Saturn Lens dying?

So my poor Sega Saturn is starting to have trouble reading discs, even trying backups anymore seems to be a fruitless effort anymore as the system doesn't even recognize a disc is in there sometimes.

So now I feel I have a few options, first would be to open up the system and "adjust" the laser (no idea how though), buying a "new" one on ebay and hope for the best. Or look into replacing the drive with that new SD Card device.

I did hear there was another one in the works called Saroo, which is plugged into the expansion slot, but thats gone cold.

What have people here done?

EDIT: When it comes to backups, my old ones still work. Yet burning anything new won't work. Ive tried numerous burners with little success

 

Saroo i think is dead. But you can get a rhea or phoebe sd device.
https://gdemu.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/999999/

Otherwise try a pot tweak(orange know on laser)




or new laser(about $25)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OPTICAL...299200?hash=item541a49d540:g:KSQAAOxyTMdTKUnF

 

Clean the pickup and adjust the trim pots (use a guide and correct measurements).
Buy a new one anyway, running more current through the diode will shorten it's already short lifespan;

Take a measurement of the original optical pickup trim pots before hand and double check the new pickup when you get it.

I'm sure you'll find the correct spec for the trim pots either just online or in a higher level service manual for the Saturn (if there is one)


But really it's not very hard at all

Good luck!

 

It may just be better long term to get a Rhea installed. Unless of course someone decides to make actual new versions of the Saturn laser

 

Given that your old burned discs do work, does this mean that you only have problems with new burns? Do you have problems with running pressed discs?

If the issue is only with newly-burned discs, I would recommend that you try a new set of blanks.

 

Its weird, i've tried numerous brand discs, 3 different burners and 2 programs in Imgburn and CloneCD. I either get the Saturn telling me theres no disc in the tray or just struggling to load and then giving up

 

sounds like the media brand you are using is no good. Get some Taiyo Yuden's and you'll be in business.