Is it possible to dump the SEGA-CD BIOS from the Genesis Mini 2?

[WarMasterXX]

I'd like to know, because if it's possible, I'll buy both the Genesis Mini 2 AND the Mega Drive Mini 2, dump both the SEGA-CD and MEGA-CD BIOSes from each system, and then I'll finally be able to play the SEGA-CD version of Sonic CD (both American and Japanese) completely legally.

 

[Reploid]

You game game images maybe? It prolly uses common BIOSes for emulation purposes. If you worry about legality, just buy digital version that have both OSTs.

 

[sith]

I could be wrong but i don't think these classic systems have a sega cd bios per-se, it may be added to have extra/added emu cores work properly tho, I don't really understand why you would care about technical "legality" as if you own a copy of the game, fair use doctrine would say its fine to play it on any hardware you own.

 

[WarMasterXX]

I don't really understand why you would care about technical "legality" as if you own a copy of the game, fair use doctrine would say its fine to play it on any hardware you own.

The reason I care is because I already got caught twice downloading illegal copies of games. Granted I was using bittorrent, which I never use anymore because everything on there's monitored, but I'd still like to be as legal of a gamer as I can be. Plus the feeling you get when you buy a game and dump it to your own personal ROM/ISO is so much warmer and fuzzier than if you illegally downloaded it, at least to me. I've also successfully dumped my own PS1 and PS2 BIOSes, and again it makes me feel very comfortable using those instead of illegally downloaded copies.

 

[esmith13]

I admire your efforts but I'm not sure what you ask would be legal.
Yes, it would be legal with original hardware since you would have bought that and it is your property. In the case you are inquiring about you would (if even possible) be circumventing software protections put in place to prevent software piracy, and the bioses you want are in a software form on the mini consoles, not hardware form like the originals.

Would what you're asking to do not be considered software piracy in this specific case?

Not throwing shade or judging either way. Honestly, I'm just curious what others think about this.

 

[Thotleader]

I'd like to know, because if it's possible, I'll buy both the Genesis Mini 2 AND the Mega Drive Mini 2, dump both the SEGA-CD and MEGA-CD BIOSes from each system, and then I'll finally be able to play the SEGA-CD version of Sonic CD (both American and Japanese) completely legally.

If you buy the US version of the mini 2 and switch the language to Japanese in settings, you have the mega drive versions of everything. It’s all on one console no need to buy two.

 

[SylverReZ]

I bet it might be the same hardware used, but I don't have one to confirm that. It could be possible although there is no support for Haxchi yet.

 

[7ank0v1c]

I too am in a similar boat. I am desperately trying to find a way to dump the sega/mega CD bios for myself. In a legit way. I stumbled across a YouTube video which claims you can use a everdrive with a Megadrive and mega cd but I don’t see much evidence other than his video. Because it is really expensive, I am not sure I want to risk buying it yet until I know for sure. Would be really interested to see if this is possible though with the mini

 

[esmith13]

I too am in a similar boat. I am desperately trying to find a way to dump the sega/mega CD bios for myself. In a legit way. I stumbled across a YouTube video which claims you can use a everdrive with a Megadrive and mega cd but I don’t see much evidence other than his video. Because it is really expensive, I am not sure I want to risk buying it yet until I know for sure. Would be really interested to see if this is possible though with the mini

If you want an "easy" way to dump the CD bios from real hardware, here is a link that is about as easy as it gets (aside from the supposed flash cart way that I don't personally believe is real)
https://www.retrodev.com/transfer.html
The problem is, it requires a PC with a 25pin parallel port, which probably means you're talking a 10+ year old desktop PC or older laptop and likely was designed for WinXP at best. I used this software myself back in the day and it was easy for the n00b I was at the time. The hardest part was burning the iso to put in your SegaCD (at least it sucked on XP back then, LOL) and building the cable is easy unless you have ZERO soldering experience. If you can solder one wire to another you're fine tho.

 

[SylverReZ]

If you want an "easy" way to dump the CD bios from real hardware, here is a link that is about as easy as it gets (aside from the supposed flash cart way that I don't personally believe is real)
https://www.retrodev.com/transfer.html
The problem is, it requires a PC with a 25pin parallel port, which probably means you're talking a 10+ year old desktop PC or older laptop and likely was designed for WinXP at best. I used this software myself back in the day and it was easy for the n00b I was at the time. The hardest part was burning the iso to put in your SegaCD (at least it sucked on XP back then, LOL) and building the cable is easy unless you have ZERO soldering experience. If you can solder one wire to another you're fine tho.

Nobody uses parallel ports anymore in 2022, plus you would need quite an old computer to do this.

 

[7ank0v1c]

Nobody uses parallel ports anymore in 2022, plus you would need quite an old computer to do this.

Or a parallel port to usb converter?

 

[r1vver]

ttl serial - usb converter?
https://www.obscuregamers.com/threads/mega-cd-bios-dumper.1345/

 

[SylverReZ]

Or a parallel port to usb converter?

I don't recommend it.