Game Boy (DMG-01) #1 - Screen repair (Dead columns)

[jhvorlicky]

Just fixed all dead columns! But I didn't apply any pressure to anything, just heated until the screen went completely black and slightly dull/matt looking. Then I stopped heating and let it cool down. All columns back to life! I think it is to do with re-spreading something between the two sheets of glass. Possibly nothing to do with the ribbon cable connection. Next on the modding agenda is LED backlighting.

[Haunted360]

Worked perfectly. Thank you very much!

[urbinax]

hey can you help me? i took a photo with a camera to my gameboy pocket, the flash of the camera made a 2 diameter circle burn on the screen, dont know how to repair :(

[nicolarave]

t I have 4 death lines, horizontal, not vertical, how I can repair that?

[newtwo101]

I have 3 original gameboys 2 made in Japan and 1 made in China i don't know the difference between the china ones and the japan ones. They both work fine and no difference expt that they were made in different countries then.

[MorioKun1]

I've always just ran a soldering iron on the bottom. First remove the plastic strip, then turn on the iron and just keep it moving and never stop and hold it in one spot. Always seemed to do the trick.

[johneymute]

can,t help that i hated the gameboy screen,not only has it issues with response,view dagree angle,poor vissible screen position,poor contrast,dizzy greenish color,but it was also placed way too deep inside the system wich makes the shadow more vissible thus making it harder to see it,also the glossy screen protector couses licht reflection, making it also hard to see.

[PnkyDmn13]

Thanks for the video. I managed to get one of two lines back with a similar method. Unfortunately the "sweet spot" for the other line was farther down the ribbon cable and when in trying to fix it by inserting a piece of cardboard for pressure, now one side of the lcd looks a shade or two too dark. Maybe thats how it always was, but of course I would just notice it now and cant say for sure :P

[flexyldy]

Can I use a hair dryer? 

[misterbearbe]

How do I repair the horizontal lines? Thanks.

[propyro85]

Excellent, now i just need to figure out where to get the security bit needed to open up my gameboy.

[JonnMcNally]

@propyro85 If you mean the tri-wing screwdriver, you can purchase it at nonelectronics or kitsch-bent / (dot com). Two online stores I personally recommend.

[Benem3000]

Ya there are lines on the left of the screen that are out. When I try to fix them they just go straight black. Any ideas as to why? I can still play games because they all together on one side. I fixed the right side already though! ALso replaced buttons and speaker. Gonna get new screen protector, one I have is really dirty and scratched. Also might backlight itf I solve the screen problem. Can you even replace the LCD screen?

[fjodor]

@Benem3000 Your milage might vary I guess. I didn't have that problem though. If I remember correctly the plastic ribbin cables of the LCD screen is soldered directly to the main board. If you're careful with the heat it should be possible to desolder it. However it think it'll be easier to just get another DMG01 as I don't know where to get the new LCD :)

I've actually bought several broken DMG01 off eBay and salvaged pieces from different units to make one working.

[TheEgg185]

@fjodor you might of even bought one from me as i sold mine on ebay for parts. i ripped the whole fuckin black thing right off the screen. wish i watched this video before i fucked with it.

[Benem3000]

Ya but when I try to fix it the lines just go straight black. So idk what wrong. Getting a new screen protector though, mine is really scratched and dirty only 2 or 3 bucks on ebay so ya!. Just replaced buttons and the broken speaker so ya. Pokemon yellow is more fun than the new ones lol! Maybe because catching all the pokemon is actually possible? idk! May backlight it if I could solve the screen prob. Can you even replace the LCD screens?

[9Karma9]

Hey dude, how do you remove a screen cover from the gameboy! PLEASE REPLY

[fjodor]

@9Karma9

Do you mean the whole front or just the little gray piece in front of the LCD? If it's the whole front you'll need a tri wing screwdriver. Just google for it and you'll find several sites that sell them. If you mean the gray translucent piece I haven't tried removing it. But i just think it is glued on.

[luigidude15]

Great video and thanx for the tips!! Tried this on my gameboy. ANd it fixed most lines, but now the some part of the left side is completely white. Darn! Oh well, I prbably just need a new screen. Thanx for the video.!

[fjodor]

@luigidude15 You could try heating it again and placing a piece of thin cardboard on top of the cable on the left side and screw it together again and just let it sit under pressure for a couple of hours and see if this makes it settle correcly

[konnikonni]

Just fixed my DMG by just applying hot air and pressing around on the rubber band. Great!

[fjodor]

@konnikonni Glad to help man :)

[Riddler95]

The speaker in my Gam eboy Pocket stopped working, and the L Button on my Game Boy Advance SP stopped working...

[losinggeneration]

Thanks a bunch. It worked great for me. I don't have a heat gun, so I used a hair dryer instead.

[fjodor]

@losinggeneration Great! Good to know that a hair dryer is hot enough for this to work :-)

[macbookfan33]

I fixed my gameboy with this method, but you need to be careful not to melt anything...

you have to patient!

after you've done it let it cool...

you might get a line or two back, but they will disappear in a day or two...

[PatrickBooya]

You know you can take a soldering iron on low heat to the tape. (not the black strip)

[Mytube5555555]

Hey fjodor, I have been looking into repairing my original gameboy. I was wondering what size tri wing screwdriver is needed for the gameboy... do you know the size, or the model number or something? I've found many sites where I can buy one, but I don't know what size it needs. Most of them are bought by people trying to mod GB advance and SP or DS systems, not the original. Thanks!

[fjodor]

I actually think it's the same size in all of them. That was my impression when I bought mine off ebay.

If you search for pictures on google using the phrase "tri wing screwdriver" you'll find many pictures of one with a red plastic handle. It´s marked "360/*x50 Screwdriver HFA Tools"

[Mytube5555555]

@fjodor Alright, sweet deal. I actually found one this morning online, it had a red handle and I think is the x50 one, for like $1.50 a bargain. Hopefully I'll be able to fix my gameboy when it comes in, there's something loose inside mine and it just doesn't power on, i dont think theres anything wrong with my screen

[fjodor]

I hope you get it to work. You can get quite good deals on DMG-01 off eBay if they are not in mint condition. I bought three and used one for spare parts (I messed it up when i tried to do my first backligt installation)

[Nintendough]

Cool idea!  So did the repair last for you, or do you have missing lines again?

[fjodor]

I did this on two separate units and one of them has lost a column on the far edge of the screen again. But this is hardly noticable as it is not in between working columns :-)

[Nintendough]

@fjodor

Not too bad. :) I decided to try this myself and got all the lines back as well, but sure enough a couple went out again too. So, I don't know if this could be called a complete repair, but it does seem to bring back a LOT more usable screen area.

PS.- I found that my un-active lines came back on again after pulling the power cord (Game Boy switched on) and plugging back in. Interestingly this "trick" worked on 2 different units, and seems to be lasting for now...

[fjodor]

Great that it worked for you! :)

Yes I noticed something similar on the units I did. Some of the columns just wouldnt "stick" when i rubbed with the pen so I gave up. Then I left the units lying around for some hours and had a look at them again and all lines where there :) I do not know if it's due to the batteries being removed or just the glue on the connector strip that has been heated that "settles in" better when it cools down. I would think it's tha latter though.

[Nintendough]

@fjodor

Yes, the heat seems the most significant. However, pulling the plug/plugging back in (all within about 1 second) has immediately restored the missing lines (twice!) on the 2 units I've heated which had blank lines return the next morning. I'm just not sure *why* this works exactly, but seems like a good one to have in the Game Boy "bag 'o tricks".

Thanks for your hints, tips & input! :)

[elcheapouno]

have you ever used a blow dryer?

[fjodor]

I've actually ony done this twice (on the two units I installed backlight in, see my other videos). I bought a cheap heat gun for the purpose ( around 150 SEK / 20 USD ), but this one only had two heat settings. It might have been a good idea to have one that could use lower heat as the screen turned black pretty quickly.

That said It might work with a hot blow dryer if you have some kind of muzzle on it that direct the air to a small area.

[elcheapouno]

thanx for the tips ma man!

[elcheapouno]

great vid bro!!

[fjodor]

Thanks, glad to help :-)