Hardware Basic Repair Guide of Current EZ-FLASH Products

[EZ-Flash2]

We have found that some users are unable to contact their dealers for warranty after a card failure due to cross-border purchases. Other users are out of warranty by expire one year after purchase.

In this situation, the user may be able to get the card back to work with a simple repair or replacement part by themselves.

We have summarized some common failures and repair methods, the following repair methods require professional electronic components soldering skills or tools, we recommend that you can go to the local cell phone repair store to try your luck.

Please note that these are only repair recommendations and do not guarantee 100% that the card can be fully repaired.

1. EZ-FLASH Junior stuck on OSINIT, Sometimes can randomly enter the kernel, but only a bunch of glitch sprites.
After excluding the fact that the user upgraded the FW5RC. This failure can be determined for the S71 chip solder point failure. The S71 chip is located at the top left corner of the PCB, there are two BGA chips, S71 is the one at the right side. Use a heat gun to re-solder it. Please use high-temperature tape to protect other chips and components around it from being blown away.

2. EZ-FLASH OMEGA/OMEGA Definitive Edition's clock jump like insane.
The crystal oscillator on board is damaged, Replace it can fix the problem, the type of the crystal oscillator is OSC 3.3V 3225 24.545Mhz.

3. EZ-FLASH Junior boots with no Nintendo logo, only a ® symbol.
a. The crystal oscillator on board is damaged, Replace it can fix the problem, the type of the crystal oscillator is OSC 3.3V 3225 24.545Mhz. b. Re-solder the main control chip which is the biggest chip on the board. below the two BGA chips in the top left corner.

4. EZ-FLASH OMEGA boots with no Nintendo logo.
The crystal oscillator on board is damaged, Replace it can fix the problem, the type of the crystal oscillator is OSC 3.3V 3225 24.545Mhz.

5. EZ-FLASH OMEGA Definitive Edition boots with no Nintendo logo.
a. The crystal oscillator on board is damaged, Replace it can fix the problem, the type of the crystal oscillator is OSC 3.3V 3225 24.545Mhz. b. The A/B toggle switch may damaged. use the multimeter to check it. If a circuit break is found, replace a switch.

6. EZ-FLASH OMEGA/OMEGA Definitive Edition boots in to blue screen of safe mode every time, but there is no "no loader found" on the bottom of the screen.
The SELECT key of the console is stuck or short-circuit.

7. EZ-FLASH OMEGA/OMEGA Definitive Edition boots in to blue screen of safe mode every time, there is "no loader found" on the bottom of the screen.
The loader of the card is lost. Please read this post to recovery it. https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-make-your-sd-card-to-ez-flash-omega-de-recovery-able.584611/

8. EZ-FLASH OMEGA/OMEGA Definitive Edition shows "bad nor id" when updating the kernel
The S71 chip solder point failure. The S71 chip is located at the back side of the PCB. The one at the left side in three chips. Use a heat gun to re-solder it. Please use high-temperature tape to protect other chips and components around it from being blown away.

9. EZ-FLASH OMEGA/OMEGA Definitive Edition gets white screen when direct boot a game. but the same game runs well on the NORFLASH.
Go to the safe mode by power console with SELECT pressed, choose "test card" or "test psram" depends different firmware, look the test result, there is a high probability that S98 error will be displayed. The S98 chip is located at the back side of the PCB. The one at the right side in three chips. Use a heat gun to re-solder it. Please use high-temperature tape to protect other chips and components around it from being blown away.

10. EZ-FLASH OMEGA/OMEGA Definitive Edition write game to NORFLASH getting stuck in fix point.
The S98 chip solder point failure. The S98 chip is located at the back side of the PCB. The one at the left side in three chips. Use a heat gun to re-solder it. Please use high-temperature tape to protect other chips and components around it from being blown away.

A quick way to fix EZ-FLASH OMEGA/OMEGA Definitive Edition get S71 error when test card in the safe mode.

Sometimes there is an S71 error, may be the card screw is too tight, it may cause the PCB deformation and S71 chip false soldering, then you can try to loosen the screw, open the case, reposition the PCB, re-install the case, screwing the screws(not too tight). This will probably be able to have a 1/3 chance to fix S71 error in a quick way.

 

[FAST6191]

Oh BGAs. Will they ever stop causing problems. I am not usually the biggest fan of reflow to fix things but it can get things working again. Somewhat surprised to see timer crystals being the failures though as I kind of got used to not seeing that in recent years for anything (don't even have a collection of crystals beyond what I scavenge from things).
As far as heat guns most people won't have a soldering hot air station, instead more likely to have a paint stripper which are usually hotter and wider (you would not want to strip paint at the same width as solder on modern PCBs) which is not necessarily a bad thing (heat reduces with distance and as above if you are shielding things then a bit of splash over is not the worst).
As far as tapes then if you can get some kapton tape (the orangey yellow tape you might have seen inside electronics) then do that and it is good stuff in a lot of other cases. That will probably be an online order only though unless you are lucky enough to live somewhere with a good electronics shop so something you might find in building supply shops is aluminium tape (usually aimed at builders installing cookers and fireplaces) -- all the professional electronics repair types will use a thick aluminium foil (thicker than your average kitchen supplies) to shield things when doing various techniques here so it is not a complete bodge method.

For those landing here for the older devices. 99% of the time it is bad battery and dirty pins that cause things. Clean contacts and replace battery (will have to get a list here, there are examples of most things in previous discussions and aside from older stuff that wants nice rechargeable batteries (which can be pricey as the same batteries are used in BMW key fobs).

 

[Sicklyboy]

Promoted to sticky. That's super cool of you guys to provide some technical troubleshooting steps for your products like this, way beyond what I'd see of any other company. Thank you for putting forward some right to repair friendly information

 

[FrozenFlo]

And how to change the oscillator? Just solding?

 

[EZ-Flash2]

And how to change the oscillator? Just solding?

Yes, a heat gun is required.

 

[ak1nok]

Thank you so much for the guide! So question, what is the ideal temperature on the soldering hot air station to desolder the chip?

 

[EZ-Flash2]

Thank you so much for the guide! So question, what is the ideal temperature on the soldering hot air station to desolder the chip?

370 degrees Celsius

 

[ak1nok]

370 degrees Celsius

Thank you very much!

 

[bdl]

Hello!

I received the EZ Flash Omega working as it should, no issues. After one day of usage, it asked me to update from version V00 to version V05. I accepted, the progress bar went to 100% and then it asked me to reboot. I turned the GBA off and then on again. After that, I always get the GAME BOY screen without the Nintendo logo. Could this be the crystal oscilator issue that was described above or did I screw up the flash memory while doing the update?

 

[Shadow#1]

Hello!

I received the EZ Flash Omega working as it should, no issues. After one day of usage, it asked me to update from version V00 to version V05. I accepted, the progress bar went to 100% and then it asked me to reboot. I turned the GBA off and then on again. After that, I always get the GAME BOY screen without the Nintendo logo. Could this be the crystal oscilator issue that was described above or did I screw up the flash memory while doing the update?

Can't be the crystal oscillator

 

[bdl]

Can't be the crystal oscillator

I really don't know if I could fix this... and I also won't be returning it because the cost of sending it back is the same as the price I paid for the EZ Flash itself... BR to CN... Really don't know what to do here.

 

[JeffWinger]

After doing everything right including triple checking roms for being "clean" and following every RIDICULOUS step required to make the Omega reliable 3/4s of the time...and then finding a guide here that should be a redflag to ALL potential customers with a title that reads "fix it yourself cause I'm not fixing anymore"...I decided to take what an EverDrive would go for and put it towards an Anbernic RG351V (the Analogue Pocket line is still too long)...and the oddest occurrence took place...I spent more time playing my games than fiddling with a laughably flawed flash cart! I even saved...and VERY quickly powered the system off and back on...just because I could! GASP! No corrupted saves! GASP again...thank you @EZ-Fash2...for I would not have stumbled onto this fantastic console if the Omega wasn't so awful. Buyers remorse (which I too am feeling) or not, only a delusional fanboy would say the whole internet worths of VERY similar complaints is exaggerated or user error. It was tolerated because there weren't alternatives that wasn't awful and under Everdrive prices. Emulation keeps getting better and this device is a dinosaur. Being the only option doesn't make the product great, it simply means diehard hardware guys will tolerate it.

 

[Mancore]

I would like to clarify about OSC. Suitable chip with the following characteristics: 24.5454MHz, 2.3~3.2V?

 

[undue_odium]

If I swap the crystal oscillator on my EZ-Flash Jr. with a crystal from a genuine MBC3 cartridge will it fix the RTC issue of losing like 5mins every day?

 

[Segger]

I have a GBAccelerator that lets me change the clock speed by pressing a button combo. I'm assuming the answer is 'no' but are there any EZ Flash or krikzz flash carts that actually let me play games at non-standard game speeds?

I also have a GBxCart that I think I can use to flash reprogrammable flash carts, I can't really find any in stock anywhere now due to the chip shortage, but would I be able to play those at weird speeds?

 

[Mullmania]

@EZ-Flash2 My EZ Flash Jr has been working great for over a year on my GBC. I recently got a DMG and was having issues, I have been cleaning the cartridge slot and got it to boot a couple of times. I am now only getting a black bar where the Nintendo logo should be and am also getting the same result on the GBC that used to work. Both gameboy's can load other cartridges I have. Is there a recovery firmware? Should I try to use hot air on the chip described in the repair guide? Any help is really appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Mullmania]

@EZ-Flash2 My EZ Flash Jr has been working great for over a year on my GBC. I recently got a DMG and was having issues, I have been cleaning the cartridge slot and got it to boot a couple of times. I am now only getting a black bar where the Nintendo logo should be and am also getting the same result on the GBC that used to work. Both gameboy's can load other cartridges I have. Is there a recovery firmware? Should I try to use hot air on the chip described in the repair guide? Any help is really appreciated.

Thanks!

@EZ-Flash2 i tried hot air and even reflowing the CPU. Still getting the black bar instead of the Nintendo logo. Is it fair to say this one is bricked?

 

[EZ-Flash2]

@EZ-Flash2 i tried hot air and even reflowing the CPU. Still getting the black bar instead of the Nintendo logo. Is it fair to say this one is bricked?

In this case, you have to check whether the pins around the main chip are short-circuited due to excess solder or displacement.

 

[Mullmania]

In this case, you have to check whether the pins around the main chip are short-circuited due to excess solder or displacement.

I used a multimeter and confirmed there are no shorts.

 

[EZ-Flash2]

I used a multimeter and confirmed there are no shorts.

The black bar at the Nintendo logo position only means one thing, the main chip is not working. If the card itself does not suffer strong physical damage when you switch from GBC to DMG, theoretically it will not malfunction. Unless the DMG itself is providing incorrect operating current.

Here is last try, without microsd card inserted and boot up to see if the black bar can become nintendo logo, if not, then it should be bricked. The only thing you can do to try is to remove the main chip from the card completely and resolder it again.