Topic: Game Boy games don't like my GBA SP

[jnorason]

Hello.

About a year ago, my Game Boy games (classic/color) do not play well with my Game Boy Advance SP (second generation). My GBA games perform well, but my normal carts not so much. They have difficulty starting and crash not too long after being able to play.

Donkey Kong Country: Freezes randomly before a typical "Game Over". Note will continue to held out. Behaves as if cart was jerked out (which it wasn't)
Pokemon Yellow: Will occasionally reset itself. Freezes less common.
Pokémon Pinball: Also freezes like DKC. One result wiped the memory clean.
The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening: Will freeze about five minutes into playing randomly. One condition resulted in a different palette (but not an even palette, some blue there, some normal there)
The Legend of Zelda Oracle of Seasons: See above.
Super Mario Bros. DX: Freezes. One result destroyed my ability to play Boo, Lost Levels and some photos, but kept other stuff...it was very bizarre.


YES I have tried cleaning out the contacts with compressed air NO I have not been abusing them

Does anyone else have this problem?

Can I fix mine?

[Stratos]

Do you have a friend with the same system as you? You might want to try and run the games on another system to see if it is the GameBoy or the games. If you don't have one maybe you could go to a store like GameStop where they sell used ones and ask to try it with your games. If the problem happens there it is the carts themselves that have gone bad.

[jnorason]

Update: I distinctly remember my brother playing Link's Awakening on my GBA SP when I first got it, and they seem to work fine on my GBC and my brother's Game Boy Player (which I've never seen--he lives in Michigan). Apparently, the GBC runs on completely different circuitry than the GBA...maybe the GBC component in my GBASP is broken somehow! Can I fix it?

[Stratos]

If something is wrong specifically with the GBC components in the SP then you may have to send it in to Nintendo for repairs. If it isn't one of those rare special edition SPs then it might be cheaper for you to get a new one.

[that Baby guy]

I'd call up Nintendo and tell them what's going on.  They'll tell you the cost to fix on the spot, and they might do it on the house, so it's worth an attempt.

[KDR_11k]

I'd guess it might be the lever that triggers the GBA-GBC hardware switch inside the GBA (reacts to little dents in the cartridge shape).

[jnorason]

I'd guess it might be the lever that triggers the GBA-GBC hardware switch inside the GBA (reacts to little dents in the cartridge shape).

Well, the GBC does launch....maybe after a few attempts...(it often starts up "garbled" or the "black stripe")

[that Baby guy]

Did you call Nintendo?  It'll be ten minutes of your time, at most, I'd think.

[KnowsNothing]

My GBA games don't seem to work in my Phat no more.  Sometimes it won't load anything but the GBA splash loading intro whatever screen, and sometimes it recognizes the game itself as a "DS Option Pak" or something.

It's not a huge deal since I'd rather play on my SP with the upgraded screen anyway (the L button doesn't work on my Lite, so....can't play on that).  It's just kind of related to the topic at hand.  Sort of.

I'm so pissed the L button on my Lite doesn't work.  Typing this made me re-anger myself.

[KDR_11k]

Wow, you sure break a lot of handhelds.

[KnowsNothing]

:sadface:

The L button issue is interesting.  Apparently it's a fairly common problem and it has to do with a weak or corroded connection or something.  If I seal my sexy lips around the button and blow the moisture from my breath can temporarily fix the problem...just like your old cartridge games!  The problem is I'm ultimately doing more harm than good...boourns.

[jnorason]

OK, so sorry for bumping this thread, but I have come up with a possible solution. So while vacationing in Puerto Rico, my mother found a GBA SP. She has confirmed the battery does work because it chirped upon startup despite a ripped-off screen. If Nintendo would charge an insane fee for fixing my GBA SP (how much does it cost to call, by the way?) I suppose I can swap out the boards to fix my GBA SP (the one with the screen) to make it work, right?

[vudu]

It could work, but if you don't know what you're doing you're likely to wind up with one-and-a-half Game Boys, none of which work.

Then again, it's worth a shot, since that's what you already pretty much have.  Worst case scenario, you just have to buy a used one for like $50.

[that Baby guy]

Just calling Nintendo doesn't cost anything.  Look up their tech help phone number.  It should be toll free.