Hello All,
Some nights ago I've been modding my Sega Saturn (Model 1 Jap White...) with the now famous FRAM mod. It's been really a while since the last time I've played with it, possibly ~ 2 years (after possibly a 5 years iatus).
Since I've been modding for a while I felt it would have been a snap, as I also modded several Mega CDs with even tinier FRAM chips. I did wrong this time.
In an attempt to rearrange cabling of the already installed switchless mod + mod chip, bringing all the soldiering on the upper side of the mobo, I've mistakenly soldered the +9V to the modchip VCC PAD, and also to the FM18W08 FRAM chip. Moreover, while doing the job, some former SRAM pads have lifted and gone, so I had to re-trace.
Long story short: the Saturn fired up, and the controller was unresponsive, it showed me the date setup screen, an freezed. After that, black screen.
Once I've figured out my mistake, I've removed the FRAM, and correctly soldered +5V to the corresponding pads, re-checked the former SRAM traces I've restored, and everything was fine. Firing up again, the Saturn is responsive, video and audio ok, but...
but now it just says "Checking on disc" no matter if the lid switch is close or open. This happenes even with the CD drive disconnected completly. The very odd thing now is sometime (likely, when all the caps discharge?) the CD ACCESS Led will blink, and sometime, when closing the CD lid opening switch, the CD drive will actually move the gears to move the laser unit. I didn't see the motor spin, nor the laser lighting up though.
So at least CPU and RAM are working, and even the basic BIOS is there. Though, I'm not entirely sure where to start scouting what it could have fried.
To be fair, I'm pretty depressed by damn mistake here, and I'm looking for similar experiences.
Thanks
Back in full force with my very original account, possibly haven't been using this in 9 years :)
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