Import Sega Saturn disk issues.. please help

[DaytonaUSA]

I got an import, white sega saturn in beautiful physical condition that supposedly worked before being shipped here from japan.

 

I tried booting her up though, and rarely does she even want to spin the disk to check for a game. I got her to boot a game only once, and it sounded like it was scratching the disk the whole time. It wasn't scratching it (top, or bottom), but I think it's the drive. Now, ever since that run, it makes a soft as a wimper grinding noise when I close the lid. It's proof she's trying to work, but it's not spinning..not even a little bit.

 

I know it's not grinding on the top lid as I put the lid down only far enough so that the disk would boot, and it still didn't spin.

 

She played about 5 seconds of Sonic Jam before freezing herself as the drive stopped working after it's VERY loud, short working spree.

 

If anyone could please help me with this, while it's not dire as I have a US Model 1 with a import/ram cart, I'd really like to play games on this beauty.

 

Thanks again.

[CGQuarterly]

The first thing I would check is the lid sensor. I had a similar problem with my slim PS2, and it turned out that the lid sensors weren't detecting that the lid was closed.

 

If it is your drive, you can just slap a new one in there...

 

Chris

[DaytonaUSA]

The first thing I would check is the lid sensor. I had a similar problem with my slim PS2, and it turned out that the lid sensors weren't detecting that the lid was closed.

 

If it is your drive, you can just slap a new one in there...

 

Chris

 

 

Assembler on Assemblergames suggested I press down on the spindel.. which now crunched it down about 1/4th of an inch, making it level with the tray . Ugh.

 

I can't find a CD drive for a saturn online. Do you know if I need a specific model drive for the white japanese model, and do you know where to find a spare drive?

Edited July 27, 2009 by DaytonaUSA

[CGQuarterly]

Well I just meant that you could buy a bare Saturn console from someone and just take the drive out of it. Since you have a white Saturn, are the drive parts white too, or is it just white on the outside? And yeah, pushing down on the spindle just seems like a poor idea.

 

Chris

[DaytonaUSA]

Well I just meant that you could buy a bare Saturn console from someone and just take the drive out of it. Since you have a white Saturn, are the drive parts white too, or is it just white on the outside? And yeah, pushing down on the spindle just seems like a poor idea.

 

Chris

 

Yea... something that could have been brought to my attention yesterday

 

 

Here's my problem though. Does it matter which model drive I use? I've heard they have different internal parts according to the model. If that's true, finding one for the white Saturn would be almost impossible.

 

And while the casing is white, the laser/spindle is black like the US systems. I guess I'd use the model 2 type if I can find one, as they have the same type of system button layout, which should be a clue they are made from the same parts. At least that's what I'm hoping.

[CGQuarterly]

And while the casing is white, the laser/spindle is black like the US systems. I guess I'd use the model 2 type if I can find one, as they have the same type of system button layout, which should be a clue they are made from the same parts. At least that's what I'm hoping.

 

That's what I would try. I seriously doubt that the white Saturns have parts that differ from black Saturns. I also seriously doubt that the CD drives are not interchangable in most if not all Saturns.

 

Chris

[16-bit]

I feel your pain. My Saturn started doing the same thing not long after I bought it last year. Granted, it's not an import, but it still sucks. Like you said replacement parts are few and far between online too.

 

 

On a side note any idea if you can play US games on a Japanese Saturn? I wouldn't mind getting one myself. Those white ones are nice looking!

[CGQuarterly]

On a side note any idea if you can play US games on a Japanese Saturn? I wouldn't mind getting one myself. Those white ones are nice looking!

 

You can not play US games on a Japanese Saturn unless you either use a cartridge like an ST-Key or you region-mod the system (which is pretty easy and only requires off-the-shelf parts).

 

Chris

[DaytonaUSA]

I use the Action Replay. Provides you the ability to play imports when your piece of crud import Saturn doesn't wanna spin , plus it gives you memory for savings games, and cheats for them too. Only bad thing is that it's ugly as sin. haha

[Frizo]

I feel your pain. My Saturn started doing the same thing not long after I bought it last year. Granted, it's not an import, but it still sucks. Like you said replacement parts are few and far between online too.

 

 

On a side note any idea if you can play US games on a Japanese Saturn? I wouldn't mind getting one myself. Those white ones are nice looking!

 

 

Gameshark = Friend!

but, in this case, you would need a JP one, just press the top three buttons when you press "Start Game without enhancements".

Thats how i play my NiGHTS into Dreamcast Xmas (its JP because the US ones go for 70 bucks while JP go for 15!)

[16-bit]

On a side note any idea if you can play US games on a Japanese Saturn? I wouldn't mind getting one myself. Those white ones are nice looking!

 

You can not play US games on a Japanese Saturn unless you either use a cartridge like an ST-Key or you region-mod the system (which is pretty easy and only requires off-the-shelf parts).

 

Chris

 

 

Excellent! That's what I was hoping to hear. I knew the ST-Key worked for US systems, but wasn't sure about overseas ones. Might look into the region mod too. Thanks for the info!

[DaytonaUSA]

On a side note any idea if you can play US games on a Japanese Saturn? I wouldn't mind getting one myself. Those white ones are nice looking!

 

You can not play US games on a Japanese Saturn unless you either use a cartridge like an ST-Key or you region-mod the system (which is pretty easy and only requires off-the-shelf parts).

 

Chris

 

 

Excellent! That's what I was hoping to hear. I knew the ST-Key worked for US systems, but wasn't sure about overseas ones. Might look into the region mod too. Thanks for the info!

 

 

Not to continue to further derail my topic but lol..uh, the ST-Key sucks. Seriously, I had it before my action replay. You have to have it in the PERFECT (and I mean, every angle by the milimeter) position in order for it to work. That and it doesn't give you any memory or storage space. It's not the best by a long shot. I hated that thing.

[CGQuarterly]

On a side note any idea if you can play US games on a Japanese Saturn? I wouldn't mind getting one myself. Those white ones are nice looking!

 

You can not play US games on a Japanese Saturn unless you either use a cartridge like an ST-Key or you region-mod the system (which is pretty easy and only requires off-the-shelf parts).

 

Chris

 

 

Excellent! That's what I was hoping to hear. I knew the ST-Key worked for US systems, but wasn't sure about overseas ones. Might look into the region mod too. Thanks for the info!

 

 

Not to continue to further derail my topic but lol..uh, the ST-Key sucks. Seriously, I had it before my action replay. You have to have it in the PERFECT (and I mean, every angle by the milimeter) position in order for it to work. That and it doesn't give you any memory or storage space. It's not the best by a long shot. I hated that thing.

 

I agree. I only mentioned it because it is what I had, but it is extremely picky. The region mod is the best thing to do because it will also increase the value of your system, but using a cart to play imports is nice because it just makes the Saturn region-free.

 

Chris

[shadow460]

I believe that the model 1 Saturn had slightly different drives in it than the model 2. I don't know specifically which one you will need, but I assume it will be model 2. There were actually three model numbers for American Saturn systems, but I believe Model 2 and 3 have the same drives. Then again, the JP ones could be totally different.

 

What happened when you pushed the spindle down? Did something crack or break? If so, you may be able to super glue it back into place.