SNES games not working...

[dansimon]

I recently bought a SuperNintendo, and about 12 games. Only 3 of the 12 games work at all...the others just do nothing when put into the system and it is turned on. I have made sure that everything is connected up properly, and was wondering if you know why this is happening, and how I could fix it. (I would understand if 1 game was faulty....but not if 9 games (bought from different people/places) are faulty.

Dan

[Terminusvitae]

It may be your system's pin connector (the doohickey that latches onto the cart's contacts) as it's a common problem with cartridge-based systems. Unfortunately, I'm nowhere nearly as familiar with the SNES as I am with the NES, so I'm not 100% certain.

[dansimon]

cheers for that. turns out they all just decided to start working (except for 2 of them), so its all good.
im happy now!:)

[zektor]

Clean those bad boys :)

[CartCollector]

You could try cleaning the cartridges. Get a Q-tip, soak it in water or rubbing alcohol, then clean off each edge of the cartridge's connector.

EDIT: I started typing before zektor.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Rubbing alcohol only works some of the time. Get a gamebit (to open the game) and use a liquid metal cleaner to polish the pins on your carts. Carts are usually at fault before the system, in my experience. If you don't want to get a game bit, you can use a QTip to apply the cleaner, you just go through a lot more qtips though.

[zektor]

I have been cleaning carts (thousands and thousands of carts) for years with a q-tip and 91% isopropyl alcohol, and it has never failed me. Only once did I have a cart not work after cleaning with this method, and that was because the cart was actually defective. I would advise against using metal cleaners or other solvents stronger than alcohol. I also do not think it is a really great idea to open carts unless it is absolutely necessary.

[InsaneDavid]

You could try cleaning the cartridges. Get a Q-tip, soak it in water or rubbing alcohol, then clean off each edge of the cartridge's connector.

NEVER use water. Take the middle ground of the previous three posts. 70% - 91% isopropyl alcohol is the most universal method of cleaning. Try it on a cotton swab first, dip the swab in the alcohol and then run it back and forth along each side of the connectors in the cartridge. You may want to do this to all your cartridges, even the working ones, while your collection is small as not to contaminate your system with dirty cartridges down the road. Some will be far cleaner than others.

If that doesn't work or you want to get more serious, you can buy a suite of security bits that will allow you to open cartridges and systems. Once opened, the connectors can be thoroughly cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and a rag. I open and completely clean every NES, SNES, Gameboy, and Genesis cartridge I come across. Opening the cartridges will also allow you to clean the plastic around the connector opening which is notorious for trapping grime, especially in NES cartridges.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I don't think there's anything wrong with using metal cleaner... check out this link here from Knowledge Base section here...

http://www.digitpress.com/livefaq/index.php?action=artikel&cat=77&id=9&artlang=en

A lot of the posters here recommend using a metal cleaner over alcohol. I have been using metal cleaners for quite some time on all my NES, Genesis, SNES, and N64 games, and they work better than when I just used alcohol. My games suffer no damage, and every game I have ever come across I've gotten to work using this method. It's been 100% effective for me. If you use these cleaners on fine metals and heirlooms, then cleaning contacts on games isn't going to harm them. Do a little research around the net for yourself And just like David said, clean the inside of the carts right around the pins, because that dirt will foul up you machine if you're not careful. I guess I am a little obsessive about taking apart and cleaning every part of every game I get. And don't get me wrong... I'm not saying alcohol won't work, I've just found that metal cleaner works best for me.

[Terminusvitae]

Whar can a cuntry boy lahk me get his hands on some o' them thar sekkerty bits?

[InsaneDavid]

Whar can a cuntry boy lahk me get his hands on some o' them thar sekkerty bits?

An der internets.

[Terminusvitae]

Oh, y'mean this here magic box I'm usin'? Wheeee, doggies! I'm eatin' high on th' hawg, now!