(BBA) Method by -=FamilyGuy=- & Dot50Cal, for dumping GD-R discs (Part 1)

This method was found by Dot50Cal and -=FamilyGuy=-. It allows you to rip a GDROM prototype disc. The main breakthrough here is the ability to rip CDDA discs, which contain audio tracks. This is done

@Dreamcast

Published in 

Dreamcast

 · 4 Feb 2018

I. REQUIRED MATERIAL

We'll begin with your basic hardware and software toolset. A star indicates that the item will only be used if you had a CDDA disc. You will need the following:

Hardware

• Sega Dreamcast
• Broad Band Adapter
• Thin Phillips Screwdriver
• A piece of tape (duct tape works well)
• A Crossover Ethernet Cable (Not Pictured)
• One track retail GD-R (Sonic Adventure works well)
• At least one CD-R* and a second CD-R* or CD-RW* (Not Pictured)

Software

• DC Load IP
• GDROM Prototype
• Retail Game (Must be one data track)
• Trap Disc* (Not Pictured)
• CloneCD*
• Dummy.exe, gdinfo_FG.exe,*
• Cdrecord*
• GDrRipping.rar

II. “OPENING” THE DREAMCAST

A. Unscrewing

Now to get started you will need to open your Dreamcast. Remove the installed modem, and remove the four screws on the underside of the Dreamcast.

B. Taping

Flip the Dreamcast back over, and locate the lid switch. It’s in the rear right of the Dreamcast.

Get a small, but lengthy piece of duct tape and apply it like as shown, so that the Dreamcast will be fooled into thinking the lid is always closed. (Anything that keeps the leg down at all time will also work...)

III. RIPPING DATA-ONLY GD-R

A. DC-Load IP

Do not put the top shell of the Dreamcast back on. We will need to have it off while the prototype rips or else you risk damaging your discs. Connect your Broadband Adapter to the Dreamcast as well as the AV and power cords. Be careful you don't touch the power supply. Insert the DC Load IP disc and Boot the Dreamcast.

You should see the disc boot up and display an Idle message.

Once you see this screen you can safely remove one side of the tape, so as to trick the Dreamcast into thinking the lid opened.

B. Putting a one-track retail in

Replace the disc with your retail non CDDA disc, and re-apply the tape.

While the disc spins, open up your Dreamcast Backup Utility. Go to "Tools" and then hit "Connect". A track list should now display.

If more than 3 tracks are displayed, you chose a CDDA GD-Rom disc (Nothing more than a GD-Rom with audio tracks, more on this later). Please try more GD-Rom discs until you find one that lists 3 total tracks as shown above (Sonic Adventure works well). The numbers of the 2 first tracks won’t match obviously, but as long as there are three tracks, and that the 3rd one is 504150 sectors long, you should be fine. Now keep this screen up and wait until the Dreamcast stops spinning the retail disc. This should happen in a couple of minutes (usually around 3).

C. Downloading the Data track

Once you got a 3 tracks retail GD-ROM, switch out the retail game for your prototype GD-R disc. Once it’s inserted, select Track 3's check box and go to "Tools" and then "Download". The download process will now begin.

When the download completes, you now have the prototype backed up. The track information will be from the retail, so disregard the .txt file that is created. If you wish to find out the true track layout of the prototype, simply use gdinfo_FG.exe on the .iso of the track 3 (Drag&Drop), to check out the IP.BIN’s info. This should help you to create a self-boot backup of the game (There are many good tutorials to do so, that’s why we won’t discuss it in this guide.)