Anyone has any experience opening the Family BASIC carts?
The security screws is no problem but after removing the screws, the top part of the cartridge will still be stuck together and I don't dare to use too much force or maybe I'll snap something off. I tried wiggling it and all sorts of things but it seems to be stuck.
I finally managed to open it.
I bended it upwards gently but firmly and eventually the tabs unhooked, but the plastic became slightly deformed at the place of the tabs. Nothing big but I wonder how many times I can open it like this.
I said security screws before but a small flat-head screwdriver fits perfectly.
This case is more soft than fragile. The tabs kind of digs in to the plastic and makes it deformed without anything cracking.
The reason I wanted to open it is because it has stopped booting.
I opened to check all that the contacts and everything looked OK. I cleaned it with isopropyl alcohol and checked every pin (but not all the traces and stuff) with a multimeter and the contacts seems to be good, but still no video signal. I hope it's not a more serious problem that I can't fix.
What about the switch?
I have the keyboard and I booted it up before. But now I just don't get a signal to the TV anymore.
Never mind the keyboard wasn't plugged in properly. :-[
I used an extension cable that I thought was working before but apparently the Famicom didn't like it. I thought you would get an error screen or something if the keyboard isn't plugged in.
As other tall cartridges it wiggles easily and if it does chances are that it hangs. It's hard to flip the backup switch on and off without the game freezing. Gonna try putting in thick paper or something on the sides of the cartridge so it won't wiggle so easily.
I scrubbed every pin with isopropyl alcohol countless times and the cotton swabs won't get dirty anymore. I'm thinking of trying out fine sandpaper next.
A fiberglass pen might also work. I have used it to clean oxidized contacts before leaving them looking new. :mspacman:
Thanks! I got myself a glassfiber pen since it's easier to find than a sand eraser nowadays. Now I can kick my Famicom like a soccer ball without the game hanging or getting garbled graphics!
I too would like to see the circuit boards inside both the rev 1 and version 3 BASIC carts.