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Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:08 pm
by gamerjr
I just picked up a dreamcast for $30 at an anime con, The sticker on the bottom says it was manufactured in Nov. 1999, I am able to get Utopia to boot but when i put in Mavel vs. Capcom 2, or Sonic adventure 2, it just reboots. Information isnt that easy to find so hopefully i dont have to wait long. And both of the games were CDI, (im pretty sure i dont need the boot disc for them anyways)

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:16 pm
by DreamOn
How did you burn the .cdi files?

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:17 pm
by Anthony817
Forget the utopia boot disc, most games are self booting nowadays, so just mosey over to the downloads section and get the games you seek.

http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewtop ... f=22&t=651

Remember to use Discjuggler 3.5 trial. and use these settings on most games whence burning.

Code: Select all

This is how I burned the DC Backups using Padus DiscJuggler. You can download this program via torrent files. The torrent sire btjunkie.org is

1) Open up DiscJuggler v3.5

2) In the options menu and in the "Defaults" tab, DISABLE "TAO Write" (DC Backups copy in Disc-At-Once), on "RAW/Read Write", on "Overburn CD" and if you have an old burner like me disable "Burnproof". Keep the CHECK on "Add-Post Gap 3rd Party...".

3) Go to New and select "CD Player to Image".

4) Depending if you CD-ROM is on the list of supported drives (It's in the Help file somewhere...the List of supported CD-ROM drives) then you can use your CD-ROM as the source drive. But, I presume most of you guys here have fast CD-R drives that read CD's at high speed, so use your CD-R drive as the source to make a image file.

5) Put the DC Backup in your CD-R Drive or in your CD-ROM drive....Read step 4

6) Don't change ANYTHING in the "Advance" tab. NO need for "Raw" read!

7) Make sure you have enough hard drive space and then make the image.

 Once the image is complete, close this task and go to "File", "New" and select "CD Image to CD Recorder".

9) Open the image file wherever you saved it and put a blank CD in your CD-R drive. By the way, I using Kodak Ultima 80 min Gold + Silver Disc (High Quality)....I suggest using Kodak's or Verbatims, don't use sh!tty Generic CD-R brands.

10) In the "Advanced" tab.....
Boot games (Games that have 1 track and 1 session on the disc). Use these settings:

Mode 1
Offset 0
Block...2048
TOC....CD-ROM

[color=#BF0000]For games that are self-boot (Games that have 2 or 3 sessions on a disc), use these settings:

Mode 2
Offset 0
Block....2336
TOC......CD-XA[/color]

11) In the "Advanced" tab, there is NO NEED to enable "Raw Writes" or "Overburn CD". But DO enable "Add-post 3rd..."

12) Start burning. Once it is done you should have a working backup copy.

I've been using these settings for all the backups that I have made and everything works! But most of these images have been in .cdi format.

Here's some others tips...
Boot games can be copied in Easy CD Creator CD-Copier program. And if you have CD-R copy of the Utopia Boot Disc, you can copy that in Easy CD Creator CD-Copier too. I tried it and works perfectly!
Pay special attention to this step!

For games that are self-boot (Games that have 2 or 3 sessions on a disc), use these settings:

Mode 2
Offset 0
Block....2336
TOC......CD-XA

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:18 pm
by gamerjr
DiscJuggler, burned image, i am not a noob at computers, its just the dreamcast is new to me.

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:21 pm
by DreamOn
Make sure to burn the disc image at the slowest possible speed. If you burn it real quick games are much less likely to work (at least for me and most people I've talked to)

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:26 pm
by Anthony817
gamerjr wrote:DiscJuggler, burned image, i am not a noob at computers, its just the dreamcast is new to me.
Don't feel ashamed, it is a tricky process to burn DC games, as they must be done perfect, but once you get the hang of it, every time after you burn a new game it comes like second nature.

16x speed is the absolute fastest that I would recommend burning, but try to bring it down to 4x speed if your burner lets you. Mine on this PC burns only at 16x, but my other one burned at 4x, and neither have given me problems.

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:33 pm
by gamerjr
Im surprised i got an answer that quickly, ill try it as soon as i get some more CD-R's, but my model should be fine right? its just some weird burning rules?

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:50 pm
by Anthony817
Yup, your model is fine, it's only a handfull of American units that were produced after October 2000 that don't work, but mine was made in Febuary of 2000 so all is good here, and mine is newer.

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:56 pm
by DreamOn
Anthony817 wrote:
gamerjr wrote:DiscJuggler, burned image, i am not a noob at computers, its just the dreamcast is new to me.
Don't feel ashamed, it is a tricky process to burn DC games, as they must be done perfect, but once you get the hang of it, every time after you burn a new game it comes like second nature.

16x speed is the absolute fastest that I would recommend burning, but try to bring it down to 4x speed if your burner lets you. Mine on this PC burns only at 16x, but my other one burned at 4x, and neither have given me problems.
This. When you are first burning DC games, it's really a trial and error process. Once you get the hang of it though, it's very easy.

Re: Ok im new and i need some help

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 11:22 pm
by cab1020
Yeah Always Try To Burn At Slowest Speed Because When I Burned Marvel Vs Capcom 2 At 16x The Music Skipped (Good Thing The Music Is Horrible Anyway :lol: ) And If Discjuggler Isn't Working For You Try Alcohol 120%. Also Last Word Of Advice Try Using Good Cd's Because The Harder It Is To See Through Them The Better They Are. I Personally Use Sony CD-R's Anyway Good Luck.