Help me fix my NES :(

[USSEnterprise]

I just dug  it out of a box and wanrted to play. It works intermittently. I get the flashing solid color screens, static in the game, constant reseting, etc. How do I fix?**

[HaRuMaN]

You could always buy this:

http://playmessiah.com/onlinestore/

 

Seriously, though, you may need to clean your connectors, both on the cartridges and on the NES. 

[nullb0y]

if uve ever used a game genie ur pins are bent  which means opening the nes and bending them back

But there are so many fake nes systems out there id just ge tone of those cause nintendo lost the rights the the nes or some junk lol

[delta88]

:::FIX:::

Open her up, to the point you see the thing that the game slides into.. now remove it from the main pcb.. theres gonne be a bunch of screws.. most wont go back in

Now gently bend the recieving pins in the black thing up just a little as so they will make better contact with the games insides.. things likea really tiny screwdriver and or a dental pick work great...

[USSEnterprise]

does amyone know where I can get a new cartridge header?

[ArcadeNerd]

does amyone know where I can get a new cartridge header?

If you mean the piece inside the NES that accepts the games, it is called a 72 pin connector and you can get those on ebay for about $10 - $12 shipped.  People have differing opinions on them but I like mine.

I also did some research and tried bending the pins back.  I ruined my first couple I tried (I had extra sitting around from replacing a bunch I did a while ago) but when I got it to work the games played every time.  You can do a search for bending Nintendo 72 pin connector pins and you'll get a bunch of repair links that shoudl explain it.  It's hard to explain though and I found the pictures to be confusing but maybe I was looking at the wrong site.  bending the pins is by far the cheapest and may last the longest.  Good luck!

Lastly and maybe most importantly is to make sure the game contacts inside the game are clean.  You can clean them with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol until you don;t get anymore grime off of them.

[SithMaster]

also you can use an eraser on the game contacts.  the one i used i had to open the games which isnt that great since a few i cant open cause they have nintendo screws.

[Santo8742]

There are two main reasons for the NES blinking.  The first reason is like the other people said, the 72-pin connector is bent and does not read the games correctly.  The second reason is simply dirty games.  You can replace the 72-pin connector easy enough by removing the phillips head screws in the system, taking out the old connector, putting the new connector in, and putting the screws back in. To clean the games simply use rubbing alcohol and q-tips.  I'd use the least diluted alcohol you can, as the water is bad for the game.  Open the games up and clean the games, then use a dry q-tip to go over it and dry the alcohol off of the connector.  Both the 72-pin connector and the security bit to open NES games are available at www.mcminone.com and are fairly inexpensive.  I've repaired and sold several systems and games using this method.

[missioncontrol]

yep... clean both the games and the contacts on the console... there are many tutorials on the web for cleaning the consoles some even tell the best ways to bend the pins back into shape...

I find I have to clean mine every two weeks to keep it playable

[Stingray]

Swapping out the 72 pin connector is a fairly quick, and terribly easy repair. This has worked for me in the past, but the real trick is to clean EVERY game before you insert it into the new connector, or you'll just gunk up the new one.

-S

[USSEnterprise]

I have a few cartridges which, when I shake them, they rattle. How do I open these? They have the inverted allen key thing

[SithMaster]

those need a gamebit.

[Santo8742]

Like Sith said you need the gamebit to open NES games.  This can be found at the website I mentioned earlier, just search for the word Nintendo.  The problem is more than likely just a little plastic piece that holds the gameboard in place.  Its probably not too big of a deal unless both sides are broke and your board moves around freely.  You can use a small drop of super glue to reattach the plastic piece once you get the cartridge open if you really want to, but like I said, its only really necessary if both sides broken.

[missioncontrol]

I have a few cartridges which, when I shake them, they rattle. How do I open these? They have the inverted allen key thing

ebay

[Stingray]

You can buy an entire set of security bits that will include the one you need to open NES carts for the same or less than most game shops will charge you for a "gamebit".

-S