Dreamcast region free BIOS

[fireaza]

I recently ordered a Japanese Sega Dreamcast (I wasn't really looking to buy one, but I found a boxed one on eBay for cheap in really good condition, so I thought why not?), and naturally, since it's a Japanese model, I'm going to need to replace the BIOS with a region free one so I can play American games on it. I was reading on mmmonkey's site that there's a region free BIOS which you can either piggy-back on the original BIOS, or replace entirely if I'm reading this correctly. I'd probably do the latter, since I don't see any reason why I would want to go back to the region-locked BIOS, and the "replace" mod is simpler and neater. Are any of you fine gentlemen burning region-free Sega Dreamcast BIOS chips? How much for such a service? Also, I notice that the new BIOS changes the boot screen, I'm kinda fond of the original version, is it possible to keep it? And does anyone have more detailed instructions on how to do the installation? mmmonkey's guide only has the "replace the original" as a footnote, there's not many detailed photos and instructions.

Or perhaps one of the BIOS flashers disks would be a better idea? At the moment, I can't think of any Japanese-exclusive titles I would want, so I'd probably be buying all American games for now.

[l_oliveira]

Wrong board... Dreamcast had a specific board here, fyi ... :)

This one is meant to discuss all stuff from the original SG-1000 up to the Mega Drive and it's peripherals. (early SEGA stuff)...

Saturn and Dreamcast have their respective forums.

[Lum]

It depends how much convenience you want. Region free bios should act similar to a basic modchip. Permanent automated region free on original games. No disc swaps, region toggle, or burnt copies.

Though I'm not sure of the full details. I've already got an unknown chip and can freely switch between American or Japanese titles. Never tried PAL, which I haven't done for Gamecube yet either...

[APE]

You just program an unmodified BIOS to be region free leaving the boot up animation alone. I've done this for people who have contracted me for installs - dirt easy.

[fireaza]

Wrong board... Dreamcast had a specific board here, fyi ... :)

This one is meant to discuss all stuff from the original SG-1000 up to the Mega Drive and it's peripherals. (early SEGA stuff)...

Saturn and Dreamcast have their respective forums.
Whoops, I didn't spot that, can a mod move this thread?


It depends how much convenience you want. Region free bios should act similar to a basic modchip. Permanent automated region free on original games. No disc swaps, region toggle, or burnt copies.

Though I'm not sure of the full details. I've already got an unknown chip and can freely switch between American or Japanese titles. Never tried PAL, which I haven't done for Gamecube yet either...
The convenience of region-free is what I want, though as I said, for the time being, I'll be playing American games. Perhaps a region-free BIOS is more suited to a later time when there's a Japanese game I want to play, and there's an option that's better suited for what I'm looking to do at the present time?


You just program an unmodified BIOS to be region free leaving the boot up animation alone. I've done this for people who have contracted me for installs - dirt easy.
Interesting! You can modify the original BIOS and make it region-free? How do you do that?

[APE]

I have the BIOS premodified and program it to the chip before installing or use Dreamshell to flash it after installation. That is the beginning and end of it all.

[fireaza]

Wow, that sounds great! And it's truly region-free? I can pop-in games from any region, and they'll load up? No disk-swapping and region setting required? How can I do this to my console?

[Lum]

IIRC you may not use a modchip and region free bios together. I think I heard something about conflicts. As if there's any purpose.

[fireaza]

Well, if the reprogramming of the original BIOS is as awesome as APE has implied, I won't need a modchip :P

[omp]

It was well worth it mate, done it a few times now. Bad_ad burned a few chips for me. Replace the memory battery while you are in there. There is a guide on mmmonkey that I shared a while ago for a simple one.

[Bad_Ad84]

Are any of you fine gentlemen burning region-free Sega Dreamcast BIOS chips?


You read mmmonkeys site, yet missing the very first line that mentions me and has a link back to assemblergames where I sell them.

[fireaza]

Ah, you're right! You got a shoutout on mmmonkey's site, nice! ;) But I am intrigued by the mod APE mentioned, the idea of simply reprogramming the original BIOS to make it region free sounds quick and simple. Though now that I re-read his post, I think he's talking about burning a re-programmed version of the original BIOS to a new chip and soldering that in. My original impression was that you could flash the new BIOS to the original chip, but I have a feeling I've got the wrong idea :P Clarification maybe?

[Bad_Ad84]

You cant reprogram the original bios, its a maskrom and is read only.

[fireaza]

Oh well. Okay Mr Bad_Ad84, would you be able to do a modified region-free Japanese BIOS in the manner that APE mentioned? And with regards to installation, do you know of a guide that's a little more detailed than mmmonkey's when it comes to replacing the original chip instead of piggybacking it? Thanks!

[Bad_Ad84]

Just swap the chip, lift leg 1 and solder to 23. Then make the connection to leg 44 that you have to make with any method.

Its simple enough, hence the 1 or 2 lines on mmmonkeys guide.

And yes, I can region free an original bios (rather than the one with the new animation). Its like a 2 byte patch or so if memory serves.

[fireaza]

Sounds simple enough, though it changes depending on what motherboard you have right? That's why mmmonkey's guide also shows a second wire running from leg 23 and leg 44 is soldering to either leg 7 or leg 9 of the IC502 right (though I could swear in the photo he posted that he's got it connected to leg 8...)?

Anyway, how much would it be for you to burn me a region-free Japanese BIOS?

[Bad_Ad84]

On a VA0, the original maskrom is 5v rather than 3.3v the flash chip (and maskrom on other revisions).

You just need to lift the VCC pin, so its not connected to 5v and connect it to 3.3v instead.

Rest is correct.

Post in the dreamcast chip thread asking for how many you want and also mention you want a region free "normal" bios, rather than the link83 one.

[fireaza]

Will do, thanks!

[omp]

Replacing the chip itself is a lot easier/simpler. Literally half an hour job while watching TV lol!

[fireaza]

Bumping this thread!

I'm currently installing the region-free BIOS, I've managed to get the original chip off (VERY fiddely!) but it would appear I've managed to take off one of the pads in the process:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/fireaza/IMG_0548.jpg
As you can see, where pad 7 should be, there's no shiny silver pad. I take it the next step would be to run a wire from from leg 7 on the replacement BIOS to one of the legs on the IC502 chip above like mmmonkey did on his site (I take consolation in the fact that he broke 2 pads while I only broke one!) but which one? The 7th leg? I'm trying to follow the trace from the broken pad, but I'm getting lost where the text starts to cover it up.

But I was also thinking, see there's that little hole on the trace that runs along the trace from the broken pad? What if I were to run a single strand of wire into the hole, solder it from the back of the board, then solder the other end of the wire to the replacement BIOS? That sounds simpler and easier to me.

[Bad_Ad84]

pad 7 of the bios is A4

Pin 17 is A4 on the IC502

Connect them together, as they are on the same bus.

I can also make out the trace just from your low res picture.... you might need glasses! lol

[fireaza]

pad 7 of the bios is A4

Pin 17 is A4 on the IC502

Connect them together, as they are on the same bus.

I can also make out the trace just from your low res picture.... you might need glasses! lol
I see, thanks Bad_Ad! What do you think about the idea I posted on the previous page? Would that not work? Not that I don't trust you, but following the trace myself, I could swear that pin 17 (counting from 20, right to left) on the IC502 leads to pin 8 on the IC501. And I'm using a magnifying glass here :P

As to needing glasses, I wear contacts, but I think they need to be replaced :P

[Bad_Ad84]

What idea? Connecting it to pin 7?

Why would that work? you dont just connect up pin 7 to leg 7... the chips have completely different pin out. Following that logic, Pad 44 will connect to leg 44 on IC502, which doesnt exist.

[Bad_Ad84]

Here is how I am seeing it:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/28488139/IMG_0548.jpg

If you have a multimeter, you can confirm by checking for continuity between the via right next to pad 7 that you ripped off (the little hole above it) and check that to pin 17 on IC502. It should be directly connected.

[fireaza]

What idea? Connecting it to pin 7?

Why would that work? you dont just connect up pin 7 to leg 7... the chips have completely different pin out. Following that logic, Pad 44 will connect to leg 44 on IC502, which doesnt exist.
Actually, my idea was more like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/fireaza/dcbiospad.jpg

But it would probably be best to go with what you're suggesting ;)

*EDIT* I've checked the trace with a multimeter, and unless I'm completely failing at using a multimeter (I've only just purchased one recently so it's possible!), it's responding on leg 16 and not leg 17 :\

[Bad_Ad84]

What you suggest is how I would do it.

If you think your soldering is up to it, then do it like that.

[fireaza]

Sweet, that also solves the problem of if pin 7 is connected to pin 16 or 17 too :D Thanks again for your help Bad_Ad!

[Bad_Ad84]

Are you sure you are counting the pins correctly?

it should be the 4th one from the right

17 18 19 20

Common mistake is counting 3 back from 20 to get to 17

[fireaza]

Pretty sure I'm counting it correctly. The pin that's responding is next to the pin with the white dot (pin 15 I'm assuming) on the right. This also is the pin that I'm arriving at when I follow the trace from the broken pin (damn you white text!)

Either way, I think the easy and safe option is to do what I depicted in the picture above :)

[Bad_Ad84]

I will check a board when I get home - just out of curosity sake.

Its possible the address lines do not match 1:1, but I was pretty sure they did.

[fireaza]

You can color me confused too ;)

[fireaza]

Well, I've installed the new BIOS. The DC hasn't exploded and the main menu loads, so I think it was a success :D

[Bad_Ad84]

It does indeed connect to pin 16 (A5) rather than A4.

[fireaza]

Ha! I knew I wasn't crazy!

[AlmostOriginal]

I recently fitted the region free bios inside my PAL Sega Dreamcast VA1 (Removed the whole chip). It boots the logo spins the disk but after that the screen goes black. If i open the lid i see the logo and get to the dashboard. (It worked fine before i replaced the chip)

The problem is that the system runs about 10 -15 seconds before it goes to black screen.

I mounted the region free bios 99% similar to my other motherboard (VA1) and it works perfect.

[omp]

Possible dry solder joint fault is not there until it "warms" up.

[AlmostOriginal]

Sorry but i dont get it?

[omp]

Solder joint is not making a good/firm/electrically sound connection.

Do you have a magnifying glass? You may have to go over your connections again, which is as simple as re-flowing the solder.

[beharius]

2 of my Black Sports DCs had that exact problem. It`s not about cold solder joint, I checked it multiple times, nada, it`s really weird, when I put the original one back, it works but not the region free one. I modified many consoles with this bios before, but somehow some consoles are not compatible...

[Bad_Ad84]

Ive modified hundreds, not 1 has had an issue yet.

Id like to see one of these "incompatible" units....

But you should just do the piggy back install, then you can try other bioses (i.e. dump the original then patch that to be region free etc)

[AlmostOriginal]

omp: Thank you for your help. I am pretty sure my soldering is good. I have checked them all and they are good. (Maybe i have to check it again) I am almost in the same boat as beharius. 1 works the other one doesnt.

Broken
http://i47.tinypic.com/2zgdf21.jpg

Working
http://i49.tinypic.com/2s5y1ih.jpg

The reason Leg 44 of the chip is not wired to leg 7 of IC502 is because i use this:
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/sega-dreamcast-region-free-bios/#ic502

Side note this was much easier than that nightmare saturn bios.

[beharius]

Leg 44 (WE) can also be connected to the pin B14 of the GDROM connector(CN503)...

[Bad_Ad84]

WE can also be connected to VCC (pin 23) - it just means you cant write to the chip

[APE]

The only incompatibility I've come across after modding 50+ DCs is a DC where the GD-ROM won't properly read discs anymore and I'm pretty sure it's a GD-ROM problem and not a BIOS issue.

[Lum]

The only incompatibility I've come across after modding 50+ DCs is a DC where the GD-ROM won't properly read discs anymore and I'm pretty sure it's a GD-ROM problem and not a BIOS issue.

Oh no, please don't let me be the unlucky "winner" if I ever have to replace my DC. Already bad enough that similar happened when modding GC.

[APE]

I doubt it, I think the GD-ROM on this thing isn't seated 100% but I've been too lazy to bother trying to reseat it.