SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - My NES finally crapped out after 22 years

Posted: Aug 02 2011 03:09 am

Goddamit! Now no matter how many times I blow into it it won't play any of my games. I even took it apart, cleaned it, then put it back together. Still nothing. The connectors must be worn out. Time to find a replacement I guess. However I hear the NES still outlasts all the newer systems. It outlasted my SNES and my PS1. Doesn't just about everything else break within the first year?

Posted: Aug 02 2011 04:11 am

My NES broke when I was about 5 and my SNES is still going strong and I've had it since I was 7. In fact, My NES was the only console I've had break on me except my 360.

Sorry to hear the bad news, though.

Joined: Jun 08 2010 Location: Termina Field Posts: 1541

Have you tried methods other than blowing on the cartridges? Apparently, putting in the game, turning the console on, and then wiggling the cartridge from side to side until the game starts working, then hitting reset works very well.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

My Genesis, Dreamcast,SNES, and Atari 2600 are still fighting on. I try to keep them all in good shape, and not have mega marathons with them. Isn't blowing on cartridges and systems bad for them anyway?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Hmm... I wonder...

After 22 years is it the solder that is giving out rather than the chips?

Can the Solder on a NES be fixed the same way it can on a VGA card?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflow_soldering

This will 95% certainly destroy your NES, but it sounds like it already might be destroyed... so if there is a 5% chance it will fix it, is it worth it?

How this might be fixed on a VGA card:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Repair-VGA-card-by-re-flowing-solder-on-the-board/2240/1

I have never tried this and only began to hear about this method for video cards about 3-5 days ago.

Posted: Aug 02 2011 08:03 am

72 pin connectors are pretty cheap on eBay, and since you took it apart to clean it would be an easy job for you to install a new one.

Joined: Jun 08 2010 Location: Termina Field Posts: 1541

Greg the White wrote:

Isn't blowing on cartridges and systems bad for them anyway?

Yes. Saliva can get into the cartridge and onto the contacts, which would damage them. I Don't know of any console where you had to blow the console itself to get it to work.

Posted: Aug 02 2011 09:36 am

Try this number, they should be able to help.

Posted: Aug 02 2011 10:06 am

Like Tomdincan said, get a new 72 pin connector. That is most likely your problem if the game are not playing but the system itself is still powering on. I have fixed dozens of NES consoles of the years, and most of the time it was just replacing the connector.

Joined: Sep 17 2007 Location: The Opium Trail Posts: 3475

slapolakinkaido wrote:

However I hear the NES still outlasts all the newer systems.

Pffft. My NES broke when I was 7 after 3 years.

Posted: Aug 02 2011 11:53 am

What a fucking piece of crap. Don't they build things to last anymore?

Posted: Aug 02 2011 10:39 pm

JRA wrote:

slapolakinkaido wrote:

However I hear the NES still outlasts all the newer systems.

Pffft. My NES broke when I was 7 after 3 years.

Yeah but a 7 year old will fuck anything up.

Mr. Satire wrote:

Have you tried methods other than blowing on the cartridges? Apparently, putting in the game, turning the console on, and then wiggling the cartridge from side to side until the game starts working, then hitting reset works very well.

I've tried that as well, but so far nothing. It just keeps flashing on and off.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

slapolakinkaido, you can buy used consoles online pretty cheap now. I've seen them hover around $20 on eBay.

Posted: Aug 03 2011 07:03 pm

I know how you feel, man. After several years of owning a Sega Genesis, it finally crapped out on me. I had to go buy a new one, and luckily enough, one with a Sega CD attachment, which I never had as a kid.

I'm sure if you search Google or Bing, you could find some advice on how to fix one.

Posted: Aug 04 2011 07:04 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

slapolakinkaido, you can buy used consoles online pretty cheap now. I've seen them hover around $20 on eBay.

I think I might try to fix it myself with a new 72 pin connnector, which I think I can get for about 7 bucks on Ebay. If I get a used console on Ebay it may not work any better than what I have now. Either way I'll be up and running soon.

Joined: Aug 04 2009 Posts: 2515

That sucks dude, you are making me paranoid that my SNES could go soon.... Neutral

It must be...17 years old.

Joined: Jun 08 2010 Location: Termina Field Posts: 1541

slapolakinkaido wrote:

Mr. Satire wrote:

Have you tried methods other than blowing on the cartridges? Apparently, putting in the game, turning the console on, and then wiggling the cartridge from side to side until the game starts working, then hitting reset works very well.

I've tried that as well, but so far nothing. It just keeps flashing on and off.

Well, then it's screwed. Either trying buying a new 72-pin thingy, or a new NES. Of course, you can find both on eBay.

Posted: Aug 05 2011 03:24 am

Get a top loader, the connectors don't wear out, but be prepared to hate the fuzzy RF signal, finding one that has AV out on is hard because the only ones that have that were modified by Nintendo when customers sent them back complaining, they're pretty rare I hear. You could snag a NES2 and mod it to have AV and then it should last for a really long time.

Here's a long conversation about it if you're interested.

Joined: Jun 08 2010 Location: Termina Field Posts: 1541

Syd Lexia wrote:

What a fucking piece of crap. Don't they build things to last anymore?

Well, they certainly do not now. My DS Lite is completely fucked (broken hinge, top screen hangs from single ribbon cable, won't power on). And no, the busted hinge is not due to mistreatment, believe it or not.

I must say that the Nintendo 64 is the most resilient and reliable Nintendo console ever made in my opinion.

Posted: Aug 05 2011 03:45 pm

I found a Yobo, 'famiclone' I guess they call it, at a pawn shop for 5 bucks. I didn't buy it however. I figured I would do some investigation on the internet first. Apparently it won't play certain games like Castlevania III, which I own. If that's true I'm glad I didn't get it. I've heard mixed reviews about those clone systems and I want to make an investment that's going to last me a long time.

Posted: Aug 05 2011 04:19 pm

slapolakinkaido wrote:

I found a Yobo, 'famiclone' I guess they call it, at a pawn shop for 5 bucks. I didn't buy it however. I figured I would do some investigation on the internet first. Apparently it won't play certain games like Castlevania III, which I own. If that's true I'm glad I didn't get it. I've heard mixed reviews about those clone systems and I want to make an investment that's going to last me a long time.

I've seen a "Portable" one at a local game shop that's actually pretty reliable. I'll find out it's name next time I go there.

Posted: Aug 06 2011 05:13 am

The won't play anything that has extra graphic chips in the cart from what I understand. Not sure what the technical side of it is all about, if all these cheap clones are a perfect copy of the hardware on a chip you'd think it would work the same. I dunno it's beyond me.

Posted: Aug 26 2011 01:49 pm

At least this spam makes sense for the thread.

Posted: Aug 26 2011 05:18 pm

Relevant spam? I'm afraid.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

Klimbatize wrote:

At least this spam makes sense for the thread.

It's probably pictures of naked women repairing Nintendos. Wait, now I want to click the link.