Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

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Please check the other forums in the Dreamcast section before posting here to see if your topic would fit better in those categories. Example: A new game/homebrew release would go in the New Releases/Homebrew/Emulation section: http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=5 or if you're having an issue with getting your Dreamcast to work or a game to boot it would go in the Support section: http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=42
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Impulse
Admin
Posts: 2103

Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#1 » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:26 pm

Send Email through DC Browser - Thanks dan1234 and Favrenation
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=7844

GUIDE: Use a PC-CDROM lens in your Dreamcast. Thanks cOcOoO
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1982&start=0

TUTORIAL Agetec stick full Sanwa MOD. Thanks Aripug
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1890&start=0

How to create your own ScummVM discs. Thanks -Pi-
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1884&start=0

Best Collection of Tutorials and Utilities for Dreamcast..Thanks TuxTheWise
http://www.dreamwell.pwp.blueyonder.co. ... _index.htm

Downsampling ADX Files:
http://snesorama.us/board/showpost.php? ... ostcount=1

Overclock Dreamcast Guide by FamilyGuy
http://fileforums.com/showthread.php?t=77928

Making GDI files bootable on real Dreamcast with perfection By Tuxthewise:
http://snesorama.us/board/showpost.php? ... ostcount=1

Overclocking Neo Geo Hardware on neo4all emulator:
http://snesorama.us/board/showpost.php? ... ostcount=8

Extracting files of a GD dump/GDI:
http://snesorama.us/board/showthread.php?t=40766

Dreamcast CDRW tutorial
http://semicolo.free.fr/Dreamcast/cdrw/

wireless dreamcast controller solution...howto
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=484

Dreamcast G2 Bus (DIY BBA)

http://f17.aaa.livedoor.jp/~takotako/g2bus.php

Dreamcast Region Mod

http://www.lyris-lite.net/fu_archives/000601.html

Do burnt Dreamcast games break down your GD-Drive?

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=643&start=0

Dreamcast DC Central Tutorials

http://www.geocities.com/dcentraltutor/

Dreamcast Tech Pages

http://www.segatech.com/

Make .cue sheets for raw GDI rips

http://dumpcast.thekickback.com/forum/v ... .php?t=275

VMU External Power Mod

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=487

Fan LED Mod Tutorial

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=486

DC Laser Lens Tutorial

http://www.geocities.com/dcentraltutor/ ... rlens.html

Dreamcast Programming knowledge and Hardware Tech

http://mc.pp.se/dc/

What Dreamcast Games Are Still Online?

http://dreamcast-talk.com/online_games.php

How to get Online with PSO

http://dreamcast-talk.com/pso_connectguide.php

Vga compatibility list:

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2006/05/ ... -list.html

Bleemcast compatibility list:

http://www.whipassgaming.com/genesisrev ... bility.htm

DC Divx How to encode:

http://website.lineone.net/~don.hopkins ... cdivx.html

How to Unhide R18 files:

http://fileforums.com/showthread.php?t=45313

Mod your dreamcast bios:

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=70904

Overclock your dreamcast:

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2005/11/ ... mcast.html

Multi Disk Games (pw, dream passport)

http://fileforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=52807

Echelon Self Boot

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2004/08/ ... al-by.html

Change dreamcast bios background

http://bswirl.kitsunet.org/vmutool/rele ... g=en&menu=

DC-PC Dial up Server Windows:

http://www.maturion.de/dreamcast/mterlouw/

DC-PC Dial up Server Linux:

http://www.kinox.org/articles/linuxdc.html

Load VMU saves from cd:

http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/archiv ... -4115.html

Dreamcast Reset Problem Fix and Controller daughter-board fix

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-reset.htm

Dreamcast PAL fix

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-ntsc-pal.htm

Dreamcast Mod Chip install

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-mod-chip.htm

Better dreamcast bios mod tutorial

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-region.htm

Dreamcast internal VGA

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-vga.htm

Dreamcast Serial Coders Cable

http://mc.pp.se/dc/serifc.html

Dreamcast Serial Coders Cable to USB

http://www.axlen.com/usbcc.html

Dreamcast Controller Pin Out etc.

http://mc.pp.se/dc/controller.html

NetBSD Dreamcast

http://netbsd.nedmirror.nl/ports/dreamcast/faq.html

Dreamcast IDE HDD


http://web.archive.org/web/200701271841 ... c-ide.html

Dreamcast IDE HDD more..

http://dreamcast.fuzzymuzzle.com/dc-ide.htm

Dreamcast Serial Cable more..

http://www.harmlesslion.com/text/DreamcastCable.htm

http://web.vtc.edu/users/cph11120/Dream ... ematic.htm

Turn a Dreamcast into a linux firewall/router

http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2269911435.html

Running Linux on Dreamcast

http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT7466555948.html

Broadband Adapter Game Ripping tutorial

http://dumpcast.thekickback.com/forum/v ... .php?t=153

How to Make a bootable rip of a .gdi release

http://dumpcast.thekickback.com/forum/v ... .php?t=130

Guide to selfbooting 45000 LBA

http://fileforums.com/showthread.php?t=81685

Changing music in MVC2

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2006/02/ ... com-2.html

GD-Rom Swap Trick Ripping

http://stc.hacking-cult.org/gd-rom_stuf ... guide.html

Sega Dreamcast System manual

http://imageevent.com/gamescans/gamemag ... stemmanual

Echelon Selfboot.txt


http://www.plugly.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ ... lfboot.txt

GD-ROM disk to a fully functional backup CDR


http://www.geocities.com/cammel_spit/tutorial.htm

Planetweb Multi Game CD


http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2006/02/ ... orial.html

The Dreamcast Doc

http://www.mgforums.com/forums/attachme ... entid=2299

NES to Dreamcast Controller


http://devcast.dcemulation.org/mods/madnes/nes2.php

Nexus VMS-2-PC Lead

http://www.megagames.com/dc/dc_nexus_vms2pc_lead.shtml

How to Piggyback a Dreamcast Controller on a Universal PCB

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... n-a-Unive/

Remove echelon intro:

1. Extract the 1ST_READ.BIN file from the CDI or your CD.

2. Fire up your hex-editor (I like HEdit or Hex Workshop) and open 1ST_READ.BIN, go to offset 0xF0000 and copy the Hex all the way to 983040 (the end).

3. Make a new file 1929928 bytes large, and paste the contents of the clipboard into it.

4. Save the file, and place it into a directory (ie, C:\SELFBOOTDOA2LE), and extract the data from the CD or the CDI file into that directory as well. Now just follow ECHELON's self-boot tutorial and re-image the CD.

How to patch non vga games to vga mode:

-open the iso in a hex editor.
-search for the string "KATANA"
-at some point nearby you should see "JUE" followed by some numbers
-change the number string after "JUE" to "0799A10"
-save the file and burn

VGA Incompatible Games List

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=494

Notes about vga compatability list:

games i have patched so far to vga mode not on list:

Net de Tennis (J)
Dancing Blade CD1 & CD2 (J)
Jimmy Whites Cue Ball 2
Super Boom Tread Troopers

games i have patched so far that do not work in vga mode that are on the list as working in vga mode:

NHL2k2
Hydro Thunder

games that say TV only on the list that i have patched to vga mode:

Coaster Works

games that will not patch to vga mode that are not on the list (TV only):

7 Magic Mansions (J)
Lack of Love L.O.L (J)
-Impulse

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DC_Tman
fragger
Posts: 250

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#2 » Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:39 am

This is shaping up to be quite a list of information here. Now I know where to go for help!
Disciple of the Ultimate Gaming System

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Gary_b
Quantic Dream
Posts: 1834
Contact:

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#3 » Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:02 am

i made this for some one a while back. then i got the idea to post it here. i do not know if any of the links are out of date. this thing was wrote over a year ago.




Counter Strike Burning guide



Things you will need

1. winRar. Here is a link to its free download. http://winrar.en.softonic.com/download

2. Discjuggler. Here is a link to its free download. http://www.padus.com/downloads/demo.php you may download from either one of the mirrors

3.Counter strike Beta. Here is the free download. This is from Megaupload.com. You must enter the 3 digit code that it asks you for. This is located at the top of the page. Then wait 45 seconds before you can download. http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y3UDFJRD.

4. You will also need a PC with a CD burner on it.


Downloading Counter strike beta and extracting it with WinRar

It would be simpler to download WinRar before the counter strike beta. Because you must extract the CT beta with WinRar. Also make sure when you extract the counter strike beta that you save it where you can find it. I suggest making a new folder for it on your desktop.

First make a new folder on your Desktop and rename it.

Just in case you do not know how to make a new folder its done like so. Click anywhere on you desktop with the (right) mouse button and scroll down to (new) this will then open options. Select (new folder) it should be the first one on the list. After the folder is made it will be appear on your desktop highlighted with the name NEW FOLDER. Type in the new name that you want. I suggest some thing like (counter strike)


Extracting Counter strike

After you entered the 3 digit code on meaguploader.com and waited 45 seconds You can then down load. When your computers download options window pops up. (Select open). When it's done downloading WinRar will automatically open with the counter strike file in it for extraction.


You have to extract all 9 counter strike files. WinRar will show 11 items in this menu. Only 9 are Counter strike files. The Counter strike icons look like 3 tiny books stacked up. You can extract all 9 at one time by dragging your mouse over them and highlighting them all. After you have all 9 highlighted. Click on the highlighted area with the (right) mouse button. An option. Menu will open. You want to select the option that says extract to specified folder. Selecting this option will open a new menu. Look for the folder that you made earlier. The one that I suggested for you to name Counter strike. It should be easy to find. Once you have found it. (Double click) on it. Then (click ok) at the bottom of the menu box. The small extraction wizard should now be seen on your screen extracting files to the folder you specified.

You are now finished with WinRar


Burning using Discjuggler.


Note
When you open discjuggler it will show you a Tip of the day. Close this. You must wait 10 seconds to start running discjuggler.


Now that discjuggler is opened you want to go to file. It’s located at the top left. Select (new). a menu window will pop up look for the option that says "burn disc images". You should now have yet another new window. This is the burning window. Make sure you have a blank CD-R in your burning drive. Click the (source) tab. It's directly below where it says source. Do not use the pull down arrow that is to the right of the source tab!

After selecting the source tab a new window will pop up. On this new window you will want to click on the pull down arrow and select (desktop). Now look for the folder you made earlier and (double click it). Now look for the disc image. It should say "Counter-Strike DC Beta 3 MP1.cdi"(double click it).

Everything should be ready for burning hit start. You will get a warning saying discjuggler is running in evaluation mode. It will write at lower recording speeds and only up to 700 megabytes. Would you like to continue? (Select yes). After its finish burning your done.

The end



if you need any screen shots of anything let me know. and if you have any questions feel free to PM me.

btw this might appear hard but its actually a lot easier than it looks

jinn
rebel
Posts: 17

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#4 » Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:42 am

Impulse wrote:Dreamcast Mod Chip install

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/dc-mod-chip.htm


If you get a Pre-Wire modchip with board then use this guide ^ [5v].

If you get a bare chip then you need a different VCC point [3.3v].

You most use point 1 in the diagram for [3.3v] VCC.
Using [5v] VCC next to point 2 will over heat the chip making the DC shut
down after 5-10 minutes.

I also recommend to solder a 100nF
capacitor directly to the VCC and GND line of the modchip.
Image
PSone, Xbox, PS2, DC, SS Mod Service, PM for details

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Captain Dreamcast
Developer
Posts: 323
Contact:

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#5 » Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:50 pm

The first of the Guides I will write:

How to optimize your Homebrew releases:
http://captaindc.blogspot.com/2010/10/optimizing-your-homebrew-release.html
For Great Justice!

User avatar
Anthony817
Shark Patrol
Posts: 4009

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#6 » Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:16 am

Ok guys, I just wrote this up, please tell me if I need to correct any misspelled words or punctuation.

How to buy/build a Dreamcast Sandisk Adapter


Image

Q.What is a Dreamcast SD card adapter, and what can you do with it?

A. The Sd card adapter is a device in which you can run specialy made SD ISO images of games, emulators, homebrew and apps over the Dreamshell Operating System. It works with standard Sandisk cards up to 8GB SDHC cards(TESTED), but theoreticaly supports up to 32GB SDHC cards(UNTESTED). You can even rip full GDRoms from your Dreamcast with this, much cheaper than buying a BBA.

Q. Where can I aquire these hard to find cards?

A. Currently, you can order them from China at a site that is a haven for selling DIY console hacks and mods called Tao Bao. These adapters are all made professionaly by hand, and are guarantied to be free of manufacturing defects.

Q. Ok, so how can I order them?

A. You must go through another site if you live outside China in the instructions below, but it is very easy to do so!

#1 Make sure you have a Paypal account first, as this is the method that they accept funds from.

#2 Go to this link and see the adapter: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7818275499

#3 Register with this English speaking site that deals directly with the Chinese site and then log in. http://buyfromtaobao.com/

#4 Now open this link and paste the Sandisk Adapter link from the #2 instruction into the field and add the item to cart. http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7818275499

#5 Be sure to tell them the color you want, as they have Orange and Purple, and unless you specify what color you want, you could get either color.

# 6 You should now enter in any other information asked, and you should be done!


Thats it! They go for 40.00元(Yuan), roughly $5, after dealing with Buy from Tao Bao, mine was only $11.14 USD total with shipping/handling, and in the end they only charged me .50 cents US.

You should get your adapter in the mail in 2 to 8 weeks, depending on what shipping rates you choose.

=======================================================================================

Everything you need to know to build your own Dreamcast SD card reader to boot games and homebrew from the Dreamshell Operation System can be found here..

This is the go-to page for the Dreamcast SD card interface mod. I translated it with Google toolbar.
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/ ... Tvw#sdcard

Some things you\'ll need:
A resistor 470.
A capacitor 47 uf.
A capacitor 0.1 uf.
An LED (not mandatory).
An SD Card port.

I\'ll assume you know how to do advanced things like soldering and modding, so I\'ll leave you to your own devices. You should be able to get one built with all the info on that page, if not, you might want to swing by the SWAT forums and speak with the creator of Dreamshell, mister SWAT himself for a few pointers.

http://www.dc-swat.ru/forum/forum-29.html

=======================================================================================

I hope I have provided you with everything you need to get your Dreamcast runing ISO's from an Sandisk Card. If you have any questions, please let me know and I'll try to answer them as quickly as possible.
Image

dorina78
noob
Posts: 1

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#7 » Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:42 pm

DC_Tman wrote:This is shaping up to be quite a list of information here. Now I know where to go for help!

I agree with you. It,s a great post which have all about Dreamcast tutorial. Thanks for the post. Really lot of help there. :)
Thanks

User avatar
#1phoenixsunsfan
Sunday Shootout
Posts: 687

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#8 » Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:03 am


User avatar
#1phoenixsunsfan
Sunday Shootout
Posts: 687

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#9 » Sat Sep 15, 2012 10:39 am

I just wrote a tutorial if you need help with sd, thanks to this forum and others members for the great tips :

Hopefully this helps someone on google which can be redirected here or help those on this forum, the 10 sd rc1 commandments ha :

1) Try to buy the new compact sd card readers (old ones with long wire are put together with less quality than ones being sold now which are compact and plug right into serial port). Make sure a good connection is made though, maybe a piece of scotch tape on sd card reader end to plush the fit.

Image

2) Best sd cards to use are 1-4 gb ScanDisc sd cards class 6 (blue sds). Many sd cards (like 32gb or non scandisc won't work).

Image

3) Tell the users WHICH copy of Dreamshell cd such as DS RC1 or DS Beta 3 or Beta 4 to use with said game (sadly uploaders don't do this), for instance doom_dc seems to work with all Dreamshell versions but Sonic will not run on RC1. IF you have bios chip in dc, you could simply install Dreamshell in your dc without the need of Dreamshell cd running anymore after that. It would be cool if people buy the bios chips, then put Dreamshell on it, then sell on ebay with directions how to install.

4) When downloading the sd isos, NOT regular isos, read the description of sdisos on isozone.com and make sure the sd game works with the Dreamshell cd VERSION you have, example Sonic (and others) will work with Dreamshell Betas perfectly but will freeze up in Dreamshell RC1.

5) Only have 1 controller plugged in, pcwzd13 explained that some homebrews won't work and appear to be corrupted if the 2nd controller is plugged in during start of sd game, which helped me play a game finally =)

6) I also found out if a sd game "freezes" or if it works great once then you immediately restart dreamcast to play another game or same game on sd card and it don't work anymore, you don't need to reformat the sd, just let the dreamcast and sd card reader "cool" for 10-20 minutes then restart the game and it'll work fine HOWEVER if you have 20 games on sd card like me, and you put another game on that doesn't work with DS RC1 and you get "the black screen of death aka black screen with white text with bottom reading DS$ help" then that game, and all of them...will be corrupt, so you will have to reformat sd card and put the games you know work back on it, usually 1-2 gb cards have this issue.

7) Hit the "A" button twice to select "run yes/no" sd, if you hit only once nothing might happen, so press A button on dc controller twice to see "run sd card iso" box in DS SD menu. Select yes and game will load and you can play it then.

8) If you have a sd card reader plugged into back of dc in the serial port, dreamshell rc1 cd, a scandisc sd card, put this (below game via link) on sd card either by itself or with other games from your pc to sd card, plug sd card in dreamcast sd card reader, it runs perfectly and is a perfect emu :

http://www.theisozone.com/downloads/dre ... tor-sdiso/

9) Place to d/l sd card games which are sd isos NOT regular isos/cdi :

http://www.theisozone.com/downloads/dreamcast/sd-isos/

You can play some retail games (some run near or even perfect) converted to work with sd card and great "4th party" as I call them homebrews and even emus to play on sd.

10) Thank you to Swat for dreamshell boot cds and answering our questions and to the people making various dc sd card readers.

Here is how your 1gb sdcard and files should look on computer before you hook up to dc. Make just 2 folders A-M and N-Z that contain 7 games each. You shouldn't make 4 folders because dreamshell won't alphabetically organize them correctly on menu, so just make 2 folders as they will be organized as such. Again put 7 games in each of the 2 folders, any more won't be visible on generic 7 line menu of dreamshell rc1.

Image

I can hold 14 sdisos on a 1gb sdcard. 7 games each, in 2 folders labeled A-M and N-Z. It's a good idea to make volumes of these if you have many sd cards. Because if you have 14 games or 10 or whatever and put a game not compatable on, it will mess up all games. Which you will have to reformat sd card. Then drag games that worked back on it. Which sucks. Or at least have a sdcard as a "test" sd card. Then add a game that you know works on your volumes of sd cards after you tested it.
Last edited by #1phoenixsunsfan on Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:07 am, edited 4 times in total.

User avatar
rooster
photon blast
Posts: 112

Re: Dreamcast Tutorial FAQ

Post#10 » Mon Jan 07, 2013 3:37 am

I appreciate the above SD tutorial! I was trying to load sdisos from a 32gb card.. sad to hear that the high-capacity cards won't work. I was hoping to put my top 20 games on one card to spare my GD drive.

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