NES Flashing Light/Game Problems Fix

[CanadianRocker123]

I did everything as you did, and it went from a flashing black and white screen to just a solid white screen, any suggestions? Thanks, your video was helpful too!

[paintballplayer37]

dont use sandpaper use a 600 emery cloth it works a whole lot better

[lfant9412]

works. completely. first mistake i made was that it needed to be SHINY. but it was a silver color. I kept sanding it and eventually I got a good warm copper orange color on the contacts. Also, I noticed the carts entered the console much easier than before. But this is it. it works.

[RonniesKetchup]

Would it work if I just replaced the 72 pin connector?

[RonniesKetchup]

I cleaned my NES just like you did in this video and it made no difference.when I turn on the system I just get a blank white tv screen.

[delatroy]

".. dirty carts" lulz *butthead laugh

[joe123452]

what grade of steel wool did you use?

[Prashant3Agrawal]

Which material did u use for cleaning the catridge?

[Bp323]

Well done and thanks! Very clear, informative, much appreciated!!!

[SPRUILL96]

I have none of those tools WTF!!!!!!!!!

[ProductionLG]

If this is not working, dont throw your 72 pin conenctor away, try unpluging the 4th pin on the so called U10 chip thats behind the NES, that 4th pin doesnt allow you to play some copyright games that are made in China etc, check out my video about that part, there is a picture of showing you which pin should you remove to make the BLINKING stop.

[GamerEddie058]

Ha i know a much much more simpler way but you gotta watch my video on it

[BrainBustah00]

For all the nostalgia this system is a fucking hunk of junk!...

[SuperDoctor16]

i did this and my system is still doing the blinking light thing and i even cleaned the cartridge of the games to make sure they werent the problem if any one can help me it would be greatly apreshiated

[Jupicia]

You saved my Nintendo! Thank you!

[jestonholland14]

Story of my life.

[0SUPER0DRAGON7]

Exelent video,thanks for help ! ! !

[LightHayashi]

I use a very strong mini brush (similar to a toothbrush) to de-oxidize the pins, sand paper seems a bit dangerous to the pins themselves.

[nolyiscool]

Screw this imma play xbox.

Jk If i could bring all the old games back i would.

[SCBianchi]

This stuff works, i have used some of his tricks. i cant reccomend the steel wool, but super FINE grit sand paper rocks, works best wet. I also reccomend grabbing a can of 'electrical connection cleaner' from the auto parts store. Also if using compressed air, I'd say make sure not to have an in line or automatic tool oiling system attached that causes the air your blowing to leave a small amount of oily residue, which is perfect for tools and car parts that rust, but i dont know about the NES.

[itsbritneystar]

this totally worked!!!! thank you

[VikutaaChyaaruzu]

2 people didn't follow your directions, Luke. I, on the other hand, bought a 12-pack of steel wool and fine-grit sandpaper... and I restored my toaster-type NES in full working condition.

As for the games I have, it takes a while for them to get used to the fix.

[jerkythesandpiper]

So I'm just gonna take this hammer here and now I'm just gonna hammer the oxidation off the pins now. Shine those contacts up a bit. Alright good as new.

[pFd11]

Did not work for me... I'll order a new 72 pin connector I guess.

[Harp00nX]

Thanks worked a treat on a used nes i picked up. Was gonna disable the region lockout chip too but decided to leave it as i dont have any import games just now.

[Musicmaddnes]

This actually works to bad I have to high of voltage plug for it... I can't find the original.

[gramps217]

this worked for me thanks alot luke :)

[erickbond008]

@eqwwac i hope luke survive to the earthquake

[MLGxCoNkErZxBFD]

Dude......... i fucking love you instant subscribe

[waynehoolan]

life saver thanks a ton

[McGinge90]

You have made my husband a very happy man !! Thank you soooooo much xx

[beyondredemption871]

Don't you have a show on the food network, too?

[kongman87]

thanks dude i love you now XD

[shotdavisROTA]

This works! First try..

[Francyesko]

but any one in America. why did you get in this state?

[zombiekittie619]

thank you so much

[Francyesko]

why the tv is japanese?

[ryanc519]

@Francyesko he lives in Japan that's why.

[Blu3storm]

Thanks for the great explanation. It is very annoying to watch the NES flashing in different colors.

[killoger]

i just jump over the whole steel wool and just used finn auto body sandpaper and it worked out i think a lot faster my pins were gray and with the sandpaper they were brass work great and i love it thank you man. i have done it with 3 nes and it works all the time

[JTD1625]

I Took My 72 pin thing and soaked in in hot WASHER SOUP in the seekk and the risned it out..Was that a pistake or is that ok.?

[killoger]

@JTD1625 well if you got out all the soup then it not going to hurt it. next time you should just 90% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL just because it evaporates faster than water and it leaves no residue. if you have hard water that can happen and then you just mad it a pain in the ass.

[2DX2]

This didn't work :(

[killoger]

@2DX2 work for me i well have a video up doing it.

[hellafunbumchum]

After all that, mine still doesn't work :/

[Oscy]

Weird thing: My NES' screws are suddenly very hard to screw in and part of the front of the bottom casing has warped inwards (under the game cartridge lid) further and further.

It's got the point where I can't screw in 2 of the screws for the metal plate and I also have to put the top casing on without screwing, with a bit of it sticking out (due to the bottom's inward warping).

Anyone else encountered this strange-to-infuriating phenomenon?

[erickbond008]

00:30 the jap letters it means Game in Jap letters

[Lagomorph01]

Hey thanks man!

This really worked out for me!

I thought I could throw the thing away, but thanks to you IT LIVVVESSS!!!

Another thing to use might be regular paper, the steel wool does scratch the pins enough, but it might leave traces of metal. Normal paper scratches the pins just enough without leaving traces.

Thanks again!

[TDRAWTSproduction]

i.love.u thank u soo much

[spyrothehuman]

ive got 3 nes's that i dont use

[esss123]

my NES keeps flashing the red light -reseting- even if I don't put any cartridge in it.. is cleaning the connector will solve my problem here or is there some kind of a damage 'causing that ?!

[patsmlY]

thancks for the information 

[neal1231]

i have an extra NES that had alcohol in the pin connecter (don't ask why) would i be able to fix that at all (it doesn't even read games)

[ThePacman4999]

At about 0:17 That happened To Zelda, my fav Nes Game (Besides Pacman). :(

[cooldude11011]

LoL i had this system back 10 years when i was India. It turns out cockroaches had laid eggs in it, and it was giving me the flashing red light error.

I wish someone i knew who had internet back then(or a computer....)

[NostalgiaKing]

This really, really helped! Just got a NES that doesn't work too great at the moment, so this helped a lot! We miss ya, Luke!

[icemansquared]

It's beautiful to be able to play my NES games again. Great tutorial! I can't thank you enough!

[NeverNegative]

I must say that that looks like it works. But im 14 and im not risking me fucking it up haha. Thanks though. Hot damn. :( Now im sad... Cant play LOZ...

[platoon10041]

Must say thanks as I followed the instructions and have two that I bought in a secound hand store that did not work but do now. I really did not think I could do it but I did.

[MrRodrigez]

try popping in the game, pushing it down, then pulling it out as much as you can while it's still pushed sown, usually works for me

[Nick28th]

rubbing alcohol, i don't recommend steel wool or sandpaper unless you are in the extreme.

[MrBeJeCa95]

Great Video!

[auburn722]

Does work but not always

[wasupwithyou22]

thank you, now i can play my NES. =)

[padmescurl]

here is a lot quicker way push it down alot then wiggle it up a little after boot the game up and it works

[thatguyontheright1]

@padmescurl That wrecks your carts

[Nomercypercy129]

it really worked ..thanks ... we kinda mixed it up we used just a tooth brush and everything is working

[Poketrader18]

An eraser works really well in place of steel wool.

[x1ic1x]

didnt work for me

[x1ic1x]

funna try this shit today :D

[Kryckan882]

I love you right now!! my Nintendo started after that cleaning :) thank you!!! =D

[ACCardShark]

Thank you, luke ... GREAT video, I'm going to try this tomorrow!

[Medaka350]

I'm just now finally opening my NES up to do something to it....f'ing thing pissing me off so much I finally had enough haha

[NostalgiaKing]

Very interesting video! This is actually the first time I've ever seen the inside of a NES. Thanks!

[noahmart]

OH MY GOD THANK YOU

[misterintellivision]

thanks luke

[weblefeck]

DUDE! U've just fixed my NES! I paid like £1.50 for it because they guy didnt know if it worked or not, and it didnt. But thanks to you now it does! Thank you!!!!!!!

[codybiroth]

I did this and now it show Mario and Duck hunt, but the cursor keeps going up and down. No controllers are attached, and when the controllers are attached they don't work.

[JaymzGamez]

In that case, your controller ports are probably either screwed up or dirty. Try taking out the controller ports and giving them a clean and see if that works. If not, then it's fucked.

[codybiroth]

I gave up on it. I already have 2 other working NES'. I have spare Controller ports, when I am bored I will try that.

[jhonrobert96]

wat if the game from philippines can i play it on my NES in america that was bought here

[edge0087]

my game play is coming out all jumbled any one know how to fix this. I already cleaned it out t\with the steel wool and sand paper

[edge0087]

ok now i just get a grey screen

wtf

[JackSparrow424]

buy a nes 72 pin connector... cost about 10 dollars on ebay ;D it fixed my nes ;D

[WSGTTV]

i done this about month ago to my nes

[Elex163]

I got out my nes from the closet and wasn't working so well. I bought the supplies needed to fix it, steel wool sand paper and a game bit for the games. Did everything u did now my nes works practically brand new and my games that I use to have trouble gettin em to work. Thanks alot appreciate it. You the man!!

[das21898]

Good vid.

[Roehm21]

Well I checked out your video earlier. Afterwards I remember that my wife has her 2 old NES in the closet. They didn't work any, had that whole blinking light problem.

So I took it apart, did what you said and what do you know it works. Not 100% when you first turn it on, but a reset usually corrects it. Me thinks its because the games are a little dirty.

Thank you for making this vid. It surely saved me a few bucks and now I have a working NES again. Thanks and keep it up.

[kinxofsepluv]

You should be using Flux, not rubbing Rubbing Alcohol. And your steal wool just makes me shudder. If your system had a charge still, you could seriously damage it.

[gutterguy720]

Would I be able to use the steel wool and sandpaper on SNES and games?

[Tobibrocki]

Hey Luke, what about bending up the pins, is that a good idea or not? Does that help making contact aswell?

[EarthwormJim55Alt]

My NES's lockout chip is disabled so it cant blink.

[Bibleteen2]

Great video like always, Luke! :D

There is another way of getting rid of the blinking red light/blinking screen problem, and getting rid of it for good.

When I start making videos again, I'll make a video showing an easy mod that will get rid of the blinking red light/blinking screen problem for good! :)

Besides making reviews and other videos, I'll also make some repair videos as well! :)

Great videos like always, my friend! By the way, I got your recent message. Thanks again! :D

[kubevubin]

Is there any particular reason that you use steel wool on some contacts and sandpaper on others? Wouldn't sandpaper work just fine on all of them?

[gsp2241]

The steel wool cant fit in the tiny space between the pins

[kubevubin]

I realize that, but why not just use sandpaper the entire time?

[gsp2241]

Probably because steel wool is better, but when you cant use steel wool go with sandpaper, if you dont have steel wool, I'm sure you could just use sandpaper. I will be trying it today because I'm depsperate and the new 72 pin connector i bought just broke, so I'm going back to the old one.

[RomeoGoesRetro]

Great stuff luke. didn't know about the steel wool, I always use alcohol and a cotton buds.

[SS4Moku]

Awesome fix to something everyone has had a problem with over the years. I'll have to tell my friend about it :)

[elcarohw]

nice tip i will keep in in mind the next time my nes goes red !!!!!

[darris5000]

i didn't work i found out the pin conecter is scroid so i have to buy a new but thanks for the help so now i know if does it again i can fix it

[elzato1975]

Good vid man , I was cleaning mine along with your video....very cool...

[demonicloud]

oxidized? can you explain what that means and what it looks like?

[sugoidave]

Oxidized means its exposure to air (oxygen) causes a chemical reaction. Rust is an example of oxidization.

[mikez2]

Usually happens because of humidity and people blowing into the system.

[KieranD212]

glass paper lol i thought it would damage the pins i must be mistaken

good tips luke

[interghost]

Nice work!

[Anthology22]

i have a question i have a snes it powers up but i dot get a picture

am trying to get some tmnt fighters going plz help

[METROIDFAN258]

I use 409 Window Cleaner for cleaning contacts on games. Spray a little on a Q-tip and then rub until the Q-tips come out white. It works great for removing dirt and oxidation.

[anon6655]

I hope YOUR not bashing Luke, he'd probably kick your ass...

[KieranD212]

no he wouldnt hes a nice guy hed probly frown on you for saying that he would do that

calm it

[EarthwormJim55]

you have an NES?

[jecafer245]

he did a unboxing

[Nintega]

You can also get rid of the 10NES chip which seems to be the main cause of the infamous "blinking".

[HalfBlindGamer]

Helpful stuff man, and wel explained!

[MGSF4N4TIC14]

XO lol luke you should be a doctor when ever a system fails in japan they could just take it to you and you can perform your surgery

[JakkuXsama]

Thanks Again Luke You're My Savior, I Fixed my NES today using your method (I also disabled the lockout chip making it region free) My NES actually works now and almost always first time! I don't even have to blow or anything. THANKYOU ^^

[mjkurtzman]

I have 2 NES systems that had the 72-pin connector replaced, but it still didn't work that great.

It's awesome to know that all I really need to do is use the steel wool.

Thanks!

[tjalle]

Seriously, I was just browsing your vids yesterday and couldn't find "THIS" Video because it just wasn't there yet. Only found the Famicon Cleaning video. I tried to do the same to my nes with the plastic card and wet cloth. But with no Result I'm trying out this method right now. I will keep you guys and specially you Luke posted!.

- Tjalle

[elmo23househead]

nice

[NathansGaming]

ussualy it just fixes the promblem if i clean the cart.

And i would probably screw something up if i did that

[breedseeds]

nice video, i was just about too clean up my NES and some old games so it was great too watch, u know the name of the screwdriver used for opening nintendo games?

[Enfeeblement]

Really helpful vid, Luke!

[BerserkOdin]

Fantastic video,Luke.

This is seriously gonna help me out.

[kennytheamazing]

you should remove the lockout pin on that system ;) takes 2 seconds and lets you play import games and unofficial carts.

[Doom2Guy]

I heard using an eraser to clean the contacts works too

[Doom2Guy]

Thank god the NES uses regular screws instead of that "game-bit" crap

[ZeldaGameGod]

nice, dude. i could do this with my nes that has the same problem. thanks

[OneHalfOfTheSketch]

Great video. I'm getting this alot, and have been avoiding the situation for ages. I'm definitely gonna try this.

[NappaWesker]

Very usefull vid! thanks Luke :D

[SteveBenway]

I mean 72pin connector... lol

[SplatterTrigger]

I remember back in the early 90's (maybe 93,94?) I bought a kit that came with instructions on how to clean up your NES,SNES,TG16,GB and Genesis and take it apart to do so. I haven't actually done it in years but its nice to have you bring me back in time luke!I love the wealth of info you put out for everyone. Take care man and keep it up.

[SteveBenway]

Great video Luke, and very helpful.

My NES has suffered the blinking light problem since I got it last year, and I'd always had to jiggle the carts about to make them work. I'd seen a few suggestions about how to fix this, but never realised how easy it was to get to the 27pin connector, till I saw your video.

So, I did things exactly as you describe, and Yay! My games fire up first time now.

I'll be able to do a Marble Madness vid now, coz I couldn't make that one work at all before. :D

[JerryTerrifying]

It would have been hilarious if it worked the first time.

[legatodark]

lol I Just got another NES last night and thats what happend to my nes I got the blinking light so what i did was Open it up and lift the Connecting Pin with a small flat head screw driver and it work but I'm going to try it your way ^_^ with the stee wool thanks for the tip Luke

[james42519]

i am pretty sure it is bent pins more then just dirty connectors. think about it. you are pushing the game down to play it all the time over time they are going to bend. nintendo messed up with the zif zero insertions force)connector. i got a new connector and i don't even need to push the game down anymore. why you using RF instead of the AV on the side? AV would be better quality.

you shouldn't have to do anything with the connector that goes to the board. it is pluged ina nd never taken off.

[james42519]

so it don't have a chance to wear out. like i said the pins bending on the nes is a lot more likely then them getting dirty. look up some videos on how to change it. sure you seen the video mn12bird did on that.

[Dennoman2007]

Wow, that's a great fix. My last NES had the red flickery light problem, but I apparently hooked it up wrong and it short-circuited, not only breaking itself but my tv as well -_-

[james42519]

impossible. there is no way you could do that now. it is the same thing with a dvd player or vcr. you hook it up backwards it just don't work is all. switch the video and audio cables on the nes would just make it not work not mess stuff up. switch them around and it will work again. i don't see how it is possible to hook RF up backwards.

[Dennoman2007]

It's weird, I don't know how the hell I did it, but my TV was on, I switched the NES on, saw a red flash and ever since then I couldn't turn it on without it smelling like burnt circuits within like 5 seconds.

[james42519]

what did yo hook up wrong?

[wiips3gamer]

do you know how clean famicom pins connectors, my famicom is very dirty inside and not sure how clean it. still plays only video not so clear.

[alecjahn]

Simple fix, but one of the most useful vids ever.

[cana77]

very good vid Luke as usual!

[moomert1]

5 stars man. sweet fix!

[TheLimbuzzard]

Does this work for most cartridge based consoles (obviously with a different way of getting to the connectors)

[alecjahn]

Of course, of course! Everything else is, obviously, a hell of a lot easier to do, since you don't have to tear the entire machine apart just to clean the damn thing!

[TheLimbuzzard]

Yeah, I was just wondering if the wool damages any consoles worse than others...But, yeah, I guess that was a common sense thing -Will be quiet now-

[DragonHunterG]

i'm gonna start using some steel wool when i need to because ive used rubbing alcohol and it's not been 100%

[MNC122703]

If you just want to clean the pins an emery board will work perfect have the same result and you dont even have to open the system , but new 72 pins are not too costly your best bet is just to replace it once every 20 years

[PhatPhunk]

Cool guide Luke! Might come in handy when I get a NES in the future. Thanks!

[GatCloudx]

nice video man im love retro games im thinking of getting a nes but i keep finding overpriced ones

[je10227]

man you rock. just did this to my nes, popped a game in, and worked like a charm :D

[Medaka350]

Pop this open, sand some of that! Shouldn't you do that away from your NES so you dont blow all the metal bits all over the place in it hehe.

One of these years I'm going to do this to my NES one day, but I'm so damn lazy I never have. I actually bought a brand new connector about 7 years ago, but never installed it :)

btw, you can let your video run to like 10:59 and youtube will still allow it.

[james42519]

it is not hard to install just look online if you need help. easy slid old one off and put new one on.

[joestradamus75]

Hmm? I always thought the problem with the blinking light was to do with the pins on the 72 pin connecter being bent from pushing down on the cartridge. What I did was bend back the pins, which was hard to do, and mod that security chip. I never thought about oxidation inside the nes, just on the cartridges.

Now that the pins are bent back in place, the cartridges are a little harder to stick in, but I don't need to push down on the tray to make it work.

[erbwars]

hey man great video thanks for the advice i just been replacing the 72 pin every couple of years and cleaning the games with rubbing alcohol but this way seems more superior and more of a permant fix great video

[arthurspilling]

There are already 1,000,000 versions of this type of videos on youtube + teh internets, but you introduced a new technique (to me anyway) for fixing this problem. Kudos.

[TheDevilBurning]

awesome man :D gonna give this a try on my own NES isntead of just buying a new 72 pin connector :)

[ringrosehouse07]

great tips

[transparencypro]

will this for the connecter on the nes version 2?

[Maximusmadrica]

That was PRO!

[radioactivegamer]

nice dude, I'll have to try this tomorrow!

[shitassfuckcunt]

PENIS!!!!!!!!!

[ringrosehouse07]

wow you need to get laid or take a prozac.

[Brok3Nintendo]

he has a child.....