Problems with Sega CD RAM cart

I'm a bit worried about my ram cart. This is the first time I've played my Sega CD in several months. I loaded my ram cart and it told me that it needs to be formatted.

:(

Lost my Snatcher endgame save file.

Oh well. Not too big of a deal. That was the only thing on it really, besides Sonic CD.

Anyways, I started a new game in Popful Mail and saved on the cart. Everything was fine. I turned the console off and checked back the next day if the save was still there. It was.

However, I tried playing Third World War and it'd make corrupt saves on my cart. It'd save a file and tell me an error has occurred. When loading the save, it'd make me play as America in some random scenario.

I'm worried. I spent like 40 bucks on it a year and a half ago and I don't have the money to buy another cart. Anything I can do?

It probably uses a battery to back up the memory like cartridges do. Open it up if you can and see if theres a coin shaped battery inside, it may need replacing.

Ah... looks like I need a special screwdriver or something. Wouldn't happen to know what I'm looking for, would ya?

A Gamebit 4.5 mm. You can find them at eBay cheap.

Thanks!

If the battery is the problem then that shouldn't be a big deal.

I just hope nothing inside is damaged or something. Wouldn't want to start playing Lunar only to have my save file crap out on me.

Is this the Sega brand version of the RAM cart of a third party version?

Aye, it's probably the battery. I just plugged it back in and it's requesting to be formatted.

It's the Sega brand version.

Yep, sounds like a bad battery. You may need some basic soldering skills to replace it, but it should be easy to figure it out.

I just bought a Sega CD...does the SCD have any internal memory like the Saturn (which needed a memory cart anyway) or does one have to buy a memory cart?

It has internal memory and a battery built in.