Fixing the Start & Select Button on a Game Boy Micro | teardown and how to find replacement parts

In this video I resolve a seemingly rare issue with the Game Boy Micro. I couldn’t find any other tutorials tackling this problem which is that the start and select buttons have no response on the system. I also demonstrate a complete teardown and reassembly of the handheld in detail, so there’s a little something for everyone who owns a gameboy advance micro even if your start button is working fine.
The Game Boy Micro was release in 2005 after the launch of the Nintendo DS, which led to low sales and many people not even aware this handheld existed at all! In some ways, this is the best version of the GBA that Nintendo ever released. I was very happy we could bring this gaming treasure back to full functionality.
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#gameboy #retrorepair #videogames #fantasticquack #quackfix

[@FantasticQuack]

Hope you all could take some new info out of this video. The process made me realize I should get some finer soldering equipment for jobs like these.. What do you think of the GB Micro?

[@BlackKraya]

Very interesting fix. I don't see many people working on the micro and definitely not a fix like this.

[@FantasticQuack]

Glad you liked it! The micro is an awesome little handheld

[@kman316]

Thank you for posting this. Needed a video showing the micro being taken apart for a different reason and this was perfect. Your reasurance about all buttons and speaker exploding all over my desk and not to panic helped!

[@FantasticQuack]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HoratioGiovanni]

The only video I could find that mentions the clip in the top right. Thank you!

[@FantasticQuack]

Glad I could help!

[@hiccupfury9785]

Dude excellent video!! You did a terrific job taking apart the micro and your filming was on point! I know how small those switches are yet you provided such a clear tutorial thank you! Great job!

[@FantasticQuack]

Thank you for the kind words. Glad you liked my style, getting footage on those little guys was a challenge! cheers

[@emergelife]

Amazing!! Very well explained. I have a micro with a sticky R button, might be worth cleaning it up first

[@FantasticQuack]

Thanks for watching! Agreed if it's sticky it likely just needs cleaning and should be a simple fix. Good luck!

[@harveysolomon639]

Great video, really well explained 👍. I’ve got the exact same issue with my gameboy micro and have tried to fix the button this way and I think I’ve done something wrong along the line aha, wasn’t sure if you had any other tips, really stuck, thanks.

[@FantasticQuack]

Would recommend getting a multimeter so you can verify continuity of the lines you expect should be connected. Cheers

[@tracyt7707]

Nice job

[@FantasticQuack]

Thank you :)

[@RetroFix]

I used golden sun as a tester game for years! Noice!

[@FantasticQuack]

Great game!

[@Prep5242]

When you did this, do you remember if it looked like you could have replaced the start and select button lights that indicate the battery state? Mine don't light up anymore.

[@FantasticQuack]

For sure those LEDs could have been replaced. First I'd make sure there aren't any broken traces causing the LEDs to not receive power.

[@willpower4351]

I am having this same issue! Can you send a link for the replacement switch you used?

[@FantasticQuack]

Pause the video at the point where I show the part numbers on screen and type that into Google. Hope you can get it fixed!

[@willpower4351]

@@FantasticQuack i hope so, but im still pretty novel when it comes to solder, and i dont have a multimeter to test 😩

[@adhemelfaiky6047]

Mine had a ripe in the ribbon

[@FantasticQuack]

Ouch, sorry to hear that. No fix there other than replacing the ribbon which I doubt a spare part is available short of tearing down another unit.

[@adhemelfaiky6047]

@@FantasticQuack thanks for your reply

[@adhemelfaiky6047]

@@FantasticQuacki found about way I could wire jumper wires from the small board to the large one

[@FantasticQuack]

@@adhemelfaiky6047 Good thinking I hope it works out!

[@adhemelfaiky6047]

@@FantasticQuack there is a problem the board is really tiny so I will take it to a professional

[@JuicyJakeRepairs]

even broken these are too expensive haha

[@FantasticQuack]

Agreed! I'd been looking to get one for a long time and this was by far the best deal I'd came across so I went for it. Didn't know at the time I'd need to fix it :/