Modded Duo has problems with CDRs

[Xtrasmiley]

OK, so I got a Duo from eBay and had a guy who goes by Monitor Burn on many forums do a full cap kit and RGB mod. Now the Duo power supply was cut, and never repaired as well as something being broken inside it. Since a replacement supply is so expensive, I bought this $10 one on eBay. I made sure the voltage, wattage, and amps were correct as well as the plug size and polarity.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/9V-2A-AC-DC-Power-Supply-Replacement-Adapter-with-3-0mm-x-6-3mm-Tip-Center-/361490633905?hash=item542a8554b1:g:DC4AAOSwjXRXaHJJ

The problem I'm having is although my Turbo Everdrive games work in the Duo, the CD bios does not, and with no TED in the Duo, CDRs are hit and miss. Many take forever to actually boot into a game, and when they do the graphics are garbled and other times the music doesn't play.

Monitor Burn says everything was tested and working 100% with his power supply when he mailed it so he thinks it might be my aftermarket one. Before I spend a ton of money trying to find an original, or trying to repair the one I have, any idea guys?

Also, note I'm testing with the stock composite cable, as I don't have an RGB set up yet.

If need be, I can open the system up and take pictures of the inside.

[gtsamour]

Just because the PC wrote and verified as OK a CD-R doesn't mean the PCEngine will be able to read it.

Lets not forget that the best cdr for the pc engine would be a 650mb one that you can not find now days, next best thing is a 700mb cdr.

1. You have to burn the cd-r in the slowest possible speed.
2. You have to get a good brand cd-r like Taiyo Yunden or other, sometimes its trial and error.

I'm using a 3rd party switch PSU myself of 2,25A. That's the best way to go... I would prefer that to the original (as long as its a good one).

The pots may be your problem here for not being able to read cds, but I WOULDN'T TOUCH THEM BEFORE I REPLACED THE CAPACITORS. Chances are that as soon as you have replaced the caps the cdrom drive will perform as new (if they hadn't been messed with in the past).

The pots have been adjusted when the system was new straight out of the production line. With time the caps values drifted a lot and the cdrom may not function properly. After installing new caps the post will once again be at the right values and you don't need to mess with them, except if you still have a problem after replacing the caps.

[Xtrasmiley]

Yeah, let me clarify. My modded did a cap kit, burned the CDRs and tested them all (with an original power supply) and mailed everything to me.

I guess what I'm asking is, what are the chances something happened in shipping to cause this, versus the power supply not working right.

I mean, do these types of problems come from a weak/Chinese knock off power supply? Slow boot times, garbled graphics? Or are we talking something might have happened in shipping, OR I guess the modded could be lying to me.

[gtsamour]

No one can be 100% sure but testing for some modders could very well mean "turn the switch, powers on , OK. Insert a disc, press run, it spins, OK".

Long loading times its definitely the cdrom drive but garbled graphics... I never heard of that one except cases of bad ram. Bit you said everdrive games work fine so it shouldnt be that.

[Keith Courage]

I would try a number of different brands of CDR media. I have found that some systems work well with generic stuff like Memorex or verbatim whereas other systems need something much better like a Sony, TDK, or taiyo yuden CDR.

also, is your Duo system setup next to a bunch of other gaming consoles? I've come across a lot of weird issues with people having CD reading problems when they're Duo is set up in an area with a whole bunch of other consoles.

not sure if the interference is due to all the power supplies being plugged in in the same outlet and or room or if the CD drive interference is caused by the system actually being set close to one of these other gaming consoles. I have never come across the problem myself in person but any time I've had someone contact me with CD drive issues after I worked on a duo for them I tell them to try it out in another room first to see what happens. then they can narrow down what thing in their gaming room is causing the interference for their CD function. I've even had one customer whose problem was somehow related to the electric in their house. He took it over to friends houses and it would load up CDs immediately perfectly fine. Once taken home it would not load up one game not even a real disc.

also, not all Duo systems can read CDR media. I think I come across one out of every 100 that I work on that no matter what settings are done or lens being change, that it will just refuse to read a CDR disc.

[wolfman]

1. You have to burn the cd-r in the slowest possible speed.

Not necessarily. I burn my discs at the highest possible speed with taiyo yuden discs.

This is the burner I use: https://www.amazon.de/DVD-Laufwerk-Extern-Slim-Farbe/dp/B002G374LC

El cheapo, works perfectly every time. Didn´t cost me more than 20 bucks.

[MobiusStripTech]

What cd's are you using to burn with? I use Falcon Pro and have never had an issue on my duo r. The power supply could be related but your cd's could be the issue.

Are you removing the everdrive when you try to play cd games? Do original discs work?

Side note, Taiyo Yuden discs don't exist anymore. They have been manufactured by TY in many years. Anything you see out there that is a TY is either a JVC or a CMC, not the originals.