SNES displays only black and white - no color ??!?

[geneshifter]

Weird problem - I got a SNES from a guy and it displays only black and white. I tried RF and video output but no go. Any ideas how I can fix this?

[heyricochet]

Only thing I can think of is if its the opposite region of your tv (pal/ntsc) and your tv can display 50 hz for some reason, but not pal colors.

[SkiDragon]

So, both RF and composite give a BW picture? Are you able to try S-video?

[Push Upstairs]

Working at a game store i ran across a SNES that had this exact same problem. RF and AV cables both gave the same result, B&W picture.

It was an NTSC system on an NTSC TV, the screen wasn't squished or rolling....it was just in B&W.

I mentioned this system before and someone said that it could be a problem with the video chip on the system.

I wish i could offer some other help but we (at the store) couldnt figure it out and didnt have the time to attempt to fix the problem....but at least you aren't the only person to have seen this problem.

[ProgrammingAce]

if the system were Pal-M (ie, from south america) it would have that effect, but i don't know if the SNES got an official release down there, and if it did, i don't know if it is the SNES design or the SuperFamicom design.

[omnedon]

Remove the RF shielding on the top inside. If it is mi-seated, it can cause B/W video. Worth a try.

[jonjandran]

I've had 2 Snes systems that do the same thing.

Never could figure out what was the problem. I took them apart and checked everything and concluded they had overheated and had graphic chip failure of some sort.

[Bratwurst]

Remove the RF shielding on the top inside. If it is mi-seated, it can cause B/W video. Worth a try.

I had this very same issue with a Genesis Mk1 and did something similar- I reseated the RF shielding. Worked like a charm, displayed in color afterwards.