Tons of Saturn Hardware Problems

[nate]

During the last few years nearly every Saturn that i have owned has decided that they don't want to play games properly, however instead of just sharing one problem they all seem to not work for different reasons. I don't have any images of said machines but i can remember what model they were and what was up with them, The following is a list of all 4 machines along with the model number and problem:

Saturn 1 *MK-80200A-50*: This one is a pretty odd error, it will sometimes load the boot menu but then suddenly crash and will not restart unless it is turned off.

Saturn 2 *MK-80200A-50*: It loads in games okay, however during cut scenes it will either reset the Saturn or refuse to load any data

Saturn 3 *MK-08200-03* This one i already know of the problem, it will boot up but then go to the menu stating that the disk cannot be read. So i am guessing that the laser will need replacing

Saturn 4 *MK-08200-03* This one will turn on but nothing will be displayed on the screen at all, it also makes rather sinister sounds.

The current Saturn that i am using at the moment is a model MK-08200-03 and as of now works fine. I am hoping that
someone here will know of any of the problems i stated as i wish to try and bring them back to working order instead of just throwing them away

[mick_aka]

Hi there nate, I'm just off to bed but I'll try and help more with your problems tomorrow.

Never throw a Saturn away, I supply free parts to those who need them so always need broken systems donated

[Stuart36]

i was highly impressed with your memory when i saw the serials that you had quoted. then i realised there were only two of them still, good job, and good luck with your saturns. from the sounds of things you have a working saturn split up into 4 parts, maybe take the laser from one that reads discs and swap it into the one that doesn't?

[nate]

Jun 22, 2011 2:51:42 GMT Stuart36 said:

i was highly impressed with your memory when i saw the serials that you had quoted. then i realised there were only two of them still, good job, and good luck with your saturns. from the sounds of things you have a working saturn split up into 4 parts, maybe take the laser from one that reads discs and swap it into the one that doesn't?

See thats what i am thinking of doing just take them over to the workshop and try to salvage at least one of them back into working order, however i have that fear of opening any console open just in case i completely destroy it

[nate]

Jun 22, 2011 0:50:11 GMT mick_aka said:

Hi there nate, I'm just off to bed but I'll try and help more with your problems tomorrow.

Never throw a Saturn away, I supply free parts to those who need them so always need broken systems donated

Yea i did notice the other topic thats in this forum as well ^^ and seeing as i am not the most mechanical person in the world i might just have to donate any if my first attempt fails

[mick_aka]

Ok, let's hit it...

Jun 22, 2011 0:32:37 GMT nate said:

Saturn 1 *MK-80200A-50*: This one is a pretty odd error, it will sometimes load the boot menu but then suddenly crash and will not restart unless it is turned off.

When it does get to the boot menu, what colour are the floating spheres in the bottom corners of the screen? if they are red there may be a bad link between the system and laser board.
Open it up, disconnect the ribbon cable going to the laser assembly, clean it then re-insert properly.

Jun 22, 2011 0:32:37 GMT nate said:

Saturn 2 *MK-80200A-50*: It loads in games okay, however during cut scenes it will either reset the Saturn or refuse to load any data

Clean the laser with alcohol on a lint free cotton swab, if that doesn't work it may be a weak laser, turning up the laser bias can be a temporary fix but it's on it's way out and may need a laser replacement (very difficult)

Jun 22, 2011 0:32:37 GMT nate said:

Saturn 3 *MK-08200-03* This one i already know of the problem, it will boot up but then go to the menu stating that the disk cannot be read. So i am guessing that the laser will need replacing

*see answers for Saturn 1 and 2, properly cleaning the laser lens should always be your first port of call.

Jun 22, 2011 0:32:37 GMT nate said:

Saturn 4 *MK-08200-03* This one will turn on but nothing will be displayed on the screen at all, it also makes rather sinister sounds.

Are these sounds like the startup sound skipping around, or are we talking mechanical sounds?

[nate]

Jun 23, 2011 18:18:05 GMT mick_aka said:

When it does get to the boot menu, what color are the floating spheres in the bottom corners of the screen? if they are red there may be a bad link between the system and laser board.
Open it up, disconnect the ribbon cable going to the laser assembly, clean it then re-insert properly.

As far as i know i don't think i have ever seen the spheres red on that Saturn as they are there normal blueish color but i will try what you suggested anyway just in case

Jun 23, 2011 18:18:05 GMT mick_aka said:

Clean the laser with alcohol on a lint free cotton swab, if that doesn't work it may be a weak laser, turning up the laser bias can be a temporary fix but it's on it's way out and may need a laser replacement (very difficult)

I never thought about that before, and what do you know it worked! The same goes for the 3rd Saturn so i might play on both of them for a few hours just to make sure it works 100%

Jun 23, 2011 18:18:05 GMT mick_aka said:

Are these sounds like the startup sound skipping around, or are we talking mechanical sounds?

It seems to be mechanical sounds, before it was just the startup sound skipping, but upon opening it up i noticed that the laser needs replacing along with a rather bad looking motherboard.

PS: Thanks very much for the tips, it feels good having more than one functional Saturn again! ^^

[mick_aka]

Anytime, glad you sorted a couple out!

[zyrobs]

Cleaning the motherboard with alcohol can fix other problems too, I had a Saturn that froze up when loading a game but blowing the dust out of it fixed the problem. I cleaned it just in case, though.