Finally got a hold of a SNES and I have a quick cartridge Q.

[Drag0nsfyre]

I won this lot off Ebay(redesigned SNES w/7 games) and it arrived yesterday.
http://i20.ebayimg.com/05/i/06/eb/ab/f6_1_b.JPG
not the greatest of game selections but at least I had a few to check out and test the system while searching out the titles I really want to play again or even try out for the first time.
As I said it arrived yesterday (which was cool since I had the day off) I get everything hooked up and popped in Super Ceasers Palace and everything was fine. Sweet! So I knew it worked. I continued testing out each cartridge and then I came to Donkey Kong Country (which I was excited about playing again) and all I had wasa blank screen! :( I tried the reset trick, pulled out the cartrige, and gave that a check, tried it once more and still nothing :(
So is the cart DOA? or is there anything else I can do to try and revive it. Other then that problem everything seems to be A-Ok and I was happy once again to be taken back to the good old days of my teenage years and look forward to getting a hold of more great (working) titles.
Thanks.[/img]

[chaoticjelly]

Did you try cleaning the cartridge edge connector with isopropyl alcohol and the SNES cartridge connector with isopropyl alcohol (obviously whilst the SNES is turned off) and let it dry?

Black screen is common with dirty cartridges, if even just one pin cannot properly connect, you'll get this symptom. Check the cartridge slot in the SNES for foreign bodies also (e.g. hair, dust, muck, that kind of thing)

Good luck!

[Cambot]

Yeah, try cleaning the cartridge contacts. Alcohol usually works. Also make sure the cart is firmly pressed into the SNES.

If nothing works, take heart in the fact that that game is pretty easy to find where fine SNES games are still sold. I got one still in its box for five dollars a few months ago.

[Xexyz]

A wise tip: Always clean new games & systems before using them. As suggested, isopropyl alcohol (I prefer 91% concentration) and q-tips work well on cart pins. As for the systems pin connector, well, q-tips are too wide to fit down there. However, an old tooth brush dipped in isopropyl alcohol works wonders on a systems pin connector. Just make sure you give it a couple of hours afterwards to dry out, as a tooth brush can pick up a lot of liquid which in turn, could drip into the connector as you're brushing it back and forth.

[c0ldb33r]

Clean that cart good. But don't use a Q-tip - use a toothbrush (new and unused of course).

[Drag0nsfyre]

Thanks everyone for the cleaning tips :) I'll give that a try.
I had thought about that actually, but I was'nt sure if alcohol was a no,no or not.

[c0ldb33r]

two things
1) make sure its alchohol not hydrogen peroxide :embarrassed:
2) be sure to dilute it

[InsaneDavid]

2) be sure to dilute it

No no no no no - water is your enemy. That's why most of us recommend at least 90% concentrations of isopropyl alcohol. Don't add to oxidation. Also buy some cheap new toothbrushes, the like super junk 5 for $1 at discounters type. Not only will the heads be smaller, but you won't risk further contamination. To get down into the SNES cartridge connector you could use a thin paint scraper or old phone card with a thin rag wrapped around the edge. To clean the smaller expansion slots on the sides of the connector use a VERY thin slotted screwdriver with a thin rag over the end the same way. Dip the rag into a little isopropyl alcohol (or apply some on each side with a cotton swab).

If you really want to give games a hard cleaning, then pick up a gamebit that will open SNES carts (two screws on the front) so you can scrub the connectors without the cartridge plastic in the way. There are various multitool kits you can find on eBay for $8-$16 that will be perfect for this, but make sure they include the gamebits you need. Look for a set that contains bits to open anything you can think of from the start so that you'll be good to go in the future.

For future questions concerning repair and maintenance, I recommend posting them in the Technical and Restoration Society (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=24) section.

[c0ldb33r]

Bahh I'm wrong again.

Sorry everybody. Sorry!

*bows out*

In fact it was InsaneDavid that I learned to use a toothbrush from. Before that I always used Q-tips.

Although, I didn't say what to dilute it with. So technically I didn't say to add water. :D

[InsaneDavid]

Although, I didn't say what to dilute it with. So technically I didn't say to add water. :D

ROFL Yeah, dilute it with moonshine - clean your cartridges and put hairs on your chest at the same time. LOL

Seriously though, keep it pure as possible and with the higher concentrations make sure you put the cap back on tight as it will evaporate quickly otherwise. Faster evaporation is another reason higher concentrations of isopropyl alcohol are recommended.

[Drag0nsfyre]

Picked up a bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol forgot the damn tooth brush! :angry: @_@ ! So I'll be sure to grab a cheap-o one. Very cool of you guys thanks a ton Insane David and the rest of you. :) you guys Rock! 8-) I'll also be sure to check the Bay for one of those kits you were talking about ID.
This going back to basics and old school is pretty damn fun and addicting already! It brings me back to the good ol days LOL not that I still don't mind my modern Xbox and PS2 but I'm sure you guys know what I mean.
thanks again!
now the hunt begins for more kick ass games I remember playing and want to play again. 8-)

[Steven]

Haha I sure feel what the original poster did. Back in Jan 06 when I first got my SNES I was so excited, but a lot of my games didn't work and I started panicking. Had NO idea about the Q-TIP/ALCOHOL trick, when I was pointed to that direction it revived 99% of my games! And that ended the point where I was literally rushing to test every game I had so if it didn't work I could return it to the seller.

I'm glad that madness is over, I have way too many games to test... I now can wait patiently until the urge to play them hits. (thanks to rubbing alcohol!)

[InsaneDavid]

Very cool of you guys thanks a ton Insane David and the rest of you. :) you guys Rock! 8-) I'll also be sure to check the Bay for one of those kits you were talking about ID.

No problem at all. It's always nice when a new poster has a question and is very detailed right out of the gate. :) For those toolkits, I reviewed the one I use here, (http://cyclictedium.blogspot.com/2004/03/review-ultimate-game-tools.html) a long time ago. I really need to rewrite that review for my site instead. It came with three gamebits that open everything (again, make sure it comes with what you need) and the stock bits that open anything you'll ever come across for general mainstream repairs. Note: the tri-wing bits included are too large to open Gameboy Advance systems, and the "tuning fork" bits open NES power supplies. I think I've posted this information like four times now. LOL I should save myself the explanation and just write that new review for DVGI.

Also (it's more a problem with the NES than any other system but still) if you get into the habit of cleaning games when you obtain them then you won't have to worry about performance problems - or have a few hundred carts you've let stack up that all need to be gone through. (Like me, I let myself fall behind with the NES bookshelf)