What are you prepared to do to get your console working again?

[arpaillange]

Remember back in the days of the NES, when you had to blow into cartridge in desperation trying to get Super Mario Bros to boot one more time...? Well this is kinda like that.

That's my launch 360. It's seen better days, and obviously it's out of warranty hence why it's been torn apart. I've flashed it for backups (silent read mode) while my unflashed 360 on the left plays all my originals.

See that giant cotton bud sitting on the disk tray? Last month the laser started playing up - games wouldn't read anymore, discs would spin forever but never get past the intro, and so on. I accidentally noticed while trying to boot GTA that if you press your finger down ever so slightly on the disc while it's booting, the laser gets a proper read on the DVD and you can actually play the game. The catch? You need to have your finger pressed on the disc all the time.

So I fashioned a "disc presser" out of a bent paperclip and a bit of cotton wool (real ghetto) which slots into the part of the disc tray where the chrome tray hooks on. And unbelievably, it works. The DVD motor may burn out in the long run, but hey - it wouldn't read anything at all before so this is one hell of an improvement. I can always buy another drive on ebay when this one does decide to kick it.

So, how far are you prepared to go to get your out-of-warranty consoles working when they fail? Would you start ripping them apart and fiddling with the components, or just chuck it and buy another?

[Captain Toss]

A few months back, I got fed up with the poor touch-screen accuracy on my out-of-warranty DS Lite. Having tried the toothbrush method, I decided there was no other option apart from buying a new touch-screen and installing it myself*. After opening the DS up about five times over the last month, I've finally got it working properly (you'd be surprised how sensitive it is - one out-of-place cable inside the DS can put pressure on it and mess it up), except that the very last time I closed up the DS, I wasn't paying attention, and accidentally snapped the power switch off. So now I have to stick a screwdriver in my DS every time I want to turn it on or off.

*(actually, I've heard Nintendo are pretty good about repairing stuff like this, even out of warranty, but I was feeling adventurous)

[Hitcher]

Sounds like the laser just needs realigning.

[Harry]

That's pretty cool. Bet you felt quite proud of yourself when it worked after doing that small "trick", I usually do when fixing other things.

Do you always leave the case off now because of it? It must keep it a lot cooler (minimilizing chances of RRoD) but in turn lots of dust must get into the system.

[donpeartree]

What's the toothbrush method? My DS is slightly out of whack on the botton edge and top-right edge.

Not enough to warrant sending it off for repairs, but enough to make insane mode on Ouendan really fucking annoying (more than usual, anyway).

[arpaillange]

That's pretty cool. Bet you felt quite proud of yourself when it worked after doing that small "trick", I usually do when fixing other things.

Do you always leave the case off now because of it? It must keep it a lot cooler (minimilizing chances of RRoD) but in turn lots of dust must get into the system.

It slides under the desk, I just keep a bit of plastic over it when it's off to keep dust out.

Yeah, I love it when a trick works. How do you realign the laser, Hitcher?

[arpaillange]

What's the toothbrush method? My DS is slightly out of whack on the botton edge and top-right edge.

Not enough to warrant sending it off for repairs, but enough to make insane mode on Ouendan really fucking annoying (more than usual, anyway).

Is it a DS phat or lite? I think the toothbrush method works better on the old DS. Check the Nintendo site, should be a guide on there.

[Floshenbarnical]

I really like fixing things.

One time in 2003 I got fed up with Vice City on the last mission and stamped on my PS2, a decision which I immediately regretted.

Opened it up as it was out of guarantee and found that I'd ruined the disc drive and broken ome weird-shaped thing so I went to my local games store, the manager of which I was friends with and got a broken PS2 they were going to throw away. Opened that up. switched the components over... But alas I couldn't fit it all back in the housing so it just lay open (but working) like a gutted fish.

EDIT: To get a faulty out of warranty 360 working again, I'd take it from six different men at once.

But the 360 hasn't been out for three years yet so they're still covered by M$'s 3-year manufacturers guarantee...?

[Sigourney Beaver]

The TV out on my Speccy went a bit dodgy towards the end of its life so I tried a couple of methods to get it working. The first was to hold the plug in the position where it got the picture and tape it in place. This didn't really hold it too well so I ended up holding it in place with a big lump of blu-tac.

Happy days

[donpeartree]

Is it a DS phat or lite? I think the toothbrush method works better on the old DS. Check the Nintendo site, should be a guide on there.

It's a DS Lite.

I can't seem to find the information. Can I get a quick rundown of what it is? If it doesn't involve opening the ds, then i'm interested.

[arpaillange]

It's a DS Lite.

I can't seem to find the information. Can I get a quick rundown of what it is? If it doesn't involve opening the ds, then i'm interested.

http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/suppor...te_159_154.html "Cleaning Foreign Material (e.g. crumbs) from the Edges of the Touch Screen"

If your Touch Screen is not responding properly, and you have found foreign material between the Touch Screen and the housing of the Nintendo DS Lite, try the steps below to remove the foreign material.

A brand-new, soft to medium-bristled toothbrush.

Do not use any liquid or cleaning solution, as this may damage the system.

The Touch Screen cleaning process should only be performed when foreign material is visible.

1. Hold the Nintendo DS ite so that the edge of the screen that you need to clean is at the top.

2. Use your thumb to gently press down on the screen near the edge that you wish to clean to make a slight gap between the screen and the housing. This will make it easier to brush out the particles.

3. Press the bristles at the top of the toothbrush under the gap that you have made. The plastic part of the toothbrush should not touch the screen at all, since the hard plastic may damage the screen.

4. Gently move the bristles from side to side to brush out the particles. When you are finished, check to see that the particles have been removed.

5. lf you are unable to get the particles out, press a little more firmly on the screen or use a slightly stiffer toothbrush.

6. Repeat steps 2-5 for any other edges that have visible contamination. (You may need to recalibrate the Touch Screen after cleaning.)

If the above steps do not solve the problem, your system will need to be repaired. Click here for repair information.

[donpeartree]

Ah I see. Sadly, it's not due to foreign bodies.

[Harry]

It slides under the desk, I just keep a bit of plastic over it when it's off to keep dust out.

Yeah, I love it when a trick works. How do you realign the laser, Hitcher?

You could buy some large wire mesh to cover it, sticking one side down so you can still access the insides but prevent the dust from getting in at the same time, whilst still keeping it all cool. Just an idea.

[arpaillange]

Ah I see. Sadly, it's not due to foreign bodies.

Are you definitely sure about this? I had the same problem with my sister's DS, a lot of stuff had gotten under but I couldn't get it out with the toothbrush. Nintendo charge £50 for repairs after the warranty has expired (I think, don't quote me on that) so I just opened it up and cleaned it properly. Worked fine after that.

You do risk completely breaking it though.

[arpaillange]

You could buy some large wire mesh to cover it, sticking one side down so you can still access the insides but prevent the dust from getting in at the same time, whilst still keeping it all cool. Just an idea.

Good idea, as long as it won't short the insides! The metal case is exposed as you can see.

I'm absolutely amazed my launch 360 is still going. Never had a RROD or any of the associated problems with it, at all - playing Ninja Gaiden II now and it's working like a charm.

[Captain Toss]

It's a DS Lite.

I can't seem to find the information. Can I get a quick rundown of what it is? If it doesn't involve opening the ds, then i'm interested.

In my DS Lite-repairing adventures, I've realised that the plastic frame around the screen isn't actually part of the casing - it's just glued to the screen. So if you're feeling really daring, you could probably prise it off with a knife and give it a proper clean that way, then stick it back on, without actually opening the DS. I think. You have to take it off if you want to replace the screen yourself anyway, so it might be worth a shot before ordering a new screen, or sending the whole thing off to Nintendo.

Although obviously I take no responsibility if the entire thing explodes in your eyes.

[christaylor]

EDIT: To get a faulty out of warranty 360 working again, I'd take it from six different men at once.

[Floshenbarnical]

Good idea, as long as it won't short the insides! The metal case is exposed as you can see.

I'm absolutely amazed my launch 360 is still going. Never had a RROD or any of the associated problems with it, at all - playing Ninja Gaiden II now and it's working like a charm.

Same. Saying that, I'm about to turn it on and I'm going to cry if it dies

[Tequlia]

[anders limpar]

My 360's just developed a fault where, after ten or so minutes of use, it will switch to a 256 colour mode which applies itself to the blades as well as the in game graphics. Looks like something is on its way out but it's out of warranty - what's the best way of making it RROD so it gets fixed for free? I sure as shit am not paying 80 notes to get a reconditioned one that will die after six months.

[Floshenbarnical]

My 360's just developed a fault where, after ten or so minutes of use, it will switch to a 256 colour mode which applies itself to the blades as well as the in game graphics. Looks like something is on its way out but it's out of warranty - what's the best way of making it RROD so it gets fixed for free? I sure as shit am not paying 80 notes to get a reconditioned one that will die after six months.

Hey man the 360 is still less than 3 years old so it's still covered by Microsoft for repair under their 3-years manufacturer's guarantee no matter when you bought it...? Or is that just for RROD

I hear if you wrap it in a towel it'll do it. But the newer models that have HDMI sockets are less susceptible to it

[choddo]

Or is that just for RROD

That.

[Floshenbarnical]

[Capwn]

Just get a PS3 or Wii. They don't break. Ever.

[Afternoon Delight]

Replaced the noisy fan on my v7 Fatty PS2 some years ago with the nice quiet fan from a v9... surprising how much you have to take apart just to replace the fan! Hmmm... silence!

I had the Dreamcast in pieces and attacked it with a soldering iron earlier this year... bloody lid switch.

Fixed it though.

Actually the DC is a marvel inside, very nicely put together (except that lid switch of course).

Also had a DualShock2 open once because I broke the R1 trigger... literally pushed it too hard and broke part of the casing off inside that holds it in place.

Generous dab of superglue and it still works today!

[Floshenbarnical]

Just get a PS3 or Wii. They don't break. Ever.

IIRC 80% of PS3s shipped to the US were faulty...

[TehStu]

IIRC 80% of PS3s shipped to the US were faulty ^{[citation needed]}

[Spacehost]

IIRC 80% of PS3s shipped to the US were faulty...

Eh?

Anyway, while it pales in comparison to the kind of hoodoo magic rituals required to make my C64 and Amiga games load, I did have to take my PS2 apart twice to realign the laser. I know it's probably on its way out, so now I've got a 200GB HDD in the thing and I use HD Advance to rip the games I want to play then just boot them from the HDD instead.

Did you know there's an orange HDD access light inside the PS2's front grill?

[Floshenbarnical]

IIRC 80% of PS3s shipped to the US were faulty [citation needed]

I agree, I read it on a returns chart thing at work and once on the internet but I can't find the link

If I could afford a 60GB PS3 again I'd get one but I bought a car since I traded it in.

[Jam_sponge]

I think the question lingering in everyone's mind remains this:

If you could be assured to have your RROD 360 replaced within ten minutes, would you suck off a tramp?

Discuss.