Support NeoGAF

[CO_Andy]

Okay, so what's the best way to clean my Gamecube? I've started getting disc errors a whole lot lately mainly stemming from playing Resident Evil 4. I just got another disc error the other day playing Viewtiful Joe.

While i certainly would like to buy another Gamecube, i know these newer models lost the component output

 

[Baron]

If you try looking around, you may be able to score one of the older models with the DV port. I bought my Gamecube last October brand new at a Wal-Mart, and it is one of the older models. However, all of the systems my local Target was selling were the new, "revised" systems.

Or, just send the system to Nintendo. Let them fix it.

 

[Ironclad]

There is really no reason to send your system to Nintendo unless the problem doesn't go away.

This happened to me a little while ago and I called Nintendo's customer support. Basically, all you need to do is disconnect your gamecube, open up the disc tray and either blow inside or use a can of compressed air to do the same thing. Also, clean out the vents to either side. The DRE's are probably stemming from a little bit of dust near the lens.

 

[Baron]

Cans of compressed air frighten me. Whenever I use them, frost sometimes shoots out intermittently with the air. Frost. F'ing ice. What's wrong with this picture? My Saturn still has a stain on the system casing from where this ice stuff landed on it when I was trying to clear dust out of the disc player assembly.

Is there some kind of special kind of canned air you can buy that doesn't shoot out frozen fluids along with the purported compressed air?

 

[Dr_Cogent]

There is really no reason to send your system to Nintendo unless the problem doesn't go away.

This happened to me a little while ago and I called Nintendo's customer support. Basically, all you need to do is disconnect your gamecube, open up the disc tray and either blow inside or use a can of compressed air to do the same thing. Also, clean out the vents to either side. The DRE's are probably stemming from a little bit of dust near the lens.

Use compressed air. Don't blow inside it.

 

[Ironclad]

Cans of compressed air frighten me. Whenever I use them, frost sometimes shoots out intermittently with the air. Frost. F'ing ice. What's wrong with this picture? My Saturn still has a stain on the system casing from where this ice stuff landed on it when I was trying to clear dust out of the disc player assembly.

Is there some kind of special kind of canned air you can buy that doesn't shoot out frozen fluids along with the purported compressed air?

On the can, it will say "Shake well before using." You really need to shake the shit out of that can so that the materials inside get a chance to mix. Otherwise, the heavier objects will sink to the bottom and that is what will shoot out. On that note, I would like to say that I hate compressed air. I had one horrible experience just like yours. I didn't ruin my saturn but I still have a keyboard where the majority of the keys are stained white. It is easier just to blow air into the thing with your mouth. Or turn it upside down with the disc tray open and shake it lightly.

 

[Ironclad]

Use compressed air. Don't blow inside it.

Sometimes, the compressed air is too powerful so it will damage the laser. If you blow into it yourself, you can control it. You really have to be careful when it comes to the internal components of the disc tray.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Sometimes, the compressed air is too powerful so it will damage the laser. If you blow into it yourself, you can control it. You really have to be careful when it comes to the internal components of the disc tray.

You can pull back the can of air, and you don't have to go full bore either. I just think its safer than accidentally getting your spittle in the cube.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Cans of compressed air frighten me. Whenever I use them, frost sometimes shoots out intermittently with the air. Frost. F'ing ice. What's wrong with this picture? My Saturn still has a stain on the system casing from where this ice stuff landed on it when I was trying to clear dust out of the disc player assembly.

Is there some kind of special kind of canned air you can buy that doesn't shoot out frozen fluids along with the purported compressed air?

Don't be afraid of compressed air. You just have to use it in short bursts. It's when you hold down the trigger for too long that things start getting real cold. Ice isn't coming out of it, it's the Joule-Thomson effect

http://www.nd.edu/~ed/Joule_Thomson/joule_thomson.htm

 

[Baron]

Dr. Cogent, tonight you have lived up to your name.

Tea, Earl Grey. Hot!

 

[fallout]

You could always buy an air compressor.

 

[ksinghsf]

Okay, so what's the best way to clean my Gamecube? I've started getting disc errors a whole lot lately mainly stemming from playing Resident Evil 4. I just got another disc error the other day playing Viewtiful Joe.

Yeah, it's strange, i bought a launch GC and never had a problem with it ever until RE4, where i got 5-7 DREs on one playthrough. Just Today I got another while playing Star Fox Assault. I did the can of compressed air inside/on the lens and the side vents. So far so good...