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Topic: Game Boy Advance Game Help (Cleaning/Repairs)

Posts 1 to 18 of 18

kyuubikid213

So, about a week ago, my friend grabbed his copy of Castlevania: Circle of the Moon for the GBA from his house and brought it to campus to play. He unfortunately left his DS at home, so he has no way to play it, but he let me hold onto it for a bit as I have a GBA and a GBA SP.

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Problem is, the game doesn't work...and I don't know how to fix it.

When I pop the game into either system, it shows the "Game Boy Nintendo" screen and does the ding. Then the screen fades to white and...nothing.

Like I said, I tried swapping systems and even cleaning it out.

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I've tried using a baby wipe, dry Q-tips, damp Q-tips, and blowing. The only results I'd gotten were one time, the "Nintendo" part didn't show up. Another time, the "o" on the Nintendo glitched out. And lastly, there was a time when the game got stuck on the "Game Boy Nintendo" screen without fading out.

It's doing the fade again, but...still nothing. From what I've seen online, the first thing I'm supposed to see is the Konami logo.

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Thank you in advance.

Edited on by kyuubikid213

I own a PS1, GBA, GBA SP, Wii (GCN), 360, 3DS, PC (Laptop), Wii U, and PS4.
I used to own a GBC, PS2, and DS Lite

I'm on YouTube.

I promise to not derail threads. Request from theblackdragon

I pro...

3DS Friend Code: 4639-9073-1731 | Nintendo Network ID: kyuubikid213

Eel

You could open it up and see if anything went wrong inside. Things that can happen there are battery leaks (some GBA still games use batteries) and unsoldered chips.

You can also take the opportunity to clean it more effectively.

Luckily, GBA games are easy to open and close, unlike GB/C games...

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

KingMike

For GBA games, you still need a special screwdriver (a Y-shaped head aka a "Triwing". I once bought a "GBA Pokemon battery repair kit" and the seller included the wrong screwdriver (a + shape) with it).

KingMike

Eel

A small - screwdriver from a common glasses/clock repair kit will do the job though.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

LaserdiscGal

You can also melt the non ink part of a cheap pen and stick it in the screw hole for a few minutes. I had to use this method to replace my Silver battery ages ago.

Edited on by LaserdiscGal

LaserdiscGal

3DS Friend Code: 0688-5519-2711 | My Nintendo: pokefraker | Nintendo Network ID: pokefraker

LaserdiscGal

The method should still work for GBA games though right? Not everyone has a clock repair kit in the house.

LaserdiscGal

3DS Friend Code: 0688-5519-2711 | My Nintendo: pokefraker | Nintendo Network ID: pokefraker

Eel

Well, the GBA cartridges use perfectly round screws, so I'm not sure if it would work quite as well with them.

Glasses repair kits are quite common, you can find them in most big name stores... Sometimes in dollar stores too.

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

kyuubikid213

I've got a small flat screwdriver that can fit in (one) of the slots of the screw, but I can't get it to turn.

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I own a PS1, GBA, GBA SP, Wii (GCN), 360, 3DS, PC (Laptop), Wii U, and PS4.
I used to own a GBC, PS2, and DS Lite

I'm on YouTube.

I promise to not derail threads. Request from theblackdragon

I pro...

3DS Friend Code: 4639-9073-1731 | Nintendo Network ID: kyuubikid213

Eel

Apply some pressure to it so it doesn't move. These are very tightly screwed in, so the first turn will take a bit of effort.

And... Don't hurt yourself.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

kyuubikid213

Well what do you know...

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Alright... Does this look bad? You guys are the experts here... While you decide on that, I'll clean the plastic.

I own a PS1, GBA, GBA SP, Wii (GCN), 360, 3DS, PC (Laptop), Wii U, and PS4.
I used to own a GBC, PS2, and DS Lite

I'm on YouTube.

I promise to not derail threads. Request from theblackdragon

I pro...

3DS Friend Code: 4639-9073-1731 | Nintendo Network ID: kyuubikid213

kyuubikid213

Here are closer shots of the...board? Chip? Card?

The important piece.

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I own a PS1, GBA, GBA SP, Wii (GCN), 360, 3DS, PC (Laptop), Wii U, and PS4.
I used to own a GBC, PS2, and DS Lite

I'm on YouTube.

I promise to not derail threads. Request from theblackdragon

I pro...

3DS Friend Code: 4639-9073-1731 | Nintendo Network ID: kyuubikid213

Eel

It kinda looks like the battery leaked (though its a bit hard to see from my phone). Try to carefully clean the affected parts and see if the circuits are OK. Using a pencil's eraser is an easy way to clean it, just remove the fluff afterwards.

Just in case, you can also try to see if all the chips are properly soldered in.

Hopefully, just cleaning it will do the job. If the battery fluids circuited or corroed it, then there's not much to do sadly.

Edit: oh darn that looks RUSTED wow. That corner there doesn't look good at all, I'm afraid it's either totally corroed or burnt.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

kyuubikid213

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I did what I could with an eraser.

Edit: Are there any other cleaning methods I should try...or is this a lost cause?

Edited on by kyuubikid213

I own a PS1, GBA, GBA SP, Wii (GCN), 360, 3DS, PC (Laptop), Wii U, and PS4.
I used to own a GBC, PS2, and DS Lite

I'm on YouTube.

I promise to not derail threads. Request from theblackdragon

I pro...

3DS Friend Code: 4639-9073-1731 | Nintendo Network ID: kyuubikid213

Eel

You could try and see if it works now (it looks much nicer now that you cleaned it). But from the previous pic, it kinda looks like the game is a bit... Burnt (does it smell funny?)

You can test the game without screwing it, just to check.

Edited on by Eel

Bloop.

<My slightly less dead youtube channel>

SMM2 Maker ID: 69R-F81-NLG

My Nintendo: Abgarok | Nintendo Network ID: Abgarok

kyuubikid213

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Nothing doing.

Edited on by kyuubikid213

I own a PS1, GBA, GBA SP, Wii (GCN), 360, 3DS, PC (Laptop), Wii U, and PS4.
I used to own a GBC, PS2, and DS Lite

I'm on YouTube.

I promise to not derail threads. Request from theblackdragon

I pro...

3DS Friend Code: 4639-9073-1731 | Nintendo Network ID: kyuubikid213

kyuubikid213

I dunno... I'll show him this thread so he can see what we tried to do.

Thanks for the help.

I own a PS1, GBA, GBA SP, Wii (GCN), 360, 3DS, PC (Laptop), Wii U, and PS4.
I used to own a GBC, PS2, and DS Lite

I'm on YouTube.

I promise to not derail threads. Request from theblackdragon

I pro...

3DS Friend Code: 4639-9073-1731 | Nintendo Network ID: kyuubikid213

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