What to do if Your Sega Saturn does not Recognize Game Discs

This simple-ish fix will get your Sega Saturn up and running!

[@jnftech]

While this can get discs to start reading, it should be noted exactly what that potentiometer does and what other effects/consequences you have with adjusting. You are adjusting the voltage to the laser, which if the laser is starting to fade from old age (cause of the disc problem to begin with), might strengthen the output enough to get discs to read again. The consequence is added stress on an already old laser, which will shorten the life. Eventually the laser will fail again (as with all lasers - they don't last forever). Adjusting this too much ( = too much voltage) may still result in CDs working fine, but laser life will be even shorter. A correct adjustment should be accompanied by an oscilloscope that can verify the voltage on the RF output of the laser to ensure it is within spec of the system's service manual.

[@vhfgamer]

Or just turn the screw just enough to get the game working, and no more. Keep doing it until the laser finally dies, then go put in a new laser. Such is life with disk based systems.

[@TechniqueSan]

My Saturn stopped recognizing discs, it always showed the empty drive message. Tried this method today, and it worked instantly! Started reading original and burned discs normally. And i was even able to use the screwdriver without removing the shield, on model 2. Thanks man.

[@ryank8261]

Thanks man! Worked perfectly! I had the Japanese model 2 and didn't have to take off the shield to get to the yellow screw. Just a quarter turn was all I turned it. I'm surprised your video was the only one I could find on this....

[@m.s.6545]

Dude. This works perfect! The Term Slightly describes it very well. Now my Saturn works again. Thx so much. Greetings from Germany.

[@DieHardjagged]

And i was wondering why the hell my Saturn didnt recognize discs after i replaced my broken Saturn Drive with a new one, adjusting the knob fixed my problem, thanks for the video.

[@jiggynights]

Very smart thanks man. I just opened my sealed games and when I found out my saturn would not read them boy was I pissed. Good thing I found your video.

[@MegamanSonicX]

Turning the POT switch one way (the orange screw like thing) will cause the drive to not spin. Try turning it the other way and see if it starts spinning. Another thing you could try is, on the board the drive sits on is another screw like switch which controls the drive speed. You could try adjusting that and see if that works. On the model 2, there is only one of those switches while the model 1 has 4. I forgot which one of the 4 controls the speed on the model 1.

[@histatimaniples]

ill give it a try ive got an other one coming in the mail today and an other two soon. im more into the model one version it just looks sexyier lol ill give what u said a try and let you know thanks buddy!

[@realevostevo]

Well done!

[@Ectoplsm]

Holy crap it works! I couldn't play Soviet Strike on my Saturn even though the disc is in really good condition. It would play another game, scratched to hell, and it played that one fine but not my Soviet Strike disc. Works brand new now! THANKS!

[@djdouble0steadman]

This worked for me, thanks.

[@Gold_Bug]

Thanks man big help.

[@Chayliss]

thx bro it fixed this model one i just bought

[@haydengames3v2]

Mine comes up with what I assume to be an error message or loads the music for the game, oddly some game discs work in it but I know it's an issue with the saturn because my last one played everything fine.

[@cryomanc3r]

How'd you get Saturn to recognize the native format for your HDTV?

[@MrStrangermoon]

Thanks totaly worked for model 1 not reading or shows likr music cd problem. But i have ask something to you. With swap trick i plan to play burned games my quastion is it sate to burn disc 16x bcouse cant burn 8x. With 16x game opened but is it safe to play or damage to saturn.

[@KnowingDasEin]

I might as well give this a try - do you (or anyone) know if a Saturn that won't play music in-game (but will play sound effects) is the beginning of a disc read error, in other words the same basic problem? If not what kind of problem?

[@Shaylex]

I did what you suggested, and my saturn is still not reading the game. And I'm starting to question whether if the game I have doesn't match the model. I also don't know what specific model I have.

[@vectrex28]

Bought a junk Saturn for a mate and this fixed it! Cheers!

[@histatimaniples]

thanks for the reply bought one off ebay was in horrible condition rust in all it turns on but the cd doesn't spin but the laser does move around thanks

[@00Gatishka]

I had the same problem, it always showed (empty drive) message and this did the trick I didn't even had to remove the shield.

[@HeartlessTank]

Ima try this soon once I get the tools from the van, I hope this works. My Saturn just says game is not suitable for this system, but it only says that on the Japanese games though even with my action replay inside of it still.

[@Pahotam]

I got Japanese one witch is set up the same when I put a game in it spins but it just goes to a black screen any idea how I can fix that

[@thatbastardson]

how do u get inside the saturn? i have one that doesnt spin game discs too. how do you get the plastic shield off? nevermind, it didnt work. its just broken.

[@someonedab7222]

My saturn doesn't have a potentiometer on the saturn, what should I do?

[@JEFFERYPAUL1]

Thanks!!

[@leacompton]

Thanks that worked for me

[@Atariatari-ky9te]

All I can say is thank you

[@MrConnman123]

Thanks mate, you saved me £50.

[@WARPUDDY666]

Thanks 😊 My Saturn works great now. After marking the start point with a sharpie pen. I turned the pot to the right about 1 centimeter or thickness of the line I made.

[@owenent9636]

Right is clockwise I'm guessing?

[@colinm5548]

oh man.. i hooked up my sega saturn after about 10 years in stasis. The disk did not spin. I waitet swaped cds with audio cds, gave it a knock, preyed...nothing, i thought mybe the battery or bios .?Here a soltion that worked for me, switch off and on and hold down the reset button for a minute.. the thing is spinning again!!Is this for real ? does anybody know ?

[@JeffPlaysChannel]

colin mindak holy crap I know this comment is old but thank you!!! Now I can finally Panzer Dragoon for the first time ever!!

[@cpiep]

I just fucking shocked myself pushing the botton so the disk would spin! Be fng carefull damn, I felt it through my heart scary shit

[@Zentron]

Nice socks :D

[@saver175]

Thnxxxxxx

[@MegamanSonicX]

It span for a little, then would stop.

[@histatimaniples]

before you fixed the laser did the game cd spin? or did it start spinning after you fixed it? mines not spinning not sure if its the motor