Dead NES Start Button - Not Controller

[atrionfo]

I got an NES system for Christmas just a few minutes ago and the start button doesn't work. No problem, I thought. Just use another controller that I know works. Well, that doesn't fix the problem. The start button (and select button, I think) doesn't work-- so I guess it must be the console itself. Is there anything that I can do to fix this?

[coreys429]

Replace it maybe?

[shawnbo42]

Whatever chip on the board registers the input of the start button is most likely bad. Replace it (if you can), or replace the console. Also, check both your controllers with another system just to be sure. Just because it worked yesterday doesn't necessarily mean it's still good today. Sorry I can't be of more assistance, but that's all I got.

[aclbandit]

Which controller PORT is it, one or two?

Worst case, you can just diconnect the controller port from the MoBo and put a new one in-- just pick up a "broken" NES with good ports. It's likely not your BOARD that's broken, but perhaps just the port.

Just as an FYI, I'm pretty sure that if you're playing Super Mario Bros., the start button on controller 2 only will do nothing, i.e., player 2 cannot pause the game. This is likely a leftover from the Famicom version, since controller 2 of the Japanese Famicom has no start button.