How to Fix Your Dying Save Batteries in Retro Games

Many older game cartridges have a small battery inside to allow you to save your game by storing your progress in volatile memory. After all of these years, these batteries are finally dying, thus making it impossible to continue to save where you are.
In this video, I walk you through exactly what tools you need and how to replace these batteries and even a couple of ways to still retain your save data while replacing the aging battery with a new one (assuming it is not already dead!)
I included as many pointers and general soldering tips as I could to make this as easy as possible! Even if you have little to no experience soldering, this guide should help you out! Of course, this video offers up no warranty against personal injury or property damage. Be careful out there!
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Any purchases made from links below are affiliate links and greatly help out the channel, with no additional cost to you!
Here is my curated Amazon.com list of tools used in the video:
a.co/h3Mq16v
Ebay Listing for Bulk CR2032 Batteries:
ebay.us/JYQNzU
Robie the Banker Robot:
ebay.us/b8COYK
SNES Games:
ebay.us/LlKjku
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[@bytesizedengineering]

What a great tutorial! I used the pen style flux for years but I was always frustrated thinking I was doing something wrong. Until I switched to the thick flux that comes in a syringe. Game changer. Holy cow what a difference it made. I would love to see more videos like this from you!

[@Geeksmithing]

Hey thank pal. Funny you say that, as I solely used the paste stuff from a tin/jar for over a decade and have found the pen to be a lot better for me. 🤷‍♂️ Different strokes and all that. 🤣 I appreciate the encouragement, as my assistant isn't helping much in that dept.

[@PhilEdwardsInc]

wow i had no idea this was an issue!!! crazy!!

[@Geeksmithing]

Right?! I would have loved to see the rationale and discussion when these were first designed. I wonder if they thought they would just have a repair industry in 25 years considering they weren't really consumer replaceable... 🤷‍♂️

[@GeekBuildersNet]

Awesome tutorial. Now I'm worried about losing my game saves that are over 25 years old

[@Geeksmithing]

If they haven't yet, they will soon!

[@bnddbl07]

That was great man. Great tips. Fun sides. Thanks.

[@Geeksmithing]

You bet man! Thanks for being awesome!

[@StormsparkPegasus]

I have planned a long term project to replace the batteries in all my Gameboy games (plus 2 GBA games) with low profile battery sockets. I have used a device to backup all of the saves, so I've got them on my computer, so I'm not worried about losing saves. All other consoles that use save batteries I just play on newer systems via emulation, GB/GBC/GBA are the only battery using systems where I use the original hardware. Laziness has kept me from starting this though.

[@Geeksmithing]

I considered doing battery sockets, but when I realized that I would only have to replace the batteries once more before I probably die, it didn't seem worth the trouble. 😆 Talk about lazy. 😝

[@StormsparkPegasus]

@@Geeksmithing Yeah I understand that, I definitely won't live longer than another set of batteries. But hey I'm leaving all my stuff to a much younger friend of mine, and it will probably outlast them.

[@Geeksmithing]

@@StormsparkPegasus haha fair point! I may have a couple of GB games to do myself .... 🤔

[@Pickswitch]

Amazing

[@Pickswitch]

Also the added visuals with item descriptions were great to break up the standard video work great!

[@Geeksmithing]

@@Pickswitch yeah? Thanks man! They made the video take longer than it otherwise should have. 🤣

[@reforzar]

Let the solder flow

[@Geeksmithing]

Amen. 🙏

[@TommyWatson828]

Robie didn't have to do you dirty like that!

[@Geeksmithing]

He's so fired.