Dreamcast How to burn Dreamcast games on Linux?

[KenaiPhoenix]

Hi, I recently got here the CDi copy of Daytona USA (I plan to get an original copy of the game in the near future) and wanted to burn it into one of my CD-R.

However I got into problem: i cant find a way to burn it, when I try to burn it with K3b (I use linux as OS) and select the .cue, the file is too big for the drive. And I cant find a way to get the CDi to work.

Is there any other linux user here that can help me?

Thanks

 

[thecrow2313]

To burn .cdi (DiscJuggler) images on Linux, you need to first convert them to a more common format (like .iso) or use software that supports .cdi directly.
Option 1: Convert .cdi to .iso using cdi2iso
Step-by-step:

Install cdi2iso:

On Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install cdi2iso

On Arch:

sudo pacman -S cdi2iso

Convert the .cdi file:

cdi2iso input.cdi output.iso

Burn the .iso:

Using Brasero (GUI):

brasero

Or using wodim (CLI):

wodim dev=/dev/cdrom speed=4 -v -eject output.iso

 

[diapered]

To burn .cdi (DiscJuggler) images on Linux, you need to first convert them to a more common format (like .iso) or use software that supports .cdi directly.
Option 1: Convert .cdi to .iso using cdi2iso
Step-by-step:

Install cdi2iso:

On Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install cdi2iso

On Arch:

sudo pacman -S cdi2iso

Convert the .cdi file:

cdi2iso input.cdi output.iso

Burn the .iso:

Using Brasero (GUI):

brasero

Or using wodim (CLI):

wodim dev=/dev/cdrom speed=4 -v -eject output.iso

You do not need to convert a cdi image. They are good to go.

1) Have a distro that makes wine easy to use (I use garuda)
2) install ImgBurn with wine (the cdi plugin is also there on imgburn website, follow instructions when it tells you what you need)
3) Tools --> Settings --> I/O and change the interface to SPTI so it recognizes your optical drive.
4) Use MAX burning rate, do NOT use low speeds as recommended online. Again, thanks to @popckorn for this help in the linux thread where we actually talked about this a couple weeks ago

I burn dreamcast games with pretty much 100% success on linux, even some from the repo that say they don't work on original hardware...

 

[thecrow2313]

You do not need to convert a cdi image. They are good to go.

1) Have a distro that makes wine easy to use (I use garuda)
2) install ImgBurn with wine (the cdi plugin is also there on imgburn website, follow instructions when it tells you what you need)
3) Tools --> Settings --> I/O and change the interface to SPTI so it recognizes your optical drive.
4) Use MAX burning rate, do NOT use low speeds as recommended online. Again, thanks to @popckorn for this help in the linux thread where we actually talked about this a couple weeks ago

I burn dreamcast games with pretty much 100% success on linux, even some from the repo that say they don't work on original hardware...

Even much easier

 

[Glimbo]

If you don't want to use wine and you're not afraid of CLI, there's a native Linux tool to burn cdi images.

GitHub - alex-free/dreamcast-cdi-burner: Burns ALL Sega Dreamcast .CDI file types with open source portable software on Linux.

Burns ALL Sega Dreamcast .CDI file types with open source portable software on Linux. - alex-free/dreamcast-cdi-burner

github.com

 

[diapered]

Even much easier

I wouldn't say "easier" because it took me awhile to figure all that out But it is reliable. And even my shitbox laptop optical drive has ~100% success after @popckorn helped me out with that last "piece" of the puzzle.

I am not sure how converting a cdi to iso would even work, but I'm not a dc expert... I just know my burn of the repo RDC cdi version of ecco worked on original hardware yet the description said you needed the boot disc version for og hardware. So I must be doing something right O_o

 

[Zerpina]

PowerISO will work fine for it and has native support with Linux

 

[RohanSpartan]

It's been about a decade since I used Ubuntu, but if there's a Linux version if ImgBurn, use that, and set the burn speed to as low as possible. That's how I did it after following an old guide and it worked 10/10 times.

 

[thecrow2313]

If I remember back in the day ImgBurn v2.5.8.0 for Windows required a plugin to burn .cdi disc images. I learn something everyday for Linux, thanks @Glimbo @popckorn. Back in the day we used DiscJuggler or IsoBuster for the DC scene.

 

[_oBSOLEte_]

If you don't want to use wine and you're not afraid of CLI, there's a native Linux tool to burn cdi images.

GitHub - alex-free/dreamcast-cdi-burner: Burns ALL Sega Dreamcast .CDI file types with open source portable software on Linux.

Burns ALL Sega Dreamcast .CDI file types with open source portable software on Linux. - alex-free/dreamcast-cdi-burner

github.com

Grown men shouldnt be afraid of the CLIt.

 

[diapered]

if there's a Linux version if ImgBurn

There is not. You need to use wine.

use that, and set the burn speed to as low as possible.

This is wrong and outdated, in my experience using imgBurn. I'm not a hardware expert, but from my experience (~20 successful burns that worked first try, others needed a reset but then worked, on og dc hardware), modern discs and drives require the MAX native speed for best results, if you want to go the imgBurn route.

Sorry to be harsh, but advice like that caused me to waste a lot of time and dics And I want to spare others the same frustration.

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

Thank you all very much, in the end I used the Dreamcast-dci-burner and worked at first try! (even tho, the boot sometimes just dont work, but tbf my DC is kind of picky).

 

[aquova]

Thank you all very much, in the end I used the Dreamcast-dci-burner and worked at first try! (even tho, the boot sometimes just dont work, but tbf my DC is kind of picky).

I use that exact same project to burn my discs on Linux as well, and I initially had the same problem. For me, my Dreamcast wasn't able to read some of the discs as its laser power output had faded over the years. If you remove the outer shell, it's possible to find a dial to turn up the power output, but you need to be very cautious about this, as turning it up even slightly can cause it to burn out much quicker over time.

 

[thecrow2313]

Grown men shouldnt be afraid of the CLIt.

Found an awesome wallpaper

https://i.4cdn.org/wg/1740097226600184.png

Post automatically merged: Jun 17, 2025

GDEMU is the way to go if your disc laser craps out.

GDEMU

The GDEMU is an ODE (Optical Drive Emulator) by a Polish engineer who goes by the name "Deunan", who is also responsible for other ODEs like the Rhea and Phoebe for the Saturn and the Marty:Doc Brown for the FM Towns Marty.

consolemods.org

 

[DrunkGecko]

Place it on top of your computer
Pour gasoline on it
Light it on fire
It is now burned on your linux