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[Lost Fragment]

Okay, so here's the deal. Two years ago we moved like 200 miles across the state and I stuffed my N64 in the bottom of some box. I never took the time to unpack it because I only have a handful of games for it, and I've beaten them all beyond recognition. So anyway, I found it when I was cleaning out my closet (could've sworn I had gotten rid of it a long time ago...), and decided to plug it in for hot OoT action. Unfortunately, all I get is a black screen whenever I turn it on, and nothing I do fixes it.

A friend of mine told me to make sure the jumper pack was still in there tightly, but no dice. I tried taking the thing apart to see if some random small object from the box got stuck somewhere, but I think it's probably easier to break into that place they trapped Magneto in in the first X-Men movie than crack that thing open. Any advice? I'd like to try and avoid having to buy a new one, and I want to get some other N64 games (Ogre Battle 64) that I never played.

If you don't do it for me, do it for Mario 64 and Zelda: OoT, who've went years without feeling my warm touch =(

 

[fse]

Blow in it perhaps?

 

[Tarazet]

I had trouble booting up a used N64 - same thing you're describing. It might be just that age-old endemic cartridge-based thing of contacts becoming unresponsive over time. Insert cartridge, turn on system, if it doesn't work take it out and repeat. Took me 10 tries to get OB64 to work. But the brand-new Paper Mario cartridge I bought worked just fine on the first try.

 

[Tarazet]

While we're on the N64, what's the best controller (1st or 3rd party)? The first-party one I got with the system is horrible and creaky.

 

[ArcadeStickMonk]

If the cartridges themselves are dirty, a pen eraser (the kind with some grit) works really well for cleaning contacts. However, these are Nintendo carts, so you need a special wrench to get them open. Should still be able to work over most of the contacts even with the cart closed, though.

You might also try some very thin, and very fine sandpaper, and try to clean up the contacts on the unit by slipping the paper in between the contacts. Some compressed air would help blow out anything you knock loose.

 

[Lost Fragment]

Blow in it perhaps?

Tried that, nothing =(

I had trouble booting up a used N64 - same thing you're describing. It might be just that age-old endemic cartridge-based thing of contacts becoming unresponsive over time. Insert cartridge, turn on system, if it doesn't work take it out and repeat. Took me 10 tries to get OB64 to work. But the brand-new Paper Mario cartridge I bought worked just fine on the first try.

I'll give that a try. It can't be healthy for those carts to sit in a box for years, so maybe that's it.

Edit: Damn, that solution was a lot less painful than the ones I was imagining. Come to Louisville, sonarrat, I shall have your babies. Or I can just buy you dinner, your choice.

Seriously though, thanks.

 

[James-Ape]

While we're on the N64, what's the best controller (1st or 3rd party)? The first-party one I got with the system is horrible and creaky.

the first party normal controller is better than any 3rd party effort i have tried.

 

[the year 20XX]

While we're on the N64, what's the best controller (1st or 3rd party)? The first-party one I got with the system is horrible and creaky.

All N64 controllers's joysticks get destroyed by Smash Bros. or Mario Party. However, unlike third-party controllers, all the buttons usually work. If you're going to buy a third party controller, AVOID... well, I was actually about to list off every company I can think of. I'll just say 'especially avoid Game Elements.'

I hate to say it, but the Nintendo controller is really the best one available. Smart people will come in and contradict me, and they'll probably be right, but I'm speaking in worthless anecdotal evidence from used-game-shop controller-testing experience.