Nintendo newbie looking for advice
in Help Wanted!
Hi everyone!
I saw this site after googling for some solutions for fixing a NES I recently bought. You all seem very knowledgeable and I think I can learn alot here I recently started game collecting and I probably gonna need every tip I can get. I apologize in advance if some of the questions here have been answered before, but I am pretty sure I have searched everything.
1. I am getting the grey screen, or flashing grey screen when trying to load a game. I managed to get the game to work by pulling it SLIGHTLY out from the slot on the right side. My question is: Is this because of the pins not being aligned properly or is it because of the game cartridge? I have ordered a new 72 pin just to learn how to replace it, but I would like to figure out exactly what the problem is first.
2. Is there any here from Europe who can recommend something good to clean game cartridges and connectors with? Because at least here in Norway they don't sell the type of cleaning alcohol that is mentioned everywhere on the internet. Guess it's because of the amount of alcohol (Damn alcoholics ruining my game cleaning!).
3. Should I stick with 1 method of cleaning games and connectors, or should I use for example first a magic eraser then alcohol? Also seen people mentioning brass polish. Just trying to figure out the best way by asking people who have done it alot
4. Is there any way to "oil up" the controllers? Can't find the correct english word, but what I mean is that some of my controllers buttons (including NES Advantage) feel a little bit sticky. I would like to get them smooth again. I bought some new rubber parts for the buttons on a retro store, but are these recommended?
Thanks in advance
I saw this site after googling for some solutions for fixing a NES I recently bought. You all seem very knowledgeable and I think I can learn alot here I recently started game collecting and I probably gonna need every tip I can get. I apologize in advance if some of the questions here have been answered before, but I am pretty sure I have searched everything.
1. I am getting the grey screen, or flashing grey screen when trying to load a game. I managed to get the game to work by pulling it SLIGHTLY out from the slot on the right side. My question is: Is this because of the pins not being aligned properly or is it because of the game cartridge? I have ordered a new 72 pin just to learn how to replace it, but I would like to figure out exactly what the problem is first.
2. Is there any here from Europe who can recommend something good to clean game cartridges and connectors with? Because at least here in Norway they don't sell the type of cleaning alcohol that is mentioned everywhere on the internet. Guess it's because of the amount of alcohol (Damn alcoholics ruining my game cleaning!).
3. Should I stick with 1 method of cleaning games and connectors, or should I use for example first a magic eraser then alcohol? Also seen people mentioning brass polish. Just trying to figure out the best way by asking people who have done it alot
4. Is there any way to "oil up" the controllers? Can't find the correct english word, but what I mean is that some of my controllers buttons (including NES Advantage) feel a little bit sticky. I would like to get them smooth again. I bought some new rubber parts for the buttons on a retro store, but are these recommended?
Thanks in advance
Comments
Originally posted by: Skar Productions
Hi everyone!
I saw this site after googling for some solutions for fixing a NES I recently bought. You all seem very knowledgeable and I think I can learn alot here I recently started game collecting and I probably gonna need every tip I can get. I apologize in advance if some of the questions here have been answered before, but I am pretty sure I have searched everything.
1. I am getting the grey screen, or flashing grey screen when trying to load a game. I managed to get the game to work by pulling it SLIGHTLY out from the slot on the right side. My question is: Is this because of the pins not being aligned properly or is it because of the game cartridge? I have ordered a new 72 pin just to learn how to replace it, but I would like to figure out exactly what the problem is first.
2. Is there any here from Europe who can recommend something good to clean game cartridges and connectors with? Because at least here in Norway they don't sell the type of cleaning alcohol that is mentioned everywhere on the internet. Guess it's because of the amount of alcohol (Damn alcoholics ruining my game cleaning!).
3. Should I stick with 1 method of cleaning games and connectors, or should I use for example first a magic eraser then alcohol? Also seen people mentioning brass polish. Just trying to figure out the best way by asking people who have done it alot
4. Is there any way to "oil up" the controllers? Can't find the correct english word, but what I mean is that some of my controllers buttons (including NES Advantage) feel a little bit sticky. I would like to get them smooth again. I bought some new rubber parts for the buttons on a retro store, but are these recommended?
Thanks in advance
answer 1.
your games and pin is dirty. you need to clean them with a q tip and windex or rubbing alcohol. i reccomend you get your self some security bit tools a 3.8 for nes and a 4.5 for everything else so you can open and properly clean your stuff. as for replacing your pin just look up a video tutorial on youtube its very easy to do. or you can boil your original pin ive heard that fixes it too.
answer 2.
windex. or any kind of glass cleaner will work. if your really desperate use a small ammount of toothpaste or brasso. but make sure its cleaned out after polishing it. (toothpaste is for game only not your systems)
answer 3. no use as many methonds that work. i used windex, alcohol, and pencil erasers mainly. but occasionally i use 0000 fine steel wool toothpaste, and even soap and water
soap and water not recommended for noobs, ive only done it a few time due to soda spillage. if you use steel wool make sure to wipe the connectors clean with windex and take a brush and swipe the board to assure there isnt any partical left to cause issues.
answer 4.
Yes way one. open it up and clean it. way 2 use pledge multi surface (the yellow one for dusting) and spray the buttons lightly the press your buttons fast. it will act as a lube. and smell like lemons after that wipe the rest off.
ive been doing this for 10 years so i know pretty much all there is to know.
hope this helps.
1. I tried cleaning the connectors on the game with an eraser an som Windex. Or at least norways equalent of Windex called Jif. Now it loads up Still might get the grey screen sometimes, but that might be the pin I guess. I will search for some videos on how to clean it.
2. Found the Jif here, but it has benzyl in it. Just wondering since everyone uses this kind of stuff for cleaning the games, but every cartridge says you shouldn't use that type of solution. Marketing tactic to make people buy more games instead of cleaning? ^^ hehe
3. Used 2 methods now and it worked great! Eraser got rid of almost everything visible.
4. I will try this at least find something that matches pledge multi surface here in norway.
Thank you for the help I will probably search the forums often the days to come!
4. I think the word you may have been looking for would be "lubricate". If the buttons are sticking you can disassemble the controller and wash just the rubber and plastic parts in your dishwasher if you have one. If not, take some hot water and dish soap for a nice clean and responsive controller.
Originally posted by: Skar Productions
Thank you for a quick and insightful reply!
1. I tried cleaning the connectors on the game with an eraser an som Windex. Or at least norways equalent of Windex called Jif. Now it loads up Still might get the grey screen sometimes, but that might be the pin I guess. I will search for some videos on how to clean it.
2. Found the Jif here, but it has benzyl in it. Just wondering since everyone uses this kind of stuff for cleaning the games, but every cartridge says you shouldn't use that type of solution. Marketing tactic to make people buy more games instead of cleaning? ^^ hehe
3. Used 2 methods now and it worked great! Eraser got rid of almost everything visible.
4. I will try this at least find something that matches pledge multi surface here in norway.
Thank you for the help I will probably search the forums often the days to come!
no problem! good luck. oh btw wd 40 might help too but im not sure if it will cause damage
Originally posted by: Lance
1. It could also be your pin connector is worn from over time. You can usually just get a game clean and keep sticking it in to get the connectors clean. If they continue to be a problem, you can either open the NES up and reset the pins by bending them back to their normal condition or by boiling the connector in filtered water for getting any grime off.
4. I think the word you may have been looking for would be "lubricate". If the buttons are sticking you can disassemble the controller and wash just the rubber and plastic parts in your dishwasher if you have one. If not, take some hot water and dish soap for a nice clean and responsive controller.
1. I think the problem here was the pins since the game almost just slid in and out with ease (and the game! It was awfully dirty). I did this method you mentioned here. I first used a flat thin screwdriver to pull the pins up. I tried to get it as evenly as I could. Just pulled them up to the "roof" without using to much force. Then boiled it for 4 min, put the game in and out about 20 times, then boiled for another 4 minutes. With great success! Now it boots every single time without any problems. Only thing is, now I got to pull quite abit harder to get the game out. Is this ok? Will the pins settle down after a while or should I do something about it?
4. There it is! Finally haha. Been thinking about what word I mean all day. Thats how it is when you are not a native speaker. I will try just cleaning the controller and the rubber parts. Always thought it was the plastic button themselves.
And about the electronic cleaner. We use something like that for guitar electronics at the shop. Do they work just as well for lubrication?
Originally posted by: Skar Productions
Originally posted by: Lance
1. It could also be your pin connector is worn from over time. You can usually just get a game clean and keep sticking it in to get the connectors clean. If they continue to be a problem, you can either open the NES up and reset the pins by bending them back to their normal condition or by boiling the connector in filtered water for getting any grime off.
4. I think the word you may have been looking for would be "lubricate". If the buttons are sticking you can disassemble the controller and wash just the rubber and plastic parts in your dishwasher if you have one. If not, take some hot water and dish soap for a nice clean and responsive controller.
1. I think the problem here was the pins since the game almost just slid in and out with ease (and the game! It was awfully dirty). I did this method you mentioned here. I first used a flat thin screwdriver to pull the pins up. I tried to get it as evenly as I could. Just pulled them up to the "roof" without using to much force. Then boiled it for 4 min, put the game in and out about 20 times, then boiled for another 4 minutes. With great success! Now it boots every single time without any problems. Only thing is, now I got to pull quite abit harder to get the game out. Is this ok? Will the pins settle down after a while or should I do something about it?
4. There it is! Finally haha. Been thinking about what word I mean all day. Thats how it is when you are not a native speaker. I will try just cleaning the controller and the rubber parts. Always thought it was the plastic button themselves.
And about the electronic cleaner. We use something like that for guitar electronics at the shop. Do they work just as well for lubrication?
1. no its suppost to be tight so you did it right great work.
2. fyi becarful with the rubber parts. they tend to dry out over time and become brittle if your not careful with cleaning them you can break them.
3. ive never tried it so i dont know.. just order some electronic contact cleaner of the internet. as for lube like i said before use wd 40 or pledge on a q tip if your going to take it apart and clean it.
Now I have left the game in my Nintendo for a few days since I have been busy with other stuff. I pulled the cartridge out and back in, and now I am getting blinking screen. Only this time with the intro screen for TMNT and sometimes there will be purple(?) stripes vertically across the screen. Again I can get it to boot by SLIGHTLY pulling the game out just so I can push it down in the nintendo.
So I am wondering. Is it still the 72 pin or can it be the game? Because I only have one game at the moment (working on collecting, but hard when you start in this day and age.) and it was so dirty when I cleaned it. So for all I know there might be something more wrong with it, but I cleaned it thouroughly.
Originally posted by: next level gaming
im having the same problem except it is a new pin! i think i happened to buy a defective one on amazon since i can get every other old corruded original pin to work
that is possible. ive gotten a few bad pins. return it for anather