Need help with N64...

[Deleted User]

I have got 2 n64s.
I just got the 2nd one today, as I went to buy a controller and the seller gave me the entire system.
I plugged it in, and put in bomberman, and I get a no signal message.
I have the AV cables plugged in, the tv on the correct channel, and still nothing. I even switched the cables.
My friend that gave me bomberman said it got water in it and he couldn't get it to work.
Wouldn't that result in a black screen instead? Or does it do the no signal?
I also have a retrobit power supply for it.
Could that have damaged my systems?

 

[Deleted User]

That's the power supply.

 

[Deleted User]

Sometimes you need to clean the carts with cotton buds and mentholated spirits before the system can read them. Don't blow into the carts; moisture from your breath will corrode the copper.

 

[Deleted User]

Sometimes you need to clean the carts with cotton buds and mentholated spirits before the system can read them. Don't blow into the carts; moisture from your breath will corrode the copper.

I rarely blow into my games. Lol
Is that what's causing it?
Is there any reports of the power supply being faulty?

 

[Hanafuda]

You say you have 2 N64's .. does the other one work? Does the Bomberman cart work in that one? Do you have any other games?

Pretty hard to diagnose at a distance. If you only have the one game cart to try it's pretty much impossible to isolate whether your problem is cart or console.

 

[Deleted User]

You say you have 2 N64's .. does the other one work? Does the Bomberman cart work in that one? Do you have any other games?

Pretty hard to diagnose at a distance. If you only have the one game cart to try it's pretty much impossible to isolate whether your problem is cart or console.

It doesn't work in either.
Then again, it did get water in it.
I'll ask my friend tomorrow if I can borrow his goldeneye game.

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You say you have 2 N64's .. does the other one work? Does the Bomberman cart work in that one? Do you have any other games?

Pretty hard to diagnose at a distance. If you only have the one game cart to try it's pretty much impossible to isolate whether your problem is cart or console.

I'm also waiting for animal forest.
I don't have any other working games.
I cleaned the jumper paks, the cart, the slots, and still nothing.

 

[Hanafuda]

The consoles both power on though? The power LED lights up? Is there a bit of a 'flash' on the TV screen when you turn the consoles on?

 

[Deleted User]

The consoles both power on though? The power LED lights up? Is there a bit of a 'flash' on the TV screen when you turn the consoles on?

They power on, and thy have their bright red lights,.
There's no flash on the TV.
Could it be that I'm using an HDTV?

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The consoles both power on though? The power LED lights up? Is there a bit of a 'flash' on the TV screen when you turn the consoles on?

When I got my 1st n64, I had my brother test it at his house and it seemed to work.
My question right now is, could the power supply be causing this?

 

[Hanafuda]

They power on, and thy have their bright red lights,.
There's no flash on the TV.
Could it be that I'm using an HDTV?

Not sure, but maybe. I'm still using a CRT for my old consoles. Soon switching to HDTV though.

I wouldn't worry about the power supply. Not until you've ruled out other problems (try other carts).

 

[Deleted User]

Not sure, but maybe. I'm still using a CRT for my old consoles. Soon switching to HDTV though.

The contacts on the game aren't giving me any black spots anymore, but the metal around the inside of the cartridge has a lot of it.
Does the metal things have anything to do with how it reads?

Here's a few pics of what I mean.
The black stuff on the sticks are from the metal, not the contacts.

 

[Hanafuda]

no the metal lining that area is shielding. The copper contacts on the PCB are what matter. But if that cart is dead, no amount of polishing them will help. Are the contacts in the console's slot clean too? If yes, then it's time to relax until you can test other carts. Also take care not to bend the contacts in the cart slot on the console. The previous reply suggested Q-tips for a reason. (I don't even use that when I need to clean contacts. There's a purpose made aerosol spray you can buy - CRC Electronics Cleaner. They sell it at WalMart.)

 

[Deleted User]

no the metal lining that area is shielding. The copper contacts on the PCB are what matter. But if that cart is dead, no amount of polishing them will help. Are the contacts in the console's slot clean too? If yes, then it's time to relax until you can test other carts. Also take care not to bend the contacts in the cart slot on the console. The previous reply suggested Q-tips for a reason. (I don't even use that when I need to clean contacts. There's a purpose made aerosol spray you can buy - CRC Electronics Cleaner. They sell it at WalMart.)

The contacts in my systems are clean! My brother showed me pictures of one working!
I guess when my friend had water get into the game, I think that's what killed it.
I still don't understand why I get a no signal screen.
I'll relax.
Thanks for the help!

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no the metal lining that area is shielding. The copper contacts on the PCB are what matter. But if that cart is dead, no amount of polishing them will help. Are the contacts in the console's slot clean too? If yes, then it's time to relax until you can test other carts. Also take care not to bend the contacts in the cart slot on the console. The previous reply suggested Q-tips for a reason. (I don't even use that when I need to clean contacts. There's a purpose made aerosol spray you can buy - CRC Electronics Cleaner. They sell it at WalMart.)

Also, the connections in the system to the cart feel kinda loose.

 

[Deleted User]

no the metal lining that area is shielding. The copper contacts on the PCB are what matter. But if that cart is dead, no amount of polishing them will help. Are the contacts in the console's slot clean too? If yes, then it's time to relax until you can test other carts. Also take care not to bend the contacts in the cart slot on the console. The previous reply suggested Q-tips for a reason. (I don't even use that when I need to clean contacts. There's a purpose made aerosol spray you can buy - CRC Electronics Cleaner. They sell it at WalMart.)

I bought a game and tested it, it works perfectly. I got 4 more games and tested them. They all worked as well.
It was the bomberman cart that was damaged.

 

[Classicgamer]

How do you like the image quality on an HD TV? I grew up on CRT and scanlines and HATE how it looks on HDTV. Then I discovered ultra hdmi....simply amazing!

http://ultrahdmi.retroactive.be/

 

[Deleted User]

How do you like the image quality on an HD TV? I grew up on CRT and scanlines and HATE how it looks on HDTV. Then I discovered ultra hdmi....simply amazing!

http://ultrahdmi.retroactive.be/

It's not so amazing compared to other consoles of the time.

 

[Hanafuda]

I bought a game and tested it, it works perfectly. I got 4 more games and tested them. They all worked as well.
It was the bomberman cart that was damaged.

Great. Glad you were able to sort it out.

How do you like the image quality on an HD TV? I grew up on CRT and scanlines and HATE how it looks on HDTV. Then I discovered ultra hdmi....simply amazing!

http://ultrahdmi.retroactive.be/

Did you do your own install, or if not who did it for you??

I have an old (J) N64 that can be modded for RGB, and I have the amp board. Just haven't gotten around to doing the mod yet. But that's not too difficult of a job. The soldering required for the UltraHDMI is out of my league though. I also have a pristine (U) purple 'funtastic' model that is not eligible for an RGB mod, but would be perfect for UltraHDMI. But I'm not doing it without a trustworthy installer arrangement.

 

[Classicgamer]

@Nintendo Fanboy if the games you loved were on n64 then ultra hdmi will amaze you. It might not if you didn't live through those games when they were knew. Ps1 had good games as well.

@Hanafuda i purchased mine off eBay after seeing install photos. That soldering is fancy indeed. Check out around minute 6 to see his soldering voodoo. I enjoyed the whole video myself.

 

[Hanafuda]

around minute 6 to see his soldering voodoo. I enjoyed the whole video myself.

I have seen that video before as well. When he lays down that line of solder and then pulls away and each contact on the ribbon cable has been cleanly connected with only one small short (which he was able to clean like wiping up some spilled iced tea) ... I was quite legitimately blown away. I done my share of point soldering for modchip installs, led mods, and what-not. Never saw anything like what he pulls off in that video. (And there are probably guys who consider him a sloppy hack.)

 

[Deleted User]

@Nintendo Fanboy if the games you loved were on n64 then ultra hdmi will amaze you. It might not if you didn't live through those games when they were knew. Ps1 had good games as well.

@Hanafuda i purchased mine off eBay after seeing install photos. That soldering is fancy indeed. Check out around minute 6 to see his soldering voodoo. I enjoyed the whole video myself.

I've seen that video but I'm not intetere in the ultra hdmi.
It works, so I'll leave it as it is.