Messages

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: core grafx issue after recap]

There could be a bad trace to one of your capacitors.

However, depending on how much you moved around the card slot/gray connector cable, one or more of the wires for the gray cable could have disconnected/broken from the board. When this happens, usually one has to strip and resolder all the wires for the cables. It's usualy on the main board end not the Card slot part.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine (white) still has corrupted graphics after both memory chips replaced]

Could be a bad trace to one of the memory chips. Check traces from memory chips to the HU6270. If traces check good, then maybe a faulty 6270?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: duo full of problems]

I see from your Short video that you are using CDR discs. Your audio dropping out can possibly be fixed by regreasing the lens rails and also by slightly raising the lens gain potentiometer on the lens itself. If that doesn't work, then continue reading for info on using CDR discs that I've posted in forums before.

I've learned from years of working on DUOs that not all DUOs like the same types/Brands of CDR discs.

I've worked on many that only work good with the cheaper typical light green bottom Verbatim CDRs, but I've also worked on just as many that only work good with slightly Higher quality CDrs like Verbatim Datalife plus discs. 94755 to be exact as they use darker (bluish) Azo Dye. There have also been many situations where changing out the lens or making lens adjustments makes no difference as to what kinds of CDRs work good but in some cases it does help.

I have also found that the model of CDRW/DVDRW drive plays a big part depending on what kind of CDR media you are using as to how good the quality of the burn turns out. Meaning, say I have a DUO that only works good with cheaper Verbatim CDrs. I could burn the same type of disc in two different CDRW drives only to have one burn that barely works and the other works perfect. But then the opposite could exist for the AZO dye discs. Meaning the CDRW drive that made the junk burn for the cheaper CDR discs, ends up working better for the AZO dye discs. So it's really a lot of trial an error.

Don't go out of your way to find an older drive that burns slower. If the slowest your drive will go is 12X, well then that can be good enough as long as the CDRW drive is good quality. I typically use older drives only because I have a bunch of used ones laying around from Old PCs I have recycled for customers over the years. I usually burn at 8X speed with them.

So don't look for a specific CD burner. Just get one and give it a try.


You might want to try a different CD burning software. What are you using? Image burn? I find that depending on the CDRW/DVDRW I am using, I will sometimes have to use Nero or Alchohol 120% but sometimes Image burn is fine for other drives.

Also, make sure you are burning your discs using the .cue file and not the .iso or .bin itself. cue is the file to select to burn the disc.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: IFU Backup Memory corrupted?]

Those traces are definitely cut on purpose from the factory. So I wouldn't connect them.  I'm lost on what to check next. We need The Steve to comment on this one because I can't remember what trace I repaired to get this working in a DUO before. I'm pretty sure it was a bad trace from the save memory to the larger D91317GD chip, but I can't remember for sure.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: IFU Backup Memory corrupted?]

Wait a minute! I just went back and read your first post about this. Does the CD drive still do nothing when you hit the run button?  Does the CD drive power on if you hit the play button on top of the CD drive? If the Drive doesn't power on either way, then you are missing power from one area of the board for some reason. There should be 9V-10V getting to the CD drive IO connector when you turn on the switch to lock the IFU and have the PCE powered on.

I'm trying to remember what I did to repair this in a DUO before. I'm pretty sure it was a bad trace. For most IFUs, I've just swapped that entire top board out as I used to have a bunch of IFUs  on hand with various problems. I could swap enough parts around to make more usable IFUs.

Usually the symptoms of bad Ram for the CD drive is glitchy graphics for when CD games load or a Black screen once a CD game loads. So your Ram may have been good and this could be my mistake for not noticing your CD drive was not powering on. I was just paying attention to the lines shown on your CD bios save manager screen. Sorry for not noticing that part.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Patched PC Engine CD BIOS files by Elmer for use in the Turbo Everdrive?]

So, If I used the TED Pro on an Express I would get stereo HUcard sound through the Headphone port, but no CDDA out of either the speaker or the Headphone port because the CDDA doesn't come off the card port because of the pinout?  Thanks.

I'm pretty sure the Turbo Express gets all audio when using the everdrive pro but the CD sound is Mono not stereo. Just like with coregrafx, supergrafx, and PC engine shuttles.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Motoroader multiplayer]

Moto Roader is one of my favorites on the system. Probabaly because I played it so much with friends back in the day. Definitely more fun multiplayer as it cuts down on the CPU opponents, which somehow have the ability to get better upgrade parts than they have the money to buy.

I've always been dissapointed with Moto Roader II. The addition of cars that can fly kind of ruins it for me.

They should have made Moto Roader II with just cars but then added more variety of tracks. Maybe some off road or city race tracks.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Some important NEWS about the PC Engine!]

I've added an example/demo to show what I want exactly:

That's from macross.fandom.com. So imagine the 20-year PCEFX history of 20,000+ images being displayed/filtered like that at the top of the forum, randomized order every time you refresh, and if you click on one it takes you to the thread/post, etc. It'd be a 20-year walk down memory lane for random OG veterans/visitors. That's what we can do to celebrate/preserve!

But yeah, first I need to finish disabling broken/lost images where there's no hope, and finish repairing the ones that are recoverable, mostly thanks to WayBack, or manual detective work like you saw in this example with expiring Sega-16 links. Melf lost his webmaster and that's part of why he's ready to say good-bye and go archive mode, but I can do my own IT from 25 years ago, so I don't have to pay anyone else, I just need hosting/domain costs, then time/motivation.

Here is a flyer/promo I got from the 92 Consumer electronics show in Chicago.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC-Engine Duo-RX CD-Rom Issues (Looking for Advice on how to repair)]

Something else I just thought of after looking at your first pic. If you are testing a CD with the case lid off, you need to take the magnet out of the CD lid and put it on your disc so it doesn't slip when the drive spins up.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC-Engine Duo-RX CD-Rom Issues (Looking for Advice on how to repair)]

The security bit is only needed to open up the console. Otherwise there is nothing inside a duo that requires one.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC-Engine Duo-RX CD-Rom Issues (Looking for Advice on how to repair)]

Don't bother with the entire lens assembly. They aren't an exact drop in replacement as the rubber mounts are different and the White/black plastic cover doesn't fit on them correctly.

The only reason to order a full assembly would be if you needed any replacement motors or gear.

Just get one of the $20 ones. I've tried some of the more expensive options and they don't appear to have any difference in quality.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC ENGINE DUO "PLEASE SET DISC!"]

"Please set disc" can be caused by a lot of different things. A bad lens, bad lens cable, poorly adjusted potentiometers, a bad potentiometer, a stuck gear, a weak lens motor, a bad trace, bad/shorted via hole connection, faulty chip on the board, etc.....

So if your positive the Lens is fine and the lens adjustment potentiometers are fine, then I would start by looking at the Via hole connections just to the right of the CD loading light. The 47UF caps typically leak there and can short the vias.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC-Engine Duo-RX CD-Rom Issues (Looking for Advice on how to repair)]

I actively do repairs and mods for these systems. You can send my way if you don't want to fix yourself.

An HOP-M3 lens is what you'll need. Unfortunately it can be hit and miss with replacements found online. Fortunately all sellers guarantee the lenses sold. So if you get a bad one in the mail, they will just send you another one. I can't necessaily recommend one seller over another.

I typically order off of Aliexpress but there are many options on ebay as well.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC-Engine Duo-RX CD-Rom Issues (Looking for Advice on how to repair)]

Don't bother with a Recap! DUO-R and RX systems never need it. The only Capacitors that are sometimes known to fail are the 2 1000UF capacitors right by the 7805 voltage regulators(big heat sinks).

It's the Black DUO systems that get faulty capacitors.

The issue with your DUO is probabaly a weak/bad lens. Lots of times you can just adjust the V102 potentiometer to get it reading again but sometimes replacement is needed.

Also, check to make sure all wires to the lens are good. Lots of times the Red or white wires can short out from movement overtime.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC ENGINE DUO "PLEASE SET DISC!"]

Something to try which might sound weird, but I come across maybe 1 duo a year with an issue where it has to be used for 3-4 minutes before a disc will start working sometimes on a cold start. I would assume this is caused by a bad trace or connection on the board but I haven't been able to figure out where.

Anyways, just for the sake of trying it, Just hit run to start up a CD over and over again for about 5 minutes and see if the DUO magically starts reading discs again.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Super CD Rom2 crackling noise]

Whoah, that sounds really weird. I've heard scratchy audio from a worn out lens before but this sound isn't the same.

Have you tried making any lens adjustments?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine DUO-R laser motor not working]

Sounds like a bad motor. Have you tried spinning the motor using your finger? Sometimes you can do this to get the motor working again, at least temporarily.

I have a bunch of extra motors from full CD lens assemblies I order for parts. For just the motor, how about $10 shipped in the US?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Pc-Engine DUO - White Screen - No sound, No Boot, No Bios loaded]

Could be a bad 6270 or 6280 which would require a system to be used for parts. The only bummer is lots of times if a system is being sold for parts, one of those two chips is dead. So it's a crap shoot finding exactly what you need from a broken/parts console.

Try and find a broken PCE or turbografx console that boots with glitchy/blocky looking graphics as this is usually caused by bad ram and not one of the HU chips.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Pc-Engine DUO - White Screen - No sound, No Boot, No Bios loaded]

Sorry, I'm sure there are certain voltages that would give it away if the 6280 is no good but unfortunately I don't know what they are.

Anytime I've had a system with a solid white screen and all the other things check okay that I mentioned, then 98% chance it's a dead HU6280. So I just change it out.

What stinks is finding a replacement as these chips can only be found in other consoles.
Double check the traces under the board for the Hucard slot pins. If all traces test good to the 6280 chip, then the chip is probably bad.

Have you tried reflowing solder for the 6280 or 6270? Sometimes bad traces exist in between both of those chips causing the same issue.

Heating up/reflowing solder on the pins doesn't always permanently fix a bad trace but when heated up, a trace might start working again temporarily.

I will sometimes heat up each pin(for the HU chips) one at a time and then power on the console to see if anything changes. If does and the system starts working, you know which trace to run a wire to repair.

More info here
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=21837.0

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Pc-Engine DUO - White Screen - No sound, No Boot, No Bios loaded]

Unfortunately the problem you are describing(white screen) isn't usually caused by bad capacitors.

This can be caused by many different things. A bad 7805 voltage regulator, Bad traces or connections on the board(usually caused by corrosion under the hucard slot), a bad HU6280 CPU, or in some rare cases a shorted capacitor but this isn't usually the case.

Start looking for corroded traces or via hole connections under the card slot. Also check that all the traces for the card slot pins are good.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: IFU Backup Memory corrupted?]

That's probably bad ram. Not the actual save ram. This is the ram that's used to load data into in order for games to run. This is why none of your CD games will boot.

If the problem was just the actual save memory, then games would still load and run fine. You just wouldn't be able to save anything successfully.

There are two identical ram chips on the small removal board. One of the two chips is probably bad. Unfortunately, depending on the chips that are in there, some of these can only be sourced from other ifu docking stations.

So depending on the cost for buying another already working correctly docking station, it might make it pointless cost wise to buy another one to use for parts.

There are different revisions of the ifu docking station. So not all of them have the exact same upper board and same RAM chips on it. Meaning, not all of them are interchangeable.

This problem is most definitely not bad capacitors. So it would be a waste of time and money to change the capacitors out thinking it would fix the problem.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE Duo-R Won't read hu cards? What could be the cause?]

As far as Hu cards not working, I've seen a few DUO-Rs where the solder joints for the Card slot go bad on the board. So it might just need to have all the pins for the card slot re-soldered. The 2nd possibility could be a Dirty card slot (fix by putting rubbing alcohol on a hu cards pins) or that one or more of the pins of the slot are actually bent/damaged. Usually these pins can be bent back into position again.

Most likely there isn't anything super major broken with the console since CD games load up just fine.

While you have the console open, you should also put new solder on the Power, AV, and Controllers ports. The solder for the pins on those all fail inside R and RX consoles as well.

R and RX consoles do not suffer from bad caps. Only the Black DUO systems have the bad cap problem.

If at any point you decide that you don't want to mess with the repair yourself just let me know and I can help out.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Ys History: Ys Book I & II VA dub features Hollywood stars!]

Don't forget about Lowell from Wings.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: IFU RGB Modding - Jailbars and Video Interference]

I've come to the same conclusion. RGB output from the IFU always has some slight form of video interference and never looks quite as good as if it were installed in the system itself. I think it has to do with various parts of the CD system causing the interference. I've tried running wires to many different locations within an IFU with the same results.

This is why I recommend having the RGB amp installed inside the pc engine system itself instead. I then make a custom scart cable with added RCA plugs so they can be hooked up the the Audio out of the IFU for CD audio.

Another advantage of doing it this way is if the IFU dock were to ever die, one could just get another without having to have the RGB mod installed again.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Looking for someone to do some repairs and mods]

That resistor only needs to be changed if it is broken. You would know if it is broken. Sounds like a 56K modem coming out of your speakers.

It is completely normal to hear some sound coming out of the speakers when loading. There is no fix to make it go away.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Broken TG-CD need repair]

I'd be happy to work on your CD drive for you if you haven't found someone already. Just send me a PM

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Guide - Built-In Game for the TurboGrafx]

How about just wiring in an entire Turbo Everdrive? Pretty sure Turbokon did that one once.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Looking for someone to do some repairs and mods]

I'm currently taking on these repairs. Feel free to send me a PM.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Complete PC engine CD IFU setups and recapped Duo systems for sale.]

Sorry just saw this. Yes, a good number of systems here.

[General Gaming / Re: Ys IX is coming...]

This new game must be all about Dogi's crazy addiction of breaking people out of Jails.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Trying to recover a Failed PCEngine GT recap]

No resistor goes there. It's supposed to be bare.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Cat + PC Engine Duo = Bad]

Of course it's worth trying to fix first. Your lens might even just be stuck. Those gears can jam up from time to time. Especially if dropped.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: In-game symptoms of laser or bad cap problems?]

Probably just lens adjustment+re-greasing of the lens rails needed. I'd try just cleaning and re-greasing the lens rails first. I rarely come across a DUO-R or RX that needs new caps.

[General Gaming / Re: Was given an Xbox 360. What do?]

I'm not a big fan of 3d gaming so I primarly use my 360 for only 2d shooters and racing games. The 360 has many shooters that other consoles never got.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Turbo duo sound issue. Capacitors changed op amps are fine.]

It's normal for q603 to fluctuate a Little. Starts around 0.11v here then drops to about 0.06 steady.

Q604 seems be steady around 0.20

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Core Grafx II white screen]

Try the hu6280 chip. If ram and card slot cable are good then the 6280 chip is usually the problem.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need help with repairing a PC Engine GT]

Yes, definitely caps.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Biggest find ever]

This dudes videos are great! Just because of the insane amount of love he has for the system. I pretty much enjoy watching any vid made by someone who is just super enthusiastic about the Turbo. Doesn't matter if it's collection related or not.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Exile Whicked Phenmenon for sale]

I just saw one sell on ebay for $270 over this past weekend. Minus the slip cover.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: WTB Cotton Fantastic Night Dreams]

I've had the JP version of Cotton for years and I had no idea there was an option to change the text. I wonder what other JP CD games have this option? I think JB Harold and Carmen Sandiego do. Are there any others?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Turbografx CD unit only spins CDs about a quarter way around before stopping]

The white pc engine CD drives are way more prone to it than the Black Turbo Grafx CD drives. However there were two types of motherboards for the pce CD drives. One board was prone to it and the other was not. It's easy to tell which is which because the board that does not typically need caps is a light green/yellowish green color where as the board that usually needs caps is the darker green pc engine CD board. The Four 4.7UF caps mentioned all leak and there is also a row in the middle that typically go bad that deal with lens functions. The caps are all in a row 100UF, 22UF, 4.7UF, and 1UF.

I suppose you could just replace all of the caps but I've found sometimes that is not best since the solder points on some of these boards are very week and can be pulled off of the board when trying to change the caps. I've receive many boards like this from people not knowing what they were doing. Makes it real fun trying to re trace/work the connections.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Duo-R controller port issue]

It is simple. There are 8 pins underneath the controller port and 3 larger ground support points. Simply use a soldering iron and add/flow a little solder to each pin.

[PC-FX Discussion / Re: Forum phone access]

Thanks

[PC-FX Discussion / Re: Forum phone access]

No, I wasn't using Tapatalk. I simply had a bookmark save that went directly to the Forum that wouldn't work anymore for whatever reason. I ended up having to start from the first page of pcenginefx and then click on forums in order to access them via my phone. Using Google Chrome. Not a big deal because it's working now.

[PC-FX Discussion / Re: Forum phone access]

Nevermind, I figured it out. For whatever reason I had to start from the first page of the website and then click on forums instead of using my bookmark as usual.

[PC-FX Discussion / Forum phone access]

Anyone else having trouble accessing the forums via their phone lately? I haven't been able to use my phone to get to them for the past week.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Turbo Express Transistor/resistor Q506 and R706 failures]

You are in luck. That resistor that is missing is actually just a jumper/filler fake resistor. Meaning you can just solder a wire to each connection. Resistor says 000 on it so that means no value. 

[General Gaming / Re: Sega CD advice ( model 1 vs cdx)]

I used to take repairs for them by mail but not anymore. This is because I'd say 75% of any model 1 I had mailed to me in the past had plastic pieces broken on the inside due to shipping. The inside of those things are so fragile. Also the weights that go on the ribbon cables would flop around on the inside and cause havoc as well. In each case the package looked just fine and did not appear to have been mishandled in any way. Took me many hours of gluing and modifying things to make work again. I suppose if someone was willing to use a large enough box that can fit at least 4 or more wraps of large bubble wrap around the drive for shipment, then I'd be willing to work on one again.

[General Gaming / Re: Sega CD advice ( model 1 vs cdx)]

Don't get a CDX. They break and cost more to have someone fix over a model 1. With that being said, a model 2 is the most reliable and probably the best way to go. However if you need a model 1 or CDX then get a Model 1.

Also, a common problem with CDX systems is the lens motors die and no one has a source for new replacements. Seriously, there is no where to buy the part. So if this part goes bad you can't get it fixed without getting another broken CDX which will most likely also have a bad lens motor. Much like how FM towns systems have no source for replacement lenses.

Sega model 1 and 2 drives still have parts available for the lens, motors, gears and what not.

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: Rondo of Blood English Patch (PSP to TurboGrafx-CD).]

I had this problem with a few real discs in one of my computers. I even tried a few different drives and that didn't fix it either. So I tried out another PC I have here and those problem discs went through all the way to the end no problem. I even took my drive out of the computer that originally gave the errors and put it in my other PC to test and it went through just fine again. Only had this issue with maybe 3 or 4 of my game discs when I went though my entire collection.

So I think it's some odd issue with one of my computers. Not necessarily the CD Drive I was using for the ripping.