How do you copy dreamcast games?

[fustercluck]

I've had a dreamcast for a long time, and it's always been a huge pain in the ass trying to burn games for it. They use programs like disc juggler and other old programs/file types that don't work and aren't used anymore. Nothing I burn for dreamcast ever boots up.

There are a bunch of games that need patches too, which is another big pain in the arse. All the while my original dreamcast games are getting all scratched up, and I'm thinking I won't have backups for any of them. Someone tell me there's an easy unheard of way to burn dreamcast games (usually .cdi files). I've tried many different methods in the past and have got many, many coasters. My dreamcast works still, I tested it, so I know that's not the problem. I don't have to back up many games, just a few. It would just be nice if I could get a backup to work once in a while.

 

[secretanchitman]

http://dreamlover.tecbox.com/

i hear that you patch/burn with nero too.

 

[Sniper82]

I didn't know one was able to make backups of originals. Just d/l the ones you got and back them up? Its been 6 years since I fooled with a DC so I don't quite remember.

I do remember using Discjuggler

 

[theGlove]

well non-copied original dreamcast games can be found for like about $5 each on ebay so might be worth just buying those...

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: theGlove
well non-copied original dreamcast games can be found for like about $5 each on ebay so might be worth just buying those...

Those would probably be scratched too, and I don't want to buy games I already have. Especially when CD-Rs are so cheap these days.

 

[xcript]

Alcohol 120% can handle burning CDIs.

I've used it before to burn a few DC games and they worked fine.

 

[fustercluck]

I hate burning things. It never works and it could be a lot of things, computer problems, problems with the media discs, bad drive, and there's about 100 different options for every burning. 90% of which I don't know what the options do and if I need them or not. I usually leave everything I don't know about the programs on default though.

I'll try 120%, another program I remember hating a lot - Thanks.

 

[xcript]

Originally posted by: Adaman
I'll try 120%, another program I remember hating a lot - Thanks.

Heh.. well AFAIR I didn't have to change any of its default settings.

You should probably limit the write speed to no more than 16x - preferably 8x.

 

[Nohr]

Like xcript mentioned, BURN SLOW. 8x has given me good results.

Lots of Dreamcast info to be found here:
DCForums
The Dreamcast FAQ

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Adaman

Originally posted by: theGlove
well non-copied original dreamcast games can be found for like about $5 each on ebay so might be worth just buying those...

Those would probably be scratched too, and I don't want to buy games I already have. Especially when CD-Rs are so cheap these days.

lol, sure thing, matey. don't forget your parrot.

 

[fustercluck]

If I use Alcohol 120 do i need to change the cdi file extension to anything or will it recognize it?

 

[Nohr]

Originally posted by: Adaman
If I use Alcohol 120 do i need to change the cdi file extension to anything or will it recognize it?

Alcohol should be able to burn CDI images. Don't rename the file.

 

[fustercluck]

I still can't burn DC games successfully. I've tried different programs/settings/media/burners, all with the same results. It's real frustrating, I hate burning stuff. No backups will boot. Not recent backups anyways, I backed up some DC games a few years ago and they still work fine, but I can't get any new backups to load up. Any ideas?

 

[I4AT]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Adaman

Originally posted by: theGlove
well non-copied original dreamcast games can be found for like about $5 each on ebay so might be worth just buying those...

Those would probably be scratched too, and I don't want to buy games I already have. Especially when CD-Rs are so cheap these days.

lol, sure thing, matey. don't forget your parrot.

When he buys a game off Ebay, where does that money go? Into the owner's pocket or into Sega's? Sega hasn't officially sold any Dreamcast titles in years, so how can one consider burning Dreamcast games piracy?

 

[Nohr]

Originally posted by: Adaman
I still can't burn DC games successfully. I've tried different programs/settings/media/burners, all with the same results. It's real frustrating, I hate burning stuff. No backups will boot. Not recent backups anyways, I backed up some DC games a few years ago and they still work fine, but I can't get any new backups to load up. Any ideas?

Perhaps your recent backups aren't bootable. Try booting them by loading the Utopia Boot Disc first, then swapping in the game disc when it says.

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: Nohr

Originally posted by: Adaman
I still can't burn DC games successfully. I've tried different programs/settings/media/burners, all with the same results. It's real frustrating, I hate burning stuff. No backups will boot. Not recent backups anyways, I backed up some DC games a few years ago and they still work fine, but I can't get any new backups to load up. Any ideas?

Perhaps your recent backups aren't bootable. Try booting them by loading the Utopia Boot Disc first, then swapping in the game disc when it says.

Yeah I'm using utopia 1.5, which works with my old games. Just nothing is working lately. Games that boot fine normally, after copying, don't boot. Not self-bootable or with the bootdisk.

Maybe I'm not using the right burning settings or something, there's a lot to choose from. Dreamcast games shouldn't be that picky though.

 

[fustercluck]

*bump*

I still have very bad luck with this. I did get one copy working but I have a feeling if I burned it 10 times only 1 or 2 of the copies would boot up. I've tried all kinds of different burning methods, with nothing working particularly well. Usually I'll try and boot up something with the Utopia boot disk, the dreamcast will make weird sounds for a while, it will try to load it, and then keep stalling and going over and over again, and nothing ever happens. Might be a laser problem, or maybe both of my burners are bad, whatever the problem is, It's not been going well.

Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Sniper82]

If you haven't tried yet use discjuggler because it was the app to use to burn DC images(downloaded). If XP won't run it try loading it in windows 98/2000 compatible mode. Me and my bro inlaw backed up quite a few games this way with little coasters.

But we downloaded the image of the games we had.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I'm confused. Are you trying to backup original discs, or files you downloaded?

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: xcript
Alcohol 120% can handle burning CDIs.

I've used it before to burn a few DC games and they worked fine.

I believe nero can too.

Oh, and dreamcast games can be copied. You either need the serial link cable (slow, hard to find), or the ethernet adapter (fast, harder to find). You can then rip the games right from DC to PC.

And yeah, dreamcast games were pretty picky with burning. Just follow some of the guides on a site like dcemulation or something.
Also, some burners just can't burn dreamcast games well.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

And btw you don't need a dreamcast, you can use nullDC which works pretty damn fantastically except for controller support. Depending on what games you are going to play. No need for discs or a dreamcast.

http://forums.ngemu.com/nulldc-forum/87533-nulldc-v1-0-0-public-beta-1-a.html

 

[FoBoT]

don't be a pirate

 

[AlucardX]

i used to have a cdi2nero program. it converts .CDI to .NRG

i imagine it's still on google somewhere.

since i'm bored..

http://www.dcevolution.net/burning_cdi2nero.php

then..

http://www.dcevolution.net/burning_alcohol120.php

also.. wouldn't hurt to clean your DC laser. qtip + rubbing alcohol should do it.