Fixing a Broken Game Boy Color Game That Won't Start Up

This Game Boy Color game couldn't get past the start up screen when I picked it up. Cleaning the pins didn't help either so I took it apart to work on the circuit board and get this treasured title back in working order. Let me know in the comments if you've had a similar issue with your Game Boy games.
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#gameboy #quackfix

[@FantasticQuack]

When you're working on something small/simple, sometimes it's easier to re-baseline everything without spending a lot of time searching for a specific issue. In this case it paid off, thumbs up if you love Zelda Oracle of Seasons!

[@GoodVibeCollecting]

Yup, this is a pretty common issue. The board flexes from inserting it in and out hundreds of times which causes the solder joints to crack. Usually on the ROM chip.

[@FantasticQuack]

Thanks for your thoughts! First time I'd seen this myself, every other problem game I've ran into before was fixed just by cleaning the pins.

[@hooligan_fb]

Thank you for this video! I recently picked up Galaga for the Gameboy Color for $5 and when it tested it it wouldn’t start up and I was really disappointed then I found this video and tried it out and now it works perfectly! Thank you so much!

[@FantasticQuack]

Glad I could help!

[@TheObicobiHD]

Sweet, I've had this issue in the past. Easy to do, awesome 👏💜

[@FantasticQuack]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@im_Spade_]

Just did this exact thing for Mario Tennis I bought at a convention this weekend that would either boot to a blank screen or an all green screen. Game fixed! Thanks for the help.

[@FantasticQuack]

Glad to hear it!

[@DrRank]

Had this exact issue with Pokémon Yellow today. It actually disconnected mid-game, and when I finally got it working again, my save file was gone. Thankfully I hadn't even reached Viridian Forest yet, but still, not pleasant. And, yes, the battery was new.

[@FantasticQuack]

Nice work getting it fixed!

[@bigalt250]

I just did this exact thing to repair my copy of oracle of seasons! Thanks for the guidance!

[@FantasticQuack]

Glad it helped!

[@retrogameattic]

Awesome vid, thanks for sharing! I am going to try this on one of my dead Game Boy games.

[@FantasticQuack]

Hope you can get it working!

[@spaceninja3252]

Haha, nice job! Had an issue that I fixed in the same way, though mine was a bit weirder. Game booted up to the initial menu, wanted me to create a new save, would let me type a name and afterwards would just kick me back to the main menu no matter what I did

[@FantasticQuack]

Thanks for watching and glad to hear you got yours fixed up too!

[@iamvulgar8188]

I had a mystery game with no label that wouldn't work. It was killing me, WHAT COULD IT BE?!?! I took it apart and cleaned it thoroughly. Still didn't work. 2 and a half mins into your video and I fixed it and this is only my 3rd time messing with soldering and first time reflowing. It was Power Rangers Light Speed Rescue btw.

[@FantasticQuack]

Had me in suspense in the first half lol. Nice work getting it fixed!

[@dr.sleeves8794]

thanks for this video. I was able to fix my Pokemon Red version doing just this.

[@FantasticQuack]

Glad I could help!

[@benolson1156]

I’m searching for a special kind of effect for my Game Boy color it turns on, but the light just randomly started dark all of a sudden and shut my game off. All of a sudden I tried spraying out the battery prongs, but it didn’t really do a whole lot. Just dim light. Do you think I should replace the prongs?

[@FantasticQuack]

Based on your description it sounds like you just need new batteries.

[@russellgroenewoud9199]

So I happen to have a Hamtaro game for Gameboy Color. Thing is the cartridge works, but the save data is corrupted and it just loops. Can this help out on the game?

[@FantasticQuack]

Possibly. Or it might need a new battery, but if that were the case I'd expect the save file to just be gone completely.

[@joesaiditstrue]

You ever consider making a twitch channel so you can stream your repairs/game playthroughs? I'd be interested in watching I follow a guy who streams his repairs, it's really fun to watch and learn, his channel is called Computer Booter

[@FantasticQuack]

I appreciate your interest! Streaming is not something I've seriously considered just because I don't think I'd have enough time to keep up with it on any kind of consistent schedule. Who knows what the future holds!

[@romgamersly1380]

I'm sending this message just in case you don't get the other ones cuz it's an older video but I have a PS Vita that has both joysticks don't work with some times where it moves by itself I used the saying to change the moving joystick to another one for the longest time but that joystick quit working recently too yeah I just found out today I honestly would try to do it myself but to be honest I would do it myself but I'm more so afraid of breaking it and for the longest time I've been trying to find someone who can actually fix it the PSV is my favorite system it is one of the original systems as far as I understand anyway I'm just not a very good person to have fixed something I don't have confidence in fixing myself even if I do watch your videos do you have any suggestions

[@FantasticQuack]

Hi there, I responded to your comment on the Vita video

[@JuicyJakeRepairs]

dont forget to replace that battery!

[@FantasticQuack]

Was reading above 3V so no need at this time!

[@danek101able]

How much would it be to hire someone to fix a none starting game?

[@FantasticQuack]

I've done repairs for many subscribers, mostly ps vita screen replacements. Feel free to check my channel info and shoot me an email!

[@leonardpayne8795]

It needs to reflow the connections

[@FantasticQuack]

Yep that did the trick here

[@josecarbajal2686]

Tried it on my japanese pokemon pinball. Still nothing. Im waay out of my league.

[@FantasticQuack]

Sorry to hear! Sometimes the chips can fail internally AKA not possible to fix.

[@inputfunny]

First.

[@FantasticQuack]

Nice :)