Fix Game Boy LOCA Mistakes

Maybe your Game Boy frontlight installation with LOCA didn't go right -- let's take a look at what's involved in trying again and preventing problems to begin with.
Big thank you to Hand Held Legend for sending some spare parts my way to help with this video:
www.handheldleg...
---------------------------------------­------------------------------------
Please consider supporting my work on Patreon: / thisdoesnotcompute
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram! @thisdoesnotcomp
TDNC t-shirts and apparel can be found at www.redbubble....
This Does Not Compute
PO Box 131141
St. Paul, MN 55113
---------------------------------------­------------------------------------
Music by Joe Bagale, Soulless ( / element-42 ) and Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com).
Intro music by BoxCat Games (www.box-cat.com).

[@DissonantZero]

After applying the loca you might wanna check for micro bubbles not initially visible, use a separate led to shine through front light and behold! youll know where to apply pressure next.

[@yaakovross]

You deserve a lot more views, your channel is quality, also you can use a heat plate to remove the glass.

[@TalonTheRetroGamer]

Definitely

[@michaelravaschiere5850]

I completely Agree

[@wahey8470]

I'm glad handheld Legend is sending you products. They seem like really nice people who sell nice products, and I've just gone and spent $50 on custom parts and a frontlight.

[@radiaIes]

I cringed while watching how you cut the ribbon cable

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

Yeah it was tough to do, but thankfully the screen was completely dead already!

[@Sebastian-xy3xk]

+This Does Not Compute Do a video about RGB Scart on Retro Consoles through the XRGB Mini upscaler!

[@nuderedfinger]

haha I watched it like 4 times and then scrolled down here to see if anyone else cringed XD

[@c08o.prkiua46]

Same.

[@ViktorE1drich]

i actually just did this and if you're careful you won't have to trash the frontlight. I literally just popped it off spent 20 min cleaning it in the same fashion as the screen minus the razor blade scraping, just rubbing alcohol and paper towels. stuck it right back on i did of course buy a second frontlight to have on hand just incase i did trash it like you said in your instructional vid. i'm also using octopus glue loca for anyone wondering.

[@TechWalker]

I've got one more tip about spidering. I experienced MAJOR spidering in the corner of my screen, and in the middle to the left. I went onto Reddit to see if anybody had suggestions, and I got great ones. Somebody said that pressure could be the cause, and that I should snap off two tabs above the metal shielding inside the case, where the cartridge goes in. I also loosened the screws on the motherboard and case just enough to not let the buttons "sink in" too far when pressed. Within a day or two, the spidering disappeared completely.

[@sur3tv]

how do you snap off the two tabs? and the spidering really went away completely?

[@TechWalker]

+ahac It's the back half of the casing where the cartridge goes in. On the metal shielding, there's two tabs- one on each side. You'll want to bend those until they break, going up and down to make them weaker. They'll just snap off. And yes, the spidering completely vanished.

[@sur3tv]

it does affect the integrity of the gameboy if u snap those tabs?

[@TechWalker]

+ahac The GameBoy will be perfectly fine if you snap the tabs.

[@mrbananies8675]

Where are these tabs located. I have spidering but I let my loca cure for an hour plus and I'm hoping this will save it.

[@nbuckgames]

I actually just went through this and was able to recover and re-apply a GBA frontlight with some advice from HHL. As you mentioned, DO NOT try and remove any LOCA from the front light with Goof Off or any other adhesive remover. I tried this and it eroded the textured dots on the frontlight leaving a flat abrasion which was irreversible. Pick it off by hand and clean with an alcohol pad, repeat until the panel is clear.

[@MrRecon775]

Videos are just amazing I stayed up all last nite watching after discovering your channel.

[@stephen6375]

I was able to fix mine before the LOCA fully tacked. I had realized I put the screen on backwards and wasn't able to see anything. Now it's on the correct way and tacking so I'll be able to play it :)

[@dccelly1615]

Thanks Colin, great vid as always. You should do one on installing an AGS-001 frontlight on a GBC.

[@matthewmcgurk6965]

Its going very well, thanks Colin.

[@GROENAASMusic]

YOU ACTUALLY CUT THE RIBBON CABLE! D: I know it might be a faulty display but still. I felt like dying inside.

[@BavarianM]

He's a noob most of the times xD

[@MniHaD15]

wow that video is maybe one of your best, your confidence and the editing, oh my XD

[@hyzenthlay7151]

HHL have some great products and are very fair on pricing... but why do they not send the front light kits with the aluminium tape separate for you to stick on after, instead of peeling it off and having to get a roll for one thin strip?

[@Metal2328]

I put too much loca and didn't let it cure all the way so spidering started but thanks for the tips I'm gonna try it again !

[@JeezMax]

Thanks you SO MUCH for making this video! You have amazing content! Because of this, I was able to fix my Gameboy color!

[@johntapscottjr9233]

I really appreciate your videos formal I had no ideal about loka and about how it makes the front light mod on the Gameboy color better also about the front light mod period I love gaming on it and hated the none luminated screen

[@yaakovross]

Could you please do another in depth video on how you added the LEDs to the inside of the housing of the gamboy. Not the front light, just the housing LEDs

[@ImTheKingOfHyrule]

I really like this mod although I was never able to fully solve the issue of dust specks getting on the front light. After it cures, tapping the front light with a piece of tape and blowing air can help, but I still couldn't get rid of all of them. At least it's only really noticeable on a black screen though, and those are kind of uncommon during gameplay.

[@pablocovi5886]

Hello, i ve seen your videos about front light gbc. I conclude that the best results are not with this front light kit (with or without LOCA) but with the "butchered" 001 SP Advance method, right? I know that the 001 sp advance front light method requires more time and patience but it seems to give the best quality results. What do you recommend? Thanks in advance!

[@big.t-bo4689]

you're the man colin! thanks for this vid!

[@ghazalimuhammad1782]

u can using hair dryer or blower its more safe, dont using sharp tools for applying loca, use uv lamp/nail lamp, not direct sunlight

[@RicardoBravoree]

I used an eraser to remove LOCA from the screen, read it somewere and it worked like a charm.

[@Anthony-qt8wv]

The only question i have is when you cure the LOCA, do you need to cure both sides of the screen? If so, how long for each side? This would stop spidering if i were do it like this? I have 5 GameBoy Advances and would love to to backlight them all. Thanks!

[@highlander8419]

LOCA is only for frontlight not backlight

[@joseolivieri7036]

Hey guys, do you use LOCA glue on backlit mods and the glass screen? or is LOCA just recommended for a frontlight mod?

[@n64ever]

I love this channel.

[@LukasFriedrichs]

Hi Colin, I ended up with a stain of loca on the frontside of the frontlightpanel, this side is rough...do you have some advice to solve this problem? Unfortunately the stain has cured by now and leaves the screen with a dark shade, which isn‘t even visible when the gameboy is running! Best Lukas

[@sweetwaddlez7162]

Hey Colin! You should make a google form for us to request console problems. (Thumbs up to get him to see it!)

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

Best bet is to hit me up on Twitter -- I can't guarantee that I'll do every video requested, but I *always* appreciate video ideas.

[@GabrieleAnedda]

After one year after applying LOCA my gbc won’t turn on. Last time I checked it was working. There is also a bit of spidering so I tried to remove completely the front light (I am wondering to put an ips screen), but if the gbc won’t turn on it’s useless to get one

[@lil-yann6237]

Hi ! I recently installed a frontlight on my gba . All is working well and there are no bubbles. Today I turned on my console but there is a big problem, a strange "crack" appeared at the lower right corner . It's like the loca isn't cured so I don't understand why it does that ! I moved last week but I transported the cardboard with the gba myself... ( sry for my bad english i learn at school )

[@redsyrup1138]

Problems with spidering. So I did everything perfect but noticed spidering a day or so after performing the mod and I realized not all of the LOCA cured when I had it sitting in the sun. A small amount somewhere around the panel was left. I reassembled and that ammount ended up in the corner of the screen (spidering days later). I was able to disassemble and clean with Alcohol and it looks good again. Just Fyi if you see spidering it might be glue on top of the assembly (not under).

[@adnlan90]

But on the front light kit i see two different surface one is smoth the other is not. I use the smooth face of the front light kit to apply the loce it is right ? Thank you very much for the tips and i love you videos ;)

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

Yes, the smooth side of the frontlight goes against the screen. Thanks for the kind words!

[@sparksthedaytrader9606]

Thank you for making this

[@dutcharcher86]

Why not remove both pieces of reflective tape at same time before installation/curing? 3:22

[@TychiBalls]

Gameboy color came out great after this installation and but now that I’ve had it stored for a couple years it looks like the center of the screen is frosted or something. When I turn it on I can’t see anything in the middle of the screen but I can see around the outer area of the screen. Does anyone know what is causing this? Is it cheap Loca that was used possibly? Is there a way to fix this without having to scrape off the front light and start over? Thanks for your time.

[@LumpyBread0]

Gotta love that you posted this after I commented about messing up on mine! Thanks for the tip imma try and see if I can get my front light off my gbc and try again!

[@C_odysseus]

Hey Colin I love your videos I tried the front light mod myself but every time I turn on the gameboy it turns off immediately...have you had any similar issues?

[@oldmanofthemountains3388]

You need to solder a capacitor onto the red wire.

[@oceantchii]

Why do you have to replace the aluminum tape?

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

Peeling it off kinda ruins the adhesive on it. You could probably reuse it, but it likely wouldn't work as well, so it's just better to replace it.

[@rlowens]

For those just watching all his videos: LOCA="Liquid Optically Clear Adhesive"

[@notawesomebread]

Is there a way to reverse spidering after it's already happened?

[@gustavoalbertomiranda5765]

in my case after a month the loca started spidering and i just put more loca over the screen, some bubbles appeared but nothing serious (two very tiny bubbles)

[@KaienSander10Official]

1:10 OUCH! RIP Display xD

[@daynnethedrummer684]

So, how does a frontlight affect battery life? Is it pretty drastic?

[@c08o.prkiua46]

The Frontlight causes a 30% battery life reduction, from what I've heard.

[@GetTheSharkRepellent]

Do you prefer Osaka 6 or Osaka 7?

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

Osaka 7. I find that it's easier to apply, and it's easier to remove if you make a mistake. It's also much less prone to spidering because it stays flexible after curing.

[@GetTheSharkRepellent]

This Does Not Compute Thanks for the reply!

[@Howwy191]

i used osaka 7 on a gba frontlight. let it cure for 4 hours under the sun without the reflective tape and it spidered from a corner opposite the tape :'(

[@IAMSolaara]

Can I just take off both reflective strips in one time?

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

You can. I recommend removing them one at a time, though, because with both removed there's only a thin bead of silastic (that white silicone-looking stuff) holding the tiny LED circuit board to the diffuser panel. The LOCA can help hold that board in place once it's on the screen, so it's a little safer to remove the other reflective strip then.

[@christianm4947]

Why not take off the reflective tape off of both sides before letting it cure at all

[@MrKrimstah]

thank you so much for this I have 3 gameboy I stuffed up 😞

[@Qman621]

hair dryer will loosen up the loca if you can't pry it off with just a knife

[@NightmareTrigger]

Can you do a vid in how to soft mod a Wii?

[@stickfigure0112]

good video

[@bland9876]

My game boy color dpad squeaks when I press it what should I do to make it stop (my sister's dose not squeaks at all)

[@ThisDoesNotCompute]

I'd start by taking it out and cleaning it, as buttons wear they generate a fine plastic dust that can cause squeaks.

[@qskint]

Has anyone succesfully managed to reuse the front light after seperating it like in this video? I messed mine up a bit so I'm thinking of trying to remove it, then see if I can try and clean up the screen and front light and try again before having to buy another.

[@yaakovshereshevsky6542]

qskint Yes, it is reusable, but it takes a while to clean off. Alcohol pads will help and they won't damage the front light, just go slow and easy

[@fatjaysgarage]

good content!!!

[@JomasterTheSecond]

If you cut it, the screen is *TREEEEEEEESHED.*

[@bobweiram6321]

Vida loca!

[@MaxiMuM1441]

good video :)

[@goclunker]

Why not install the backlight leds right to the glass of the screen?

[@ethanjames4721]

I almost threw up when I saw you cut the ribbon cable.

[@IcePrincessZeroK]

I managed to accidentally remove the LED strip from the frontlight so i had to order a new one.

[@rss123edu123]

I can't just not use the loca?

[@sam8404]

Edurss he has another video that shows the difference when installing with vs without loca. the screen looks terrible if you dont use loca and its hard to see

[@c08o.prkiua46]

@@sam8404 VERY Hard to see, in some cases.

[@simonradowitzky4837]

No, thank you sir.

[@vipvideo624]

bro, in all your videos... half of your face is overexpose. Dial down your exposure and put something to reflect the light in the dark part of your face

[@nuderedfinger]

hahaha I thought the censor at the end was your actual dog barking XD haha