SNES issue

[StuntDouble]

I hooked up my girlfriend's SNES a few days ago, and it's been giving me a bit of trouble. I'll insert the game, turn on the system, and I either get a blank screen, or I get a screen with a bunch of scrambled pixels, letters, and number. I cleaned the carts before I tried them, so I don't think that's the issue. Is it possible it's the slot on the SNES itself? If so, how do I go about cleaning that?

[skate323k137]

I clean cart slots using a credit card or similar piece of plastic. Use a very thin cloth, or good paper towel will work if need be, and fold that over one edge of the card. Then cover the edge of that with 91% isopropyl (the good rubbing alcohol, not the 75% crap). I dab a q-tip along it until it's saturated, then insert in the cart slot and remove. You usually won't see much dirt, but this actually cleans the contacts where the cart touches them.

Also I know you said you cleaned the carts, but depending how you cleaned them, i'd try a pencil eraser followed by q-tip with the same 91% alcohol. This is how I clean my neo geo carts / slot and they work every time (even with the obscene number of contacts). Blast both with compressed air too, to ensure everything is dry before re-trying.

[Luke]

I cleaned the carts before I tried them, so I don't think that's the issue.

That all depends on how you cleaned them.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=501002

[skate323k137]

That's a solid guide right there.

[StuntDouble]

I cleaned the carts before I tried them, so I don't think that's the issue.

That all depends on how you cleaned them.

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=501002

Luke,

I used a cleaning kit from the Nintendo Repair Shop. It's basically just a light polish and an alcohol solution. The SNES actually worked about a year ago, but it's been boxed up since then.

Thanks for the link to that guide. I never thought to try erasers before. I'll have to give that a shot as well.

[Luke]

Luke,

I used a cleaning kit from the Nintendo Repair Shop. It's basically just a light polish and an alcohol solution. It actually worked about a year ago, but it's been boxed up since then.

Thanks for the link to that guide. I never thought to try erasers before. I'll have to give that a shot as well.

I'm way better at beating games them cleaning them, so Hobie-Wan is the better contact.

In 1992 I called SEGA of America and a tech said "Use a pink eraser to make a great clean connection to your SEAGA CD...but I can't say that SEGA told you to do that".

I won't suggest anything that causes abrasion either...but it worked for me.

[Hobie-wan]

I usually use a folded over piece of clean food box cardboard for slot cleaning. Same idea, fold it over grey/brown side out. You'll need at least double or triple thickness depending on your box. Put the nice folded edge into the slot, then dampen with your solution as above, then plug/unplug 20 times. If you get obvious dirt on the cardboard, make another fresh one and do it again.

[StuntDouble]

I'll give that one a shot too, thanks Hobie. I'll mess around with it in just a little bit, hopefully I'll have good news soon.

[StuntDouble]

So I tried the credit card and cardboard tricks, and didn't have any luck there. I also tried cleaning a couple of the carts again, and that didn't work either.

Oh, I'm also using the Multi-Out plug for video and audio. The same plug worked on my N64.


Here's a shot of the tv when the SNES is off



And here's a shot when the SNES is on.

[Hobie-wan]

The cable worked with the N64 on that TV? That's some nasty overscan diagonal line stuff you got going on there even when there's nothing even trying to send a signal to the TV. Do you have another TV to try as well? If you just hook the sound output to a stereo or whatnot do you get sound when turned on?