Before you begin
Before You Begin
A little preparation makes Dreamcast modding far smoother. Read this page fully before buying parts or opening your console, so you set off with realistic expectations and the right approach.
Know your goal
Decide what you actually want. Casual homebrew and the occasional backup need nothing more than blank CD-Rs and MIL-CD support. A failing drive, frequent loading, or import play points toward an ODE. Matching the method to the goal avoids wasted money.
Identify your board
Open the console and confirm whether you have a VA0 or VA1 mainboard. This single fact shapes nearly every later decision, especially for GDEMU, which is built around the VA1 layout.
Gather the essentials
Have a clean workspace, a trustworthy SD card or USB stick, and a way to create disc images in GDI or CDI format. See What you'll need for a full checklist.
Back up your saves
Before changing anything, copy your VMU saves. Memory-card batteries fail and clock data can be lost, so a backup protects years of progress.
Finally, be patient. Work methodically, read each page before acting, and never force a connector. The Dreamcast is forgiving, but care still pays off.