Thanks for the quick responses, I've given the well used cartridges a good clean with some of the following; http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/servisol-isopropyl-alcohol-200ml-re87u?cmpid=ppc%3Ahome_electricals%3Apla%3Agoogle&gclid=CIWr1fXW_NMCFckV0wodxuYBJQ
No help though, I've tried around 15 different games now and they all give the red jaguar screen so I'm beginning to think it's the actual Motherboard that's got the problem. With that in mind I opened the bad boy up to have a looksee inside to see if there's anything obvious, I've attached a few pictures. It's not a pretty site inside and it looks like the PCB at the back left is caput.
I hope it isn't something daft like i need the controller plugged in to get past the red screen, I figured i leave it out of equation until I can at least get to the menu of a game
As you can see by the cu tips the board is covered in gunk, what do you guys think? A lost cause?