Okay -- I finally decided to take apart the ol' toaster and give it a shot. I was expecting like... a layer of gunk, and rusty, oxidized hell to come crumbling off as I detached it from the motherboard. Yet, it was pretty clean looking. Is it supposed to be all new and shiny? I cleaned it regardless, scrubbing all the contacts throughly with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a alchohol/water solution.

Now here's the problem. I've read like 4 threads detailing how to "bend" the pins back into place from years of depressing, etc, but they look... pretty straight. At least, I can't tell what the heck a serviceable pin is supposed to look like. Here's what I mean:



I mean... what the heck is wrong with it? My NES is showing all the symptoms of a corroded/bent what-have-you 72 pin, and at this point, I'm afraid I'm going to put it all together only to be disappointed again.

Opinions/suggestions/commentary welcome.