Non-working Genny carts

[Master Chu]

I just got my first Genesis a few months back...and it seems like about 1 out of 3 games i pick up for the stupid thing do not work at all. I have frequented pawn shops and stuff since i started collecting back in '98, and all but like 2 or 3 of the atari + nindendo carts i have gotten have worked perfectly --at least after an alcohol bath--.

Is there something different about Genny carts that make them wear out faster, or is there a different way you have to clean them, or what ?
Really frustrating me cuz about 15 of my carts are dead, even tho they look like they're in mint condition...

Any help, or insight appreciated...Thx.

[jajaja]

Maybe its your console? I've had problems like 1 game wouldnt work on a Mega Drive i had eventho i cleaned it 1000 times, then i tried another and it worked.

[Anthony1]

You know, I've been having a similar problem. Although it's more like 1 in 30. I have a few carts that look super clean and mint, and the contacts have been thoroughly cleaned, yet, when you plug it in and turn it on, nothing. It's pretty frustrating. That never happens to me with SNES carts. I don't think I have had a single SNES cart that wouldn't work no matter what I did.

[Master Chu]

I think if it was the console then -nothing- would play on it...i'm doubting it would just pick the games it likes and spit the rest back at me.
I've never had a SNES game that would'nt work for me either.....and out of probably waaaaay over a thousand NES carts i've owned, i've had 1 King's Knight and one Battletoads go belly-up.

[Kevincal]

Q-tips and a bit of rubbing alchohol work wonders. ;)

[Master Chu]

Been there done that i'm afraid...

[xfrumx]

I have Forgotten Worlds picked it up CIB at the flea market for $1 total and it starts up gets to the title screen once I select to play it locks up. I don't remember if it is black screen or not, I have tried cleaing it and all my other Genesis games never hd a problem.

I have no idea what this is from.

[Bratwurst]

The cartridge connector of your Genesis is likely worn out and the games that don't work are probably using circuit boards of varying widths, perhaps just a micron too thin now. Get another Genesis or bend out the pins of the cart connector, which is a band-aid solution at best.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I have Forgotten Worlds picked it up CIB at the flea market for $1 total and it starts up gets to the title screen once I select to play it locks up. I don't remember if it is black screen or not, I have tried cleaing it and all my other Genesis games never hd a problem.

I have no idea what this is from.

It's a defective cart. I've seen that happen with several carts.

[Damaramu]

I have Forgotten Worlds picked it up CIB at the flea market for $1 total and it starts up gets to the title screen once I select to play it locks up. I don't remember if it is black screen or not, I have tried cleaing it and all my other Genesis games never hd a problem.

I have no idea what this is from.

Are you using the 6-button Genesis controller?

In case you didn't know, Forgotten Worlds is picky when it comes to controllers and will lock up if you're not using the original 3 button one. This got me also.

[jajaja]

I think if it was the console then -nothing- would play on it...i'm doubting it would just pick the games it likes and spit the rest back at me.

As said, i had the same problem that a game didnt work on one machine, but it worked on another. The "defective" console played all the other games fine so it had to be the console's fault. If the game was broken it wouldnt play on another console. Try it on some other consoles if you can.

[ckendal]

Q-tips and a bit of rubbing alchohol work wonders. ;)


Been there done that i'm afraid...

Rubbing Alcohol and Q-tips won't always get all of the dirt off. It is best to "erase" the contacts with a white rubber eraser and then alcohol it clean one more time. Watch how much more dirt comes off.

Give that a shot as I have had some carts work only after doing this and after just alcohol had failed!

[TurboGenesis]

I have Forgotten Worlds picked it up CIB at the flea market for $1 total and it starts up gets to the title screen once I select to play it locks up. I don't remember if it is black screen or not, I have tried cleaing it and all my other Genesis games never hd a problem.

I have no idea what this is from.

If you are using a 6 button controller the game will not operate properly. This is where the mode button comes in use. Hold the mode button down prior to powering up the Genesis. Release the mode button when the SEGA screen appears.

If not using a 6 button controller then it is likely defective.

[suppafly]

To the people saying what forgotten worlds doesnt work:

If you have a 6 button controller you need to hold the MODE button while turning on the genesis.

Theres no problem with 3 button controllers

[MarioMania]

Or use a type of thing that clens gold..I have a Ninja Giaden 3 that wouldn't play in my NES or my Top Loader..Clean it though with the gold cleaner or whatever you call it & it works like new

[Master Chu]

Rubbing Alcohol and Q-tips won't always get all of the dirt off. It is best to "erase" the contacts with a white rubber eraser and then alcohol it clean one more time. Watch how much more dirt comes off.

Give that a shot as I have had some carts work only after doing this and after just alcohol had failed!


This sounds intriguing...

I've never seen a white eraser tho, all i've ever seen were either pink or blue. Would a pink one work...i have a couple of those ?

Surely can't hurt to try it on one of the cheap-o's...

[Master Chu]

Well, i got my copy of MK1 to work with the eraser thing...that's something i guess. Tried it on 2 sports games too but it did'nt work on those...
Can't decide wether to do that on any more or not.

[Graham Mitchell]

I've heard that Tengen Genesis carts actually do have a limited life span. I've seen a Ms. Pac-Man and Dragon's Curse go bye-bye inexplicably. If I remember correctly, Tengen, like EA, manufactured their own Genny carts. Sounds like they did a bang-up job.

[djsquarewave]

I've heard that Tengen Genesis carts actually do have a limited life span. I've seen a Ms. Pac-Man and Dragon's Curse go bye-bye inexplicably. If I remember correctly, Tengen, like EA, manufactured their own Genny carts. Sounds like they did a bang-up job.
I've heard of brand new Grind Stormer carts being DOA.

Only Genny cart I've ever had die and refuse to come back was Alisia Dragoon.

[Master Chu]

Update:

Like i said above, i did manage to bring MK1 back from the dead. But nothing else so far...
My friend said he read something online about putting dead carts in the freezer for a while, and then cleaning them. Sounds odd but i'm still trying it...