Gameboy Repair and Refurbishing

If you have an old Gameboy laying around and want to get it up and running again then watch this video!

[@victorhugovaldezsoto]

Finally, a video that actually attempts to fix horizontal lines with a safe method! Thanks for sharing this!

[@RobertNES816]

+Víctor Hugo Valdez Soto No problem.

[@WhatPodcast]

+Robert NES816 So does your method for horizontal lines work, or did it make it worse? Sorry I cant tell.

[@victorhugovaldezsoto]

+Doodger It actually works. I just tested it recently. While vertical lines will ALWAYS be easier to repair, I managed to fix 40% of horizontal lines of a complete screwed DMG screen. So, it's better than nothing.

[@WhatPodcast]

Great! thanks.

[@WhatPodcast]

www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Gameboy-DMG-01Backlit-Green-Biverted-Glow-Silicon-Buttons-Flawed-Screen-/262387454204?hash=item3d1782d0fc:g:2e4AAOSwiYFXD-~Z I was looking at this but decided against it. But I am still not very sure. I was thinking I could possibly fix the horizontal lines but I wouldn't want to take the chances and kill it entirely.

[@wrenchturner9848]

I bought a cheap 'broken' Game Boy after seeing how easily you fixed the vertical line problem. I tried it out and it works! Thanks a lot for the video.

[@RobertNES816]

Thanks for watching!

[@diegosilang4823]

Fixing the missing vertical lines are so easy. The d- pad is harder than I thought. After I replaced the conductive insert, all the diagonal controls are not working (imagine playing double dragon without it) I have to press it really hard. I cleaned the board with alcohol with no improvement. It turns out the D-pad button is either worn or the circuit board is slightly warp, when I press the dpad diagonally there's not enough pressure, so I added a thin plastic shim, about 1mm thick, between the conductive insert and the dpad button...voila now the diagonal control is now working!

[@ShadowcasterZero]

it could be the transistors behind the screen. I would test those.

[@masonlalley8762]

Added a backlight and bivert mod to my DMG. The backlight exposed some dim horizontal lines that were too faint to see before, and now thanks to your video, I no longer have horizontal lines! Thanks!

[@RobertNES816]

Awesome!

[@daniellorenz5993]

I am a little late but would you suggest me to also try the horizontal lines fix? Mine only shows one and it is very dimm. (not always there)

[@Phantom2745]

Thank you so much for this video and actually showing us your method in attempting to fix horizontal lines. People talk about it online and there has been at least one video I saw about it but they never actually showed what or how they attempted to fix it (spoiler; they messed it up), not even a damn step by step with pictures. You sir, deserve a medal. Also, this video is a few years old and I wonder if you have come up with any other methods or increased the success of fixing horizontal lines?

[@isamabravo]

Red comet Do you have any new news? I still have the same problem

[@Jonnynot1plate]

How hot should the iron be?

[@ShadowcasterZero]

I've had success with fixing those last stubborn lines with no clean flux and using an xacto blade with my soldering iron

[@ShadowcasterZero]

Also, I use white vinegar on really corroded battery terminals. Same effect as CLR, but only 99 cents.

[@KaiMangaKnight]

Okay. After watching this video, now I know how to fix or maintain a DMG gameboy. The repair you did here maybe 99%, but I have learned a lot from this video. So I hope I can repair a DMG gameboy 100%. I am now confident that I can fix a DMG Gameboy. Thanks for this video😊

[@jasond.valentine5931]

Guys, for anyone who is interested, i have been doing some research. The horizontal lines ribbon is not the same type of ribbon for the vertical lines, we know that, but what is interesting about is that seems to be some kind of carbon that melts at 190 celsius degrees. I have been reading some blogs around and the people who tested this seems to be very happy about it. With a controlled temperature soldering iron you can do this. I will be repairind 2 DMG and both seem to have horizontal lines. Whenever i have time ill get it done and let you all know about my results. Best regards. Keep it up!

[@oneirophon8912]

Any updates?

[@Gameboy-Unboxings]

Hate people like you who say they'll update and then never do. A**hole.

[@davidsibi7181]

bonjour, tu as réussi à réparer tes lignes horizontales??

[@PaulStreet1883]

Looks great, shame about the screen not being 100% but I've never seen anyone even attempt a horizontal line fix. Only thing I will point out which was confusing to me, if your worried about the IPA having to much water in at below 91% then running the CPU board under the tap was a BIG problem. Surely you can just use a blower on the parts cleaned with the alcohol the same as with the water.

[@MrMarrok657]

I found an old yellow dmg-01 with a perfect screen in all places, a 30 yard dumpster. perfect screen just needed a new shell and cleanup. popping it in the new shell even as careful as i was got a couple horizontal lines. if this repair doesn’t work, oh well. but hey anything helps man. a 6 year old video just gave me hope lol because other videos say “oh just buy a new lcd” in which i want it all original except for a backlight.

[@Gameboy-Unboxings]

Did it work?

[@MrMarrok657]

@@Gameboy-Unboxings no. it honestly made it worse lol. i’d just get a replacement newer screen.

[@NavigatorAlia]

That's great! I just found my bf's very old DMG01 with some horizontal lines and polarized film a bit blackened out at the center. Might give this a try while I put this big boy in shape

[@prismatic1239]

I've never seen anyone stick a board under a faucet with running water before.

[@RobertNES816]

Its not uncommon actually. But usually the water is filtered and has neutral PH.

[@lincruste]

arcade boards refurbishers have been doing it for ages, it's totally safe if 1) the pcb is not powered (discharged caps, suicide-circuit batteries, battery, etc) 2) it's thouroughly dried right after cleaning

[@Wyatt_James]

You don't actually have to touch the ribbon cable to fix the vertical lines. You can prevent any sort of scratches or possible damage by hovering, but it'll take longer. I feel like it makes a better solder connection though, since it doesn't cool in a pressed-down position or move while cooling.

[@RobertNES816]

Wyatt James I've yet to damage the cable doing this. But maybe if someone was to use a hotter iron and leave it in one space it could damage the cable. Hovering the iron just above the cable doesn't work in my experience.

[@bgttgb100]

man, this is some serious skill... and here i was thinking i had to trash my front board! also do you have any tips for leftover glue on the screen because i have tried acetone and some weaker alcohol based stuff and i cant for the life of me get it off?

[@PersonausdemAll]

Repair is better ever :)

[@nelsonasenjo2511]

Great rescue, I have a casio submarine battle with less sprites and i saw that it's have zebra connector like the gameboy display, may be could be the same prosses

[@Deanster101]

"Don't be a jerk-off when you pull it off" = instant subscribe.

[@RobertNES816]

Thanks, one of my random sayings I made up lol.

[@Deanster101]

Robert NES816 No worries, and well done for trying to remove the dreaded horizontal lines!

[@lordferdinand85]

I been thinking the same but with a hot air gun with a cone attached to direct a small air blast to the strip.

[@littlemissnintendofan6558]

Cool guide! I repaired my screen no problem, but my speaker has an annoying high pitched noise! Could it be the speaker or a problem with the board?

[@RobertNES816]

The Gameboy Hunter I'd have to hear it. If the speaker is faulty you can easily buy one off eBay.

[@damski8810]

Thank you this awesome Im just starting ebay refurbishing and this video has alot of useful information

[@ianchan8859]

I attempted this but I couldn't get any of my horizontal lines to turn on, or off. The lcd itself started to turn blue so i had to stop. There was no effect to the pixels (they still showed as dead horizontal lines). Maybe I am applying heat in the wrong way (did use a flat head screw driver).

[@RobertNES816]

You applied too much heat and used the wrong tool for the job.

[@masterpanos1990]

Hi! I know its a very late comment but do you have any tips on how to solder a new speaker on a gameboy?

[@askhowiknow5527]

I found one without that sticky gasket as well

[@paulpjr3224]

My Gameboy was left for 25 years in a box with batteries still in it. The batteries leaked all over the terminals and even went up into the cartridge slot. I was letting the terminals soak in baking soda, vinegar, 91% rubbing alcohol and even tried peroxide with nothing working to fully get all the stuff off it but most came off. I do have some of that lime off stuff. I am just wondering how to get it off the pins in the cartridge slot. I just tried scraping it with a small flat head but not working too well. The green stuff is like all over parts.

[@RobertNES816]

Just buy another off eBay and use it for parts.

[@paulpjr3224]

I have a battery pack and I had tried powering it on with it and the led light came on but nothing came up on the screen and no sound. Wondering if the screen is gone after 25 years of not using or something. The contrast is in the middle. Maybe after cleaning it a little and putting it back together it will work. Mine was actually in great condition minus the battery corrosion. I think it should work good if not I will sell it to someone for a Raspberry Pie. The case and screen protector is mint condition.

[@RobertNES816]

If you buy cheap one off eBay you can just use it for parts. Once you fix yours you can sell it for more with minimal work. The effort it takes to try and fix bad corrosion like that isn't really worth it.

[@NunYa953]

That rubbing alcohol works way better for removing permanent marker.

[@trevortjes]

I bought a second hand DMG - 01 but the plastic got quite yellowish/brownish. Might have been from smoking or the acids on the hands or uv from the sun I'm not sure but do you have a solution to turn it back to grey? Rubbing alcohol, soap, toothpaste and just brushing didn't work and Internet never really gave a convincing answer but it looks like u would know quite something about it.

[@RobertNES816]

+trevortjes kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIaap4uDmt-Klas Copy and paste this link. You don't need to use the product he used just something similar. I use Clairol 40, its like $4 or $5 a bottle. Wear gloves when applying this stuff since it can burn your skin. Put both halves of the Gameboy shell on cling wrap, place the top half on the bottom half of the shell (best to do both sides at once). The coat the Gameboy shell with the creme. You'll want to use allot to make sure everything gets coated. Next wrap the shell in cling wrap and let it sit in a window sill for a couple days, making sure to turn the shell and flip it over every few hours. DONT leave it out in the hot sun. The sun will bake the Clairol and run the plastic. If the shell is badly yellowed it will make it look better but not 100%. However with allot of systems and parts I've had very good results.

[@adalbertomarques7614]

Use 40 volume hydrogen peroxide. Pass the entire carcass with a brush, leaving the yellowish part facing the sun. Check it from time to time and do not let the product dry. Have patience and free time to do this. When you like, you can sunbathe and wash in running water. I've had great results with a SNES here.

[@neocitrus]

At what temperature does the soldering iron need to be to fix the vertical lines?

[@alienc1]

which took did you used? I tried your method but just get my screen to turn blue so I stopped, what I have to do or where I have to apply the heat?

[@beatricec633]

Is there any way you can fix my game boy? The batteries were left in for a couple years. The last time we used it was 2010-2013 ish. It worked fine then. I was able to externally clean corrosion in the battery compartment with out taking it apart and it turned on. But slowly I notice horizontal lines appearing the longer it stayed on so I turned them off. I also can't get it to do any functions to play the game.

[@spygearman]

My Nintendo logo is a solid black box, except the trademark logo. I already fixed the vertical lines, i don't know what it could be.

[@RobertNES816]

Destroying Things You need to clean your games with plastic safe contact cleaner and q tips. Or 91% rubbing alcohol and q tips.

[@spygearman]

I did that. I also don't have a game, don't know if that has anything to do with it.

[@RobertNES816]

Destroying Things Lol yeah not having a game would cause that. It will only say Nintendo if you have a clean inserted.

[@spygearman]

Thanks man. I got scared lol. Now i gotta retrobrite it and get a new lens.

[@Alancalan]

How do i fix the ac port on a gameboy i can not get any power when i try to use a adaptor with it ?

[@JoeyWilsonabc123]

On my game boy it will only work if i slightly put one of the batteries in the compartment... any tips?

[@ZodiakAsHell]

Excellent work Robert and great video.

[@p0weranger421]

Hey man i need help i have a gameboy pocket and the game shows a blue line i dont know what to to help me plz

[@trademidwest6679]

Ok so vertical lines I can fix but the down button, any idea how to fix? I have tried everything from cleaning with alcohol to contact spray. I can not get it to work.

[@RobertNES816]

probably a broken trace on the board.

[@trademidwest6679]

Ok so no real fix for that?

[@RobertNES816]

Of course there is. You need to find the broken trace and patch it or see if the graphite contacts are just dirty. Also have a good look at the button membrane, if the contact is dirty or rotted then it should be cleaned or replaced.

[@bobboffin8980]

Great video! I'll try your method to fix hotizontal lines! thanks!

[@notthatdigusted7468]

I just completed the gameboy backlite mod and actually my gameboy starts up and shows the Nintendo logo but then the game does not boot. Would you know how to fix that?

[@trevrr]

Clean your games

[@J1MJAM18]

I just installed my backlight thought everything was sweet then a horizontal line appeared!!! Thankyou so much for this video managed to fix it (:

[@ChrisMX9]

Jamie Chambers is it safe to do this for the horizontal lines ? I have the same problem as you after installing a backlight ( two little lines on the screen )

[@user-tr5ki2sl2d]

Do you repair original Gameboys?

[@francisen4604]

do you know what causes horizontal lines?

[@RobertNES816]

The ribbon cable just comes off the screen. It's from age and heat/cold depending on where and how the Gameboy was stored. You get some that are perfectly fine and others that are a mess.

[@DavideNastri]

Mine has a screen problem... Do you guys know where to buy screen for dmg classic?

[@RobertNES816]

You can't buy a screen for these since it soldered to the board.

[@DavideNastri]

Thanks for saving me a terrible headache in searching! This means it is time to starty my 1st Gameboy Zero :)

[@stellabckw2033]

great job!

[@jlowe600]

Great video! Thank you

[@luke9511]

for a screen repair like that i would think it would be safe it use a hot air rework station than a hot iron directly on it

[@RobertNES816]

If I had one I'd use it. But most people don't have a hot air station.

[@RetroPCUser]

A hot air gun would suffice as well, as long as you use the low setting, which should be 200C (392F).

[@TorKungChannelRC111_Retrogames]

ซ่อมจอ แนวนอน gameboy pocket screen

[@nathanglynn7443]

I have an old dmg that powers on, sound comes on but the screen stays pitch black, no bar or logo, sometimes the screen displays a whole screen of retro looking blocks instead or sometimes it’s like a wave of ink moving across the screen, no bar no logo, I’ve tried cleaning everything and resoldering a few things on the board. Any ideas?

[@RobertNES816]

Contrast dial could he set too high.

[@RobertNES816]

Or it needs a capacitor kit but that's very rare on these.

[@RobertNES816]

The last thing I can think of if one of the memory chips is bad or it has a CPU issue. In that case buy another Gameboy off ebay, like a really crummy one and use the main board off that one (main board has the cartridge slot).

[@neves188]

Someone already tested this method on a gb pocket?

[@phillycheese954]

Cool gameboy and you are really good on repair

[@neildelacruz5729]

Good, thorough guide - thank you. : ^ j

[@doctorfeinstone6524]

I've never seen a gameboy with a gasket

[@RobertNES816]

Doctor Feinstone They all should have them. I've worked on dozens of them, they've all had gaskets except for a few I know where taken apart before me.

[@leandrolambardi9712]

You are a god