How do u make your NES work???

[ashbourn]

I was trying to play a few NES games I got a month ago and like always my NES game me hell. So I was wondering how well do your NES's work and how do you get them to work right???

I hit mine.

[FlashStash]

Ancient Chinese secret, ahhh? :-D

[bargora]

If you have not replaced the 72-pin connector, well, then do it.

[samuraiX]

I hold reset and move the cart around, then let go of the button. If it doesn't work then try try again.

[klimatron8]

:) Confuscious say " Get thee a top loader"

Clean the games every time, also use the cleaning tool to clean the contacts. I'm assuming you have the NES game cleaner. On mine, it seems like sometimes the cleaning tool will mess up the pins and i'll just get a blank screen....until I go back and try again.

[omnedon]

I installed a new 72 pin.

Now I just put my clean games in and play. No accidental resets (ever!), and no top loader stripey graphics (interference).

You can get pins from Sylentwulf pretty cheap. He buys 'em bulk, and shipped from him can be cheaper than shipped from MCM electronics.

If you are in Canada, I can sell you one. I do the same thing (buy them in bulk) and install them for local game stores.

[CrazyImpmon]

I threaten mine. I have a number of cats who would love to make flaky NES decks into confetti. ;)

Seriously, good cleaning on all carts and a new 72 pins connector on the deck will work well for a long time. Just don't use Game Genie, it actually ruins the connector.

[kainemaxwell]

I replaced the connector in mine and still nothing. Traded with Achika for a working NES so she can use my crappy one to make a NES PC. I have a cleaning kit and using that and the q-tip and alchol method, I plan to clean all my carts before trying it.

Shouldn't this be moved to the Restoration Forum?

[Mr-E_MaN]

I don't have any trouble with my nes really. I clean all of my carts when I buy them, and I fixed the pins my 72 pin connecter and it works great every time.

[stonecutter]

I just give my games a very good cleaning and i have no problems. I clean first using a white eraser, and then qtip and alcohol.

[lionforce]

I find that the top loader NES (the second model) works alot better than the original but ahhh those were the days, blowing into the cartridges until I could not breath anymore, I felt like Superman using his super cooling breath power

[kainemaxwell]

I find that the top loader NES (the second model) works alot better than the original but ahhh those were the days, blowing into the cartridges until I could not breath anymore, I felt like Superman using his super cooling breath power
There were 2 different models of top-loader NES?

[Aswald]

Usually with some effort.

[gamergary]

I like to plug mine in that usually works best for me. :-D
get a toploader dammit

[Mr-E_MaN]

I find that the top loader NES (the second model) works alot better than the original but ahhh those were the days, blowing into the cartridges until I could not breath anymore, I felt like Superman using his super cooling breath power
There were 2 different models of top-loader NES?

I thought they ment that the top loader was the 2nd model.

[Charlie]

The secret that nobody seems to know about...

I use a Game Genie. You don't have to put in codes. Here's how you do it.

Step one: Rip off the black straps from the Game Genie
Step two: Insert a game into the Game Genie
Step three: Put it into the NES.
Step four: Remove the game. Presto, the Game Genie is now stuck inside your NES and acts as a 72 pin connector. Now when you want to play a game, just stick the game in the NES. Turn the power on, and don't put any Game Genie codes in. Just press start, and the game will boot up, trouble free!

[Anonymous]

Aside from the obvious cleaning/new72pin/toploader options, the way to get it working is:

Put the game in, push it down to lock it into place, then turn the power on. leave the power on, take your finger, and nudge the game as far to the left as it will go, without popping the game up from it's locked down position. hold reset for one second. if it doesn't work, do the same thing, moving the game to the right, then hold reset for one second. If it still doesn't work, push the left side of the game in as far as it will go (the game should tilt just a bit on the side you are pushing in), then hold reset for a second. if it doesn't work, push in on the right side then hold reset for a second. if it still doesn't work, take the game out, blow on it, then try it again from the top.

This is a temporary fix, but 99% of the time it works.

[kainemaxwell]

Those are some pretty good Ideas I'll have to try!

[ashbourn]

what 72 pin connector should i get this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3011756121&category=3605 or this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3011727413&category=3605

[DDCecil]

I push the game in and down at the same time. Works 95% of the time. If that doesn't work, I get out a Q-Tip and the Rubbing Alcohol.

[Lady Jaye]

And after you replace the pin connector, make sure to screw back the tray just the right way. I screwed mine back too much, and I now have to fight my way into making the tray stay down with carts. And I just feel too lazy to reopen my NES and reajust the tray's tightness. :P

It's weird: I got two full NES sets from SlyDC (including one orange Zapper, a few pin connectors and a couple of extra trays). Well, one of the NESs was working more or less okay before I opened it (it hasn't worked since then), while I managed to fix the other one (which is the one I use).

Eventually, I will finish my repair/maintenance job on both consoles and move one set to my parents' home.

[kainemaxwell]

what 72 pin connector should i get this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3011756121&category=3605 or this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3011727413&category=3605
MCM Electronics is probably the bes tplace to pick up a pin connector.

[Nature Boy]

I do pretty much the same thing Anotherfluke described except I also 'hard load' it (i.e. I put the cart in only just far enough that it clears that front lip). It usually doesn't take too much fiddling to get it working right.

There are lots of suggestions for cleaning the carts here but curiously no mention of what is used...

[Chunky]

i have now replaced 10 of these and they were the leading cause of any problem i was having. i have bought from4 different people and traded for one. they all work the same, so just find the cheaper deal. They all work first try and every time.

[l_lamb]

From what I've been told, it's not good to blow on the contacts. The moisture in your breath will cause the connectors to corrode even worse over time.

[nesuser2]

and thats why they tell you to clean your carts and wait 24 hours to play them, moisture and electronics are not a good match......it creates great connectivity until the moisture is gone......which is not very long......

[FABombjoy]

Before I spend the money on new pin connectors, I use the following procedure:

1. Disassemble NES, remove PIN connector.
2. Take some medium-grit sandpaper, wrap it around some thin cardboard, and sand the contacts for a few minutes.
3. Blast connector with canned/compressed air to remove sand/plastic residue.
4. Clean with contact cleaner/rubbing alcohol and a plastic-brlstle brush.
5. Reassemble NES.

Cartridge just slides in, clicks down, and works without effort. No overly-tight contacts like on the replacement connectors. Of course, your carts will need to be clean for this to work best, but I'd rather clean my carts with a cotton swab & alcohol than with the contact pressure from an overly tight pin connector.

And hey, if it doesn't work, you can always order a new connector.

[jonjandran]

and thats why they tell you to clean your carts and wait 24 hours to play them, moisture and electronics are not a good match......it creates great connectivity until the moisture is gone......which is not very long......

And I'm sure that the 100% humidity we have down south would be just as bad as the moisture from blowing in your carts. :roll:
Old Wives Tales never die do they. :)

[BIGMIKE]

well this is why i love the nes. i love to see that blinking. it's like a challenge.
i've had my nes since 85 or so. it's the best. no matter what it works. i do make sure i clean the games from time to time. myself just over 100 or so games getting more and more since coming to the forum :-D . if it doesn't work the first time just move around and reset. when in doubt it goes to the q tip.

[ianoid]

Out of maybe 40 that I've turned over, I've really ever only had two or three that wouldn't work using this method.

1)Clean an SMB cart to the bejesus using alcohol (ethyl alcohol and a q-tip- back and forth on the contacts, top and bottom of the cart- not too soaked, just moistened. EtOH evaporates quickly in thin layers.)

2)Take your toaster and insert/remove, insert/remove, insert/remove that cart a bunch of times. Try the power in between every few in/outs (get in a rhythm.) Now take the cart out and clean it. (Before this, it should have been sparkling clean, so you know the dirt came from the toaster.) Repeat several times, trying the cart and cleaning it.

3)If this doesn't work after cleaning the cart 6 or 7 times, take a break. You need one. Then try this process again. The more you try the cart the more clean the contacts get.

I've never opened an NES to replace the connector.

If you are playing a variety of random games, clean them with that qtip EtOH combination really well- sometimes the dirty carts take boths ends of a qtip to clean. Once the Toaster works once or twice, it's basically the carts that are dirty. If you have more problems, resort back to your clean cart and repeat the painful but brief process of cleaning your contacts with a regular cart.

I'm telling you, this is all it takes!

[jonjandran]

Oh is that all ? x_x :roll:

Seriously man . It takes like 10 minutes to take the Nes apart and clean the old connector or put in a new connector.
Sounds a lot easier than all of the " insert cart push left, power . reset , push right, use old clean cart , push in out in out , clean again , pray to god , give to charity, sacrifice chicken, insert cart, curse several times, and try again. And do this every time you want to play, and hope it doesn't reset. "
Just buy the new connector .
*Grumbles to himself "cheap bastards"*
x_x :roll:

[Alex Kidd]

Here's an easy answer, Play the SMS or Genesis instead! LOL

Alex Kidd

[ianoid]

My way or the highway! Weird response to this thread- kinda antagonistic.

I don't have spare connectors, and they actually cost a bit whenever I see them. I'd replace them all if they were $2.

For me to do that with 40 NES's, it would have been painful. Most NES's don't require that much cleaning. If it were for my personal toaster, I would have taken greater stake in it.

ian

[bargora]

Question: How do u make your NES work???

Answer: Stock options.