How to Fix an old Nintendo

This is a way to fix you old nintendo without buying any parts. It worked for me so try it yourself.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phillips screwdriver
• Q-tip
• rubbing alcohol
• blow dryer
• tiny flathead screwdriver

1. 
    
   Nintendo with top off

   First make sure the Nintendo is not plugged in, this will help you alot. Now turn the Nintendo over and with a long Phillips screwdriver undo all six screws and turn it back over. You should be able to remove the top now and it should look like the image

2. 
    
   heat shield

   Now you'll need to remove the heat shield. Which consists of six screws, two in the back and two on both right and left sides. The heat shield is the metallic looking thing that covers where the game cartridge drops down.

3. Now that the heat shield is removed there should be a cover over the games drop slot. The cover consists of six screws again, two longer silver screws and four of the standard brass screws. Once those are removed the cover should slide off to the front of the unit.

4. Next is the easy part, take a blow dryer as high as it can go and blow all possible dust out of there. Shake it around and do it again. The more dust you clear out of there the better chances you have of bringing the machine back to life.

5. 
    
   cartridge reader

   Now its the hard part, on the cartridge reader (image) take your small flat head from like a eyeglass repair kit and on each one of those little tabs get the tip under there and pry up a little bit as to close the gap a little. This will give it better contact with the cartridge.

6. Now you basically all done, reassemble the NES. Next you'll want to take some rubbing alcohol and mix it like 50/50 with water put it on a q-tip and in the end of the game clean of the card. I'd do this with all games a little cleaning can go along way. Now power it up stick the game in all the way and slide it back till it cant go back anymore and you should be all set

Tips & Warnings

• some wiggling may be required on some games when there in the drop slot to get them to work
• make sure system is unplugged before opening

Resources

• Nintendo
• Guitar Hero
• Halo

[JeannieKerns]

on 5/7/2009 This is a well needed article regarding fixing old Nintendo's.. Now we need one for PS2.... Always breaking......