Repair, Restoration, Conservation and Preservation

Testing Components on a PCB Without Desoldering

invalid@example.com (MasterOfPuppets) — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 15:12:35 +0000

I have a console that is only partially functional. I would like to do the simple checks first and make sure all the capacitors, resistors, etc. on the board are still functional but desoldering, checking and resoldering them all isn't an option as my soldering skills are basic.

Is there any way I can test them for at least continuity between their terminals without potentially causing damage to other parts of the device?

20GB PlayStation 3 Lower Plastic Component

invalid@example.com (FromAllAspects) — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 07:37:58 +0000

Hi all,

I just received my 20GB PlayStation 3 and found the plastic component near the USB ports has snapped in half from shipping (that's my best guess). Would anyone have this component around somewhere? It just doesn't look right that it's got a fracture line (I managed to clip it together). Picture below for reference. NOTE: it must be the black 20GB version, not the chrome 60GB one. I look to everyone's responses!
View attachment 36099

Kind regards,

FromAllAspects

Model 1 Sega CD help

invalid@example.com (Sheimi) — Thu, 30 May 2019 04:20:14 +0000

So, I have recently replaced the belt in my Sega CD Mode1. It still opens and closes plus it makes a grinding sound. But if I put in a audio CD or game, press start when the tray closes and it will stay shut. If I hit reset, the drive will keep opening and closing. I have included some pictures below. Any help is appreciated. Thank you <3

https://i.imgur.com/kqdJUIZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/IATxeOu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OoWN971.jpg...

Model 1 Sega CD help

Super Wildcard DX2 EEPROM dump needed

invalid@example.com (Sys64738) — Wed, 29 May 2019 20:15:49 +0000

Hello,
As per thread title, I'm looking for a dump of the serial EEPROM 93c46 from a SWC DX2 (maybe a DX/DX96 will be useful too).
Also if somebody has a RAM board with more that 32Mb, I'd like to know how the jumpers are set.
TIA

Do fresh NES capacitors equal louder game audio?

invalid@example.com (spshortman) — Wed, 29 May 2019 02:45:27 +0000

he guys, i had an nes that had the wavy lines meaning it needed new capacitors. i bought a new nes since then and it works great. i might be going insane but i feel like my replacement nes isnt as loud as my old one that eventually died. im of course using av cables not rf. has anyone replaced their nes capacitors and noticed the music and sound effects get louder? if your nes works does that mean it works perfectly or is it possible some things could be improved on with new capacitors? thanks!

Retrobright Version 2 , a sample

invalid@example.com (s8n) — Mon, 27 May 2019 08:25:17 +0000

hi guys , i heard of this from RetroRGB and a Youtube video a couple of weeks ago and decided to try it out. It is a method that uses just the sun only and nothing more. I will include 2 pics of a Saturn Controller i have done , also some times. I was only getting a UV Index of 2-3 , with some overcast days and a few full sun days. I still want to do more days on the Controller and i have done about 3 days on a Saturn top shell of the Console.

Incredible Retrobrighting...

Retrobright Version 2 , a sample

Reliability of PlayStation 3 DECR-1000A Reference Tool's

invalid@example.com (FromAllAspects) — Sun, 26 May 2019 16:11:04 +0000

Hi all,

I'm unsure if this is the right place to put such a post in, but here I go. I've been attempting to track down a DECR-1000A Reference Tool since 2017 with no luck whatsoever. My intention for the Reference Tool (which may be different from others), is solely for preservation only, with maybe light use to ensure everything works properly. Now my question is with the Reference Tool's, are they as reliable as a retail PlayStation 3 or do they suffer from problems unique to the...

Reliability of PlayStation 3 DECR-1000A Reference Tool's

Nintendo Switch shuts down at boot

invalid@example.com (Dreamkey) — Sun, 26 May 2019 04:10:28 +0000

Hello,

I'm not sure if recent consoles are allowed here, please tell me if there is a better place

So I got two Nintendo Switch that I'm trying to repair.
The first one has at least a broken screen and a bad screen connector, but at the moment I try to focus on the second Switch.

I believe it was already opened; after a quick glance I saw the eMMC module had "burn" traces on it. I swapped it with the first Switch and I was able to see the Nintendo logo for one second before it shuts...

Nintendo Switch shuts down at boot

PS3 slim 3004A

invalid@example.com (gorgyrip) — Fri, 24 May 2019 15:53:46 +0000

The console came opened. No screws. The hdd is missing.
I connect the power cable and the red light turns on. I press the power button and the light turns green. No imege/sound on hdmi or on composite. My tv says no signal. After about 30 seconds the console turns off. No light led, nothing. What could be the problem?
PS: the power supply is EADP-185AB.

PS4 and Fan Mod temperatures experiment

invalid@example.com (s8n) — Thu, 23 May 2019 03:27:06 +0000

hi members , yesterday i took some temperature readings of my PS4 CUH-120xx with a cooling mod i have done. I will leave some figures below for you , also i ran the game Tekken 7 in demo mode it plays a FMV and some in game fights then loops.

the fan i bought is a 80mm Noctua running at 2200rpm , the length of time for each test was 1 hour with a 2 hour break to let the console cool down and start the next test to get accurate readings. I used a IR Temperature Gun to get the temps from...

PS4 and Fan Mod temperatures experiment

wii unbrick with teensy

invalid@example.com (gorgyrip) — Wed, 22 May 2019 19:45:46 +0000

I followed this guide to unbrick my old wii:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/guide-kaflukes-hardmod-cbhc-unbrick-guide.476725/

The problem is that it takes too long. 80 minutes to dump the nand and 3 hours to write the nand.
Isn't a simpler way to write just the blocks needed for bootmii?
PS: The program says the nand has 1000 blocks, wii flash tools says 4096.

Will it work if i write only this file from offset 0?...

wii unbrick with teensy

Super Metroid cartridge save issues.

invalid@example.com (Ergot_Cholera) — Tue, 21 May 2019 22:36:56 +0000

I have a copy of Super Metroid that has problems with saving. I have replaced the battery with a brand new one and the problem persists, I replaced the new battery with one taken from another SNES game cartridge that was still outputting 3V with the same result.
I have tried it in several consoles and it makes no difference, it might hold the save for a while but then when I come to play a while later it does not load on the first attempt and then when it does load the saves are gone.
Could...

Super Metroid cartridge save issues.

Capacitor replacement of TREAMCAST internal power transformer

invalid@example.com (gtsamour) — Tue, 21 May 2019 16:39:33 +0000

Hello,

so I'm a proud owner of a Treamcast, the latest black model with the PSone 4:3 screen.
I opened it up and replaced the laser lens because the drive had a difficult time reading discs (mosly cd-r) and now its all good.
I noticed though that the caps on the internal power transformer was a crappy brand (what a surprise since the Treamcast is a Chinese knockoff).
The brand of the caps are Aishi of the CD81 kind which is supposed to be "low leakage", I'm obviously talking about DC...

Capacitor replacement of TREAMCAST internal power transformer

Advanced Genesis 1 repair (Mega Drive is Mega fried)

invalid@example.com (segasonicfan) — Sun, 19 May 2019 02:32:14 +0000

Hey all,
In my incredible stubbornness I like to fix every system I've ever come across. I have only two consoles I haven't repaired from my parts bin and one of them is a Genesis model 1 VA 7. For any sane person it's probably not worth repairing, but I would really like to learn from this one and feel the pride of bringing it back to life after destroying it nearly 10 years ago.

History: the first part of the system that was destroyed was the op amp audio stage followed by the video...

Advanced Genesis 1 repair (Mega Drive is Mega fried)

Ps3 CECHA01 80010201

invalid@example.com (nawa) — Sun, 19 May 2019 01:02:25 +0000

The error is that it can't initialize the WiFi/Bluetooth/Ethernet card properly. I've tired three different cards, antennas, and power cables but nothing seems to work. Though strangely Bluetooth works fine. I can wireless use a controller which isn't supposed to work without the card working, and I'm at a loss at this point.

PlayStation 3 Firmware Downgrade

invalid@example.com (FromAllAspects) — Sat, 18 May 2019 02:30:18 +0000

Hi all,

I've currently got a few PlayStation 3's that I would like to downgrade (to reduce the risk of breaking the system, I would like to keep it software based if possible) to a lower firmware (preferably pre-3.00).

The PlayStation 3's are as follows:
- CECHC02 60GB (currently on 4.70 OFW as far as I believe; tested on MinVerChk, states it can go as low as 1.00. There isn't an update file for that is there??)
- CECHK02 80GB (currently on 4.83 OFW; tested on MinVerChk, states it can go...

PlayStation 3 Firmware Downgrade

Gamecube Kiosk art reproduction and new control arm/bracket

invalid@example.com (koko) — Fri, 17 May 2019 03:11:29 +0000

Just picked up a Gamecube kiosk, the tallboy version. Has anyone ever made repro art for a gamecube kiosk? I had a question about the fonts used, I was looking to make my own after searching online for a replacement. Also looking for another controller arm and the bracket the arms goes into to attach to the kiosk. Hoping over the next few weeks to make this kiosks complete.

Sega Mega CD 2 Region Free BIOS Repair Success

invalid@example.com (Damn-Deal-Done) — Wed, 15 May 2019 13:13:36 +0000

Hello all.

I want to share this Mega CD repair I just completed.

I was sent a Mega CD 2 in which the person had attempted to install a region free BIOS chip. He was not successful and the console was just presenting a blank screen. I explained that I was not an electronics repairer and only had limited knowledge. However he insisted to let me have a look at it so that's what I did.

I started by testing the machine and sure enough the screen was black.

I opened it up and checked the fuse...

Sega Mega CD 2 Region Free BIOS Repair Success

Amstrad Mega PC / Amstrad Mega PC Plus

invalid@example.com (Shane McRetro) — Sun, 12 May 2019 14:13:37 +0000

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I finally got my Amstrad Mega PC!
The NiCad battery had leaked onto the motherboard damaging not just one side but two sides of the board.
Luckily I know someone who is pretty handy with a soldering iron and he fixed up the main damaged tracks.
The hard drive controller on the motherboard might be fried though since I can't get it to recognise drives properly.

I've found that the motherboard of the Mega PC (PC7386SX) looks as though it can be...

Amstrad Mega PC / Amstrad Mega PC Plus

Panasonic Q drop-in fan replacement? [F76 error]

invalid@example.com (stalkaxe) — Fri, 10 May 2019 09:31:28 +0000

I recently purchased a Panasonic Q, and it works perfectly, but the fan is a little loud. I tried replacing it with a stock Gamecube fan, and later a Fractal Design FD-FAN-50-SSR2 (12v) silent fan, but in either case the system shuts down with an F76 error a few seconds after startup.

Putting the original fan back in place fixes the problem and it works perfectly.

Can anyone recommend a 12v silent fan that's a drop-in replacement on a Panasonic Q?

For reference, a standard Gamecube fan...

Panasonic Q drop-in fan replacement? [F76 error]