Hardware Visual DSi Diagnostic Guide

[rvtr]

Have you ever had an issue with your DSi and tried to get help? Instead you'll get reddit threads full of misleading or braindead answers, gbatemp threads that just complain about noobs, and discord servers where your messages get buried by a dozen other people needing help... trying to diagnose a broken DSi without previous knowledge is annoying.

My new site is the perfect replacement. Take a look at your DSi, compare the error code/color/behaviour to photos listed on the site, then get potential causes, fixes, and similar looking errors! It takes no time at all and won't insult you for asking what's wrong. (:

https://diagnose.randommeaninglesscharacters.com

Example list of issues relating to the NAND. Pick the photo most similar to your issue and you'll get the full list of solutions.

Right now everything has been made by me alone. Obviously I don't have every type of issue listed. Please please please, if you see something missing from the site then reply to this thread with the info, or contribute directly to the github repository. This resource becomes more and more useful with every new page.

https://github.com/rvtr/Visual-DSi-Diagnostic-Guide

 

[moon_rabbit]

I don't have a DSI, so I don't know about anything else.

The yellowing issue is reportedly due to degradation of the backlight LEDs.
If the backlight LED is replaced, it can be fixed.
If any of other Nintendo devices have backlight, they can all be repaired the same way.
But if you can get a good LCD, it's easier to just replace it.

 

[rvtr]

Relevant video.


I've also heard yellowing is causes by the layer of plastic on top degrading. At some point I might buy a few DSis with yellow screens and see what's up.

 

[moon_rabbit]

https://blog.naver.com/cds7373/223337800544
It's in Korean, but you can read it using Chrome Translate.

Maybe the plastic changes when LED is on for a long time.
Or maybe blue wavelength of the LEDs getting stronger.

 

[gorgyrip]

Back in the day I combined cracked screens with working but yellowed screens. And it worked, as long as both screens are the same model. That means the issue wasn't the screen polarizer. I think the yellowing is happening on the plastic light dispenser. Not really sure...

I also fixed many dsi consoles with "an error has occurred..." Guess how many of them had a broken wifi module? Only 1! I was able to fix some of the rest by reflowing the cpu. Sadly the remaining ended in the trash. Later, unlaunch was released. That would have saved them since it can directly boot a game cart.

 

[KIlly728]

You know what, this is an excellent idea. I have been working on a Problem and Solution Master Sheet for DSi and DSi XL consoles. It's a collection of anecdotal evidence from IFixIt and GBAtemp as well as personal experience working on Parts consoles. I haven't posted it since a lot of information is not concrete and relies on wishy washy answers (a lot of theories) or rare cases that I've only seen once or twice.

A few things that I can add:

- For the "Missing WiFi Module", I ran into a virgin console where reflowing the port for the Wifi Module on the motherboard solved the issue. I suspect that one of the leg's solder joints cracked.

- I also had another console with a faulty camera unit preventing a boot. Both screens would come on to a white screen, hang for a second, and the console would shut off. I didn't look into the camera unit itself to see what was wrong, but a different camera unit fixed the issue. There were no obvious faults upon inspection.

There are also charge-related faults that impact the DSi console often, be it blown fuses or cracked solder joints on the charge ports, and various non-boot essential errors like problems with the game card slot, microphone, and volume control.

I have never heard of a "Wrong Wifi Module" causing a boot error. I was under the impression they are all fairly universal. It's something I shall keep in mind.

 

[rvtr]

I have never heard of a "Wrong Wifi Module" causing a boot error. I was under the impression they are all fairly universal. It's something I shall keep in mind.

Yep. I thought I had bricked DSis but it turns out the wifi boards were just the wrong type. Happened to a friend as well.

Also thanks for the other info! All add fuses and the other camera issue in a bit. Was the camera like this but both screens flashed white?

 

[KIlly728]

Was the camera like this but both screens flashed white?

Sort of. Maybe it's just me, but it hangs onto the white screens for just a few more milliseconds. That suggests, at least to me, that the console is crashing versus powering off due to a "failed self check" as i've heard it mentioned.

I threw together a quick test bench with the faulty camera unit and attempted to power on. Note that this is a known working DSi LL console and boots without issue without the camera unit installed.

 

[rvtr]

Thanks again, this is great to know! I'll add that this weekend!

I should probably also start linking to posts where errors have actually happened to a real person.

 

[KIlly728]

I should probably also start linking to posts where errors have actually happened to a real person.

Then, whether or not I think it's ready, I'll go ahead and post my list. It should have a lot of hyperlinked forum posts that will be very useful to you.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/dsi-dsi-xl-problem-and-solution-master-list-in-progress.657084/