TIL cleaning NES cartridges with rubbing alcohol isn't enough sometimes

Found a copy of Mega Man 2 at a flea market near St. Louis for 5 bucks last month. Got it home and it wouldn't boot past the gray screen. Cleaned the pins with isopropyl alcohol and a q-tip, still nothing. Tried again with a white eraser on the contacts and that actually did the trick. Now it loads up every time without any issues. Anyone else run into carts that just needed a good eraser rub to work?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray_king23d ago

Ngl I've saved quite a few carts that way. The white eraser trick works way better than alcohol for that crusty oxidation that builds up over decades. Just be careful not to press too hard or you'll wear down the gold plating. If that doesn't work sometimes a pink pencil eraser does the job too since it's a bit more abrasive.

maxb465d ago

Oh great, now I'm gonna have people asking to borrow my pink erasers for their game collection emergencies. Like I run a combination retro gaming repair shop and elementary school supply closet. Honestly though, I tried the eraser trick once and ended up scrubbing so hard I rubbed the gold right off the contacts. My copy of Super Mario World now looks like it went through a war. It still works but it's got that "battle scar" look to it. I guess the moral of the story is don't be me. Use gentle pressure. Or better yet, just buy a new cart if you can find one. But who am I kidding, half the fun is bringing dead games back from the grave.

paige51423d ago

Yeah I used to think alcohol was all you ever needed but after reviving a copy of Castlevania that way I'm totally sold on the eraser method.