Trying to FIX a Faulty NES (Nintendo Entertainment System)

Hi, this 'trying to fix' videos shows me attempting to repair a faulty Nintendo Entertainment System that I purchased from Danny on eBay for £20 ($26, €23). The lockout chip has been done and it still displays a grey screen. The power supply is also not working.
Remember that this is just for entertainment and I am not an expert in these repairs. The processes in the video may not be the best way, the correct way or the safest way to fix these things.
I do love fault finding and trying to fix broken things so I hope that comes across in this 'Trying to FIX' series.
Many thanks, Vince.

[@michaelmay9728]

I’m from the USA, about turn 40 and loved the NES as a kid, this video made my day.

[@MirceaD28]

Here is a Tip to see where to cut the damaged cable. Pull out a single piece a wire and if it's coming out you will see the length, and that length tells you where is the problem and thus where to cut.

[@grrtrixxx]

I know that feeling all too well. "I'm more happy about fixing the lead than I am the NES." It's the same way I felt when after 4 years (I'm a complete novice in the repair sector); figured out that the LCD display for my ACER Aspire 15.6" is an actual Samsung LCD and would work on my Samsung V3 (these are laptops by the way, just for clarification sake). Saved $250 (Parts & Labour) from a local store which would have taken them 10 minutes to fix and they would have told me to come back in a couple of days. It is thanks to people such as yourself whom are passionate to share and semi-educate people on what worked for them for a certain situation. Keep doing what you're doing and thank you. Side Note: from one of your other videos, I dislike ribbon wire as well. Second Note: I know this is an old video that I'm commenting on but I saw what you went through with this system and I wish I knew back then what I know now.

[@reddragoon2423]

I love these type of long un edited for the most part videos of people who just learn. Its very educational and make great background sound! Keep up the great work!

[@amurtigress_mobile365]

28:30 Double-sided boards of that time almost always have vias in them. Basically small copper tubes, so it doesn't matter if the solder goes all the way through-it will, anyway, because it creeps along the inside of the via. That makes it hard to unsolder ICs, but PCBs are also very sturdy. 41:50 This is just a classic transformer (AC in, AC out). It can't hold voltages, only capacitors do. And they're only a concern in switchmode PSUs. Says smartass me ;), but if anybody out there isn't sure what type of power supply it is, do check. 43:00 The continuity you're testing there is going through the copper wire inside the transformer. It's normal, not a short.

[@maviosevisi9705]

Just as a preface, you're a good dude and I don't at all mean to come off ill spirited if I happen to. First off, the port on the bottom was meant for the disc system that Japan had (Famicom disc system, for games like metroid, zelda, Mario 2, etc). Secondly, I've repaired dozens of these, and disabling the lockout chip is absolutely worthless if all you are trying to do is solve the flashing light issue. 100% of the time that issue is fixed by giving the 72pin a vinegar bath, or replacing it entirely. I know you weren't the one who cut the chip lead, just letting you know. Thirdly you didn't hurt anything by reflowing the solder there, but it would have been much faster and cleaner if you used a knife tip, threw down flux and just dragged the iron across. Fourth, fussing with the RF is a waste of time in 2019. It was pretty much a waste in 1989 lol. The composite leads are all you need worry about, as long as you have good picture there you're right as rain. Fifth and final, if you're using 91% IPA you really need not worry about things being dry. Before I even open an NES I completely wet the board in the cartridge, run it in and out of the 72pin a few times, and power straight on. There's so little water in it you should never need to wait on it to dry. Sorry for the novel, hope the read is helpful. Keep up the good work mate! ✌😄

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks for the advice :-)

[@evildiesel1709]

He's doing it for the learning and the feels! I'd want the RF working right too.

[@richardanderson5109]

@@Mymatevince I pretty much agree with James Buress,but with the power supply you cut too much"good" wire off,99.9% of the time the "break"in the "cable"as you call it is at the "strain relief"itself & a fast,simple way to find it is to pull on the wire until the other wire breaks !!!! Before soldering back on tie a knot behind the"strain relief"so that the "cable"can't pull out of the "strain relief" and undo all your hard work and possibly wreck the transformer leads rendering the unit irreparable !!!!!

[@MyRegardsToTheDodo]

@@richardanderson5109 The old SNES power brick had cables that were way too long anyways, that's one of the reasons these tend to break. So cutting off "too much good cable" really isn't an issue on them. They go faulty way more often than the older NES bricks do.

[@WMichaeli]

While I do agree with the RF being a waste of time I was practically yelling at the screen "Check the channel selector!" I remember mine in the US could switch between channel 3 and 4. Channel 4 always came in the clearest for me and 3 would "snow".

[@mullinsjm1]

Any time I see a Nintendo fix it video, I get excited. One of my favorite consoles.

[@Pablus96]

Just love to see when Vince says some device is well and lovely made. That’s when you understand that the joy of watching this videos is not the end result, but the process and the whole videos themselves

[@MichaelBritt23]

Now this era of electronics is what you should do more of! Awesome video!

[@solveit1304]

Lovely video Vince! That part about shaking game while you play it make me smile :) And that adapter - what a result!

[@LinkinForcer]

Absolutely phenomenal repair! I love these videos but especially when you get it all working it just makes it that much sweeter! Congratulations!

[@captain_crazeh]

This fix was absolutely amazing. I loved watching this video. Keep up the great content!!

[@livingbeatles87]

You sir are a genius. I couldn’t stop watching.

[@redashrajal]

man I have been trying to get my orginal nes's to work for 10 years thanks to your video I am not afraid of taking it apart and cleaning it,

[@cassandraclark7359]

Vince is now a Certified Nintendo Entertainment System Specialist!

[@prosenttikeijjjo7869]

All of us are now, because we watched video about repairing one.

[@rocket625]

I’m very sick and it’s a soothing to watch these

[@jkpoynter]

Great job sir! Glad to see the additional exploration on the power supply, and that this repair was done so thoroughly. It makes me want to pull my old NES down from it's cardboard home and do the same! I also like that working mat you have, might have to look into one for myself.

[@Charlie6969]

It's nice seeing someone trying to fix things instead of throwing it out and getting another one. Good job, means there is another working classic out there :)

[@The_Zilla777]

Another fantastic video with a charming soundtrack. Thanks, Vince! I wish you lived closer, I got an Arkanoid cocktail arcade table that's having issues and I could use a hand!

[@AndersVold]

Very impressive and inspiring work! 😊 You didn't give up until everything was working

[@shado2us]

Awesome work, Vince!!! You did an outstanding job with all faults!!!

[@standishgeezer]

Good result Vince, well done. Just a couple of points: 1) You should be testing transformers in Resistance mode (Ohms) rather than continuity. The transformer coils are of low resistance which your meter will give a false indication (beep) of a short. (although, when it beeps, your meter will probably also display the resistance) 2) If a cable is tight fit in the strain relief, smearing the cable with a little bit of soap will help slide it through.

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks mate, I understand transformers now a little bit better from the comments in this video. Cheers for the tips :-)

[@xerxes4863]

If I remember correctly my friend had to say a little prayer before starting a game to get it to work. He also used to have some OCD-stuff going on like knocking the cartridge three times against the table etc :-). Thanks for your interesting videos. It's always nice to see how someone else is going about their repairs. I must admit, you seem to have a lot more patience than I do :-).

[@HeatherVillalta]

"Super NES is the SNES, isn't it?" Yes, yes it is Vince.

[@watchmedraw4340]

I loved this. It reminded me of what my dad used to do. You're probably my age but I used to watch my dad do stuff like this and it inspired me. I became the fix-it guy when at my house.

[@mudokin]

I love that these extremely long nearly unedited videos still get a lot of traktion, somehow better content than the 5 minute 500 cuts talking heads.

[@PackinStackin]

Nice! i love to see old tech get fixed up working good!

[@Vo0d0o2009]

i remember when i was young , ive found a way to see thru walls in mario bros 2 , by shorting randoms contacts of the '' expantion port' with a wire , that was badass

[@earlspencer7863]

How can I replicate this

[@Ahfuds]

Good going Vince, watching you succeed is the best feeling. I love hearing the joy in your voice.

[@Intellivision78]

Using the RF in 2019 is pure love. I am doing it still. Also, I have manage to clean my 72 pin to that point that you do not even need to put the game down for it to work. :) Keep up the good work mate!

[@TreyWait]

You can buy replacement 'pin' sets for the NES. They're not very expensive and given how old, oxidized, and worn out they get after almost 40 years in makes sense to replace them.

[@aldenaoc8847]

My mate Vince: oh yeah I just used some household items just laying around (pulls out a nuclear power core)

[@ZealousWins]

@@Chrislee0709 Trash

[@jased8461]

pulls out a star

[@danielpowers5891]

Pulls out the internet cable.

[@rufsadtin4827]

Gas

[@derekeveleigh3298]

Nice fault finding on the power supply Vince... another good video... keep them coming

[@jiveboysfoods9512]

Vince thanks for making this video.i have now fixed my nes after 10 years of it not working.new sub.whatched so many of your videos over the weekend great channel keep up the great work.Richie

[@TimmgGurtKnobberr]

Vince thought this was a great video. I used it to help trouble Why it my nes and it helped loads. Many thanks 👍👍

[@emnersonn]

Vince is on a roll!

[@JerryAllenMills]

Thankyou very much for the tip at 39:23 about how to get the disk holder to seat. Was trying to reassemble my nes and was having trouble at that step!!

[@michaelharmon9714]

Great job with fault finding! Congrats from arkansas, US

[@matthewstreets9662]

I am very impressed! Thank you for sharing this footage.

[@otopico]

Nothing better than watching something broken coming back to life.

[@DurableTomb]

Every time Vince uses that particular speed up music, I think of the song "Are you happy now, somewhere in the crowd".

[@MrStreetboy80]

So glad you looked into the adapter further and stripped the sheath back to find the root cause of the problem. Great fix 👍

[@trock3935]

I remember it being inconsistent right out of the box back in the day...LOL. Lots of putting the game cartridges underneath my shirt and blowing into it to make it work. Nice video and great job!!

[@jayw5619]

Get a hook pick set and bend each pin down gently, which helps grip the cart better and give a better connection. I've fixed many NES' like that.

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks Jay :-)

[@sebmaziu9677]

Nice repair mate! Even though I would recommend using flux when reflowing the solder, saves you trouble further down the line.

[@ruikazane5123]

And use a hot air!

[@sonicx8101]

Just fixed my NES power brick after watching your video (same issue, broken cable) Thanks!!

[@mrchrome5403]

Amazing video vince i used to love playing duck hunt and the old mario on this when i was younger i can't even remember what happened to my NES i had not a clue but it was well loved epic video mate keep it up! :D

[@phreapersoonlijk]

Lol, I love how proud you are of yourself, and rightly so ! :D

[@welshtony1]

Thanks for this video Vince, I'm considering stripping my working NES and doing some Retro Bright (once I work out the best way to do that) on it and this may help me out.

[@kunnargrupp3948]

Amazing work, as always.

[@dannyhtheretrogamingmaster9548]

Glad you got both the nes and the psu fixed as these classics are always great to keep on working and show what the great granddaddy of all the Nintendo consoles is like compared to the switch. The really cool thing about the old Nintendo consoles is that many of the power and av leads are completely interchangeable with each console - ie the nes and snes use practically the same psu's and the snes, n64 and gamecube all use the same av lead.

[@Mymatevince]

Cheers Danny, the PSU was particularly satisfying :-)

[@therealgrizzly]

NO!!! They do NOT use the same cables! SNES/N64/GameCube use a "multiout" connector on the console side and yes they are the same "connector" on all SNES/N64/GameCube. BUT there are changes in pinout for example using a ntsc cable on pal console will most likely lead to in best case tv/monitor/reciver have a burnt input but more likely the macigsmoke escaping. pinouts.ru/Game/n64video_pinout.shtml *CSYNC/Composite Sync is replaced by +12V on PAL SNES and PAL Gamecube consoles (But not the PAL N64)

[@DEmma1972]

Great fix that I expect from you now

[@zierlyn]

Hi Vince! Going through some of your older videos just to get more of your content. It's been quite a while since you made this video so you've probably learned this by now, but in case you haven't I feel I should mention it. When you test for residual voltage, regardless if the device is AC or DC, you want to check with your meter set to DC since only DC can be stored. The only occasion I can think of where you would want to test for AC on something that has been disconnected from the mains is if there is a Fan or Pump that is still moving due to air or water flow. In those cases, the spinning motor is a generator, and if they are AC motors, AC is what they will generate.

[@davidhaney1394]

believe me , you dont need small fingers to get zapped with those plugs , i have hands like shovels and I`ve been zapped by them many times . I`m an electronics engineer that restores reel to reel tape recorders and many of them come with those plugs on and I`m way too lazy to remove them before I repair the decks . lol . Be careful Vince , you will get zapped by one eventually if you keep using them !

[@WizardSquares]

My favourite channel along with theretrofuture could watch you two all day. Keep it up vince!

[@Leonvolt28]

You could have measured the voltage from the adapter after cutting off the wires. So that you would have been sure that only the wire has gone faulty. Of course you always have to be extremely careful because you're working with high voltages.

[@50t5]

The outcoming cable is obviously bad as there is no continuity on the outer casing of the connector and the other end. Also search google how transformers work, it's quite interesting and this one you have seems to be working ok.

[@Skauber]

Yep, the windings reads as a short because they are effectively a short for DC. You WANT to see a short when ohming the windings, as if you dont, it means the winding has a break. The transformer is perfectly fine, the wire is the one being bad. Replace the wire, and this would be a working power supply. It's a simple transformer, no electronics at all, so there's very little that can go wrong with these..

[@thatsnotthepoint-__-2666]

Hey Vince, hoping all is well. I’m not sure if someone has already mentioned this to you in the comments, but what usually happens with these units is actually due to a flaw. When you insert the cartridge, and lock the cartridge into place with the mechanism, it puts pressure on those pins. Over time, they start to lose a bit of their “spring”. That’s why all future cartridge systems from Nintendo are just a simple friction fit type connector without that push-down mechanism. Best remedy would be to buy a replacement connector. But as someone who fixed several of these, you can actually get them to work again, by sticking a very thin object under the pins and bending them back into place ever so slightly. You don’t want too much force as to dislocate them but just enough to the point that you see a slight difference between s treated and untreated pin. Did this with my unit, and my pins are so tight that I don’t even need to push down on the locking mechanism to get them to play.

[@JessicaFEREM]

Safety tip, if you see any huge capacitors, make sure you take a screwdriver with a non-conductive handle and touch the leads of the capacitor to discharge them, that removes the charge so it removes any chance of you getting zapped by it

[@craigybhoy978]

Great video again Vince,

[@randysmith7094]

I used to clean the connectors on these NES systems all the time. You don't need to take it apart or anything. All you need is a pencil. Shave the pencil tip to a flat edge so it's the width of the cartridge edge connector. The lead should be in the center with some wood on either side. Stick it in the NES connector pins and run it site to side for a while and test your cart. That is it, beats any other method.

[@demos456]

I'm actually jealous of the reliability you have with the games working there. I remember we would sit down and attempt to make it work by any kind of means necessary for however long it took for us to just change our mind about playing a game on that console lol. Sometimes we were lucky, and when we were, someone would stomp on the ground and all our efforts were gone XD

[@brianbaratheon]

I learned something new watching your video. I never knew what that rubber casing on the power supply was called. "Strain Relief" huh? Well, in the US, our NES power supplies were a bit different. The power supply brick went right into the outlet. I think that design caused the wire to be more vulnerable to movement, because I remember going through a few AC adapters when I was a kid. The issue usually starts with a loss of power, which goes away if you jiggle the cable. Then it progressed needing to position the cable a certain way and taping it to the brick so it wouldn't move. Eventually, it would just fail completely due to total breakage.

[@OtherworldJudge89]

VINCENT this is going to be a good one. 1am here in Australia and I should be getting to bed but a new episode of the MMV show has come out and it's sure to be a banger. Mad lad!

[@ShadowD71]

Very good Video. This is the best "How to fix"-Channel i know. Please try more :-) Best Greetings from Berlin / Germany

[@xKatjaxPurrsx]

Now we;re gonna paint a happy little capacitor here... :D

[@thetechexpert4887]

It’s good to reuse and restore retro consoles. Good job👍

[@VirtuelleWeltenMitKhan]

Well done. Very entertaining to watch.

[@ZzNezzerzZ]

All this time watching vince's videos and still learning something new everytime, in this case it's that vince has freckled arms lol

[@MC-es1sl]

If you ever wanted to give the console casing a really good clean and almost restore it to its original colour you can soak the casing in hydrogen peroxide and wrap it in cling film you then place it underneath the UV lamp for a few hours. Old consoles and computers that used very similar plastics used to tarnish and you would get that off white colour the main reason for this funnily enough is to do with UV light.

[@Natei]

We do like simple fixes, nice job mate

[@CLC-1000]

Great video. Nice to see one of these on the channel.

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks :-)

[@CLC-1000]

@@Mymatevince You're welcome.

[@awesome.gaming]

Awesome job, Vince! It makes me want to dust off my original NES and try to get it working.

[@byme8297]

Do it

[@uahgraduate]

You r a genius 👍 now you have two good working nes systems 😎 that's impressive

[@uahgraduate]

To top it all off u fixed the adaptor! Wow that's unreal.... What talent... Good stuff mate that's real tech work for sure 👍

[@billyb7119]

7:21 I did exactly this, trying to pry a plug out of an outlet using a butter knife when I was about six years old. Gave myself a good wallop.

[@abzhuofficial]

Bloody genius - 1 on the RF to phono adaptor and another on the AC adaptor. Well done Vince

[@GrahamTinkers]

The solder balls as you called them are through-hole plated via's and do not require solder, they have solder in them as the board was wave soldered.

[@Dave64track]

Just a tip normally you will find when a cable breaks it's nearly always near where it goes into the device where the strain relief is. The reason why it read on both ends near the transformer is that the transformer winding are a low resistance and so it beeps on both sides when just connected to the good end of the cable. Good repair great job.

[@Wenlocktvdx]

Mine was damaged by some previous "repairer" and all I got was a grey screen. When I took the carriage out to work on the socket, I found a wire had been added to the board, then I noticed a cut track. On closer inspection an adjacent track had also been cut. I added a second wire to bridge that break. I used my SNES power supply as the NES didn't come with one. Yes, NES and SNES used the same power supply. The secondary (low voltage winding) has a low resistance so a continuity tester will show a short. Usually the primary (240V) fails and a short in the secondary can cause the primary to fail.

[@markbennett3400]

Good fix Vince.

[@AdamKeyz]

This was a great video, I love it when a repair goes this well! Maybe you should take a look at "retrobrighting" and get the NES looking as good as new by de-yellowing it. It's a really simple process, you just need a bottle of peroxide creme, a clear plastic bag (vaccum bags work well) and an afternoon of sunshine. The last bit I know is a push for us Brits 😂.

[@doiron12]

He's done a video on retrobrighting. Its a good video!

[@Zu3sUK]

And you were gonna chuck the adapter, you'll fix anything Vice, well done 👍

[@TechGorilla1987]

[@ruikazane5123]

Just say an hour for extra pauses moments

[@Thex-W.I.T.C.H.-xMaster]

It’s fucked.

[@Mrhackerpro8167]

Dont touch it

[@Pillock25]

One of my favourite videos so far, I still don't understand why your back to working on the floor.

[@jdhorton1432]

Aren't you the determined one! Bravo!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@bundesautobahn7]

That is one thing I have come to appreciate about NTSC: To hook up a e.g. VCR via RF, you just tuned to Channel 3, while with PAL, novices had to search for the channel via a search (I don't even remember the RF channel on PAL that I used for my old Atari XE and we used SCART for the VCR back in Germany).

[@williamspruce7084]

Channel 36 in UK , channel 38 to avoid interference with modulator in VCR ?

[@FernandoelChachi]

A tip: If you want to slide something inside something, use soap. It will allow it to go inside and once it dries it's ok (instead of using oil as an example). That's used for example to mount new grips on a bicycle or motorbike.

[@9767shane]

Back in the day I used to repair these as part of my job. You did great! How about a follow up video getting rid of the yellowing from the plastic. Seen some other retro repair vids doing this. Hydrogen peroxide or other commercial products seem to work

[@jeffcole5708]

Be careful of just adding solder to a joint. Unleaded solder mixed with leaded solder will have the properties changed and go very soft, watched it on Ipad Rehab. Love your vids and keep them coming.

[@chrisconlon7970]

Doesn't he just get excited when he finds the problem lmao. Well done Vince.

[@alexdelrio45]

Love your videos!! :)

[@GeMarav]

Great job, well done!

[@sidehustle2478]

change the pin. I use to refurbusb these 15 years ago and resell them on ebay. The one's I use to get all had power, i would clean and change pin worked no problem sold. that was great will you be reselling it now that it is working again. EXCELLENT!!!!

[@maxeimoff2693]

Is the first time that i see this problem Great work

[@TheRex2861]

Awesome! I have the NES mini and it looks just like this one except it does not take cartridges as the games are built into the board. You can download more games to it through your computer which is neat. A+ video:)

[@Litesnip2022]

This brings back some memories lol, mine use to flash the grey screen and I had to move the game a few mm to the side to get it to work,

[@Officer94]

I would suggest you (and everyone else) to replace all the caps in the NES, especially those who are in the AV section. I did that few years ago on mine and the picture quality went up on another level.

[@davekimball3610]

Vince, I don't know how you work on the floor like that, it hurts my lower back to think about it. Can we crowdsource a workbench for you?

[@SwedishRetroTechNerd]

I work on the floor to when i repair things

[@oliverer3]

I do to sometimes when I need extra space and it's actually usually a nice change of pace.

[@dankonion]

I always repair stuff on the floor when im fixing more than one thing at once lol!

[@gamer2k324]

i also crouch and knee when i do things with my pc like change hardware clean etc

[@Wok_Agenda]

My ex could work on the floor no problem

[@mathewburgess5829]

If you haven't already check out "Voultar's" channel Vince. He does console mods and teaches his soldering methods etc.

[@Operational117]

Yet another legendary fix from a legendary KZbinr! That power adapter fix also highlighted your profession extremely well! I am running out of specific titles to give you... I may just simply call you "Jack of All Trades" from now on!

[@DanielMosey]

Really good job!