I've bought two of these things and neither of them worked.

I've bought two of these things and neither of them worked. They're expensive now and I guess they're failing due to age or whatever.

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  1. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Is it even possible for a VMU to not work? Oh well, I guess it's emulation from now on for you.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      If it's plugged into the controller, the controller disconnects.

      Did you change the batteries?

      The main problem has nothing to do with the batteries, as it doesn't need batteries to hold saves. That said, when I do put batteries in it, the batteries never make a stable connection to the terminals.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        >The main problem has nothing to do with the batteries,
        It doesn't matter whether you think it's a problem with the batteries or not. You change the batteries just to be 100% sure, and cross it off the list of potential problems. It's standard procedure.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          Okay? I've made it incredibly clear that I have changed the batteries lmfao

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        >If it's plugged into the controller, the controller disconnects.
        You might need to clean the Dreamcast controller port. Those things were not built that well. Open up the controller, and see if there is any rust or oxidation and clean it with isopropyl/rubbing alcohol.

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          It's clean, and I can use this third party memory card just fine.

  2. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Did you change the batteries?

  3. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Have you tried with multiple controllers?
    Also the Dreamcast controller port is notoriously iffy. You might need to replace the fuse on it.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      I've tried multiple VMUs and multiple controllers, and I'm currently using a third party memory card, which works fine on both.

  4. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I think you've just been extremely unlucky

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      One of them was new in box, and it still didn't work lmao

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        You know they have a rust issue on the copper areas right?
        Open it up and check the wiring as these are known to get rust issues inside

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          Could be internal rust, or a battery issue. You may need to open it and clean the contacts

          What do

  5. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    It's this exact problem. I've found other posts detailing the same problem, so it can't be all that rare.
    https://www.reddit.com/r/dreamcast/comments/saiiif/controller_stops_being_detected_after_plugging_in/

  6. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I bought one of these things second hand and it didn't work, but then I changed the batteries and it was fine. Have you tried changing the batteries?

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Sorry sir I am not understanding this word "batteries"

  7. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Could be internal rust, or a battery issue. You may need to open it and clean the contacts

  8. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    [...]

    I think the problem is whatever that brown shit at the top of the pcb (left hand side of image) is

    [...]
    What do

  9. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    [...]

    https://i.imgur.com/2SYTE3r.png

    I've bought two of these things and neither of them worked. They're expensive now and I guess they're failing due to age or whatever.

    You know they have a rust issue on the copper areas right?
    Open it up and check the wiring as these are known to get rust issues inside

    Could be internal rust, or a battery issue. You may need to open it and clean the contacts

    Its probably oxidation on the contacts or circuit board. This happens when electronics are stored in a humid environment. He could use isopropyl alcohol to clean areas that look corroded. If it's not the battery or corrosion, then it's a faulty chip on the board.

    But either way, clean the board first (including the contacts that connect to the controller) and then test it.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Are there any good alternatives to isopropyl? I'd prefer to get this done today.

  10. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Okay so I've cleaned it up but the problem hasn't been fixed.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      [...]
      What do

      judging by those images it looks like you might need to change your battery

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        It's funny you mention that. The batteries make a solid connection now, but when I put it in the controller and turn the system on, they stop powering it and I have to take them out and put them back in.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Different anon here. Clean the entire board. Not just one section. Take a Q-tip and soak it with Isopropyl alcohol and wipe down any parts of the board that have corrosion. Most connections are supposed to be a silver color. Not a dirty brown color.

      Also make sure to clean the actual contacts of where the VMU connects to the Dreamcast controller. Look into the connector area from the outside and clean that too. Then put in a new battery and test.

      Also clean the contacts on the Dreamcast controller itself too if there is any corrosion from the outside.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        This is the only area that still looks like it could be dirty, but I don't think that wants to come off.

        the problem might be on the controller side

        XD

        Yes

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      the problem might be on the controller side

  11. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Did you clean the area where the battery connects with the VMU?

  12. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Dreamcast Vmus can connect to eachother. What happens when you connect this Vmu to another official Vmu? If it works then it might be the controller.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      I only have one at this point of time, and the other one that I did have didn't work either.

  13. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Clean the outside vmu contacts. It's been exposed to air for 25 years. It might have some rust. Use a can of compressed air to blow air into the port. Then clean it alcohol.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      How am I supposed to clean that with alcohol? Squeeze it in and hope for the best?

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Anon, it's called a toothbrush. Get a spare (new) toothbrush, soak it in alcohol. Then gently brush the outside port. The alcohol soaked bristles of the toothbrush will go inside and clean it. Use a new toothbrush. Not an old one. You want the bristles to be new and stiff.

  14. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Probably the last update - it doesn't work at all now. No beep when it's in the controller, and it doesn't power on with batteries in. Maybe it just needs to dry for longer, but I think it's dead. I'll keep it around so I can put a working vmu in the green casing in the future.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Hmm...anon you got impatient. You were supposed to let the alcohol dry completely before reassembling and using it again. It's probably not dead. But it's need to dry completely. Set it aside for an hour or two.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        I did let it dry completely, I'm just saying there /may/ have been /some/ moisture. Even if it isn't dead, it probably isn't fixable.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Let it dry completely. Don't use it with residual alcohol still on it.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        How about you learn to read

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      If you cleaned the contacts like other anon suggested, then they are probably still damp with alcohol. Blow some air in there and let it air dry.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        It is completely dry

        • 1 year ago
          Anonymous

          >It is completely dry
          No It wasn't. Not when you tried to reconnect the VMU to the Dreamcast controller. Otherwise it would still be working. There must have been residual alcohol moisture.

  15. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Yeah it's completely dry and doesn't work. I'm not too pissed off, because it hasn't ever worked for me, but it'd be nice if it did.

  16. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    So it kinda worked before. Then you cleaned it and now it's fully broken?

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Yes

  17. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Did you check the voltage to be sure the batteries are good?

  18. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Could be a battery issue, pal.

  19. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Have you tried changing the battery?

  20. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I feel OP is just trolling us, and using the same old rechargeable battery or something. Like dude, use an entirely new set of batteries. Don't argue with us.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      batteries shouldn't matter when plugging it into the controller though

  21. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Did you try multiple Dreamcast controllers?

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