Somebody's Been in This SNES MINI Before...

I bought this Super Nintendo Classic Mini off of eBay. It was sold as no power and no display.
What horrors lurk inside? And will I be able to FIX it?
Hope you enjoy!
Steve
PS. I'm not an expert in repairs at all. I do this for fun, and it may not be the best or safest way to go about repairing broken stuff. I'm pretty good at melting plastic though. Please don't copy me - I'm an idiot.
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[@samwilliamson4715]

I appreciate that you still posted this even though it was dead and un repairable - not only is it a good diagnostic lesson but also answers my question about wondering what happens on your channel when you can't fix something - as you could just as easily not uploaded the video. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@3lpid3]

**SPOILER ALERT** 🤣

[@mediatour8898]

I thought he didn't post non-fixes, glad to see he does. He should post them all, maybe on a second channel if he thinks it's not worthy content.

[@ElcarlosgamE]

@@mediatour8898 StezStix Broke 😂 will be good name for this 2nd channel

[@TheCod3r]

Steve I can't believe you laughed at my port replacement. I thought I did a good job 😭

[@StezStixFix]

😂😂 mate, I've never seen anything like this one. I reckon someone was using a MIG welder on it! 😁

[@evelynrodriguez9221]

I didn't laugh 😅😂 😂

[@lepterfirefall]

That's masterful welding...I mean soldering! Better than what I could do though....🤔

[@Null_Experis]

Can I interest you in the teachings of our Lord and Savior FLUX?

[@MuscarV2]

That you thought you did a good job only makes this worse. This is like cooking something to charcoal and being proud of it thinking you did great. Sorry but this isn't just lack of knowledge and skill, it's pure idiocy.

[@CTCTraining1]

Poor Steve! A valiant effort. Don’t be downhearted, not everything is fixable otherwise there would be no donor devices!

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Chris, very true! I'm hoping I can do something else with the case, so all is not lost 👍

[@gregyotz777]

@@StezStixFix stick a PI in it and turn it into a MAME game.

[@JoeyDoesTech]

I've seen/done a couple bad port replacements myself, but this... THIS is amazing. Well done on the fault finding bud 😊👌

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks mate, I don't think I've seen one as bad as this! Looks like it was attacked by a welding machine! 😁

[@Anthony-qt8wv]

@@StezStixFix Does anyone know what the 2 smd inductors are to the left of the K fuse? I need to replace those. Thanks!

[@Mymatevince]

Haha, that was a good lump of solder on the port. The backstory would be interesting on this one, at least they gave it a go 👍

[@StezStixFix]

👍 Thanks Vince, you're dead right. I shouldn't laugh really... I was just as bad when I started out! 😁

[@narc1408]

@@StezStixFix looks stickwelded :)

[@a_googIeuser]

Yeah m8!

[@L3ttuc3]

@@StezStixFix That may be the most generous lie I've ever seen told. 😂

[@jamiegallagherDOinfo]

yeah but they loose any good grace for then going on to sell it on ebay and pretend they don't know whats wrong with it, if i ever buy any faulty stuff on ebay (which i dont really because ebay is full of junk "faulty, maybe easy fix" horrifically botched items), but if i did i always have a quick look at their feedback and see if they have bought any "repair" parts previously, if so you know its either dead because another experienced repairer tried and failed, or 100% dead because some clutz screwed it up way worse than it was already and are now trying to play dumb and pass the turd onto someone else

[@ches74]

Love your work. That was toast but for what it's worth K is a 0.8A fuse so not advisable to replace with a 3. I'd just connect after the fuse and use a current limited bench power supply.

[@Tronicsfix]

Was that a Colin Furze fake hand at the beginning?

[@StezStixFix]

😁 Well spotted Steve!

[@welshtony1]

haha was just about to say it's the Colin Furze hand, you beat me to it haha

[@markharrisllb]

I never thought one of your videos would make me feel better about my soldering.

[@Arjay82]

I think this is the first youtube channel I've seen where someone actually uses properly tinned wire when soldering.

[@wizdude]

You are cruel! 😂

[@ZonicMirage]

Oh, that poor thing. At least you gave it a good attempt. The shell still otherwise appears in good shape. Could transfer the innards of a working one with trashed plastic and make a good one out of two. Either that, or use it as a Retro Pie case.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Zonic, I'm eyeing up both those options. I think I might go for the Pi option... think it will look pretty smart! 🤩

[@ZonicMirage]

@@StezStixFix Yes, that's definitely your best bet. Especially considering even a trashed functional unit would be ridiculously expensive for the purpose.

[@StephanieLaerkeAndersen]

My brother (also a Stephen) is enjoying watching these videos because he used to work for Pace Micro Technology in Shipley in Bradford. My brother perfected and invented many PCB repair techniques in the mid to late 90s, and he loves to see the bad stuff that people attempt.

[@bathy85]

:D

[@JackhammerSiesta]

Lived in Shipley when I first moved to Yorkshire, some nice places round there.

[@StephanieLaerkeAndersen]

@@JackhammerSiesta Yeah, some quite nice places, but Bradford itself is pretty terrible now. I lived there for a few years. So did my brother. I was born in Denmark, but now I live in California in Norfolk!

[@Gimmi091984]

I love your videos, I can't stop giggeling from time to time. You are such an entertaining and kind person, I really enjoy watching you!

[@OneHundredEnvelopes]

Steve! Thank you so much! Not only for the great videos, but for leaving links to the backing music. You are about the only youtuber i watch who does that. Kudos

[@UkdangermanRepairs]

What a great channel and a wonderful personality. Great videos, keep up the good work mate 😁👍

[@JimNichols]

The hand........... Is the hallmark of your channel a fairly decent repair guy that does his own thing and is absolutely insane while doing it... Bravo I love it. Thanks for the time and energy that you put into the compilation, edit and UL of each one of these pearls of Monty Python esque humor gems.

[@hazertxc]

I laughed so hard watching this video, I gotta say I LOVE your channel and your humour, keep up the good work ! Greeting from baguette !

[@hardtymz2517]

The music used is Tori Amos - Happy Workers (Kevin’s Spliff Mix)

Your facial expressions are priceless 🤣 keeps me watching and watching and also learning a thing or two or what not to do

[@jerkizum2793]

Learned a lot from you so far. Keep it up man

[@chris-pike]

Good to see you attempt to fix this Snes mini there Steve 👍🏻

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Chris! 👍

[@logothaironsides2942]

Cant win every time. Im always amazed at how much can be salvaged from what initially LOOKS like game over.

[@MattSmith18125]

Why do I enjoy watching you fix video games? I can't explain it. It's absurd. But thanks, love it.

[@nathandivino]

Just found your channel and I'm loveing your content :)

[@jody19027]

My eyes can’t take it anymore! I’ve done some bad ones before but this one takes the cake!

[@WayneCatlin]

I did not understand any of this, but found it ridiculously entertaining!!

[@_MJ07_]

I really enjoyed that, great video! Subbed.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks MJR, much appreciated! 👍

[@tsbeech]

Great video Steve!

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Travis! 👍

[@Levi-Tubman]

The look of confusion and….. am i being stupid? 🤣 confused me too!

[@joshb6470]

damn, great video to watch and I really like that magnifier, so much better than my setup when I used to do stuff like this of a magnifying glass duct taped to an adjustable arm

[@trikoolgg]

love your content !

[@andersodgaard6699]

keep up the good job much appreciated

[@joehair4220]

idk why i watch this but ur show is def. better than most. please adapt play a few games or soemthing just to add dynamic. either wayy cool job yo

[@EpicureMammon]

It was such a mess that I thought someone had just slathered clear silicone glue on the port to keep it from wobbling or something. Wow.

[@falloutguy8878]

Loving your videos and more so loving your piss taking on a pretty good effort on my port replacement keep up the great work you do dude plus make sure you have a great day but more importantly keep safe dude as I love you and your quick responses to DIY disaster your one funny guy keep it up? Oh my wife wet herself when she saw the bomb blast 🤣

[@StezStixFix]

😂 thanks DR! It was a decent effort! 😁 hopefully I can reuse the shell and other bits for something else, so all is not lost on this one! 👍

[@DRChupacabrah]

wow, I don't do any kind of electronics repair or anything but I can still tell that is really gnarly

[@shona-sof]

At least the unit will look nice on a shelf! I've been trying to find a working UK or Japan style SNES classic.

[@michaelbarrett9490]

Just got around to this one, just wondering if the power supply went bad and someone chopped the USB end off and attached it to a plug giving it 240V, I dealt with something similar where a customer chopped off a barrel connector and did the same!

[@imtrashbmx8834]

I can show you a couple of my starter solder jobs that you would indeed get a good chuckle or two from xD

[@johnwayne7843]

What an efford.... Mad respect

[@IceNein763]

My guess is that somebody tried to remove that by intentionally making a solder bridge so that the heat from an iron would flow to all the legs so that they could pull it out at once. Kind of a neat trick if you don't have a heat gun, it works, but this must have been his first try at the technique. Once the part is out you can just wick off all the extra solder on the board.

[@LarixusSnydes]

Nice one, didn't know that yet, but then again I do have a hot air station.

[@ryankl1984]

I would wick as I go, that way you dont melt the board and waste time.

[@groundcontrol6876]

Nahh just looks like a power surge screwed the unit up. They didn't have as good protection back then and even nowadays your electronics can still get fried from bad mains power. My town's been having voltage drops for years now, but I've seen other places that have the opposite and seen completely fried fridges where the plastic on the outlet melted and is black with soot.

[@rebel4466]

@@groundcontrol6876 "Back then"? That's a SNES mini from 2017. No mains power on there. Clint is pretty much correct on this one.

[@groundcontrol6876]

@@rebel4466 Ahh didn’t know this thing was recent. I only ever had a PS1 and went on from there. Thanks for the info. 🤙🏽

[@royalaxe]

ive seen similar before, a lightning strike made it through the power supply and blew apart the connector, hence hole and solder splattered everywhere

[@stevensonkfbeaversof4383]

Hi Steve, I think it would be really cool if you made a handheld snes controller with a built in screen, I’ve seen it done and think you’d be great at doing one. You’re really funny and clever

[@KisoX]

I have seen some similar soldering work on a ps4 controller stick. And the owner wondered why it didnt work :D Thankfully that didnt burn the whole thing.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks KusoX! It amazes me that people try stuff like this without practicing first! I guess it looks easy until you try. I'm pretty sure my first few goes would've come out very similar to this one! 😁

[@gregyotz777]

I saw several SMT paste ball shorts in your video of this board. If you look closely at the AXP chip legs, you can see small leftover solder from the surface reflow on this board. I've seen this on two others I have repaired as well. Might not be your only problem but usually this will be wide spread on the PCB.

[@palehorse864]

New to these vids, what's the clear stuff over the points before he solders?

[@matthewtilley2674]

Nice to find you on KZbin. My problem is where u plug the power cord in to. At the adapter in the little piece some how fell out and got lost. Can you please me.

[@FAMEforM]

how did you get this things hot? do you plug in your selfmade battery or do you use your multimeter to conduct electricity?

[@kikihobbyrepair]

Nice video Steve.

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Kiki!

[@X-Gen-001]

Someone went out of their way to ruin that pcb 😂 Nice effort though mate. You're more skilled than I that's for sure.

[@dean_c]

The hand at 11 seconds in 🤣

[@JT-il3fe]

Looks like Ray Charles and Hellen Keller had a soldering competition.

[@tsuyunobradley4439]

The reason the switch acts like that is because it very likely holds a sleep line to ground on the CPU. It is a modern ARM CPU, and it never truly shuts down with connected power, it just goes to sleep mode.

[@Pulverrostmannen]

Wow that solder job was amazing lol. it almost looks like this device got hit by lightning or something. And then someone wrecked it completely

[@Null_Experis]

That K is indeed a fuse, and it why whoever botched that repair didn't burn his home down. Thank it for doing a good job, and give it a proper sending off.

[@codebeat4192]

I am pretty sure it is one or more of the tantalium caps. Had a few in the past that go bad. What is the termal camera you are using? That can be a really helpful tool.

[@loopylad4722]

This is something I want to do as a hobby, but have no idea where to start. Any recommendations?

[@Dukefazon]

0:06 - You've got some pretty hands!

[@kennethbarker852]

1st class video to watch thank you take care kind regards from me kenneth

[@OperationDecoded]

Dear @StezStix Fix? I just got another SNES Mini with the same issue. I was able to confirm that the power board (the small one) was fine since I was able to connect it to a working SNES mini and it would work just fine and I was able to connect the power board from that SNES mini to this board and nothing would happen, thus confirming that it was indeed not the small board. Now it looks like nothing was done inside yet actually and I can't find anything wrong with it, except for the fact that it won't power on at all. I compared the working and the non working board and at least cosmetically I couldn't find anything different... Do you have any recommendations what in particular I should look for?

[@lepterfirefall]

My SNES mini has a loose USB socket. It works but you have to wiggle the cable. I wish I could solder. What a skill.

[@neatt3815]

Original owner probably had a friend that "could do it for cheaper" 😂

[@stevehoare7087]

Don't you just love it when they've tried to solder with a oxy acetylene torch... 😂

[@hgn7811]

Hello 😁 juste being curious since I'm New to this field but I did'nt get the last part involving the 1Volt , could someone please explain this to me ? Thank you 😊

[@randysmith7094]

Even if the board was ok, it probably would NOT power on with just a 5v and ground jumper wire. I tried that with a Playstation classic and it does not work. The board is looking for resistance on pin 4 of the micro USB power port. I think 470 ohms to ground, not sure...

[@Rainbow__cookie]

its like a otg

[@BlakeKane]

Did you try turning it off and on sir? (Before seeing the soldering on socket)

[@KeplerEmeritus]

What is the goo you use when soldering? What does it do?

[@hotlavatube]

Oof, I'm reminded of Adrian's D.B. when he went to repair a board which looked like someone had used a propane torch to remove a chip and ended up scorching and warping the board.

[@joedarkness808]

I would be so tempted just to cut the plug off just to avoid further damage to the board .. good job in avoiding the tracks lifting on the pcb

[@evolity_]

REALLY? nobody noticed the FAKE HAND :D but keep it up, Steve, you're my favourite! :P

[@thegreyman4920]

Could you buy a replacement cpu or would that cost more than it's worth it to fix?

[@jonskitch8082]

That port replacement messed the entire board! Poor Steve.😢

[@tonyperez6573]

Omg, the assasin soldering iron was there hahaha.

[@StezStixFix]

😂 definitely!

[@SatiVaMov]

Where did you get the hoodie from? cant find it anywhere

[@Evermore098]

was it a kid that did this? You got a lot more patients than me I would gave up the moment I seen the burn damage

[@Furball2k]

I've never looked at a board and winced like it was an open wound... until today haha

[@Notpoop906]

yeah looks like they had trouble getting it off and just gave up. basically impossible to remove a surface mount connector like that with the supports and stuff without using some kind of solder sucker / hot air station

[@shawnbyrd4646]

That damn hand scared the hell outta me😂

[@Arsonist42]

clean your iron tip before attempting a joint. use the damp sponge.

[@pieluvr7362]

Don't worry about it 🐻 the bears had a problem like that with Goldilocks

[@callumthomas653]

Someone tripped house with that job 😂

[@quarteratom]

Isn't that what soldering is? You add solder to the connector until it stays on, and it should work?

[@joesshows6793]

Wow! That is wild

[@duncanpaton7344]

Loving the fake hand, I’m late to the party on your videos, but I’m binge watching, keep up the good work

[@trevornewton7072]

Wish I had your smarts and patience

[@ihateevilbill]

Ive seen that kinda damage on HDMI ports before (before the god awful attempted fix). Its usually caused by having a locking hdmi cable and someone not unlocking the hdmi connector before pulling it out. My son pulled the pins right out of his GTX-980Ti doing the exact same thing. Luckily the gfx card had multiple ports so fixing the bad port wasnt urgent. I did eventually get round to fixing it before selling it, right enough. Luckily nothing else blew, so it was a simple matter of replacing the port itself.

[@electron0002]

Time to put a raspberry pi in side the casing

[@StezStixFix]

Great idea, I think that would be awesome! 👍

[@Wenlocktvdx]

That’s one messed up device. My NES was got at but only to the tune of a cut track. Someone cut IRQ and added a wire to rejoin it, didn’t realise they’d cut the next track. All it need was another wire, clean the 72 pin socket at both ends and it was all good.

[@StezStixFix]

Yeah, this one was a mess! Glad you got the NES working, excellent stuff! 👍

[@mypassiveincomehustle4748]

Can I ask what the white liquid is that you put over the soldered areas?

[@michaelmiguelicutti2829]

12:27 If you're talking about this stuff, then it's called soldering flux. It helps the solder flow much better. You technically can solder without it but I wouldn't recommend going without it for repairs like this. Removing parts without it can be a nightmare.

[@IanTheWoodchuck]

I have to wonder if they tried to fix it, shorted all the terminals with the botch job, and then tried to hook it up to a "quick charge" usb wall wart that somehow misinterpreted the short as a signal to ramp up the juice and nuked the port. We may never know!

[@alaricjeard269]

Nice vidéo! Keep going i enjoy your vids and i learn a lot!

[@StezStixFix]

Thanks Alaric! 👍

[@relaxxxrrr]

Yeah, there's clearly a trace going to pin 4 (power cable sense?). This was not going to turn as it was wired.

[@omijharjani]

God this episode I was laughing like crazy!!! especially when he finds the hole Hahahahaha

[@foundatlantis]

the fake hand LOL

[@mikeb2420]

What's the gel frequently used? I'm guessing it has thermal properties that protects the boad from the heat (?)

[@Icefumy]

It's solder flux, it purpose is to get better solder connections.. cooling isn't really intended, though it does cool components a little.

[@mikeb2420]

@@Icefumy Thanks for the reply. After watching a bunch more of his videos, I was able to figure it out. Being pretty new to this kind of work, I'd never seen it applied like that and actually thought a solder with a flux core would be used. Appreciate the feedback to a noob question.

[@starcrashr]

1:00 You've missed a great opportunity for a "de-feet-ing" pun.

[@tybertimus]

Yikes! With something like this, is there anything on the board that makes it worth saving as a donor? Or just altogether a loss?

[@arch1107]

it can be a donor, but cant donate much, mostly i would sell it as spare parts, the plastic case in particular

[@jackal242]

Out of the 100-ish videos of yours that I've watched (can you tell I love your videos?), this is the first one I think I've seen where you were not able to fix it. :( My life is now ruined and I must find a quiet place to go be away from society while I process the damage. 0.o

[@Momanic]

I predicted that the console would've been fried when I saw the corrosion near the micro-usb port

[@jb-dt8gz]

nice work from a hobbyist

[@patdarko3063]

Kid : Dad can we take it to someone to fix? Dad : We can fix it at home......