Original Nintendo -- The Typical Problem

[Cpt. Duke]

My roommates and I decided to dig out the NES after we stumbled across some old games at a garage sale. The problem that we have is the same that seems to affect all of these old systems -- when someone inserts a game the tv flashes either black to white, or a still of the game and then back to black. We can get games to work eventually, it takes forever though.

I have heard that this is because of poor connectors inside of the NES itself. Is there anything I could do to improve the conductivity? Should I spray it with anything?

Thanks

 

[Rich]

Sounds like you need to clean the contacts on the game itself, or buy a cleaning cartridge to clean the inside contacts of the machine.

Rich

 

[GeoffS]

Denatured alcohol and a cotton swab maybe? Used this on our Genesis system. Seemed to work okay.

Geoff

 

[KB]

Play an emulator. No hardware to setup and you can download any game

 

[wake]

We always just yanked the cartidge out the machine, blew on the contacts, then blew into the machine incase it was dusty too - It worked everytime!

 

[wake]

If that doesn't work - Insert the catridge, then pull it back towards you just a few millimeters, so that when you click the catridge in, the top of it will touch the machine.

 

[Rebels7]

My daughter had one of these in the 80's and it had the same problem. All of the things listed above work if the contacts are not bent in such a manner that the cartridge cannot make contact with the game console. I found out that if you slightly bend each contact, be sure not to break it, that the game will work like new. The only catch to this method is that it requires you to take apart the game console itself. There are a bunch of screws on the bottom and after they have been taken out, the console still has some prongs that hold it together. It is somewhat of a pain to do this but it is a permanent fix.

 

[hittmann]

Is all that crap at the end of yours and other peoples posts really needed. No one really gives a @@@@ about it you know!! We do not want or need your fav quote, or philosophy of life , or whatever!! Sorry I am venting on you nothing personal....

 

[reitz]

I always used to put the game in, turn it on, and lightly pull it back until the picture was allright. Hit 'reset' and you're all set.

hitman, I think you need to calm down and take a few deep breaths. It's only a signature, nothing to get all worked up about. Has constipation got you a little craky again?

 

[Q4MI6]

At one point i actully bought a cleaner thingy. It had "cards" to clean each diffrent system out at the time. You put some of this solution (alcohol) on the end of the card and insert the card a few times. This helped the games out greatly. But had to be done amost weekly when the system was used more than now. I am nott sure if this cleaning system is still out there. And after a few minutes of searching i can't seem to find it so i don't have the name. It was something like GAME CONSULE CLEANING KIT, yellow cards in a clear case.

 

[hittmann]

o.k.--o.k.----just wondered why people think we care about the signatures.....See my new one below.....BTW if you cant fix a Nintendo problem you are on the wrong board...

 

[hittmann]

I think I do have some of that constipation man---but there is plenty of POOP flowing from you alls signatures to cover it!!!HE HE

 

[Knocks]

There is a permanent solution to this problem. You can buy replacement NES contacts from e-Bey. Insert them in your old NES, and you're set.

 

[AMDJunkie]

This is from a guy who's been a master at getting Nintendo games to work. The first method is putting a little alcohol on a cotton swab and putting it on the contacts. That fixes most problems. If the problem continues or it resets suddenly in a game, move the cartridge millimeters to the right. There's a certain "sweet spot" that'll work everytime.

 

[AMDJunkie]

DP

 

[fitzm]

Has anybody seen the original NES but redesigned with a top (vertical) slot like the Super NES. It was at Toys "R" Us last year or the year before. They only wanted like 40.00 or something for it but I heard you never had to do the "cartridge jiggle". If anyone knows where to find it please post it.