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Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: Generic Eric on March 30, 2015, 10:48:57 am

Title: Dreamcast emulator question
Post by: Generic Eric on March 30, 2015, 10:48:57 am
I thought there was a DC emulator thar played real discs?  Is that true?  Or am I wrong?
Title: Re: Dreamcast emulator question
Post by: eds1275 on March 30, 2015, 02:25:36 pm
I think you can do that in NullDC?
Title: Re: Dreamcast emulator question
Post by: Generic Eric on March 30, 2015, 02:49:48 pm
I think you can do that in NullDC?
Thanks.  I wasn't sure if I was imagining that or if that was a feature that may or may not have been dropped.

I also seem to remember that you could mount the iso with alcohol 120% and have it play too.  I could never get anywhere with the emus though.
Title: Re: Dreamcast emulator question
Post by: nitrogen_widget on March 31, 2015, 01:25:18 pm
From what I used to know, the dreamcast used GD-ROM?
a non-standard disc size but you could back-up the discs to CD-rom using your dreamcast & a serial cable connected to the PC and one of the emulators made the connection.
Then you could burn it to CD & play it on the dreamcast.
If it took up the whole dreamcast disc you had to use a boot disc to run the game first because those files had to be moved off in order to fit the game.
Title: Re: Dreamcast emulator question
Post by: butanebob on March 31, 2015, 07:11:03 pm
Yep, i don't think any emulator can run original DC discs.
Title: Re: Dreamcast emulator question
Post by: twistedsymphony on April 01, 2015, 04:19:03 pm
Normal PC disc drives can't read original Dreamcast discs because they're in the proprietary GD-ROM format.... I think there was someone who found certain model drives that can be modified (both hardware and firmware) to read them for ripping purposes but that seems like a lot of work for emulation.

Any Emulator that is able to run mounted ISOs should be able to read backup discs directly from the drive though.
Title: Re: Dreamcast emulator question
Post by: Generic Eric on April 01, 2015, 04:42:20 pm
Normal PC disc drives can't read original Dreamcast discs because they're in the proprietary GD-ROM format.... I think there was someone who found certain model drives that can be modified (both hardware and firmware) to read them for ripping purposes but that seems like a lot of work for emulation.

This is most likely what I was thinking.  I definitely remember updating firmware being a thing.

Title: Re: Dreamcast emulator question
Post by: jdevane on April 05, 2015, 10:00:46 am
Normal PC disc drives can't read original Dreamcast discs because they're in the proprietary GD-ROM format.... I think there was someone who found certain model drives that can be modified (both hardware and firmware) to read them for ripping purposes but that seems like a lot of work for emulation.

Any Emulator that is able to run mounted ISOs should be able to read backup discs directly from the drive though.

LG made that drive, I have one, however, I have it installed in an external enclosure so unless I need to tear it all apart, I can't get the model number...  its the same drive the Wii disc need to be read...