Dreamcast-Talk.com

I recently picked up a used Dreamcast, and the console and controllers are fully functional, but every time I insert a VMU into a controller, the controller stops working and the DC will not detect the VMU. The VMU works on its own, but it will not work while in a controller. If anybody could help me out that would be awesome, I would really like to start playing some DC games.

The controller stops working when you insert a VMU...

So does it not work at all if you have the VMU in before turning the DC on?
Also, have you tried on all the controllers/ports/slots?

I got it to work, i cleaned out the ports on the VMU and it seems to work just fine. I guess the problem was only with the VMU.