bringing back to life dead genesis carts

[Ziggy]

Well we're a few states away, some I'm not worrying too much.


But don't swap capacitors and resistors from good games, just get new ones. They're dirt cheap, especially if you buy them in quantities.

[Betamax001]

im just kidding. i wash my hands after going number 2. nobody worry.

I figured you were. ^_^

[Hobie-wan]

That's strange. For sure two major releases like that wouldn't have an EPROM on it. I've never heard of Genesis carts dying like this before, strange. Maybe you can swap the mask ROMs onto a known working cart to see if that'll work.

In my case, both of the carts really do look almost brand new inside and out. I'm not terribly worried about it though. I have Golden Axe II on the PS3 Genesis comp and I'm not big on MK anyway. If I get a better multimeter or a separate capacitance tester I'll check it, but otherwise I'll maybe use them if you do any Genesis EEPROM burning.

[Troglodyte]

That's weird, I've never had a cart (of any kind) that I couldn't get working

I have had lots of dead carts for different systems that I couldn't get working.
Most of were bought knowing full well that I might not be able to get them working as they were sold "dead", "as-is".

Most of the dead games I own are NES. They aren't much of a problem for me, as I just try and salvage parts from them for reproduction carts and or replace bad front or back labels with better ones. I have one or two SNES, and Genesis games that don't work as well. I also have 20 or so Game Boy / Game Boy colors games that I can not get working.

Obviously I try cleaning them first. If that fails to work, then I try removing the battery if the game has one, and submerging the entire PCB in rubbing alcohol for a few hours. This method has gotten a few working that didn't work with just a standard cleaning to work as well. However, I still have a bunch of dead carts on my hands that failed this method.

Genesis carts are quite simple. A cart with no save function is just a mask ROM, a resistor and a capacitor. Unless the cart was powered on under water or something, or struck by lightening, the mask ROM should be fine. That just leaves the capacitor and resistor.

The carts that don't work, how do the pins look? I know you said you cleaned them, but do they look worn out?

Some of my dead cartridges have pins that are obviously corroded, or heavily worn. I was thinking of trying to re-tin them somehow, or using a circuit board repair pin. However, I can't find mine right now, so I will have to order another one at some point.

So anyway, if you pop the mask ROM on another cart and it works, that means there's something wrong with the rest of it which just leaves the pins and the resistor and capacitor. Replacing the resistor and capacitor is a 5 minute job which includes waiting for your iron to heat up.

Which of these two (a capacitor or resistor), is most likely to prevent a game from booting up? Most games I have that don't work are common, so I don't really care about them. However, I have a dead copy of Michael Jackson's Moonwalker for the Sega Genesis, that I would like to get working (it was purchased dead). There are no obvious signs of any failing points, including the cartridge pins and the capacitor. Its been a while since I took my Electronic course, but I assumed that you can't check resistance and capacitance inline; while these parts where still in the circuit?

[Ziggy]

Which of these two (a capacitor or resistor), is most likely to prevent a game from booting up?

Both? I'll have to look at a cart and see, but I think both regulate a 5v signal. If one or both are bad, and the 5v isn't getting through, then the mask ROM isn't getting power and will not work. They are dead simple to replace, and dirt cheap to buy.

[final fight cd]

so i can just rip out the cap or resistor and solder in a new one? it is that simple?

my dad has a solder gun. we can spend some quality father-son time together while he teaches me about soldering. i can't wait!

and as for obtaining new caps and resistors, can i go to my local hardware store and pick them up or do i need to order online? i have a feeling its gonna be online.

[Troglodyte]

My dad has a solder gun. We can spend some quality father-son time together while he teaches me about soldering.

Careful there; this "solder gun" sounds like it might be too powerful; and designed for hardware.
You are going to want to use a low wattage "soldering pencil" designed for microelectronics.

[final fight cd]

haha. okay. i just got a picture of trying to solder that little baby cap with a solder gun similar in size to a shotgun. and i am pretty sure my old man does not have a solder pencil. he might though.

[Hobie-wan]

Yeah, soldering guns are for wiring up houses and larger stuff with really thick wires.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

and as for obtaining new caps and resistors, can i go to my local hardware store and pick them up or do i need to order online? i have a feeling its gonna be online.

Got some spare change and a Radio Shack or other electrical/hobbyist store nearby?