Comments on: No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13 The Retrogaming and Retrocomputing Blogazine Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:52:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: Vdoe http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-18889 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 23:23:05 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-18889 Hello all. I just wanted to add my 2 cents to the board discussion. When cleaning your NES carts, the thing that i have found that cleans the best, besides the eraser, is a metal polish/cleaner called Brasso. You can get this stuff at any store for cheap. You just rub a little bit on the contacts and polish them with a static free cloth and you will be amased at the grime that comes off. Try the alcohol and swabs first and then use the brasso and you will see how much crap comes off that you can't see even after cleaning with alcohol. After polishing the contacts use the alcohol swabs to clean off any residue. THis works for all cartridge games. Hello all. I just wanted to add my 2 cents to the board discussion. When cleaning your NES carts, the thing that i have found that cleans the best, besides the eraser, is a metal polish/cleaner called Brasso. You can get this stuff at any store for cheap. You just rub a little bit on the contacts and polish them with a static free cloth and you will be amased at the grime that comes off. Try the alcohol and swabs first and then use the brasso and you will see how much crap comes off that you can't see even after cleaning with alcohol. After polishing the contacts use the alcohol swabs to clean off any residue. THis works for all cartridge games.

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: Ryan http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-18755 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:01:20 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-18755 I have to say, really well written article, for one. I've been meaning to replace the 72-pin connector in my NES for years now, but was always afraid of doing it because I've had the thing for over 20 years, and it's served me well. Although, not to dispute your article or any of the comments in it at all, I have to say the most sure-fire, 100% fool-proof method I've ever had of getting a game to work 100% of the time is to simply use a Game Genie. I have been playing my NES religiously for the past 6 years now (it was in hibernation for most of 1996-2003), at least once a week, and get everything to work on the first go pretty much every time. I only make this recommendation for people who are leery about taking apart their NES, particularly if you don't know what you are doing or don't quite have the finances to replace your console is you massively screw something up. It's a little bit more expensive to purchase a Game Genie (and you can only get them off eBay), but I have found the results to be the same, and no technical know-how is required. I've run Adventure Island II for two days straight (I left it paused when I left the room once, and completely forgot about it...) and still came back to a perfectly working game. I even picked up where I left off, no fuzzies or anything. Still, it's always a good idea to replace the pin connectors if you have the means. After 20 years, some of those contacts have to be pretty worn out by now. I have to say, really well written article, for one. I've been meaning to replace the 72-pin connector in my NES for years now, but was always afraid of doing it because I've had the thing for over 20 years, and it's served me well.

Although, not to dispute your article or any of the comments in it at all, I have to say the most sure-fire, 100% fool-proof method I've ever had of getting a game to work 100% of the time is to simply use a Game Genie. I have been playing my NES religiously for the past 6 years now (it was in hibernation for most of 1996-2003), at least once a week, and get everything to work on the first go pretty much every time.

I only make this recommendation for people who are leery about taking apart their NES, particularly if you don't know what you are doing or don't quite have the finances to replace your console is you massively screw something up. It's a little bit more expensive to purchase a Game Genie (and you can only get them off eBay), but I have found the results to be the same, and no technical know-how is required. I've run Adventure Island II for two days straight (I left it paused when I left the room once, and completely forgot about it…) and still came back to a perfectly working game. I even picked up where I left off, no fuzzies or anything.

Still, it's always a good idea to replace the pin connectors if you have the means. After 20 years, some of those contacts have to be pretty worn out by now.

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: Whitney http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-18185 Sun, 09 May 2010 23:29:48 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-18185 Holy crap; that CIC chip disablement actually worked! I replaced my 72 pin connector and half my games were totally still not working. I disabled the CIC chip just now, and they ALL WORK without a hitch. The work so good; I can't even believe it! Thank you! Holy crap; that CIC chip disablement actually worked! I replaced my 72 pin connector and half my games were totally still not working. I disabled the CIC chip just now, and they ALL WORK without a hitch. The work so good; I can't even believe it! Thank you!

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: Brin http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-17021 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:07:33 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-17021 My son tried the new connector, still blinking led. Read your chat and tried the cleaning of the mainboard connection. This worked, and I'll bet from my experience with automotive modules,especialy those bathed in coke-a-cola, that what happens to some counsoles is the corosion grows across the pins shorting the board. We cleaned with alchohal and q-tips till new q-tip stayed clean, also scrub up and down divide between gold strips. I also put a light coat of dielectric grease(available at auto parts) but I bet the compound mentioned above works too. This will prevent corosion here, but don't put on the cartridge contact as this will just goo dirt and grime to the exposed connections. Workin good, good luck! Brin and Andres My son tried the new connector, still blinking led.
Read your chat and tried the cleaning of the mainboard connection.
This worked, and I'll bet from my experience with automotive modules,especialy those bathed in coke-a-cola, that what happens to some counsoles is the corosion grows across the pins shorting the board.
We cleaned with alchohal and q-tips till new q-tip stayed clean, also scrub up and down divide between gold strips.
I also put a light coat of dielectric grease(available at auto parts) but I bet the compound mentioned above works too.
This will prevent corosion here, but don't put on the cartridge contact as this will just goo dirt and grime to the exposed connections.
Workin good, good luck!
Brin and Andres

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: \\ http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-16854 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:34:30 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-16854 http://www.retrolution.dk/nesfix/VisualStepByStepGuideToRepairingYourBlinkingNES.pdf http://www.retrolution.dk/nesfix/VisualStepByStepGuideToRepairingYourBlinkingNES.pdf

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: Brian http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-15673 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:55:29 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-15673 While there are a lot of sites out there that sell a 72 Pin Connector, none can offer the repair personnel experience and dedication to technical customer support that we can at http://www.nintendorepairshop.com. I started the business 4 years ago, and have made it my focus to provide free nintendo repair resources to those out there that want to relive their game playing youth. We offer the following special services/products for NES Repair: Professional Mail-in NES Repair Service http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=153&cat=NES+Repair+-+Service Custom Made NES Self Repair Kit http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopexd.asp?id=78&bc=no New 72 Pin NES Connector http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopexd.asp?id=63&bc=no Free Nintendo Repair Guides http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopcontent.asp?type=Nintendo_Repair_Center While there are a lot of sites out there that sell a 72 Pin Connector, none can offer the repair personnel experience and dedication to technical customer support that we can at http://www.nintendorepairshop.com.

I started the business 4 years ago, and have made it my focus to provide free nintendo repair resources to those out there that want to relive their game playing youth. We offer the following special services/products for NES Repair:

Professional Mail-in NES Repair Service
http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=153&cat=NES+Repair+-+Service

Custom Made NES Self Repair Kit
http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopexd.asp?id=78&bc=no

New 72 Pin NES Connector
http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopexd.asp?id=63&bc=no

Free Nintendo Repair Guides
http://www.nintendorepairshop.com/shopcontent.asp?type=Nintendo_Repair_Center

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: billy t http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-15093 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:14:02 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-15093 for the guy that only could get 2 games to work. First make sure your games are super clean this requires older games a philips head screwdriver newer nes games 90 -93 you have to get a special nes cart opener they are only 4 bucks take out the main board use a eraser not on a pencil but one of those big pink ones and using almost brute force erase on the contacts both sides part 2 make a solution of 50% alochol and water in a throwaway 8oz cup use qtips and make brushing strokes back and forth on the contacts (the qtips dont need to be wet just damp you will probaly go through bout 10 to 20 of these after no eraser shavings or dirt is coming off of them dry off with a qtip not dipped or let sit for 10 min reassemble cartridge rinse and repeat this for all of them. Part 2 testing your carts 1st before you do anything to the nes test your cleaned carts on the original nes still blinking not working take apart the nes and replace the 72pin connector. if games are still not working this time you might get a grey or green screen on all of em or some 3rd option (this is what the yobo is good for) order a yobo normally 20 bucks or so depending on the site person etc. wait for it to come in the mail test all carts on it if my thoughts are correct all will work perfectly now I know you dont want to play on that piece of junk but they are great for game testing and "nothing else" if you have another nes laying around which you probaly dont find one online that is tested in good working condition and that should fix you right up rare but can happen if the yobo test shows none of the games working then your carts have gone bad over the years can happen but rare 9 times out of 10 on this problem is that the nes motherboard has a short (meaning throw it out cant be fixed as far as I know) or the cpu has gone bad same thing cant fix and a new one will be fine if the carts fail the yobo test then the carts are bad but you have a fully working nes just need to ebay the games you want and your good to go. These are the exact steps I took on my gaming collection back in 2006 only 3 out of 100 carts were bad the rest played on the yobo and my nes had more problems then the connector I ebayed a nes in good working order and everything has played fine since. for the guy that only could get 2 games to work. First make sure your games are super clean this requires older games a philips head screwdriver newer nes games 90 -93 you have to get a special nes cart opener they are only 4 bucks take out the main board use a eraser not on a pencil but one of those big pink ones and using almost brute force erase on the contacts both sides part 2 make a solution of 50% alochol and water in a throwaway 8oz cup use qtips and make brushing strokes back and forth on the contacts (the qtips dont need to be wet just damp you will probaly go through bout 10 to 20 of these after no eraser shavings or dirt is coming off of them dry off with a qtip not dipped or let sit for 10 min reassemble cartridge rinse and repeat this for all of them. Part 2 testing your carts

1st before you do anything to the nes test your cleaned carts on the original nes still blinking not working take apart the nes and replace the 72pin connector. if games are still not working this time you might get a grey or green screen on all of em or some 3rd option (this is what the yobo is good for) order a yobo normally 20 bucks or so depending on the site person etc. wait for it to come in the mail test all carts on it if my thoughts are correct all will work perfectly now I know you dont want to play on that piece of junk but they are great for game testing and "nothing else" if you have another nes laying around which you probaly dont find one online that is tested in good working condition and that should fix you right up rare but can happen if the yobo test shows none of the games working then your carts have gone bad over the years can happen but rare 9 times out of 10 on this problem is that the nes motherboard has a short (meaning throw it out cant be fixed as far as I know) or the cpu has gone bad same thing cant fix and a new one will be fine if the carts fail the yobo test then the carts are bad but you have a fully working nes just need to ebay the games you want and your good to go. These are the exact steps I took on my gaming collection back in 2006 only 3 out of 100 carts were bad the rest played on the yobo and my nes had more problems then the connector I ebayed a nes in good working order and everything has played fine since.

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: johannes http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-15059 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:58:48 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-15059 why those peoples from hitgames will not also sells 72 pin connectores made from titanium ?offcourse it would be very expensive but those connectors will never corrode over tome,and it is also the strongest matel. also pushing games down into it,s possition can become absolete,this since the cartrides can also make contact with the connector once only inserted. so this can solve the problem once for all and forever. why those peoples from hitgames will not also sells 72 pin connectores made from titanium ?offcourse it would be very expensive but those connectors will never corrode over tome,and it is also the strongest matel.
also pushing games down into it,s possition can become absolete,this since the cartrides can also make contact with the connector once only inserted.
so this can solve the problem once for all and forever.

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: Kyle http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-14974 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:33:34 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-14974 I replaced the 72 pin connector on my nintendo and cleaned everything possible and it worked great for a couple of weeks. Then one day it just stopped working all together. I didnt drop it or do anything to cause it to break. So I took it back apart, cleaned everything again, and checked everything I could think of, but it all seems right. So I resorted to the disabling of the lock out chip method, and of course it still doesnt work. all it does every time on every game is just blink a grey screen like theres not a game in it at all. Im guessing the motherboard must be shot and I just need to get a new one, but if anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Im dying for a game of super tecmo bowl. And yes I did clean the games as well. Trust me, everything that could possibly be cleaned is clean. So I know thats not the problem. I replaced the 72 pin connector on my nintendo and cleaned everything possible and it worked great for a couple of weeks. Then one day it just stopped working all together. I didnt drop it or do anything to cause it to break. So I took it back apart, cleaned everything again, and checked everything I could think of, but it all seems right. So I resorted to the disabling of the lock out chip method, and of course it still doesnt work. all it does every time on every game is just blink a grey screen like theres not a game in it at all. Im guessing the motherboard must be shot and I just need to get a new one, but if anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Im dying for a game of super tecmo bowl. And yes I did clean the games as well. Trust me, everything that could possibly be cleaned is clean. So I know thats not the problem.

]]> Comment on No More Blinkies: Replacing the NES's 72-Pin Cartridge Connector by: Creep http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-14808 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:36:14 +0000 http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/13#comment-14808 Hi all, I'm thinking of buying an original top-loading NES (if I can find one!) Is this system working as good as the SNES? I have bought an used SNES about two years ago and this thing works perfectly. Will the top-loading NES blink too because the cartridges get dirty, or is it guarateed to play any game like the SNES does? Thank you. Hi all,

I'm thinking of buying an original top-loading NES (if I can find one!) Is this system working as good as the SNES? I have bought an used SNES about two years ago and this thing works perfectly. Will the top-loading NES blink too because the cartridges get dirty, or is it guarateed to play any game like the SNES does?

Thank you.

]]>