Hardware NES has a problem with game reading

[casualty]

I've just gotten Castlevania 3 from a retro store and seen it tested out. I get home, but it barley works. My dad got it to work somehow, but I can't get it to work. I also have Mario 3, Mario-Duck hunt-Track, Kirby and Zelda 1 and 2. The only ones that I've seen work is Castlevania, Mario 3, and Mario-Duck Hunt-Track. Kirby showed up once but had jumbled up sprites. The others just don't plain work. It might be with the fact that they're Game-Paks with batteries in them, but all of them have a rare chance of them even showing up on screen. When they don't work, a light of white flickers on screen. I personally think it's a problem with the console itself, and I've been thinking if there's a problem with the 72-pin. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do really want to play these games again.

 

[SylverReZ]

Cartridges will need cleaning. Never blow on the contacts as the moisture from your breath continues corroding the contacts, making them virtually unrepairable. Use 99% isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips and scrub them well, then try starting the game again.

A lot of good advice can be found here: https://consolemods.org/wiki/ConsoleMods_Wiki:Cartridge_Cleaning

 

[casualty]

Thanks man. I'll try tomorrow and share the results.

 

[Deleted member 734388]

As SylverReZ mentioned, try cleaning the cartridge contacts. If that doesn't work, then the 72 pin connector is likely at fault and needs replacing.

 

[casualty]

Cartridges will need cleaning. Never blow on the contacts as the moisture from your breath continues corroding the contacts, making them virtually unrepairable. Use 99% isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips and scrub them well, then try starting the game again.

A lot of good advice can be found here: https://consolemods.org/wiki/ConsoleMods_Wiki:Cartridge_Cleaning

Will I need exactly 99% or will just the 70% i have do fine?

 

[SylverReZ]

Will I need exactly 99% or will just the 70% i have do fine?

Has to be 99% isopropyl alcohol.

 

[tech3475]

One thing to consider as well, the 'ZIF' cartridge connector is also prone to failure and might need repair/replacing.

 

[wolffangalchemist]

Clean the carts with 90% iso and. Qtip or if they look really dull a polish with a magic eraser, adjust the pins on the connector with a sewing needle to make better contact, and deactivate the nes lockput chip.

 

[hippy dave]

 

[SylverReZ]

Any updates on your NES cartridges? Did you ever get to fix them?

 

[casualty]

Well, I didn't get to fix them with isopropyl yet. I've tried and tried with the cartridges, and they all work. I just need to wiggle them around once they're inside and keep reseting. I do hope that once I use the isopropyl alcohol this process won't be needed anymore or at the least not as much.

 

[hippy dave]

Well, I didn't get to fix them with isopropyl yet. I've tried and tried with the cartridges, and they all work. I just need to wiggle them around once they're inside and keep reseting. I do hope that once I use the isopropyl alcohol this process won't be needed anymore or at the least not as much.

Sounds like it might be the socket in the console that needs fixing, you can clean it and straighten the pins or just fit a replacement

 

[Deleted member 301661]

Well, I didn't get to fix them with isopropyl yet. I've tried and tried with the cartridges, and they all work. I just need to wiggle them around once they're inside and keep reseting. I do hope that once I use the isopropyl alcohol this process won't be needed anymore or at the least not as much.

https://www.1upcard.com/collections...e-and-game-cleaner-bundle?variant=20327843398 might be the best fix if it's console side.

 

[casualty]

Sounds like it might be the socket in the console that needs fixing, you can clean it and straighten the pins or just fit a replacement

I turned on my NES today, and my Zelda save was gone the cartridge still saves, but the pins could be the cause of it

 

[SylverReZ]

I turned on my NES today, and my Zelda save was gone the cartridge still saves, but the pins could be the cause of it

It has nothing to do with the cartridge contacts. The battery is long dead and will need replacing.