virtual boy n00b question

[gokugohandave]

So I bought a VB on a yard sale for 25 bucks with mario tennis. Get it home,throw some batteries in, and the left eye doesnt work. The right eye shows the whole picture, but the left shows nothing. How hard is it to put a left eye in one of these? Also, the game has glitchy graphics, is it bit rot? Or is it the VB itself making it glitch?

[izarate]

There is a website out there where some guy has a bit of info about repairing Virtual Boys, including the visor. If I recall correctly, your issue should be that the left mirror isn't spinning. I'll dig in my bookmarks and let you know.

[Tupin]

What you're going to have to do is take it apart and put the ribbon cable in the oven, instructions here:

http://www.virtual-boy.org/projectvb/projects/DisplayFix.htm

It sounds weird, but it works. Letting it cure for 12 hours afterward is key, though. You might have to do this every once in a while.

[SPAZ-12]

Another possible and very likely cause of your problems is that the ribbon connector that connects the strip of LEDs for the left eye to the main board has come loose. This seems to be a common problem with all virtual boys, and my Virtual Boy has the same issue as yours.

The glitchy graphics are caused by the same issue, where the ribbon cable comes undone. One possible fix is at this website http://www.virtual-boy.org/projectvb/projects/DisplayFix.htm . I have yet to try this fix on my Virtual Boy, so I cannot say how well it works.


*edit: Damn, beaten to the punch. Curse my slow typing!

[gokugohandave]

Thanks guys for your help, ill try some of these out, doesnt seem to be to bad of a fix if the ribbon cable just needs tweaking.

[Tupin]

Yeah, the hardest part about it is waiting 12 hours to turn it on. I made that mistake once, and I had to wait a while before heating/curing it again.

[izarate]

Oh, yeah, that's the site.

[gokugohandave]

Wait I just noticed those security bits, ill have to ebay a 4.5 mm bit. Dang, more waiting.

[tubeway]

You need to go back to the yard sale where you bought it, and punch the seller in the right eye, very hard. Then after you've knocked him down and taken your money back from his wallet, tell him to enjoy the Virtual Boy.

[gokugohandave]

Actualy it was a her and not more than two miles from my house.

[adler_0]

The exact same thing just happened to me. I just got back from meeting someone from craigslist and the only the left eye works along with the glitchy display. Good thing I already have a working virtual boy. This new one came with a case and 3 games. The case was the main reason for buying it. 20 for all of it isn't too bad, I don't think...

[77punk]

i have a replacement main unit for trade for a case actually.. or other stuff. Its laying around and is my second back up unit if anyone is interested. I tried to take it apart and even with the security bit I couldnt get it far enough down there or some jazz. PITA. let me know.

[gokugohandave]

So I got the bit today and the stupid thing didnt fit and wasnt long enough even though they said it was one inch longer, more like a third of an inch. Ground down the sides flush with the shaft and slotted a hole for a screwdriver. Finally got the rest out. So now the 12 hour wait.

[SPAZ-12]

Good luck with that. I can confirm that the fix in the link I provided works--I fixed my virtual boy (which had a messed up left eye) two days ago. So far it works great! Now I need some good games for it. Mario Tennis is borrrrrinngggg...

[gokugohandave]

Thanks all of you guys for your help, got her together and she looks wonderfull, now all I need is a visor and the ac adaptor. Any one willing to part with one of these? How about game recommendations? Stuff I should look out for. Thanks!