GCN Panasonic Q controller lights repair?

[CaptainKoloth]

I recently picked up a Panasonic Q after having eyed them for many years. I bought it in a nonworking condition (which I knew up front)- it powers on but the disc drive doesn't work. Another problem I've noticed, as you'll see here:

Is that the lights around the controller ports don't seem to be functioning. Do those who are familiar with this system know if that's a legitimate problem that would need me to take it apart and do a bunch of soldering as opposed to me just missing a button I need to push or something? I'm not averse to doing the soldering as such, but I haven't found any information on the internet about this specific issue yet.

 

[stoney05]

You might not get much help over here. Assemblergames is better spot for things like this.

 

[wolffangalchemist]

Never had the pleasure of being inside one myself. the later being i can't say for sure if it is a setting or not think i remember a game button or something on a remote.
That said if it is like any other LED it can be replaced with a comparable LED might be a bit hard for those foreign to soldering (especially soldering SMD components) but still on the easy end of that type of work so i wouldn't say a bunch of soldering but definitely a lot of dismantling and reassembly.
since the disc drive doesn't work you could try a pot tweak and see if you can get it doing its thang again.

 

[KiiWii]

This and the 64DD are my unicorns.

I neeeeeeed to have one of these before I die.

 

[CaptainKoloth]

I figured it out!! For the millions of people on the internet who I’m sure are wrestling with this exact problem right this second, you have to press the “Game” button when the Q is off. This is how it switches modes; the controller ports only light up when it’s in GameCube mode.

This and the 64DD are my unicorns.

I neeeeeeed to have one of these before I die.

I know, I had the exact same mindset (right down to needing a 64DD next)... I just figured my death is inevitable but Q ownership wasn’t so I went ahead and finally bit the bullet. And am I glad I did... what an aesthetically beautiful system. I was lucky to get a great deal on it too (<$200, free shipping from Japan, even a GameCube modem in its Japanese box thrown in, though the disc drive on the Q is broken and didn’t include the unique Q remote or Panasonic branded controller).