multicart works on older SP, but not newer SP

[leorange]

i picked up a 32 in 1 game boy multicart today which worked fine on the older style SP at the place where i bought it, but doesn't work at all no matter how i try to put it into the super duper backlighted SP at home. all i get is the game boy title screen with a black bar on the bottom where it would say "nintendo". the registered trademark symbol is still there. i have tried some other pirate carts i have on my newer SP and they do work, but this one multi just will not. is there some sort of hardware difference between the SPs, or is it just the ambiguities of pirate cart quality assurance?

[Joker T]

Dumb question but did you try blowing out the cart because the same thing has happend with some of my dirty carts.

[Leroy]

Don't blow in the cart.. that's the dumbest thing to do ever, putting moisture on electrical contacts. If it's dirty you'll need to use a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol (99% is best if you can get it) to clean it.. but since it's a bootleg cartridge, it's either just poor quality or Nintendo found a way to block out bootlegs in the newest SP revision.

[Tan]

maybe Nintendo updated the gba bios or firmware, has anyone tried using a e-reader or flash cart with one?

[Jive3D]

-------

[Ed Oscuro]

I gotta agree that blowing on the contacts is bad advice.

Did you try playing it on the old GBA SP after trying it on the new one, just to make sure?

Nintendo did rev the original NES hardware a few times to break unlicensed cartridges (and pirates as well), so the idea of Nintendo doing something to make pirates not work seems logical.

Try calling Nintendo's tech support; don't reveal it's a pirate cart, see if they give that to you as an answer.

[Flack]

maybe Nintendo updated the gba bios or firmware, has anyone tried using a e-reader or flash cart with one?

I have the new, brighter GBA SP (Gray) and my EZ Flash Advance (256) works fine in it.

[leorange]

update: i found out i could get the cart to work in my newer SP if i pressed it against the unit toward me with my fingers. and it craps out as soon as any pressure is lifted. so it's not a hardware issue, could possibly a cart slot deal, but mainly is just the wonders of pirate technology...

[Bratwurst]

Any change in the way the GBA hardware boots and recognizes cartridges would potentially lock out older official games which weren't made with any security or region considerations in mind at the time.

When Nintendo introduced the SP a number of old style flash carts designed for the original GBA would not fit in the cart slot without some filing on the sides (recessed and slightly less wide cart slot on the SP.)

[kedawa]

Don't blow in the cart.. that's the dumbest thing to do ever, putting moisture on electrical contacts. If it's dirty you'll need to use a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol (99% is best if you can get it) to clean it.. but since it's a bootleg cartridge, it's either just poor quality or Nintendo found a way to block out bootlegs in the newest SP revision.

I've been blowing on carts for almost 20 years and it's never done me wrong.
I find the trick is to open my mouth wide and breath hot, moist air into the cart, as opposed to making 'oooh' lips and blowing.

I only use solvents when cleaning secondhand carts, and even then, I find erasers are better at stripping off the corrosion.

[LocalH]

That's even worse. By blowing hot, moist air onto the contacts, you're increasing the rate of eventual corrosion.

Blowing is bad for carts. Don't do it, ever.

[johno590]

That's even worse. By blowing hot, moist air onto the contacts, you're increasing the rate of eventual corrosion.

Blowing is bad for carts. Don't do it, ever.

He's right... blowing on carts isn't good. It may make it work for a while, but in the long run it is not good for the cart.

[rbudrick]

Stick a piece of paper behind the cart...fold it a couple times if you have to. That may provide the necessary pressure on the cart if a cleaning doesn't work.

-Rob

[googlefest1]

i just tested my 92in one cart and it worked - but it is real loose in the slot - it not this loose in my old sp

looks like they made some kind of mechanical change