Sega Dreamcast

Although the Sega DreamCast system is no longer manufactured, some consumers of the Sega system still have issues to troubleshoot in order to enjoy their gaming experience. Visit the official Sega Dreamcast Support Site for some good advice, and here are some quick help desk tips for troubleshooting the most common problems:

It will not power up
First step, make sure that it is turned on. Also make sure that all other cables and hook ups are inserted correctly.

It resets on its own
Most of the time this problem occurs is that the console is too hot. This will cause the circuitry to expand causing bad electrical connection. Cool it down and keep it in a moderately cool place. A more detailed description is down below.

  1. Disconnect the power and all cables connected to the DC
  2. Remove the modem
  3. Unscrew the four screws in the base
  4. Remove the lid.
    On the left hand side you will see the main power board, with the GD rom assembly to the right. Connected to the power board with a grey cable is the power switch. At the power board end of the cable you will find a white connector. Disconnect the cable by pulling up on the connector
  5. Undo the two brass screws holding the power board in place
  6. At the base of the power board is a white connector with six pins sticking out. Gently lift the power board out of the Dreamcast and off the pins.
  7. Check the pins and remove any debris. If they are really dirty use a bit of WD-40 on a rag to clean them. If the pins have obvious bend to them bend them forwards slightly.
  8. Using a small amount of pressure, replace the power board. Do not force it back in.
  9. Put it all back together and the problem should be gone.


If this doesn't help, or if you are having trouble resetting a game, clean the laser reader. Be very careful during this process. Smearing could cause total breakage of the laser. If it is beyond repair, or if it gets smudged, replace it.

The System says “Disk Read Error”
If you are having a disc read problem, you can probably blame this on the lever. When you close the games lid, it pushes down a lever. This lever will wear out over time, so get it replaces if you think this is what the problem is. Try using tape to keep this lever down, and then load a game. If this works, you have found the problem.