Conference rusure::nintendo

       Sounds like your control deck is getting some dust. Do you
    keep it on the floor uncovered?  Try elevating the unit and if
    possible buy a dustcover or store it in a cabinet. For more
    troubleshooting hints take a look at topic #62. Good luck!

-rick

       I`ve had this problem and others over 2+ yrs of
    using system........contacts become very dirty on
    finger contacts of game cartriges,,,,,remove screws
    and open cartrige up note postion and remove small
    module get an ink yes I say ink eraser and clean
    your contacts this should stop most problems that
    you may encounter.......         Edski
    

    I've had the problem with the program coming on the screen scrambled.
    When this happens it is the same on all the cartridges so its the
    system box and not the cartridges. I keep the door closed on the
    system box but don't have it under a dust cover. I just tried blowing
    out any dust and making sure when I insert a cartridge that it gets
    depressed all the way. After a few tries the problem seems to clear
    up. I've called Nintendo repair on it and they said they'd have
    to see the box to find out the problem. I didn't want to incur the
    charge and wait a month to get the box back so I didn't send it
    in. This happens infrequently, probably about 6 times in the past
    two years. I've heard of some other folks who've experienced the
    same thing on their system as well. Perhaps its a bug.
    
    Aloha
    
    Hawaii_Harry
    

    I've had this happen to me (that is the opening screen is broken up
    when the game is first inserted and turned on), and I've just gotten
    my set three weeks ago. It's only happened once so far. I took out
    the cartridge and reinserted it a few times and then it was okay
    again. I keep my unit on a shelf above my TV and I always leave
    the door shut, so it shouldn't have a dust problem. Maybe its a
    bug, though I don't know much about how these things work--I'm a
    physicist not an engineer!

	One of the previous notes had the right idea, but I think it
	was not said so well...

	After time, the fingers in both the system and the carts will
	get dirty.  Most computer problems occur when contacts are
	bad.

	I have not opend up the system unit, but there are screws in there
	and the unit should come apart.  Since the NES has a zero insertion
	force socket, it should be accessable.  Take viode head cleaner or
	alchol with a swab adn run it over the contacts.  When you have
	done that you can also rub an eraser of the contacts for a final
	touch and make sure to clean off all of the stuff from the eraser
	left behind.

	As for cleaning the carts, they don't come apart.  They are 
	rivoted together.  You can do the same by using alchol or 
	and eraser to clear the contacts on the carts.

	Good luck.  All of these breakup problems are in one way or another
	a cart connection problem.  If you do this and you still have problems,
	then check the cables from the NES to the tv.  Swap and clean, etc.

thanks
ort1

    Warning:  Using an eraser to clean the contacts will remove a
    significant amount of gold.  This practice is no longer recommended
    (ask any DEC Field Service Engineer).

    The latest issue of "Nintendo Power" has an ad for a cleaning kit,
    made by Nintendo.  I *think* it said $9.95; it comes with both PAK 
    and unit cleaner.

    
      This weekend I had my Link cartridge go dead. No picture, sound
    or anything. It was working fine a few hours before this. Does any-
    one have any hints or insight into a problem like this? I'm not sure
    what to do about it.
                          thanks
                                 mike
    

    You might want to review some of the notes on potential dirty contacts
    type problems.
    

    
    
      Ok thanks, I'll look through the directory again.
                                                        mike
    

    Re: .8 
    
    Maybe the battery bit the dust prematurely?

    While on the subject of batteries....
    
    Are the batteries in a Nintendo cartridge replacable? Do they drain
    faster with greater cartridge use? I've bought some used cartridges
    that have batteries (Zelda, Link, etc.); I'm sure they've seen a lot of
    use by the original owners, and are now being hammered at my house.
    
    Any thought, comments, or pointers to other applicable notes?
    
    Thanks in advance,

    
       We had the same problems mentioned recently with our gamedeck. I
    took the deck apart and inspected the contacts. They certainly looked
    discolored to me and would need a good burnishing/cleaning. 
       Picked up at EB in the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua N.H. a cleaning kit
    that works very well. It comes with a cartridge like assembly that is 
    installed in the deck dry and allows the contacts to be cleaned with
    a back and forth movement. It also has offset cleaning pads for the
    game carts themselves to used with a cleaning agent supplied. 
    
                                                                RONM