Dreamcast useful region mod!

[ninermaniac]

This mod is very useful. It requires very little work. 20 minutes tops to do it. If you have more than one DC and don't want to fool with a boot disc or you are our European PAL friends then this mod will help. I haven't seen it posted here so here it is. Just use the following links if you are interested in doing this. Easiest mod I have ever done.

 

You tube link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM2Tkan0RYU

 

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

 

Disc Image. http://jo.plaz.free.fr/DC/dcrc1.5.cdi.zip

 

CDI burner. http://dchelp.dcemulation.org/?download=BootDreams_106b.exe

 

 

Enjoy!

[+RandomPerson]

Why not just make backups of your games and change the region of the disc image instead of moding the console?

[the.golden.ax]

That I am aware you can not back up a legit DC game unless you have a GD Rom drive?

 

AX

[carmel_andrews]

So i guess the DC doesn't support the disk swap trick like the playaway does

[Trooper]

Interesting but I still don't see how this would be easier than simply using a boot disc to run any imports/backups?

[famicommander]

Why not just make backups of your games and change the region of the disc image instead of moding the console?

Because using the Dreamcast to run content off a CD-ROM wears out the laser much, much faster. It's not worth toasting your Dreamcast over.

 

Gameshark CDX is what I usually use. If that doesn't work, then I'll use a boot disc since it's only in the system for a short time.

[Artlover]

Why not just make backups of your games and change the region of the disc image instead of moding the console?

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm not aware of any tools for changing the region on DC disc iso's.

 

That I am aware you can not back up a legit DC game unless you have a GD Rom drive?

True. But, if you have a DC, then you have a GD Rom drive. All you need is either a DC with a LAN ataptor or a Coders Cable and you can make your own backups.

 

Interesting but I still don't see how this would be easier than simply using a boot disc to run any imports/backups?

It's easier in the sense that it's semi permenent. You change it with the region disc once, and it stays changed till you change it again. If you have alot of imports that you are going to be playing, this would be much easier and a big time saver over dealing with Utopia for every game.

[Video]

I think he means having a GD burner, sure, you can read the discs witha DC and a little software, but your maxed pretty much at 800mb on CD's (and closer to 700mb for most) and while lots of DC images are smaller than that, ther are a lot that are bigger too.

 

And I never have gotten where people get the Idea that a CD will wear out the DC's drive faster, it's just a modified CD drive to get a few hundred more megs on a disc, if anything, it'd be easier on the drive to read a CD instead of a GD

 

Could somebody post relevant links to show where the Idea of GD's being damaged by CD's is coming from?

[ninermaniac]

Why not just make backups of your games and change the region of the disc image instead of moding the console?

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm not aware of any tools for changing the region on DC disc iso's.

 

That I am aware you can not back up a legit DC game unless you have a GD Rom drive?

True. But, if you have a DC, then you have a GD Rom drive. All you need is either a DC with a LAN ataptor or a Coders Cable and you can make your own backups.

 

Interesting but I still don't see how this would be easier than simply using a boot disc to run any imports/backups?

It's easier in the sense that it's semi permenent. You change it with the region disc once, and it stays changed till you change it again. If you have alot of imports that you are going to be playing, this would be much easier and a big time saver over dealing with Utopia for every game.

 

Saved me some time explaining things. The only reason I did this was because:

 

A) I have quite a few imports and want to dedicate one system of the few I have to play them. I have a JP console but I want to keep it in good shape. Cost to dang much to replace. Easier to do it this way.

 

B) I wasn't sure I could do it going from NTSC>>whatever other region. I just read alot about our European PAL friends that wanted to do this so they could play all the wonderful NTSC and NTSC-J games out there because their systems are special. The blue swirl I think is cooler.

 

C) This looked to easy and wanted to make sure that anyone could do this.

 

Yes. If you have more than one DC this would be the best thing to do rather than just boot the system everytime with Utopia just to play the game. It just dedicates one console and saves you time if you think about it. It's completely reversible and you can hook up your buddies so they don't scratch up their Utopia disc from getting it out and popping it in so much then throwing it on the floor and scooting it across the room.

Edited June 5, 2009 by ninermaniac

[famicommander]

And I never have gotten where people get the Idea that a CD will wear out the DC's drive faster, it's just a modified CD drive to get a few hundred more megs on a disc, if anything, it'd be easier on the drive to read a CD instead of a GD

 

Could somebody post relevant links to show where the Idea of GD's being damaged by CD's is coming from?

Files on the GD-ROMs are written from the outside inwards, whereas it's the other way around with CD-ROMs. The laser mechanism essentially has to work twice as hard to locate every file it tries to access, since everything is backwards.

 

Low quality burns cause the laser to work harder also. Depending upon the compression used on the .iso, the quality of your media, and the quality of your burner there are a lot of issues at work here. The faster you burn the media, the lower quality. The laser itself has to work harder to read the files on lower quality burns and lower quality discs.

[+RandomPerson]

And I never have gotten where people get the Idea that a CD will wear out the DC's drive faster, it's just a modified CD drive to get a few hundred more megs on a disc, if anything, it'd be easier on the drive to read a CD instead of a GD

 

Could somebody post relevant links to show where the Idea of GD's being damaged by CD's is coming from?

Files on the GD-ROMs are written from the outside inwards, whereas it's the other way around with CD-ROMs. The laser mechanism essentially has to work twice as hard to locate every file it tries to access, since everything is backwards.

 

Low quality burns cause the laser to work harder also. Depending upon the compression used on the .iso, the quality of your media, and the quality of your burner there are a lot of issues at work here. The faster you burn the media, the lower quality. The laser itself has to work harder to read the files on lower quality burns and lower quality discs.

 

 

I have not once killed a laser in a DC and I've owned plenty of them from '99 to current.

[famicommander]

And I never have gotten where people get the Idea that a CD will wear out the DC's drive faster, it's just a modified CD drive to get a few hundred more megs on a disc, if anything, it'd be easier on the drive to read a CD instead of a GD

 

Could somebody post relevant links to show where the Idea of GD's being damaged by CD's is coming from?

Files on the GD-ROMs are written from the outside inwards, whereas it's the other way around with CD-ROMs. The laser mechanism essentially has to work twice as hard to locate every file it tries to access, since everything is backwards.

 

Low quality burns cause the laser to work harder also. Depending upon the compression used on the .iso, the quality of your media, and the quality of your burner there are a lot of issues at work here. The faster you burn the media, the lower quality. The laser itself has to work harder to read the files on lower quality burns and lower quality discs.

I have not once killed a laser in a DC and I've owned plenty of them from '99 to current.

And I've seen people who take good care of their systems go through five of them running backups and homebrew.

 

It wears out your laser faster, and that's a fact. Just because it hasn't worn yours out all the way doesn't mean you haven't taken a lot of mileage of its lifespan.

[ninermaniac]

So has anyone else tried this mod yet? If you have, you'll just toss your boot disc to the side and let it collect dust. Really, you can't beat this type of mod. two little points on the board and no fancy smancy separate breadboard you have to try to make room for under your motherboard. How simple is that? Too simple. Just trying to make life easier. Now does anyoe have nice detailed instructions and illustrations on how to do this? http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=144818

 

Help me help you........

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

You can try here:

 

http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/nes2avmod.htm

 

JY

[ninermaniac]

You can try here:

 

http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/nes2avmod.htm

 

JY

 

 

Thanks but this is the mod I was trying to avoid. I have heard of a second mod to that virtually eliminates those pesky lines on the screen. Also the games x mod is not explicit enough with the instructions. I appreciate though.