Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
I bought a Gameshark v3.3 for N64 at a flea market. It doesn't even boot up. Any game I put on it, the Gameshark just shows a green number 8 on the cart and my tv stays black. I have tried cleaning the N64, game, and Gameshark to no success.
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AppleQueso
Re: Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
Those n64 gamesharks are finnicky and break very easily.
Re: Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
Any tips for fixing them? Google has nothing.AppleQueso wrote:Those n64 gamesharks are finnicky and break very easily.
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s1mplehumar
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Re: Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
Yep, I'm on my third one. Try firmly reseating the gameshark in the 64 cart slot until joy. Sometimes they need 4 or 5 pulls before you get a boot.
Nintendo ID, PSN, XBL: Eronnicus * Steam ID: s1mplehumar * Switch Friend Code: SW-3270-7921-5525
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s1mplehumar
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- Posts: 5143
- Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 2:26 pm
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Re: Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
This thread might be useful.
http://www.fixya.com/support/t4978239-n ... ark_v_2_21
http://www.cablesandkits.com/db25-male- ... -1527.html
http://www.fixya.com/support/t4978239-n ... ark_v_2_21
http://www.cablesandkits.com/db25-male- ... -1527.html
Nintendo ID, PSN, XBL: Eronnicus * Steam ID: s1mplehumar * Switch Friend Code: SW-3270-7921-5525
Re: Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
My computer doesn't have a port like that. I'm gonna try working with the reseating method and hope for the best. I guess if that doesn't work I'm out of luck.s1mplehumar wrote:This thread might be useful.
http://www.fixya.com/support/t4978239-n ... ark_v_2_21
http://www.cablesandkits.com/db25-male- ... -1527.html
Re: Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
If the Game Shark displays an 8, then you do not have a v3.3. The v3.3 does not have the LED screen, and has a small circle sticker on the back that reads "v3.3". Note, the v3.3 does appear to have the same LED screen that previous models have, but it does not. It has the same black lens, but there isn't actually an LED board inside.
I have two N64 Game Sharks. One is a v3.3, same as pictured above. The other is an older model which has the LED number display and no parallel port. I'm not sure which revision it is.
The older Game Shark of mine, the one without the parallel port, has the same problem yours has. Any game I try, it just displays an 8 and doesn't boot. I have tried searching for an answer a few times, with years in between, but never had any luck. I've read of a few reasons what the problem is.
One is simple. The Game Shark has a keycode that needs to be changed to play certain games. If memory serves, Perfect Dark is one such game. So basically, the Game Shark isn't setup to boot the game you're putting in. I've read that putting in Super Mario 64 will always work, and change the keycode back to where it should be. I've once read a suggestion to just try every cart you own until one of them boots.
Another theory is some sort of file corruption. This may or may not be easy to fix. The "piggyback" method is said to sometimes work. Some people claim that piggybacking the Game Sharks will cause a working Game Shark to reflash the firmware to a corrupt Game Shark. I can tell you, I'm fairly certain this is untrue. However, some people claim that it works. So, it might fix some kind of software error. Perhaps it just resets something.
Another theory is plain and simple. Straight up data corruption. It can be fixed, but you'd have to remove the data chips (probably EEPROMs) and reflash them in an EEPROM programmer, then solder them back in. So, a fix that isn't possible for most people.
Another thing I've read is just bad manufacturing. Bad solder joints. You can clean the pins all you want, but if the solder joint for a pin isn't making contact with the PCB, it wont matter.
I would suggest trying the simple stuff first. I know you said you cleaned everything, but just to be sure, did you clean both the male and female pins of the Game Shark? After that, you might try every game cart you own to see if any of them will boot up. Of course, make sure every cart you try is also clean.
After that, assuming you don't have the means to try anything else (like a second Game Shark or an EEPROM programmer), maybe open the Game Shark to take a look at the PCB. Look for any bad solder joints.
If you do manage to get it to boot, be sure to let me know what you did that got it working. I've been wanting to get mine working, but since I have another working Game Shark, it's very low on my to-do list.
This thread has some info: http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/sh ... Gamesharks
I have two N64 Game Sharks. One is a v3.3, same as pictured above. The other is an older model which has the LED number display and no parallel port. I'm not sure which revision it is.
The older Game Shark of mine, the one without the parallel port, has the same problem yours has. Any game I try, it just displays an 8 and doesn't boot. I have tried searching for an answer a few times, with years in between, but never had any luck. I've read of a few reasons what the problem is.
One is simple. The Game Shark has a keycode that needs to be changed to play certain games. If memory serves, Perfect Dark is one such game. So basically, the Game Shark isn't setup to boot the game you're putting in. I've read that putting in Super Mario 64 will always work, and change the keycode back to where it should be. I've once read a suggestion to just try every cart you own until one of them boots.
Another theory is some sort of file corruption. This may or may not be easy to fix. The "piggyback" method is said to sometimes work. Some people claim that piggybacking the Game Sharks will cause a working Game Shark to reflash the firmware to a corrupt Game Shark. I can tell you, I'm fairly certain this is untrue. However, some people claim that it works. So, it might fix some kind of software error. Perhaps it just resets something.
Another theory is plain and simple. Straight up data corruption. It can be fixed, but you'd have to remove the data chips (probably EEPROMs) and reflash them in an EEPROM programmer, then solder them back in. So, a fix that isn't possible for most people.
Another thing I've read is just bad manufacturing. Bad solder joints. You can clean the pins all you want, but if the solder joint for a pin isn't making contact with the PCB, it wont matter.
I would suggest trying the simple stuff first. I know you said you cleaned everything, but just to be sure, did you clean both the male and female pins of the Game Shark? After that, you might try every game cart you own to see if any of them will boot up. Of course, make sure every cart you try is also clean.
After that, assuming you don't have the means to try anything else (like a second Game Shark or an EEPROM programmer), maybe open the Game Shark to take a look at the PCB. Look for any bad solder joints.
If you do manage to get it to boot, be sure to let me know what you did that got it working. I've been wanting to get mine working, but since I have another working Game Shark, it's very low on my to-do list.
This thread has some info: http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/sh ... Gamesharks
Re: Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
Mine has a v3.3 sticker AND the LED so I don't know what's up with that. Plus I don't have SM64 so I'm out of luck there too. This seems like a terrible purchase for me.
Re: Gameshark N64 isn't working at all.
Hmm, now that you two have said that, I seem to remember some confusion about it. Some v3.3 have the LED screen while others don't. Weird.
You could just try every game you own.floattube wrote:Plus I don't have SM64 so I'm out of luck there too. This seems like a terrible purchase for me.