpc