GD-ROM Dumping Guide: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:50, 19 February 2026

GD-ROM dumping guide. See here for information about dumping GD-R (recordable) discs.

GD discs were used by the Sega Dreamcast console and Sega NAOMI, Sega NAOMI 2, Sega Chihiro, and Triforce arcade systems.

The discs contain two distinct areas, a Low Density Area ("LD Area") and a High Density Area ("HD Area"), physically separated by a ring. You'll need to dump both areas of the disc, each requiring different drive models and methods.

LD Area

Tools

CD-ROM compatible disc drive
Windows, Linux, or macOS computer
MPF application (includes Redumper)

Dumping

The LD Area is formatted like a standard CD-ROM, so should be dumped using the standard Disc Dumping Guide (MPF). The CD-ROM profile should be selected in MPF.

HD Area

Tools

GD-ROM compatible disc drive
Windows or Linux computer
dreamdump app

Dumping

Open command line interface app
cd (change directory) to the location of the dreamdump app.
Dump with the following command: dreamdump disc --drive="[drive letter]" --image-name=""

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-This is a step-by-step guide designed to be easy to follow so that you can make reproducible, good dumps of your GDs to the Redump standard.
+'''GD-ROM''' dumping guide. See [[GD-R Dumping Guide|here]] for information about dumping GD-R (recordable) discs.
-==What are GDs?==
+GD discs were used by the Sega Dreamcast console and Sega NAOMI, Sega NAOMI 2, Sega Chihiro, and Triforce arcade systems.
-GDs—or Gigadiscs—are the type of [[wikipedia:Optical disc|optical media]] used by the [[wikipedia:Dreamcast|Sega Dreamcast]] as well as the [https://segaretro.org/Sega_NAOMI Sega NAOMI], [https://segaretro.org/Sega_NAOMI_2 Sega NAOMI 2], [https://segaretro.org/Sega_Chihiro Sega Chihiro] and [https://segaretro.org/Triforce Triforce] arcade systems. It is special compared to its relative—the CD—in that it contains both a low density (LD) and a high density (HD) area. To get a good dump, you need to extract them both from the disc.
-If you have any of the officially released discs for the Dreamcast or any of the above mentioned arcade systems, you are pretty much guaranteed to have a GD. The Dreamcast did however support loading of [[wikipedia:MIL-CD|MIL-CDs]], which lead to a number of unlicensed software being pressed on regular CDs. Check for the GD-ROM logo on the disc or check the reflective side of the disc for a visible LD–HD divide if you are unsure.
+The discs contain two distinct areas, a Low Density Area ("LD Area") and a High Density Area ("HD Area"), physically separated by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GD-ROM#/media/File:Gdrom.jpg ring]. You'll need to dump both areas of the disc, each requiring different drive models and methods.
-==Tools==
+==LD Area==
-First you need to make sure you have the necessary equipment. To dump a GD you need:
+'''Tools'''
+* [[Optical Disc Drive Compatibility: CD|CD-ROM compatible disc drive]]
+* Windows, Linux, or macOS computer
+* [https://github.com/SabreTools/MPF/releases MPF application] (includes Redumper)
-* A Windows PC
+'''Dumping'''
-* [[DiscImageCreator: Optical Disc Drive Compatibility#GD-Rom|Compatible drive(s)]]
-* A Pin or Paperclip for the disc ejection hole on the Disc Drive
-* [https://github.com/saramibreak/DiscImageCreator/releases DiscImageCreator app]
-* Create an Audio Trap Disc:
-*# Get a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc
-*# Download this free burning app: [https://www.redfox.bz/en/clonecd.html CloneCD] (CDmage and Alcohol 120% also work)
-*# Burn this [https://archive.org/download/audio-trap-disc/audio-trap-disc.zip disc image] to the CD-R/RW
-==Dumping the LD area==
+The LD Area is formatted like a standard CD-ROM, so should be dumped using the standard [[Disc Dumping Guide (MPF)]]. The CD-ROM profile should be selected in MPF.
-The LD Area should be dumped with DICUI using this guide: [[Disc Dumping Guide (DICUI)]].
-The LD Area is a standard CD-Rom, so it will be the only data to appear when mounted in a computer.
+==HD Area==
+'''Tools'''
+* [[Optical Disc Drive Compatibility: GD-ROM|GD-ROM compatible disc drive]]
+* Windows or Linux computer
+* [https://github.com/MoriGM/dreamdump/releases dreamdump app]
-==Dumping the HD area==
+'''Dumping'''
-* Insert the audio Trap Disc to a [[DiscImageCreator:_Optical_Disc_Drive_Compatibility#GD-Rom|compatible drive]].
+* Open command line interface app
-* run below. (stop spinning disc) DiscImageCreator.exe stop [DriveLetter]
+* cd (change directory) to the location of the dreamdump app.
-* use a pin to press the escape eject button, so the tray will eject (or remove the drive cover).
+* Dump with the following command: dreamdump disc --drive="[drive letter]" --image-name=""
-* insert the gdrom and gently push the tray back (or put the drive cover back on).
-* run below. (start rippping gdrom) DiscImageCreator.exe gd [DriveLetter] foo.bin [DriveSpeed(0-72)]
-* The only error saved from the _mainError.txt file is this one:
-*** LBA[045000, 0x0afc8]: [F:ExecSearchingOffset][L:110]
-*** Opcode: 0xbe
-***  ScsiStatus: 0x02 = CHECK_CONDITION
-***  SenseData Key-Asc-Ascq: 05-24-00 = ILLEGAL_REQUEST - INVALID FIELD IN CDB
-** lpCmd: be, 04, 00, 00, af, c8, 00, 00, 01, f8, 04, 00
-** dwBufSize: 2448
-==Submitting your dump info==
 [[Category:Dumping Guides]]