Problem with "Steel Talons" on gen 1 Lynx

[amiman99]

I purchased a new sealed in box "Steel Talons" game for my Lynx. Plugged it in the Lynx and only goes to title screen and freeze. When I press the button fast enough it will go to white screen. All other games play fine on it.

Anyone had a problem with new games not working? I tried cleaning (it was new, so looked clean anyways), and nothing.

 

[Krip316]

The problem is, it's not "new". I bought many "factory sealed" games that were actually resealed. In particular, I got Klax and the cart was clearly used with scuff marks on the back from going in and out the cart slot and didn't work at all.

[amiman99]

The cart, box, manual and warranty card looks brand new. The box looked professionally sealed, so I'm not sure.

The bad part is, I can't return it, because I got it at a Game Fest and the vendor is long gone.

 

I wonder how many sealed games are not working anymore?

[GadgetUK]

Have you tried cleaning the cart edge with an eraser, and then wipe it down with IPA and re-test.

[amiman99]

Have you tried cleaning the cart edge with an eraser, and then wipe it down with IPA and re-test.

Hey! The eraser worked, I don't know why, but it did. For sure alcohol did not fix it and it looked super clean.

 

Many Thanks!

 

Edit: I spoke too soon. The game did start and I was able to play, but then after 3rd try, I left it on so I can listen to music, the game froze, but music was still playing. Weird.

Edited August 21, 2017 by amiman99

[amiman99]

So, it looks like it could be a cart position in the slot that makes it run. 1 out of 20 inserts, the game will fully boot and run, otherwise it just shows title screen. Could be that one pin does not make good contact.

[7800fan]

Or one of the pin in your cart slot is just slightly out of alignment. If you have bright flashlight, see if you can look into the cart slot. Anything look funny?

 

I typed the next part before you posted getting it to work sometimes but I'll leave it anyway.

 

Unfortunately Lynx games have come sealed and DOA. I had a new Hard Drivin' from Electronic Boutique. I never got anything on my Lynx. Took it back with my Lynx, the guy there checked it out. He got another Hard Drivin' and tried it, it booted fine. When he tried the first one again, nothing. I went home with Hard Drivin' #2 and no further problem since then.

 

Also I bought a MISB Shanghai off eBay long ago. It was also DOA. Seller told me to throw that out and he sent me another one. This was way back when you could still get lots of common MISB games for under $5 shipped.

[GadgetUK]

Can you take a photo of the cart edge and upload it? I've seen numerous of these 'new in box' carts with corrosion started eating into the edges of the cart traces. I think part of the problem is somewhere along the line some of them have been stored in cold damn locations etc, so despite being wrapped they suffered from humidity. It could be your slot, but if other carts all work fine I am more inclined to think theres some corrosion on the cart edge.

[amiman99]

Here are the pics..

I noticed that the pins are little shifted to the left compared to other carts, check both outside pins, they are not aligned. One is closer to the edge then other.

 

[Video]

Could be a card thing, but I don't know. I've had several lynx games DOA, but despite the card format I didn't have troubles with other systems like master system of turbo grafx so...could be a production problem with lynx games. Tried a lynx2?

[amiman99]

I don't have Lynx2

[GadgetUK]

It's probably the PCB edge. If other games work fine, it most certainly is. It looks a little scratched in places there and still some signs of a bit of oxidisation. I would be tempted to go over it with an eraser again, but then use IPA afterwards (that is essential to clean up any residue from using the eraser).

[rmzalbar]

I had a NIB DOA Rampart card. Nothing I did to it worked - it wasn't a matter of dirty or misaligned contacts. It came as part of a lot consisting of a console, comlynx, adapter, sun visor, a dozen or so NIB and loose/loved games and a case, during the era-of-plenty (early 2000s,) so I couldn't really have returned it, but it was still heartbreaking. Whyyyy couldn't it have been the Kung Food card? Rampart... *snif.*

Edited August 23, 2017 by rmzalbar

[amiman99]

It's probably the PCB edge. If other games work fine, it most certainly is. It looks a little scratched in places there and still some signs of a bit of oxidisation. I would be tempted to go over it with an eraser again, but then use IPA afterwards (that is essential to clean up any residue from using the eraser).

Ok, I did the eraser thing again, but a little more longer, cleaned it with alcohol, and...it works every time so far.

 

I have one Gameboy game that shows garbled title screen, I will do that on it, when I find that darn tool to open it.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

[BadPricey]

Ok, I did the eraser thing again, but a little more longer, cleaned it with alcohol, and...it works every time so far.

 

I have one Gameboy game that shows garbled title screen, I will do that on it, when I find that darn tool to open it.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

All my Sega and Nintendo carts that don't fire up straight away I blow across the connector, seems to work.

Rgds

BadPricey

[GadgetUK]

All my Sega and Nintendo carts that don't fire up straight away I blow across the connector, seems to work.

Rgds

BadPricey

Actually - blowing the connector on cart games is actually a bad idea! Breath contains moisture, so each time you do that a minute amount of moisture is introduced. It can sometimes cause the cart to work - but as we know., moisture is required for corrosion.

[Igor]

I had a dead Shadow of the Beast cart lying around and thought I'd try out DeOxit on it. Worked like a charm, booted the first time after cleaning. I'll post something about this on my blog at a later point and will share it with you.