mikezelot
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Post by mikezelot on Nov 22, 2015 4:46:07 GMT
Hello Sega Saturn Forum! I am new here and a new Saturn owner and I think the systems great but my Sega Saturn is having an unusual problem that I can not find a solution anywhere online. The system has 0 space on its memory. I have replaced the battery but all that did was save the date and time. I tried to clear the space but still nothing. I heard there is a factory reset button on the back but it appears my model didn't have one. So I bought a memory card plus and it won't load it and it makes my games freeze when I put it in. Is there something wrong with my hard drive?
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Post by MIK on Nov 22, 2015 12:43:56 GMT
Maybe the internal memory is corrupt and stopping the cartridge memory from working... It's more common to happen around the other way, the cartridge memory gets corrupt while messing up and stopping the internal memory from being formatted until the cartridge is completely wiped clean and re-formatted.
The proper way to clear the internal memory is to FORMAT it, remove the cartridge memory from the Saturn (just for now) to see if the internal memory can be FORMATTED. Failing that unplug the Saturn from the mains, remove the internal clock battery and leave it for 60seconds. The internal memory and clock should wipe and reset it's self. If your new to Saturn the clock battery is also the backup for the internal memory.
If you can get the internal memory formatted and working on it's own then try formatting the cartridge again. Make sure the cartridge pins are clean as any loss of contact can cause problems. Sega Saturn's are known to have slightly iffy cartridge ports, if you get it working do not take it out or knock it. If you do have to take it out and pop it back in then always use the front end to check the cartridge is reading ok before playing any game.
Sometimes is pays to have a spare machine handy so you can double check that the game or cartridge ect is a-ok.
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mikezelot
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Post by mikezelot on Nov 22, 2015 19:32:04 GMT
I took out the battery in the back left it for 10 minutes and put it back in without the cart inside turned on the system set up the date and time again then went into system settings and it showed 0 space available again. I turned it off and put in the cart and it appears to still freeze my system when I click system settings.
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Post by zyrobs on Nov 22, 2015 19:33:52 GMT
Have you tried using the "Clear" option for the internal memory? It should tell you if formatting did not succeed.
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mikezelot
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Post by mikezelot on Nov 23, 2015 6:26:56 GMT
I have tried that too but still says 0 space available. Could it be a hardware issue?
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mick_aka
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Post by mick_aka on Nov 23, 2015 9:03:44 GMT
I don't think I've ever had the internal memory full on die on me in a Saturn before, but I suppose it's possible!
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saturnfan31
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Post by saturnfan31 on Nov 23, 2015 10:55:09 GMT
That's very weird, Too bad it don't have a CMOS jumper like on a PC
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mikezelot
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Post by mikezelot on Nov 23, 2015 18:51:06 GMT
is there anyway to fix it? And if not is there anyway for me to get my memory card to work without crashing my games
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Post by MIK on Nov 23, 2015 23:47:18 GMT
If you had another Saturn handy there is every chance the memory cartridge may work so you can't give up on it until you know you have a Saturn that works fine. Right now though there might be something wrong with the Saturn so I would not even bother plugging the cartridge in until you can clear the internal memory. The internal memory and cartridge are linked to each other, and while rare-ish if one messes up it can take the other out but normally a quick format sorts both out.
If it says there is zero memory free and it can not be formatted then there is something up with the machine.
Try taking the clock battery out and see if you can format the memory without it.
Take all leads out including the video lead and leave the Saturn for a while, say a couple of hours or over night so most of the caps inside have time to drain and try again.
If you have a spare one try a different pad just in case there is a short in the cord and it's messing with the Saturn.
Try a game you know saves to the internal memory and if it saves then return back to the dash and try reformatting the memory. Sega Rally saves to the internal memory in the background when messing with the game options...
Just for the record: On a fully working machine a Saturn does not need the clock battery to save game data to the internal memory, it will work as normal and it's only when you switch off without a clock battery the save data will wipe. A soft reset will still keep the data in the internal memory if there is no battery.
If there is still no joy then the Saturn is faulty some where.
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mikezelot
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Post by mikezelot on Nov 24, 2015 5:27:59 GMT
Just unplugged the power cord video cord and took out the battery. Thank you for the help by the way hopefully this works!
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mikezelot
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Post by mikezelot on Nov 27, 2015 5:39:35 GMT
Left unplugged for 2 days with battery out. Put battery back in plugged saturn in then ran it with the same problem . Tried after that with no battery still 0 space available. Is there anything else I can do? could cleaning the inside help? I can take pictures if that helps
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mick_aka
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Post by mick_aka on Nov 27, 2015 14:58:25 GMT
It certainly couldn't hurt, I'd take some good quality pics of both sides of the motherboard to see if someone here can spot anything amiss.
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mikezelot
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Post by mikezelot on Nov 29, 2015 4:40:40 GMT
Thank you every one that helped but the game store I bought it from was kind enough to replace my system with a working one.
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Post by MIK on Nov 29, 2015 6:03:35 GMT
You did everything possible without opening it up. Glad you got it exchanged as that saved the nightmare dragging on longer than it might of, more so when it's your first machine! One thing remains, the memory cartridge was fine wasn't it? Happy Christmas any way. Enjoy!
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goldenband
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Post by goldenband on Mar 26, 2018 0:44:24 GMT
I'm having this issue too! Fortunately I have another Saturn to use, and the one with the problem was given to me for free anyway -- I guess I know why now? In any event it has the exact same symptoms described here: no free memory, but it also can't be cleared or formatted, despite trying the obvious tricks like removing the battery and the power cable for a while. At one point I got it to say "1 free block" for a moment but that went away. It appears that the OP and I aren't the only ones with this issue, either: assemblergames.com/threads/sega-saturn-error-system-memory-not-ready-0-blocks-available-free-after-format.65364/www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?23117-Sega-Saturn-Internal-Memory-Not-WorkingIt seems like this might be a recurring point of failure on the console. Any thoughts on what part might be at fault, and how to fix it? The shame is that otherwise, this Saturn seems significantly newer/happier than my main system, which has somewhat questionable connectivity in the cart port and AV jack. But, OTOH, my main system can save games...
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