Tired of fighting the NES...

[Inky]

Bought a new NES about 2 months ago.. Well... New to me that is. ANyway, blinking light syndrome. Took it back, guy got it working, get it home, play for 10 minutes, and it was blinking again. I opened it up, re seated the connector, put it back together, no go. I lost interest.

 

Tried again wo days ago... bent the little pins on the connectors, and tested. same damn thing. GAH!

 

 

Anyway to turn this bastard into a top loader and be done with it?

[+remowilliams]

Order a replacement ZIF connector. They're stiff, but they get the job done.

[phaxda]

I just did this and now the light doesn't blink, but all I get is a white screen. Aaaaargh. I am going to take it apart again, but I have just ab0out had it as well. Sucks because I picked up some new games at the thrift thinking that I was going to get it working.

 

Order a replacement ZIF connector. They're stiff, but they get the job done.

[Dave Farquhar]

The ZIF connector is sensitive. Too much dirt can do it in, too much oxidation can do it in, or a loose fit can do it in. Or a lesser combination of any of the three can. The easiest, least time consuming fix is a new connector. It costs around $10 and installs in 15 minutes. I think I've fixed five NES consoles that way.

 

A coworker of mine who restores old amps and synths recommended Deoxit, which theoretically should fix a connector if dirt and/or oxidation is the problem. You can get it at Radio Shack but a bottle of it will probably cost more than a new connector does. I haven't tried it.

 

The best way to keep an NES from developing the problem is to keep your carts clean. Disassemble and clean the contacts thoroughly, and then clean them after every few uses.

[Dave Farquhar]

I just did this and now the light doesn't blink, but all I get is a white screen. Aaaaargh. I am going to take it apart again, but I have just ab0out had it as well. Sucks because I picked up some new games at the thrift thinking that I was going to get it working.

 

How clean are the cartridges? If there's any dirt visible on the contacts without disassembling the cartridge, it's probably too dirty. I had a Kung Fu cart once that wouldn't work no matter what, then I saw one of its pins was covered with black grime. I had to disassemble it to clean it completely (and most of the grime was just on that one pin) but then it worked fine after that.

[phaxda]

My carts are all clean. It's definitely the new connector...they just seem so finicky. At least with the old connector I could SOMETIMES get it to work. Now, nothing. And it's just a pain to take apart, all those damn screws. Listen to me, whine, whine! (sorry.)

 

I just did this and now the light doesn't blink, but all I get is a white screen. Aaaaargh. I am going to take it apart again, but I have just ab0out had it as well. Sucks because I picked up some new games at the thrift thinking that I was going to get it working.

 

How clean are the cartridges? If there's any dirt visible on the contacts without disassembling the cartridge, it's probably too dirty. I had a Kung Fu cart once that wouldn't work no matter what, then I saw one of its pins was covered with black grime. I had to disassemble it to clean it completely (and most of the grime was just on that one pin) but then it worked fine after that.

[2600Lives]

You got a GameXChange nearby, Inky? If so, just see if they'll sell you a new 72 pin connector. They use the GOOD ones to replace parts in the NES systems. I got mine some time ago, and the NES works beautifully now.

 

Barring all that, consider a Yobo clone.

[Gregory DG]

My NES was blinking for most games too. Then I opened it up and bent all the connector pins back out. Aside from the carts going in tough, it works much better.

[Inky]

You got a GameXChange nearby, Inky? If so, just see if they'll sell you a new 72 pin connector. They use the GOOD ones to replace parts in the NES systems. I got mine some time ago, and the NES works beautifully now.

 

Barring all that, consider a Yobo clone.

 

Nope, no GameXChange near here...

 

 

I was thinking of ordering a connector off the web. Saw one guy had em for $20 which I thought steep

[theking21083]

you can get them for around $10-$12. $20 is alittle much but if that's all you can get then go for it.

[phaxda]

I bought mine for $10, shipped. Tonight i took it apart, reinstalled, and now it works. Now I just need to get my PowerPak fixed!

 

you can get them for around $10-$12. $20 is alittle much but if that's all you can get then go for it.

[2600Lives]

Got mine for 6.99 retail, so yeah, 20 is way too much. Maybe you've got a used store nearby you that sells games and stuff (along with other stuff, 'round here it's called Vintage Stock) and they can get you one.

[Prodos8]

I've got a Nintendo top-loader so this problem is non-existent for me now. My toaster has a new 72-pin connector that works fine, but is tight compared to the original.

 

Just get a new connector and you'll most likely be good.

[theking21083]

The connection will be really tight at first and very hard to get your games out. Once you play games on it for awile it will start to loosen up and be way easier to take out games.

[shadow460]

I got mine going decent, but it's still picky. I just chalk it up as an oddity of the system, and I move on. It takes maybe a minute to get each game running. After that, everything's good until I switch carts.

[Lord Thag]

There is a pin on one of the chips on the motherboards that is part of the NES' 'lockout' chip. Snip the pin, and you should be good to go. A buddy of mine who sells on ebay does this all the time and never has a problem getting the decks to work again. I forget the exact pin, but google it. It's pretty easy.

Edited September 5, 2007 by Lord Thag

[BydoEmpire]

My carts are all clean. It's definitely the new connector...they just seem so finicky. At least with the old connector I could SOMETIMES get it to work. Now, nothing. And it's just a pain to take apart, all those damn screws. Listen to me, whine, whine! (sorry.)

My new 72-pin started giving me trouble, but I found it works perfectly if I don't press the cart down after it's inserted. Just put the cart in and leave the tray up. No idea why, but it works for me.

[figgler]

There is a pin on one of the chips on the motherboards that is part of the NES' 'lockout' chip. Snip the pin, and you should be good to go. A buddy of mine who sells on ebay does this all the time and never has a problem getting the decks to work again. I forget the exact pin, but google it. It's pretty easy.

 

Actually I don't see this doing much unless the games he's having trouble with are imports or Camerica games. Whethter the console blinks or not rarely has anything to do with the lockout chip. Most likely it's going to be the pin connector

[+FujiSkunk]

My new 72-pin started giving me trouble, but I found it works perfectly if I don't press the cart down after it's inserted. Just put the cart in and leave the tray up. No idea why, but it works for me.

 

The idea behind pushing the cart down is to ensure the cartridge contacts are making a solid connection with the port contacts. Unfortunately, pushing the cartridge down also bends the port contacts up, and it's this constant bending up that makes them eventually lose their spring, and their ability to connect.

 

My recommendation is, if you do replace the ZIF connector and find that your games play without pushing the cart down, then don't push the cart down. That will put less pressure on the port contacts and hopefully keep them springy longer.

 

It's been mentioned already, but also make sure you keep your cartridges clean. This can't be emphasized enough when using a side-loading NES.

 

If you have a Game Genie, you might also try that, even if you don't plan on using any cheat codes. I've heard of people with flaky consoles having good luck getting their games working again when using them with a Game Genie.

 

[shameless plug]I have an NES Game Genie (grey plastic) up for grabs, if anyone's interested. Money or trade (see the link in my sig), I'm open to offers.[/shameless plug]

[JB]

There is a pin on one of the chips on the motherboards that is part of the NES' 'lockout' chip. Snip the pin, and you should be good to go. A buddy of mine who sells on ebay does this all the time and never has a problem getting the decks to work again. I forget the exact pin, but google it. It's pretty easy.

 

Actually I don't see this doing much unless the games he's having trouble with are imports or Camerica games. Whethter the console blinks or not rarely has anything to do with the lockout chip. Most likely it's going to be the pin connector

If it blinks, it's ALWAYS involving the lockout chip.

It may be that the lockout chip is really finicky about it's connection and the connector isn't giving it a clean enough signal, but it's the lockout chip that's resetting the system once every 2 seconds. Disable that, and the blink WILL go away.

 

After that, you just have to get the gray screen, white screen, insert-color-here screen, or garbled screen to look like a real game.

[figgler]

If it blinks, it's ALWAYS involving the lockout chip.

It may be that the lockout chip is really finicky about it's connection and the connector isn't giving it a clean enough signal, but it's the lockout chip that's resetting the system once every 2 seconds. Disable that, and the blink WILL go away.

 

Why would this suddenly become a problem? That chip is just sitting there doing its thing. Nothing ever touches it and it's not a moving part that would erode. I mean if it's finnicky, wouldn't it have most likely been like that forever?

[MFoolsRun]

I have a pile of NES games in questionable repair that I have no way of testing because my toaster is unreliable. I don't have a local GamesXChange, is eBay a reliable source for connectors? Is there a particular eBay seller you could recommend?

[+FujiSkunk]

I have a pile of NES games in questionable repair that I have no way of testing because my toaster is unreliable. I don't have a local GamesXChange, is eBay a reliable source for connectors? Is there a particular eBay seller you could recommend?

 

If you just want to test your cartridges, and/or you aren't a stickler for the games looking and sounding exactly like you remember, buying a Yobo or other Nintendo-on-a-chip system might serve you better than trying to repair your NES. Just make sure you get one that can play American 72-pin cartridges, or else you will need a cartridge adapter.

 

Otherwise, The Electric Quarter sells replacement connectors, and I've had good experience buying from them in the past.

Edited September 6, 2007 by skunkworx

[MFoolsRun]

I have a pile of NES games in questionable repair that I have no way of testing because my toaster is unreliable. I don't have a local GamesXChange, is eBay a reliable source for connectors? Is there a particular eBay seller you could recommend?

 

If you just want to test your cartridges, and/or you aren't a stickler for the games looking and sounding exactly like you remember, buying a Yobo or other Nintendo-on-a-chip system might serve you better than trying to repair your NES.

 

Otherwise, The Electric Quarter sells replacement connectors, and I've had good experience buying from them in the past.

 

I want to test them with the goal of keeping the working ones and using them on a real NES (I'm a sucker for the spectacle).

 

Thanks for the reference, I'll check them out!

[figgler]

Otherwise, The Electric Quarter sells replacement connectors, and I've had good experience buying from them in the past.

 

I haven't. Screw Electric Quarter. You're better off shopping elsewhere or finding someone on eBay with really good feedback.