Expert: Octane - 6/14/2010

Question
So I found an old NES in my girlfriends basement and decided to ressurect it. At first the games wouldn't start at all then I opened it up and cleaned and fixed the pins on the 72 pin connector. Eventually I got it to start up everytime but the graphics looked all scrambled. I could play some games and others would freeze part way through or be too scrambled to play. I bought a new 72 pin connector but the same problem occurs so I'm afraid there's something worse wrong with my NES. Any idea what's wrong with it?  Can I fix it myself, get it fixed by a pro, or will I have to replace it?

Answer
Gday Daniel,

Firstly If you have not already I would clean your games (using alcohol and q-tips)  Once you have clean them test again.  Graphics stilled out of wack?

Since you have already replaced your 72 pin set, I would adjust the game manually when you have garbled graphics.  (Slightly move the cartridge left or right in the slot or on an angle.  hit the reset each time you move it to see results.)  Even with replacement pins sometimes the cartridge will not be 100% aligned up and a small adjustment is needed.

If this fails maybe check and replace the power adaptor.  Occasionally the NES power adaptor go bad and produce too little or too much voltage causing funny results.  (If you have a Master System or Genesis 1 you could use it's power supply for testing#

If it is still running the graphics bad you may have a bad PPU Chip #Picture Processing Unit# which is alot of mucking about to replace, requires you to unsolder a chip and resolder it back in place.  Which you would basically need another NES unit to get the chip.  Easier to just buy a second hand unit because it is a moot point #Swap the pinset out you have) or buy a clone unit and use the old controls.

Hope this helps.

Octane