I tried to region change my console and failed

[thakarra]

Hi all,

I'm after some help, I think I ruined my Dreamcast.

I purchased a console from Japan with the intent to replace the PSU and install a GDEMU.

This all went to plan perfectly fine without any issues. I installed a DreamPSU, removed the disc drive and fitted in a GDEMU.

Everything was working perfectly 100% perfectly... Until I started messing around like an idiot.

I live in a PAL country and I noticed that some of my PAL games were booting weird on the TV, they'd be like half cut off. This was obviously because the console is from Japan (NTSC). So I started poking around trying to find a way to "region change" my console.

And I found this:
https://www.retrosix.wiki/region-change-dreamcast

Now this tutorial looked super straight forward. I'm no stranger to soldering and the tutorial mentioned you only need to solder 1 wire. So I followed the guide and loaded up the region swap software via my GDEMU. For whatever reason, it just wouldn't write the PAL region to the flash like it was supposed to. I kept going back and fourth about 3-4 times, unplugging the console, disassembling, checking my soldering, reassembling, plugging back in etc. But it just wouldn't work.

I was about to give up and then I found something called Dream Shell, which seemed to also have region changing software on it. So with one final attempt, I tried to boot Dream Shell off my GDEMU. Then the whole console basically crashed and this is now where I'm at...

When I turn on the Dreamcast, the screen is black for about 20-30 seconds. Then without any intro animation the Dreamcast logo appears on screen and hangs for about 3 minutes. Finally it boots into the BIOS and asks me to set the time and date. When I do this, it takes me straight into the BIOS menu. If I click on "Play" it asks me to insert a disk.

So I removed the GDEMU and put back the original disk drive. The same thing happens.. Black screen, logo for 3 minutes, BIOS date/time and then into the menu. The only difference is that the logo swirl is black. If I click on "Play" with a disc inserted, it will start spinning and a dialogue appears saying something along the lines of "please wait while disc is being checked".. However it just stays like thins and nothing ever happens. The disc continues to spin but after a while the laser stops trying to read it. So basically I can't boot the GDEMU and I can't boot any discs.

Just to note, I've also removed the soldered wire now completely from R512 and the 12v rail on the board.

Another thing to note is that when I was trying to do the region change mod, every time I would disassemble it to check my soldering, I noticed the board was really hot underneath.

I'm absolutely gutted. I had it working. I should have been satisfied with just playing USA games... But I stupidly tried to force a region change and now it's not working at all.

If ANYONE can help me or at least help me troubleshoot.. I would greatly appreciate it. I'm completely heartbroken.

[SWAT]

Your dreamcast is currently bricked and needs to be re-soldered with a FlashROM because it died.

[chth96]

I think that you need to detach bios chip from mainboard with hot air gun and purchase pal dreamcast bios and solder this bios on mainboard.But I think that It would be quite difficult for novice to detach bios successfully from mainboard with hot air gun...
A years ago, I also have tried to detach bios chip with hot air gun,But I broke some bios solder pad,and I narrowly repaired it by soldering more than seven jumping wire like below photo.
https://img2.quasarzone.com/editor/2024/...4ae93c.jpg
https://img2.quasarzone.com/editor/2024/...5c9ad9.jpg

[Elgor4uk]

1. If it constantly requires you to set the date and time, then most likely the flash is out of order.
2. The color of the spiral can be restored, and the region can be returned, provided that the CD-R with the recorded Retrodream is loaded. Here are the instructions from Dragonsity
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s7gZLy_gtWU
3. It is better to hide and censor the instructions and guides for changing the region behind seven seals and give access only after an interview about the risks.
4. Either I don't understand something, but can someone explain to me what is the advantage of the PAL region over the NTSC region? According to the author's post, NTSC plays some PAL games in half the screen (which I confirm). But this problem is treated by choosing the game options at 60Hz. If the game options do not have a selector in 60hz, then you can start the game via VGA and it will automatically start the PAL game in 60hz with full screen. Racing Simulation - Monaco Grand Prix.
5. There are about 40 exclusive PAL games that were not released in the NTSC region. And they all work on the NTSC console and only a couple of games require a VGA connection
6. This information is relevant for launching via Dreamshell. Perhaps a mod region for problematic games is really required through GDemu.

1. Если, постоянно требует установить дату и время, то скорее всего флеш вышла из строя.
2. Цвет спирали можно восстановить, и регион вернуть при условии если будет грузиться CD-R с записанным Retrodream.
3. Инструкции и гайды по смене региона лучше спрятать и зацензурить за семью печатями и давать доступ только после собеседования о рисках.
4. Либо я что то не понимаю, но может кто нибудь объяснить, в чем преимущество PAL региона перед NTSC регионом? Судя по сообщению автора, NTSC воспроизводит некоторые PAL игры в половину экрана (что я подтверждаю, буквально 2 игры из всей библиотеке). Но эта проблема лечится выбором в опциях игры 60Hz. Если в опциях игры нету селектора в 60hz, то можно запустить игру через VGA и она автоматически запустит PAL игру в 60hz с полным экраном. Например Racing Simulation - Monaco Grand Prix.
5. Существует около 40 эксклюзивных PAL игр, которые не выпускали в NTSC регионе. И все они работают и на NTSC приставке и только пара из этих игр требует подключение через VGA.
6. Данная информация актуальна для запуска через Dreamshell. Возможно, через GDemu действительно требуется регион мод для проблемных игр.