Genesis game freezing? is it a sign of a bad game or bad system?

[Urzu402]

because the mega turrican i have keeps freezing.

[BetaWolf47]

Freezing is often caused by, ironically, overheating. If it keeps happening, make sure your system isn't in a tight space or sitting on top of any sort of fabric. Also, the connection could be bad, so try cleaning the game while you're at it.

[Urzu402]

well no other game freezes on my genesis except castlevania bloodlines did a few times but it stopped doing it.

[jb143]

Try cleaning the carts electrical contacts with rubbing alchohol and a q-tip.

[Urzu402]

i just did and it still froze, this time the game got further but it still froze at level 2, and its not me hitting pause because the music glitches too and everything stays fine graphically

[buzz_n64]

I used to use alcohol with q-tips, but it only kind of worked. Try glass cleaner on q-tips, this is way more effective.

[Urzu402]

the only glass cleaner i have is with vinegar and i heard vinegar is bad for games.

[Gameguy]

The contacts in your system are probably dirty, not just the games. Get a cleaning kit for the Genesis and clean the system contacts. I'm not sure how hard it would be to find a cleaning kit now, but they're available online. I personally use a Gemini cleaning kit that's really meant for the SNES, the cleaning card is just not as wide as the Genesis connector so I have to move it over a few times to clean it.

I just clean my games with a few drops of water on a q-tip, I thoroughly dry them before using them and I haven't had any problems so far.

[Urzu402]

other games work fine though, castlevania bloodlines and shinobi iii both work without freezing.

[buzz_n64]

the only glass cleaner i have is with vinegar and i heard vinegar is bad for games.

Yes, vinegar is bad, so is rubbing alcohol. regular blue windex, or regular generic brand should work. I use this all the time. To dry, use a dry q-tip, then if possible, used a compressed air can to completly dry it out. Try not to blow into the cart. Do this, and it will work, if not, the cart has a problem.

[Gameguy]

It really depends on how clean the games are too. Games that are totally clean will work on a slightly dirty console, but games that are slightly dirty/worn might only work on a system that's really clean. Sometimes the connectors on some games are worn so they won't make contact as well with the system, it's not that the games can be cleaned any better.

I've had the same thing happen with some systems of mine, that only certain games would glitch while others were fine. The problems went away after cleaning the system and the games too. If you don't clean the games before using in recently cleaned system, it could just get dirty again. I cleaned my system, and then made sure to clean any game I got before using it in my system. With a Genesis it should be fine for years before needing another cleaning, depending on how often you play it.

If you can't find a cleaning kit, try inserting and removing a clean game a dozen times or so. It might clean the system connectors enough so the games would play properly. This isn't a full solution, if the system is still dirty the problem would come back again pretty quickly.

[jb143]

Rubbing alchohol is fine to use. It's used in the electronics indusrty all the time to clean electronics. Sure if you use really cheap watered down stuff it won't work as well but 70% and up should work fine in most circumstances. And Windex has rubbing alchohol in it anyways...as well as ammonia, dyes, and fragrances which aren't an industry standard for cleaning electronics.

Clean your games and clean your system and you should be good to go.

[Urzu402]

i tried it in my nomad, it doesnt freeze in my nomad unless i played it on the times it doesnt freeze....

[Gameguy]

If it doesn't freeze in your Nomad then the games are fine. Clean your system's connector and they'll work fine in that too. You might as well clean it to find out if that's the problem.

[Urzu402]

the weirdest thing happened, all the enemies, elevators, fire spouts weapon upgrade boxes just dissappeared basically everything but the character you play as and the background with a few graphical glitches. is that bad connection with the system? or is there a problem with the game? i was also still able to move around and the sound was still playing

[Gameguy]

Something similar happened to me with Sonic 3, in my case the system and game was just dirty. This was back in the 90's before I knew about cleaning them. The controls stopped working correctly, no matter what I pushed Sonic just jumped. Then he froze in mid air and the graphics got screwed up. The cart and system work fine for me now.

It could be a problem with the game though. Do the connectors in the game look clean? Did it just glitch up on you with your Nomad or in your Genesis system?

[Urzu402]

it only freezes in my model 1 genesis my nomad and genesis 2 it works okay in.
the glitch i explained happened in my model 1. also the model 1 is the one it has been freezing in.

[Gameguy]

it only freezes in my model 1 genesis my nomad and genesis 2 it works okay in.
the glitch i explained happened in my model 1. also the model 1 is the one it has been freezing in.


If it doesn't freeze in your Nomad then the games are fine. Clean your system's connector and they'll work fine in that too. You might as well clean it to find out if that's the problem.
Just clean it already.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Insanity: Asking the same thing multiple times and expecting a different response.

Urzu, he kindly told you 3 different times to clean your system and cartridge. We can't help you figure out the problem if you don't try a solution. That's how Technical Support works, right?

Clean the contacts in the system and cartridge and get back to us with the result. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Urzu402]

i tried the soaking the connectors of a cart in rubbing alcohol and putting it in and out and it still froze, thats about the only means i have to clean it, i cleaned the game quite a bit the qtips dont change color.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Thank you for the information. That's more info than we had previously.
Did you try the suggestion of cleaning the system contacts as well? It seems like the problem lies with the system contacts, considering that it works with your Model 2 and Nomad.

[Urzu402]

yes i tried cleaning the console by soaking a games contacts with rubbing alcohol and putting it in and out. though i only tried it once after that in the genesis and it froze, i tried taking the system out of where i have it
its like this crudely made ascii art the ...'s are empty space
..........TV...................
______Stand_________
.............W .SNES...NES
.............I ..Cable___Box
[genesis] I DVD/VCR Combo

[Gameguy]

Wait, did you insert the game when it was still wet?

I've never heard of a Genesis overheating, especially a Model 1 system. I've played systems before for hours on carpet or on my bed covers with no problems. If other games don't have problems with that console I doubt it's overheating.

Buy a cleaning kit to clean the cart slot.
http://www.amazon.com/Cleaning-Kit-Sega-Genesis/dp/B000035XQ9

[Shadow Kisuragi]

I've never had a Genesis overheat either, but I've seen it happen...of course, I run my Genesis1 on a carpet full of dust and cat hair (6 cats) and I've never had a problem besides dirty carts/dust in the cart slot. Overheating would occur with all carts, not just 1.

[Urzu402]

i inserted and took the game out when it was still wet yes, but i didnt let it dry.

[The Shawn]

i inserted and took the game out when it was still wet yes, but i didnt let it dry.



Man, you need to go.

[Damaramu]

I'm sure people have facepalm pics at the ready.

[Urzu402]

taking the game in and out when its wet is supposed to clean the system is it not? and about not letting it dry i let it sit for like 5 minutes? or are you giving me shit over something else.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

...I can't help but reflecting back to Family Guy in this instance:
"Do you ever have that... 'no-so-clean' feeling...down there?"

I don't really have anything to add, sorry. I just had to put that out there.

[The Shawn]

I have a Christmas wish, can anything posted by Urzu be automaticaly barred from public viewing?

<---Pray's

[Shadow Kisuragi]

I asked Santa to evaluate your wish, but Santa's only allowed to view and post in Off-Topic. You'll have to ask him there.

[Gameguy]

i inserted and took the game out when it was still wet yes, but i didnt let it dry.


taking the game in and out when its wet is supposed to clean the system is it not? and about not letting it dry i let it sit for like 5 minutes? or are you giving me shit over something else.
Noooooo!!

You're only supposed to use a liquid to clean the cartridge contacts, never for system contacts. Even with actual cleaning kits made by any company it says this on the packaging, for any system it's always the same thing. Since you don't have a cleaning kit use a clean dry cart, and try to clean it again.

After cleaning a cart, always make sure it's completely dry before putting it in a system. Try to dry it with a dry Qtip, don't just let it air dry while it's soaking wet. After you dry it with a Qtip, then wait a bit to make sure it's fully dry.

[gdement]

There's nothing wrong with putting rubbing alcohol on the system contacts. Just let it dry before you turn it on. 5 minutes is probably enough for alcohol.
I washed the entire motherboard in water at one point. You won't damage anything as long as it's not powered. (if you try this, let it dry for at least a couple days or so).

I'd still say dirty contacts are the primary suspect. I'm not sure the best way to clean it. I've heard of people using a credit card with some cloth wrapped around it, but I've never tried that. I have used a toothbrush to scrub alcohol on the connector, but that obviously doesn't get into it very deep. The official cleaning cartridge will work but they cost money and get dirtied up quickly.


My model-1 has had these type of lockup problems for most of it's life. In my case I think I've narrowed it down to one of the little components next to the controller inputs. The slightest touch against that component will make it lock. I haven't tried replacing it yet.

Check for bad solder joints. I had an extremely bad solder joint under one of the video RAM chips on my machine. It didn't help my problem but it's definitely something to fix if you see it.

[Urzu402]

Interesting devolpment, the game doesn't freeze when I use Game Genie. I made it to level 4 without it freezing (I was cheating of course, but thats not the point). Then I just got stuck in the game.

[gdement]

That's more indication it's the cart connector. The Game Genie must be getting better contact with it.

[Urzu402]

I tried the Game Genie just to see if that would happen and it did (it not freezing). How can I possibly clean my console without damaging it, without a cleaning kit.

[RP2A03]

Is it possible that the Game Genie has a more snug fit than a Genesis game? Perhaps you need to gently bend the connector pins in the console to get a tighter fit.

As far as cleaning goes, take a clean dry game and repeatedly insert and remove it. If it gets dirty, clean the game, dry and repeat.

[OldSchoolGamer]

WOW...............thread that should of been done within 4 posts max.

Ah well, CLEAN YOUR CARTRIDGE PORT!!!! MOVE ON.............

Here I Googled and found this, it's for ATARI 2600 but should apply to any cartridge based system:

You can try cleaning the contacts on your atari itself. Take a piece of 100 grain or finer sandpaper and cut off a square using scissors to fit the slot in the atari in the middle of the atari cartridge slot between the two prongs. Rub the edges and front of the sandpaper with your fingers to remove any loose grains of sand. Gently insert the sandpaper into the slot. Do not rub side to side, just in and out 4 or 5 times, then flip it over and do the contacts on the other side.

Maybe that will work, maybe you'll have to try something else, whatever just DO IT and stop posting in between about every little thing GEEZ.......

[Gameguy]

100 grit is pretty coarse, 320/400 is more like it but I wouldn't even use sandpaper unless there was corrosion.

[SPAZ-12]

You can try cleaning the contacts on your atari itself. Take a piece of 100 grain or finer sandpaper and cut off a square using scissors to fit the slot in the atari in the middle of the atari cartridge slot between the two prongs. Rub the edges and front of the sandpaper with your fingers to remove any loose grains of sand. Gently insert the sandpaper into the slot. Do not rub side to side, just in and out 4 or 5 times, then flip it over and do the contacts on the other side.

Teehee, someone doesn't know how sandpaper works. 100 grit would take all the traces right off of the board. Honestly I've never even come close to using sand paper on a game or system, as vigorous rubbing-alcohol-ing and q-tipp-ing does the trick most of the time; the worst problems have been solved by a toothbrush or paper towel.

Toothbrushes can sometimes be used to clean out the connectors, though usually you have to take the system apart to get to the connector to use it. In the past I have used a toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol, which I use to vigorously scrub the pins. After that, I simply blow out the left over alcohol with compressed air, and let it dry for awhile. It hasn't failed me yet, and has brought a couple of NES's back from the blinkies.

On the one time that a toothbrush didn't do a good enough job (I think that it might have been on one of my Genesii), I used a paper towel and plastic keycard. I had a hotel keycard, which is thinner than the circuit board that most games are printed on. I folded a paper towel over it, wet it with alcohol, and inserted and removed it a few times. After that I did the same thing, although with dry paper towels, and repeated until the dry towels stayed clean. Make sure that the card and towel when put together are still thinner than a cart pcb though, or the towel will tear quickly, or you might even bend some pins.

If that doesn't do the trick than you probably have to bend pins into place, which I have never done before, so I'm not going to write about how to do it.

Finally, if you eventually decide that the corrosion on the pins is bad enough that they need to be sanded, try to find some very fine sandpaper, like 400 grit and up. Any lower than that and you're just cutting grooves into the pins, not removing corrosion.

[raylydiard]

try this http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/md2-loose-cart.htm

[gbpxl]

pretty hilarious reading through this thread. anyways I came here because my Genesis 1 locked up while I was playing Sonic 2. My first thought was that the system overheated. The system is on a carpet and it's pretty hot where I'm living. Idk. I did have to clean the cartridge to get it to fire up but it doesn't make sense for it to suddenly stop working if it was working just fine for the last 10 minutes.

[Gameguy]

pretty hilarious reading through this thread. anyways I came here because my Genesis 1 locked up while I was playing Sonic 2. My first thought was that the system overheated. The system is on a carpet and it's pretty hot where I'm living. Idk. I did have to clean the cartridge to get it to fire up but it doesn't make sense for it to suddenly stop working if it was working just fine for the last 10 minutes.
So is gbpxl also Urzu402? Do the IP addresses match?

[gbpxl]

So is gbpxl also Urzu402? Do the IP addresses match?
Well your comment earlier, spazzing about him putting a wet cart into his system wasnt really helping matters. Ive done this technique many times, it has never hurt anything. someone else pointed out that its fine to do that too. you'd have to be pouring liquid into the connector in order to potentially do damage to it.

I'm not chemist but I think a lot of the problem has to do with minor corrosion on the contacts rather than "dirt" or "grime" or whatever. ive noticed that my carts that are kept in the protective sleeves tend to fire up better. less contact with the air.

I dont have the freezing anymore. I also propped my system up on something to let it breathe a bit better. idk if that is helping it or not.