BootCD and the VGA problem is NOT solved

[bearauto]

Anyone know how to apply the VGA crack for BootCD? I am using a clonecd image file for BootCD, if that helps.

I just bought my Dreamcast and I love playing it on my monitor (although to be fair, I have never tried it on a TV). I would hate to give up my VGA quality and 19" Sony monitor in exchange for a cheap television.

Any help is appreciated.

[cheekymonkey]

didnt u read the vga crack file properly?? its not actually a proper crack or patch...i dont know what it exactly does...but it involves disconnecting your vga box from your dc until the game has booted up from the bootcd...which is not really recommended

[bearauto]

No, I didn't read the file from the crack...what file is that? Is it the vgapatch.nfo? Whenever I try to open that file it says that it's corrupted, and I have downloaded it several times, from different servers.

I tried the unplugging method and it works...but when I try it with the bootdisc, all the games that I try end up being black with no color, and the images are embossed. Wierd...maybe I'm not using the bootdisc correctly?

[cheekymonkey]

I wouldnt go unpluggin and replugging the vga box to monitor or to dc once the machine is on...its not exactly what i called healthy for the machine...same reason you wouldnt go disconnting your vga cable from your graphic port once your pc is in windows!
if you got games that arent bootable...make them bootable with the patch program...its better than using the bootcd

[bearauto]

You know, that's what I thought as well, but calling the InterAct CS settled it for me...it is their recommendation to Performance VGA Adapter users. Funny, eh?

Well, I know that my dreamcast and the bootdisc work from trying it on my TV, but I want them on my $600 monitor. CheekyMonkey, I'm wondering if you know how to use the VGA patch for the boot disc.

Thanks for the 411

[cheekymonkey]

serious? well...try it if u must! the vgapatch.zip should have a nfo file called vgapatch.nfo. Read it...even the author states it could damage your monitor!! I really dun know what the exe patch is for cos you could still carry out the steps of not pluggin the vga box to the monitor and pluggin it back in once the game has loaded from the bootcd!

[bearauto]

Alright Cheeky, I've made SOME progress. I finally was "smart" enough to open the nfo file through notepad and discovered that the patch is made for the discjuggler image of BootCD. Whew...this should be a little help for those on the same quest as I. Anyway, so I burned myself a new "VGA-Semi-Compatible" BootCD (that's what Beo of techhack.com calls it).

The instructions in the nfo of the patch says that I DO have to do some unplugging and plugging in. However, I own the PERFORMANCE VGA Adapter from InterAct and all I have to do is switch from TV to monitor instead of unplugging.

That being said, I tried several backup games using my new BOOTCD and technique. Turns out, out of DOA2, Virtua Tennis, Armada, Crazy Taxi, Guantlet Legends, and Street Fighter 3rd Strike, the only one that worked was Street Fighter.

The other games semi-worked...that is, they appeared on the screen (meaning that a signal was sent to the monitor) but the screen was BLACK with the images EMBOSSED. Talk about strange...It's not even black and white, BLACK and BLACK EMBOSSED.

Any ideas, Cheeky? Oh and Cheeky, aren't ya proud of me? I just bought my DC 4 days ago!

-bearauto

[cheekymonkey]

arent those games apart from sf3 seftbooters?? i thought all copies of doa2 that was going around were selfboots

[bearauto]

Well, they apparently are not, though, I haven't tried to self-boot them on a TV. I HAVE tried them using the bootCD on my TV and they WORK.

Anyway here's this morning's update:

I might as well get the ATI TV Wonder. However, I'm wondering how I can hook my my VGA Adapter to the TV Tuner...here's a pic of what the TV Tuner looks like:

http://support.ati.com/products/pc/tuners/atitvwonder_images.html

Sorry, I can't linkify...

Furthermore, the VGA Adapter has the 3 color RCA Jacks, as well as an S-video jack. The TV Tuner looks like it has an S-video in jack, but is that the only jack necessary?

If at all possible, I want to hook up my cable modem, DC, and Cable TV at the same time.

Thanks, Cheeky

[bearauto]

heh, auto-linkification is pure gratification...

well, here's a better link:

http://support.ati.com/products/pc/tuners/atitvwonder_cables.html

thanks, Cheek

[bearauto]

Geez, sorry for all the updates.

Here's another TV Tuner I'm looking into:

http://www.hauppage.com/html/wintvpvr_datasheet.htm

I can't find a close up though like ATI provides.

Don't know which is better though. Price is NOT an issue between the two. I like the better encoding capabilities of the hauppage (mpeg2 vs. mpeg1).

[bearauto]

OMG, look at the quality of the WinTV-D...that's D for DIGITAL!

Incredible...

http://www.hauppage.com/html/images/dtv1.jpg
http://www.hauppage.com/html/images/dtv3.jpg

But I bet that crap comes with a super-high price.

[bearauto]

Compare those digital images with the regular TV Tuners:

http://www.hauppage.com/html/images.htm

YIKES!

[bearauto]

This Evening's Update:

Well, I figured out that an S-Video input on any video/TV card will work for my problem. However, instead of forking up the cash, I decided to get a gameshark. Yep, I'm going to try to see if it works as a boot disk because I know for sure that it IS VGA compatible (I tried it out at Fry's).

[bearauto]

Now I am annoyed...the Gameshark doesn't work for backups. So I guess it's back to Fry's for the solution: a TV tuner card. Sure, I won't get VGA graphics on the games I run through the TV Tuner, and sure, I'll have to cough up some dough, but hey, it's better than letting these great games collect dust while I run around trying to find a VGA Bootdisc that actually works.

Until next time.

[bearauto]

I am at my journey's end. I have been beaten down, and I can no longer see the vision that once drove me to this point.

I bought the WinTV-PVR board, and with stark anticipation that I could just plug in the s-video cable and TADA, I would get ALL DC games on my monitor. How I wish it were so.

The s-video input port on the TV Tuner is apparently designed for VCR's and Camcorders. And I can't fool the DC into thinking that my monitor is a TV. I don't know. I might try getting an RCA converter to hook it directly to my cable input on the TV Tuner, but that sounds like it wouldn't work either.

Of course, there is the rumor of the so-called DC-X VGA bootCD. Right.

But hey, let's have a drink.

[bearauto]

Just when I was about to quit, I figure it out. The BootCD hates the VGA box. We all know that. But it hates the VGA Box's TV out function as well. When I plug the DC directly into the TV Tuner, VOILA! I get the game, but only through the WinTV software, via S-Video. So in other words, it works! However, the sound does not travel through S-Video, as I was told by the Fry's employees, so I will have to get an RCA - mini jack cable.

It's a bit of a pain to switch the cable in the back of the DC whenever I want to play non-self booting games, but it'll do for now.

You know...I could do without the VGA Adapter altogether, seeing that ALL my games can be played via S-video. Albeit, the graphics won't be great, but I can play ALL DC games in a window OR full screen. Still beats a regular ol' TV.


Thanks Cheekymonkey for your support.

[cheekymonkey]

why did u buy the gameshark cdx...anyone here would of told you it doesnt play backups...though its vga compatible...u seem to be spending so much time trying to get the bootcd to work in vga mode =)
just forget it...games that are so that good and look that great would deserve to be owned originally...i generally leave the average titles playing on me normal tv

[bearauto]

You are righy Cheeky, Phantasy Star Online, Outtrigger, and the great games to come will all be legit. But I am glad that I am able to play the games I have now.

[stevenbishop79]

hey bearauto... you say that your computer monitor is the only way to get a good pic... well why don't you just go out and buy a high definition TV..... those have the ability to go into progressive video format..jus like your monitor... there's a mitsubishi TV... that retails for $5000 bucks.... even has a vga input... why because it's progressive

TV's are very up to date... you should be as up to date with them as you are you 600 monitors

later

[dr yang]

ok... i got a treamcast vga box and a gateway ev700 monitor.

i've tried 70+ games on vga monitor and only had few that had problems. dance revolution/club version, snk fighters, snow surfers..

heres what i do :-

1. leave everything connected, dc to vga box to monitor.
2. switch treamcast box to eithier jap/usa setting.
3. if self boot u insert disk, turn on monitor and dc, if non-self boot insert boot disk, turn on dc.. wait for 40 secs, switch disks, wait 5/10 secs then turn on monitor.
4. enjoy your game in lovely vga :))

hope this helps ya ;)
byeeee

[bearauto]

Haha, it's been a while since I checked this board...well, here's the solution I came down to:

The TV tuner thing resulted in crummy graphx.

The Treamcast didn't work for me.

I found someone who sold ALL self-booting games. Voila. Why didn't I go for that solution to begin with? All the games I want are available from my contact.

yum.

[DreamZ ^-^]

Well, to make the boot disc compatible with monitor, just use the HEx editor, modify the Boot disc image, using the hex editor. Try to find the IP.BIN of the image by using find SEGA. You will find something like:
SEGA SEGAKATANA
SEGA ENTERPRISES
4261 GD-ROM1/1
JUE 01B9A00
Then u change the 2 char from behind to 1 (If u want it to be vga compatible). From the example that will be
JUE 01B9A10
The boot disc picture wont displayed on the monitor (the pic with reindeer) instead u will have blank monitor. Just wait a while and just open th dc lid and put in the games u want and It will load. That what I did.....
Hope this will help u