How To Permanently Fix Your Nintendo Virtual Boy LED Display Issues the RIGHT Way (Not in an Oven!)

[@RetroRespawn]

I just did this exact repair today. I used a covering iron as you recommended. I was going to just have at it with a soldering tip but I saw from someone else's experience that it's possible to melt up the ribbon. I even managed to screw up a game boy line repair in just that fashion. A nice even heat is just right for the fix, and even though you can't really see it reflow very clearly, the proof is in the testing. I'm happy to report my virtual boy is back in action. And furthermore, if it happens again, as I'm sure it will, as these often do, I know the best method to restore it again. Many thanks.

[@RoXolid]

Thrilled to hear this worked for you as well!

[@ReidBaty]

Thanks for the clear instructions! Just fixed two VBs, both completely unusable before, now play like brand new.

[@RoXolid]

That's amazing news, glad I could help!

[@search_collectibles]

@@RoXolid. Wow thanks for quick reply. Thanks for video. Great job !!

[@RoXolid]

Of course! Please let me know if you need any help

[@davidtucker9533]

@@RoXolid hi, will this fix work for Now display at all? But has sound aNd gamer user interfacs sounds like it is workiny..

[@RoXolid]

Now display?

[@pezcore2552]

Just tried this with my Virtual Boy (I used a clothes iron and was just careful with which heat setting I used) and was pleasantly surprised with how well it worked. There are still the occasional graphical glitches and some games look worse than others (Teleroboxer and Tetris were both unplayable still), but I went from not being able to see anything at all to being able to play Wario Land and Mario Tennis, so I'll call that a success. I'll still probably need to get someone to solder the displays at some point, but this definitely bought me some time.

[@joshuawick5382]

I just put it in the oven and got it working.

[@codetvirus2010]

Thanks for the tutorial. I found another good way(if not better) to fix this issue: a hair iron. Aplies hot from both sides and good presion at the same time.

[@RoXolid]

The problem with a hair dryer is you're not applying any pressure to the joint to force the pieces together.

[@Niinami]

@@RoXolid He wrote "hair iron", its litarally an iron but on both sides, eazy to put pressure. Hair dryer is something else.

[@RoXolid]

You'll have to forgive a bald guy not being familiar with this

[@codetvirus2010]

@@Niinami Yes, it gives perfect control of hot an pressure at the same time and won't burn nothing at all.

[@matthewwieneke6440]

I just performed this successfully on my VB and it worked great. Had to try and test a few times and I needed max heat it seemed like. Thank you so much for posting this with the great step by step, it's great to have it working again!

[@RoXolid]

Awesome!!! I'm glad you were able to get your Virtual Boy working!

[@Jonpat]

What temperature did you finally find worked? I tried it at 325 and did not have success.

[@deadenterprise5057]

Must be the year for them the fail, mine was fine for years, then on lens now the next.. Still have sounds just no picture :(

[@AlexMoenR]

Unpacked a VB after a decade in storage and yikes! Right screen doesn't start up at all. Glad to see there's a fix.

[@RoXolid]

Good luck!

[@TheOGJagg]

Just picked one up today. By doing this trick did it fix the VB For u?

[@toddalexander3813]

same. 10 years unused and the right lens is acting up. badly. Hoping this works.

[@KingofNerds]

Fellow content creator and Virtual Boy owner here, this video is great. I love it when I have a problem and I find a video that addresses the exact issue, in a straight forward, instructive, and competent manner. Seriously, this is great. Nice work! I subbed!

[@RoXolid]

I'm glad it helped!

[@KingofNerds]

@@RoXolid Would you mind if I show a clip from your video, as well as reference your channel in a coming video? I'll reference your channel in the description of my video, as well. Thanks in advance.

[@RoXolid]

@@KingofNerds As long as you link back to my channel and provide proper accreditation I don't have an issue with it.

[@KingofNerds]

@@RoXolid You got it. Thanks so much.

[@Zalcos]

The right lens on my 'new' VB was showing just one line. I applied pressure with a normal iron covered by a pair of undies on a normal ironing board. Now it works 100% ! wow, I am so amazed! :D thank you!

[@RoXolid]

Glad it worked!

[@foxmiller6772]

I just wanted to say awesome video man I just so happen acquired a virtual boy myself which seemed to have had the same problem prior to watching your video I did the same thing to mine and the picture is a lot more better than it ever was thanks man.

[@rmonocchio]

thank you for making this video helped me out greatly

[@RoXolid]

Glad to hear it!

[@ScottLarsenThePilotwingsFan]

Just did the exact same method on my VB. The left screen was completely black before and now it's perfectly crisp -I started with 30 seconds at 327° and then 60 seconds at same temp. This got the screen to work but had horizontal lines -I went for another 30 seconds at the same temperature. No difference -I went for another 60 seconds at the same temperature. PERFECTLY CRISP IMAGE I hope that someone like me who was apprehensive about the repair since their screen was totally black (rather than just garbled) sees this comment goes for it. Go for it!

[@paulsworkshop4179]

Is your VB still working?

[@ScottLarsenThePilotwingsFan]

@@paulsworkshop4179 actually it broke down again and I repeated the ironing fix a couple more times. Currently working but next time it breaks I'll do the soldering fix instead now that my skills have improved

[@VIDKID666]

Received my VB from Japan after waiting a month. Played two levels of Wario and the left screen went insane: was having to play with one eye closed until I finished the level and saved. Just ordered the correct driver bit to do this exact repair thanks to you. Had a two part Nintendo driver but ran into the same issue as you and the bit stem is too big to fit. Can’t wait to get back to Wario (that game is way better than expected) Thanks so much for this fairly easy / super great tutorial!!! Toby

[@RoXolid]

I'm so glad you got it working

[@VIDKID666]

RoXolid Productions sadly it actually killed my lens. I was super cautious and did everything as you did but instead of the lens showing lines, it now shows a tiny red bit of light and it’s dead :-(

[@bryce9722]

I just fixed mine today using a hair dryer onto both the front and back and then using a pencil for applying pressure for reconnection. I didn’t think it would generate enough heat but it did the trick. (I’ve had mine for several years and this is the first time it broke on me, both screens were out) I was ecstatic!

[@RoXolid]

That's terrific!

[@gamer_guts9836]

I just bought one from bay and found that the left viewfinder is blacked out and it does not stay powered on for more that a second. I need help!

[@RoXolid]

You can try this fix here!

[@gamer_guts9836]

@@RoXolid thanks I hope it works. Going to order an iron and sock. I appreciate it!

[@RoXolid]

Don't forget the game bits too!

[@Museo_del_Videojuego]

Dude it works!!! 100% recomendable

[@RoXolid]

That's great to hear you were able to get it to work!

[@Samanosuke2727]

Yup this is one of the Virtual Boy videos Rich from ReviewTechUSA wants to see since his Virtual Boy he planned on reviewing it has problems too.

[@RoXolid]

Share it with him! Let him know if he has questions I'm here to help!!

[@trevor360-official-YT]

When I first heard about the Nintendo Virtual Boy I was a little bit surprised that it was Nintendo’s first attempt at virtual reality I started thinking about getting a Virtual Boy so I could play games like Virtual Boy: Wario Land and Mario Clash and also Mario’s Tennis.

[@mrmylamp3]

Would any regular iron work for the process? Also how hot does the iron you use get

[@alwaysasn]

I can't find the sock that you referred to. Is using just an actual sock dangerous? Would it light on fire? I finally got a second-hand tripod for my VB and the day it came in the right eye piece looks like it is totally glitching out. So I'm guessing it's this issue.

[@RoXolid]

Here you go www.horizonhobby.com/product/sealing-iron-sock/HAN141.html

[@megafamilytime8829]

Thanks for this tip just got mine yesterday and it’s like this

[@RoXolid]

You are very welcome, I am glad I could help!

[@vaguener]

I have mine since the 90's. Today I was about to check it and I realize the image is not visible. I can see there is a red light inside but none of my games are displayed. Any tips?

[@RoXolid]

Try this repair, it sounds like the ribbon cable has lifted like this one did

[@RandomCat-m7m]

Can i use a regular iron?

[@RoXolid]

Like a clothing iron? I wouldn't recommed it.

[@b-radvideoshow4737]

I'm gonna give this a try. Looks easy enough ! I have a VB with one screen working and another with no video, just sound.... Thanks.👍 I'll let you know how it goes!

[@RoXolid]

Definitely keep me in the loop!

[@lithiumssb]

So, how'd it go?

[@list73]

Top bloke !!!! worked an absolute treat thanks i used a pair of hair straightners ( dont tell the wife ) and a pair of socks and everything is now working as it should

[@RoXolid]

Well my silence with the wife has a price, we do have channel memberhsip options ;) Glad it worked! :D

[@Dominique-bh9kh]

I am wondering if that’s the main problem on mine. Looks like it’s ok but I see brownish in the orange part of the circuit

[@RoXolid]

You might need to perform this a few times to iron it out, pun intended

[@Dominique-bh9kh]

You are right I did it 3 time on the left side and it works 👍🏻

[@RoXolid]

That's great to hear, I'm glad it worked for you

[@alexk_9358]

Hello! I just had a Virtual Boy be delivered to me and the right eye piece works no problem but the left piece isn’t 100% Whilst it does display, it also flickers more noticeably compared to the right eye piece. Would you say this exact method of applying heat to that ribbon cable would do the trick? And are the ribbon cables easy to remove m/re-attach as I’m worried I’ll mess it up

[@jeromenestor4318]

Thanks man

[@RoXolid]

You're welcome, glad I could help

[@jeromenestor4318]

@@RoXolid let's ignore the fact it took me 30 minutes to notice a screw I missed

[@RoXolid]

Oh no!

[@RetroGamingWithEdgarRivera]

Awesome my friend. By the way the Flicking effect is from the camera, you don't see in person.

[@RoXolid]

Correct, it is the camera picking up the refresh rate of the lens itself.

[@Dragon_Screamer]

Any advice on how to install the silicone tape?

[@RoXolid]

You basically just wrap it around the end of the pcb. I would use a thin strip, about the width of the connector pins where they are soldered to the board. From there, just wrap and stretch the tape around that end of the board and hold it in place for about a minute period it adheres to itself so you have to give it a little bit of time for that to actually happen.

[@Dragon_Screamer]

@@RoXolid I actually printed a small custom 3D fixture to add some pressure alongside the silicone tape to minimize the issue happening again. My iron arrives tomorrow hopefully so I can finally fix the right lens.

[@RoXolid]

Very cool!

[@Dragon_Screamer]

@@RoXolid Thank you so much for the idea. I was ready to sell my Virtual Boy but now I can fix it.

[@RoXolid]

100%! You're welcome

[@natdmc85]

Awesome advice, this is one of my fave systems ever , I had to relegate mine as a back burner project until I finally found someone with sound advice (that being you👍) greatest advice ever"STOP PUTTING ELECTRONICS IN OVEN!!" ovens are for pizza and cakes not electronics.

[@RoXolid]

When I first saw that people were putting these in the oven I was just amazed that anyone would do this, let alone recommend it! There are so many bad things that can happen here!

[@RoXolid]

BTW, you put it on the back burner? Oven Pun?

[@Davidevgen]

well this is better than the oven method. i can tell you how many burnt cables i get in for repair. i often have to replace it.

[@RoXolid]

The oven method is beyond dangerous for multiple reasons! This is pretty safe across the board!! No, uh, no half-baked pun intended. Except that one.

[@Davidevgen]

@@RoXolid tell me about it lol. yeah this look safe but there are alot of people that do that oven method and to that i say NO! i do the solder fix via micro soldering iron and microscope.

[@RoXolid]

@@Davidevgen That is THE fix, but 99% of people don't have access to that equipment.

[@Davidevgen]

@@RoXolid true. thats why i offer it to others as a service. so people can get it fixed.

[@RoXolid]

Same here!

[@willrussell01]

I just bought a virtual boy and it’s been working until today. The left eye piece is not lighting up at all. Will this method fix that?

[@RoXolid]

It might, if the issue is the ribbon cable lifting from the board. If there are other issues this obviously would not address that.

[@willrussell01]

@@RoXolid I saw one other tutorial where a guy would hover a hair dryer above it. Should I start out with that? At least it’s not throwing it in the oven

[@RoXolid]

@@willrussell01 I have also heard of people using hair dryers or heat guns to accomplish this with varying results. The problem with a hair dryer is most don't get hot enough. Remember, you're trying to liquify and re-flow solder, and you'll never want that much heat on your scalp!

[@willrussell01]

@@RoXolid Would using a heat gun possibly melt and desolder the ribbon cable, if not what temperature should I set the heat gun to, to be safe?

[@Blaumagier]

Worked like a dream and couldn't have been easier.

[@RoXolid]

I'm glad it worked for you!

[@alkistsepapadakis4780]

4.5mm or 3.8mm to open the screws ??

[@tiko8420]

Thanks for the easy instruction. Just noticed mine has an issue with the right lense as well. Do you mean 350° Fahrenheit or Celsius?

[@RoXolid]

Glad I could help! And Fahrenheit

[@MrSEA-ok2ll]

I own 3...one appears mint, but one eye piece has a gobbled display, while the other does not light up at all. Another has a display that just started to fail...I will try this trick on both of them...I was expecting failed capacitors, for this seems to be a problem for most vintage systems...also, you are correct about Wario Land...it is the best CB title out of the small library.

[@RoXolid]

WarioLand should have been ported to the 3DS!

[@joegrbic5274]

Do you have a link to where I could buy that orange screw driver?

[@RoXolid]

Looks like Castlemania Games is currently out of them but here's where you can get a nice set that includes a very similar one on Amazon amzn.to/2S9Z6Tb

[@davidtucker9533]

Hi, will this fix help with No display. Has sounds. Game has sound and user interface sounds like it is operating. But not display at all ? Thx

[@RoXolid]

Possibly, depending on what is causing the issue but this tends to be the most common fix

[@davidtucker9533]

Yes theres no display / picture at all. Is what I meant originally havent tried the fix yet.

[@RoXolid]

@@davidtucker9533 It'd worth a try!

[@joshuawick5382]

At what temperature, how many times, and how long should you use the covering iron on the ribbon cable? I have a Virtual Boy and it has the problem with the ribbon cable. I ordered a covering iron and will use it on the Virtual Boy.

[@RoXolid]

I turn the sealing iron to full temp and it worked perfectly. You can see in the video how long I applied the iron.,

[@joshuawick5382]

I tried this method and it doesn't work. I put it in the oven and got it working when the eyes are farthest apart. I'm going to use the oven method from now on. It works for me.

[@Jonpat]

I just fired up my old VB and one lens is completely dead. I'm hoping this method can fix that issue too.

[@RoXolid]

Good luck!

[@Jonpat]

@@RoXolid it didn't fix the broken lens. And the other lens actually looks worse now. I don't know what I did wrong.

[@Jonpat]

Update: more heat was the answer. Both lens are working now, although I still have some flicker. Looks like I'll need another round of heat or a solder job.

[@TheOGJagg]

@@Jonpat Any updates? How did more heat go? I have a dead left eye. Wanting to see if I can fix it. How long did u hold the Iron on the cable?

[@AnnaTX1210]

My husband has one and wanted me to help fix it. I don’t have a covering iron but could order one. Was just wondering if something like a flat iron may also work if u put a sock on it too and maybe lowered the heat since it would be distributed on both sides?

[@RoXolid]

I don't know a flat iron would get hot enough, I also don't know that you could apply direct enough heat with the way that is shaped.

[@AnnaTX1210]

@@RoXolid hey thanks! I figured I would go ahead and just give it a try. I did use my flat iron because I was able to set it to the same temperature that you used and I put the socks on it. He said before it had no picture at all and now it works!!

[@RoXolid]

Awesome, glad it worked!

[@loodog555]

Thanks for the inspiration! Went with a hair dryer instead, did 30 seconds at a time until the screen suddenly started working again. I bet a regular old clothes iron would do it as well. The important thing is to protect the components you're not heating. Of course, no one knows how long this fix will hold, and it seems the consensus in the VB community that only soldering works as a long-term fix. Then again, that really looks like a precision job and you have mess around with chemical to dissolve things sooo....

[@RogerDeforest]

Great video and idea, but how long does this type of fix last?

[@RoXolid]

I've not had to redo it yet!

[@loktar00]

No, it will eventually do the same thing, the best fix is to have the connections soldered.

[@Nuggies64]

I’m a bit scared try this because I’ve noticed my VB is starting to get issues.

[@RoXolid]

Well It's not going to work less than it does now, is it?

[@search_collectibles]

Just bought one for 150$ complete with two games left eye doesn’t work and right eye glitches. Wish me luck !!

[@RoXolid]

Good luck!!

[@acidforblood]

Both of my lenses have lines issues. Is that also common? It doesn't have to be just the right lens does it? My system hasn't been used much since I bought it retail and has remained in a hard shell Blockbuster case. Bought the device from EB Games and the Blockbuster case I got from a friend.

[@RoXolid]

Yes, the issues with the lenses is not isolated to one or the other, it can affect either one or both

[@ghostaustin]

Thanks for this! I used the oven method a while back and it didn't go well. Using your method, could I use just a regular home iron instead of the covering iron?

[@RoXolid]

I don't know, I'd be worried that it would get too hot.

[@ghostaustin]

@@RoXolid hmm, true. well, thank you for the reply!

[@RoXolid]

Of course, that's what I'm here for!

[@TheSohokan]

Will a Regular cloth iron work? With the same temperature?

[@RoXolid]

I don't know what a regular cloth iron is. You mean like for clothing? No, they don't get hot enough.

[@TheSohokan]

RoXolid Productions what’s the temperature needed?

[@RoXolid]

@@TheSohokan you need it to get warm enough to reflow the sauder. I would say at least 225 to 250 degrees, if not close to 300

[@SamuraiSam]

Looks like they don't make that covering iron anymore :(

[@RoXolid]

The Amazon listing is down but it is still available on the Horizon Hobby website: www.horizonhobby.com/sealing-iron-han101

[@SamuraiSam]

I'm gonna try this out, thanks for the video!

[@RoXolid]

You're welcome

[@SamuraiSam]

@@RoXolid Hey man, just got around to doing the repair tonight, and it worked! Thanks so much, again!

[@SamuraiSam]

For some reason when I do this it seems to be only temporary. Is it because I'm not doing it long enough or something?

[@bloomerb4162]

Mines still in perfect condition, no problems and the 3d effect is still working. I bought it brand new for $25 at eb games when they were trying to get rid of them. Only problem is my eyes get out of focus very quickly now, so can't really enjoy it. Guess I'm too old now and so are my eyes.

[@foreverretro8298]

Mine died today. Sadly I can't solder (I just suck at it) and I don't have money to pay someone to help me out with this. I won't sell it but needless to say I am sad to see it no longer working. There is sound but no video what so ever to speak of.

[@RoXolid]

Well, I can help you out. Email me and let's see what we can do

[@foreverretro8298]

@@RoXolid where may I find your email?

[@sangbeta2043]

I don't see how you can call this a permanent solution when you are not substantially changing the original connection. A solder bridge on each trace would be more permanent.

[@VIDKID666]

Kevin Driscoll but anyone can do this fix. And if it walks it way out later it’s another quick easy fix to do it

[@diegoestevan05]

4.5 or 3.8 mm???????

[@concha152]

My VB image isn’t centered when I turn it on anyone know how I can fix it

[@RoXolid]

Take it apart and make sure the lenses are seated properly. If the lenses aren't installed properly that could throw things off.

[@concha152]

Thanks for the fast reply I’ll try it

[@RoXolid]

@@concha152 of course!

[@marie-franceFortin]

Had a itch to play my NVB after Linus video and I can't because my left eye is dead. :-( Seem easy enough to do but would it work with a soldering iron? I'm a total noob but was planning on buying one to try my hand on small repair because repairman are sparse in my area. Glad I found your video btw. So many oven video. Not a fan of putting electronic in oven either.

[@RoXolid]

Most soldering irons would be too hot.

[@marie-franceFortin]

@@RoXolid hum... So when you said 350° in your video you where talking Fahrenheit? Because most iron I check could go has low as 200° Celsius.

[@RoXolid]

@@marie-franceFortin most soldering irons aren't adjustable. The sock around the sealing iron removes the direct heat, protecting the components around the ribbon cable

[@DasAntiNaziBroetchen]

@@RoXolid "most soldering irons aren't adjustable" Completely false.

[@RoXolid]

Most soldering irons available through hardware and department stores, like Walmart or Home Depot, are fixed wattage, most of them 30 or 40 watt. If you go to dedicated electronics boutique such as digikey.com, that's where you will find adjustable temperature soldering irons. But for the most part, most soldering irons that the average consumer has access to have fixed heating outputs

[@johnd3797]

Great video,Dude I’d go blind with this machine,my vision is bad enough.Great video Gary🙂🙂🙂

[@TheMatHazE]

Ahout to do this and add ben hecks 3d print ribbon clip from thingiverse

[@RoXolid]

Very cool, good luck and let me know how it works!

15:07 - "under 20 bucks" The price is literally 19.99

[@amerikaOnFire]

This is definitely better than using the oven, and most people could pull this off, but it's disingenuous to advertise the video as a permanent fix since the root problem is still there. Soldering the ribbons proper is the only permanent solution.

[@loktar00]

Definitely agree.

[@mattkeller8617]

But Mr. Katzer, many would argue that you cannot fix the Virtual Boy.

[@RoXolid]

LIES!

[@VivisPal]

I would really urge anyone who is having display issues on a Virtual Boy to at least consider having the displays soldered. There's a guy on eBay who will do it for you.

[@RoXolid]

Soldering is DEFINITELY the most permanent

[@williamgilbert9154]

Wish I was brave enough to actually try this. My right lens is all jumbled

[@RoXolid]

Will email me, let's see if we can get you up and running

[@williamgilbert9154]

@@RoXolid email sent!!

[@gregjarvis1232]

On a unrealted topic supprissed no 1 has cloned the NVB by now over 20 years old and I don't think Nintendo would relicence it....and would be a lot more desirable if they cloned into a color console not just red and black

[@overdriver99]

It's great idea. but I don't think this is permanent fix. It may last few years then the glue will eventually dry out again.

[@RoXolid]

Glue isn't what's holding things together and that's not what we're doing here. We're actually re-flowing the solder to fix the joint itself.

[@overdriver99]

@@RoXolid oh ok.. if that is right. you are right it should be permanent fix.

[@maryhill2591]

Stop saying bad boy.

[@RoXolid]

Ok

[@OOOAAAIII]

But why not just use a soldering iron? I assume most people fixing old stuff own one already. And when using not too high heat, it's pretty difficult to mess up. Used the iron on this before, was easy and worked out well.

[@OOOAAAIII]

Also, I heard you say many times in this video to never use the oven method, and every time I got more curious to hear the reasons why :-) Unfortunately you didn't mention any. Why is that such a bad method? Just curious. Too easy to damage?

[@WiiToast]

Kinda like a gameboy screen

[@RoXolid]

Kinda

[@CaptNRetro]

a heat gun on low will do the trick too..don't even have to remove the eyepiece board

[@RoXolid]

Yeah, but what don't like about the heat gun is it doesn't apply pressure to the joint.

[@CaptNRetro]

RoXolid Productions that’s why we have hands..

[@RoXolid]

If you can touch it you're not getting the solder joints hot enough

[@CaptNRetro]

RoXolid Productions wear a leather glove.. cmon man.. you think I’d touch that shit bare handed? I fixed one using my method last night in less time than it took you to learn that you have to remove all the screws to actually open a VB..

[@RoXolid]

Good deal! More than one way to skin a cat, that's for sure!!

[@JonnyGators]

Your method only made things worse. Please refrain from posting things that will damage irreplaceable pieces of video game history. Stick to what you know!

[@RoXolid]

Dude I know this, you see that I actually did it on my machine. If it made it worse then you have something else going wrong

[@JonnyGators]

@@RoXolid I'm telling you, I followed your process, it made the connection worse! Please, anyone watching this, for the love of god, don't do it, this guy has no clue what he is doing!!!!! Find someone that knows what they're doing, and have the cables properly resoldered. Any of these half-assed reheat the existing connection methods are garbage!

[@mathieulh]

This is NOT a permanent fix. The only permanent fix is to solder the connections from the ribbon cable to the board, that involves a soldering iron, solder and a lot of flux. Not whatever THIS "fix" is.