Kinda devastated, here's why...

Hi all

If you don't feel like reading the stuff below, in short my MK-1451 Majesco model 2 Genesis does not seem to be compatible with my Model 2 Sega CD...Both systems are like new. There is a shiny finish on the edge of my Genesis where the teeth connect to the SCD. SCD gets no power..Any ideas?

So I bought a Model 2 Genesis about six months ago brand new with everything it originally came with still taped in the plastic...I didn't even realize until after I bought it and examined it closely, that it was indeed the hard to find Majesco distributed MK-1451 3/4 mobo VA4 Model 2. Needless to say I was pretty pumped.

So just recently I bought a NIB Sega CD Model 2 for a hefty price on eBay. I had been searching and $aving, searching and $aving, searching and $aving for months to find a NIB Model 2 Sega CD.

So it arrives in the mail via Fedex today, carefully packed. I diligently open up the packaging and finally hold the beautiful condition SCD box in my hands. I start going throw the box and everything looks just as it should, brand new, never used, still taped shut in their respective plastic bags.

So I connect the metal plates to the bottom of my Genesis, remove the plastic piece on the side so that I can connect it to the Sega CD. Everything is set up and looking mint like its 1996 all over again. I push power on my Genesis...NOTHING.

I frantically get the other SCD model 2 I have to see if something is wrong with the one I probably just paid too much for. I connect the other SCD to my MK-1451 genesis. NOTHING...

All of a sudden I realized I haven't tried any SCD on my Majesco Model 2 Genesis since buying it. Now I know there have been threads stating that the Majesco version is fully compatible with the SCD and 32X, trust me I've researched extensively. This is why I'm baffled and to be honest, as the title of the thread suggested, am sorta devastated. There is no black epoxy finish over the edge of the Genesis teeth that connect into the SCD...However there is a sorta clear, shiny coat over it. I am 100% willing to provide pictures of any part of my Genesis or the New SCD I bought if that would help you guys here give me an answer as to why I'm having these problems. In fact, I'd be willing to meet anybody on sega-16 that thinks theymight be able to help. I'm in Eastern PA, zip code 18013.

Btw, the SCD I bought is the second variation of the Model 2's...I can tell by the silver, fully metal spindle. It was manufactured in October of 1993, which I believe was right before they started making the 3rd variation Model 2.

Sorry I wrote a short novel, but I am desparate for help and wanted to brief you guys as to what is going on. I'm counting on you guys. I know this site holds the most knowledgable Genesis/MD fanatics on the planet, so I'm pretty sure I came to the right place...Anybody?

I can't read this much. Good luck.

same, just bold out the issue

TL, DR: His new genesis doesn't work

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shane_o

There is no black epoxy finish over the edge of the Genesis teeth that connect into the SCD...However there is a sorta clear, shiny coat over it.

---

Well, I can tell you that this isn't it because the black finish on some Genesis is actually graphite (epoxy doesn't conduct...), and it isn't unusual to find Gennys with regular uncoated contacts.

Otherwise, I cannot offer any help...

You used a different power supply when you tried the second SCD right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nunzio

Well, I can tell you that this isn't it because the black finish on some Genesis is actually graphite (epoxy doesn't conduct...), and it isn't unusual to find Gennys with regular uncoated contacts.

Otherwise, I cannot offer any help...

You used a different power supply when you tried the second SCD right?

---

yeah, the second SCD had a different power adapter. I also tried different outlets...Thanks for trying.

ANY kind of coating over the pins can prevent contact - it doesn't have to be opaque. Make sure the edge is scrubbed clean to BARE METAL. If you don't have bare metal, you have NO CONTACT.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chilly Willy

ANY kind of coating over the pins can prevent contact - it doesn't have to be opaque. Make sure the edge is scrubbed clean to BARE METAL. If you don't have bare metal, you have NO CONTACT.

---

Thanks. That will be the next step I take to solve this problem...What tools/method do you suggest I use to scrub the edge to ensure that the bare metal is exposed.

Did you try any cartridge games in your Genesis? I didn't see any mention of that in the first post. Going by that, here's my diagnosis (a few possibilities):

1) The Genesis PSU brick is dead
2) The Sega CD PSU brick is dead
3) Both power bricks are dead
4) The Sega CD's fuse is broken (causes no power on)
5) All the connections are pig filthy

Or frankly, it could be all of the above. To me at least, I'd appreciate knowing if the Genesis plays cart games or not. That will help narrow down the suspects.

On the subject of cleaning connections. There's two main categories this thing falls into:

Edge Connectors

Take some isopropyl alcohol (called surgical spirits or something in UK) and some Q-tips. Dip the q-tip in alcohol and wipe down the edge connector. Dry it with the other end of the q-tip. Repeat until you feel the victim is clean.

Cartridge Slots

Take a tooth brush (make sure nobody uses it anymore), dip it in rubbing alcohol, then scrub the cart slot. Works real good.

Or, you can wet the edge connector that fits the cart slot you're working with, then just insert that into the cart slot multiple times. Dry off the edge connector, wet it and do all this a few more times.

Wait for everything to dry, give it a few minutes or so.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Guntz

Did you try any cartridge games in your Genesis? I didn't see any mention of that in the first post. Going by that, here's my diagnosis (a few possibilities):

1) The Genesis PSU brick is dead
2) The Sega CD PSU brick is dead
3) Both power bricks are dead
4) The Sega CD's fuse is broken (causes no power on)
5) All the connections are pig filthy

Or frankly, it could be all of the above. To me at least, I'd appreciate knowing if the Genesis plays cart games or not. That will help narrow down the suspects.

---

Really appreciate the reply...Yes I have played cartridges with and without the SCD connected. Genesis works fine.

Also, I tried to separate what I've done in my initial post, but I mentioned in there somewhere that I tried two different SCDs on the Majesco Genesis and neither SCD powered on.

So let's be clear about a few things. The Sega CD you bought works with other Genesisisis, but not your rev 3? And the rev 3 works fine on its own with cartridge games? And the rev 3 doesn't work with a different known good Sega CD?

When you plug the rev 3 Genesis into one of those Sega CDs and press the power button, does the Genesis power light come on? Does the attached TV display anything? Does it even flicker for a moment or make a popping sound?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chilly Willy

ANY kind of coating over the pins can prevent contact - it doesn't have to be opaque. Make sure the edge is scrubbed clean to BARE METAL. If you don't have bare metal, you have NO CONTACT.

---

That's a bit alarmist. Many Genesis shipped with the same graphite coating on the CD pins as is used on the contacts of the controller buttons. Graphite's conductive. In that case there's nothing wrong with leaving it there.

In this case though, if you seem to have a strange sheen to the pins that goes beyond polished metal, I'd give them a quick scrub with a couple q-tips dipped in 99% isopropyl alcohol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jax184

So let's be clear about a few things. The Sega CD you bought works with other Genesisisis, but not your rev 3? And the rev 3 works fine on its own with cartridge games? And the rev 3 doesn't work with a different known good Sega CD?

When you plug the rev 3 Genesis into one of those Sega CDs and press the power button, does the Genesis power light come on? Does the attached TV display anything? Does it even flicker for a moment or make a popping sound?



That's a bit alarmist. Many Genesis shipped with the same graphite coating on the CD pins as is used on the contacts of the controller buttons. Graphite's conductive. In that case there's nothing wrong with leaving it there.

In this case though, if you seem to have a strange sheen to the pins that goes beyond polished metal, I'd give them a quick scrub with a couple q-tips dipped in 99% isopropyl alcohol.

---

Q1) The Sega CD you bought works with other Genesisisis, but not your rev 3?
A1) I have not been able to test the SCD I bought on any other Genesises because I do not have any other ones on me at this time.

Q2) And the rev 3 works fine on its own with cartridge games?
A2) Correct.

Q3) And the rev 3 doesn't work with a different known good Sega CD?
A3) Correct, the other SCD I've had for some time did work on a full mobo Model 2 Genesis I had, but no longer have.

Q4) When you plug the rev 3 Genesis into one of those Sega CDs and press the power button, does the Genesis power light come on?
A4) Yes, the Genesis power light comes on.

Q5) Does the attached TV display anything? Does it even flicker for a moment or make a popping sound?
A5) Precisely that, it seems to flicker just for a moment with a faint popping sound and that is it. The Genesis power light remains on but the SCD light never turns on from what I can tell.

got it working. thanks to everyone who gave input!

what was it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shane_o

got it working. thanks to everyone who gave input!

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pro21xx

what was it?

---

I'd like to know as well. What was the problem?

Me three. How'd you get it all working?

Kind of embarassing, but all I needed to do was clean the edge connector of the Genesis with 94% rubbing alcohol (it was the highest % I had) and Q-tips...

It was weird bc that shiny coating I mentioned that was coating the edge connector I think was deliberately put there by Majesco, perhaps to aid in the graphite lasting longer? The Genesis itself was in really nice condition when I bought in person, so I have a hard to imagining that shiny coat got there from poor storage. When I started getting it off with the Q-tip it was actually sort of yellowish. A yellowish, brown. Not just pure black guck like you would suspect from poor storage or whatever.

Anyway that's that and what a relief it was.

Perhaps it was solder flux from the manufacturing process that was improperly removed. Flux is brown and sticky, being made from tree sap. Normally these boards are given a bath in a flux remover after they've been soldered together. I've encountered a few items in the past though that retained a sticky coating, including an Asus motherboard. I guess they were only washed for just long enough to evenly coat the board in half dissolved flux. Or perhaps the solvent was starting to get pretty heavily contaminated with flux.