N64 game question.

[Gamingking]

I've been playing Banjo Kazooie on N64, Got pretty far, Turned it back on and the save file was gone, Started it again and played through, Saved and turned it off. The file was once again gone. Is it the save battery on the game? Are they easy to replace? None of my other N64 games have this problem.

[Shadow Kisuragi]

It sounds like the save battery. It should be a standard CR2032 battery replacement, much like the SNES batteries. I would suggest looking up a tutorial on how to replace the SNES batteries and attempt it on the cart, but I haven't personally done it myself. As an FYI, the batteries are soldered.

All of my N64 cartridges, AFAIK, still save.

[Gamingking]

So just a 3V Cr2032 battery?

[Rogue]

Banjo Kazooie uses EEPROM, so no battery.

[Aussie2B]

You wouldn't have this problem with most N64 games since only 12 games in the entire US library use batteries (although the controller pak does as well), and Banjo-Kazooie isn't one of them. The others have different forms of memory. You can check this list for the forms of memory (SRAM would be the traditional batteries):

http://n64.icequake.net/mirror/www.elitendo.com/n64/usa_boot_save_list.html

I don't know what to tell you about your game not saving other than that maybe your system and/or game needs cleaning.

[Gamingking]

Systems and game is clean. It only does it on Banjo Kazooie, None of the other games do it...

[Shadow Kisuragi]

Banjo Kazooie uses EEPROM, so no battery.

Ahh yes, that's right. Thanks for the correction.

[A Black Falcon]

You wouldn't have this problem with most N64 games since only 12 games in the entire US library use batteries (although the controller pak does as well), and Banjo-Kazooie isn't one of them. The others have different forms of memory. You can check this list for the forms of memory (SRAM would be the traditional batteries):

http://n64.icequake.net/mirror/www.elitendo.com/n64/usa_boot_save_list.html

I don't know what to tell you about your game not saving other than that maybe your system and/or game needs cleaning.

You are right, but this one's actually the direct link to the list of US SRAM games: http://n64.icequake.net/mirror/www.elitendo.com/n64/usa_boot_save_faq.html#s5 Easier to find that way than sorting through the long list. :)

Odd problem, anyway... something obviously failed inside the cart. Very strange.

[izarate]

non-volatile memory has a limited number of write cycles. EEPROMs have the lowest of the bunch at around 10,000 if I'm not mistaken. Still 10,000 write cycles should be enough to last a lifetime so maybe the EEPROM in your cart is faulty.

[geezuzkhrist119]

try reseting before powering off

i hear that just powering off sometimes erases the data

[DenDenDos]

Not to be a total downer, but I had a similar problem with my copy of
Banjo-Kazooie. I recieved similar solutions as listed above, but none of them worked...

It weirded me out to read this post... probably just a coincidence. Hope it works out.

[Gamingking]

I'll probably end up buying a new copy.

[stonecutter]

Add me as the third person that has lost a completed game save..............and I blamed my son who was young at the time for deleting it. Me thinks maybe an apology could be in order.

[Rickstilwell1]

My Donkey Kong 64 save erased, but it came back later. Probably had a weak connection the first time I put it in.

[Gamingking]

I cleaned and cleaned it with alchol. It looked like someone got toothpaste on the pins, Alchol really isn't working either..

[Gamingking]

Nevermind, Bought a new one today for $2.

[retro junkie]

It sounds like the save battery. It should be a standard CR2032 battery replacement, much like the SNES batteries. I would suggest looking up a tutorial on how to replace the SNES batteries and attempt it on the cart, but I haven't personally done it myself. As an FYI, the batteries are soldered.

All of my N64 cartridges, AFAIK, still save.
Looking at my Super Mario All Stars it appears to be in a clip and there seems to be two tiny spot welds. My Mario Paint is the same way. Is this what you mean by being soldered?
http://file.walagata.com/w/redmoon/marioall.gif

If I stick a soldering iron to this, slightly, it will release? Or explode in my face? I'm interested because my Mario Paint battery is dead.

[Aussie2B]

I personally recommend desoldering the prongs right off the board. Then either solder a coin cell holder directly on the board or wires going from the coin cell holder to the board.

[Rogue]

I personally recommend desoldering the prongs right off the board. Then either solder a coin cell holder directly on the board or wires going from the coin cell holder to the board.

Not sure, but looks like this is the way to go. You can find new batteries already with the prongs. So it should be easier.