Topic: *sob* My GBA just died...

[Grey Ninja]

I was getting ready for bed last night.  I had just traded some Pokemon with a friend, so my GBA was lying on it.  I picked it up and put it in its usual place atop my GameCube, but I was a little clumsy that late at night, and it dropped on the floor.  I was a little concerned, as that was how my $100 calculator died on me years back (I cracked the screen), but a quick check of the screen assured me that it was fine.  I went to bed worry free.

This afternoon however, I went to play a bit of Pokemon, and I discovered that the screen wasn't displaying properly...  I am getting light and dark patches where particularly dark images should be, the screen is a little darker, but not enough to even see what I am doing.  It doesn't work with either GB or GBA games, and when I shake it, there's a slight rattle.  I don't ever remember a rattle.

I cannot currently afford shipping prices (or repair costs for that matter) to send it to Nintendo for repair.  I would like ot fix it myself if possible.  Does anyone have any experience with a problem such as this, and if so, what are the chances I can do it myself?  I am a little troubled about voiding my warranty by opening it.

[nitsu niflheim]

You need to get rid of that little black rain cloud that's following you around before something really bad happens.

[Grey Ninja]

I just got word today that there's a cheque in the mail for me for $675    I am still unemployed, but things are starting to look up.

I am pretty much used to things like this though.  I was born under a VERY unlucky star, and it's just something I have learned to live with.  Things that happen to me are rarely good, and I suppose it just makes me appreciate the good all the more.

[Don'tHate742]

You seem pretty calm and collected. If that was me, I would of gone ape sh*t....ran around the house screaming profanity's for about 30 minutes, then I would of sat down and thought of how to fix it. And that's just my SP, you couldn't imagine what I would do if my Gamecube started malfuctioning.

I'm impressed on how you didn't get mad, or maybe your just not telling the whole story


EDIT: Kinda like my Avatar.....hehe

[Grey Ninja]

Heh.  I told you I was used to it.  When I found out it didn't work, I just set it down and muttered to myself that I wasn't going to be catching any Pokemon today.  Then I went back to coding my game.    I have a blazing fast hamster dance working now anyways.  

Seriously, when things like this happen to me, my most common response is to laugh.

[aoi tsuki]

If you haven't already, press all the buttons on unit to see if they feel odd or if one feels at all different from another. Rattling in a device as tight as the GBA means something very minor (like a support) or very serious (like something that was part of a circuit).

i say open it up, and see if you see anything's loose. Chances are, your warranty doesn't cover accidents, and Nintedo will likely charge an amount almost equal to the cost of a new GBA. Give 'em a call and see if you can get an estimate.

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Seriously, when things like this happen to me, my most common response is to laugh.

Sounds like an anime character. Like You from Shaman King.

[Nintega]

Do what aoi tsuki says and open up the GBA.  It might be a simple fix maybe.  I remember when I installed the GBA-TV converter my first time, I ripped the ribbon cable when I connecting it to the GBA.  When I turned it on, the screen was red.  I checked and the ribbon was ripped.  Luckily Lik-sang had replacement cables so I bought some and it now works again.  

[RockmanX]

Did you at least try calling Nintendo, sometimes they'll fix it even if your warranty is up...

[Grey Ninja]

Thanks for the advice guys.  I think I will try taking it apart and poking around seeing if there's anything I can duct tape back into place.

So what screwdriver was it again that would work as a makeshift gamebit?

EDIT:  I did call NOA, but the redirected me to Nintendo of Canada.  I didn't have my GBA with me when I made the call however, so I figured I would call back tomorrow when I have all the information that I SHOULD have had today.

[aoi tsuki]

i'm not sure which is the "official" Gamebit replacement, but one of those small screwdriver sets usually has one that fits well enough, although you'll bend the tip of the screwdriver a bit.

[PIAC]

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Originally posted by: Don'tHate742
You seem pretty calm and collected. If that was me, I would of gone ape sh*t....ran around the house screaming profanity's for about 30 minutes, then I would of sat down and thought of how to fix it. And that's just my SP, you couldn't imagine what I would do if my Gamecube started malfuctioning.

i think i love my gameboy more than my gamecube tbh

also, opening stuff that doesn't work anymore is fun *looks over to the remains of a cdrom drive* i should really throw that out..

[Don'tHate742]

hehe yeah....

They say its healthier to release frustration rather than to keep it inside, but noone said it would be costlier. By the way, call Nintendo, they won't charge you anything as long as your covered by warranty.....even if they find that you dropped it. But hey, its a PORTABLE game system, its bound to get dropped sooner or later, so Nintendo probably put that into concideration (sp?).  

[Hostile Creation]

I remember in pod racer for 64, a lot of the guys would laugh when they blew up.

Gads, hope things get better, though.  Maybe your unlucky star will fall.  No luck is better than bad luck

[Grey Ninja]

I called Nintendo about it today.  They said the repair would cost anywhere from $30 - $70.  In other words, I can easier buy a used GBA.  I don't have the reciept for it anymore, and I don't think I ever registered it, which means I am right screwed.

I am going to try to find some sort of gamebit replacement today when I go uptown looking for a job.  

[Grey Ninja]

Well, I bought a precision screwdriver set.  I found that the smallest flathead screwdriver in the set served well enough as a game bit, but I destroyed the screwdriver in doing so.  At any rate, I now have a GBA that fits perfectly into 3 ziploc bags.

I dug around inside of it for a while, and I made sure that the screen was securely fastened to the motherboard, and I tinkered with things for a while, but now I am getting a plain old blank screen when I boot up.  There's absolutely NO SIGN of life left in the handheld, other than the nice little beeps and bloops that happen when I boot up a game.

I am going to see if I can get some more "expert" advice on what the problem might be.  Thanks for all your help and advice though guys.

I did notice a nice shiny GameBoy Advance SP in the pawn shop today going for $120 though, sitting right next to a platinum GBA going for $74.  WAAAY too pricey for me, but I suppose it's food for thought.

[Grey Ninja]

Ok, last update on this one.

I figured out at long last what my problem was.  There are a couple of clips on the display cable that I hadn't noticed at first, and simply wasn't using.  Once I popped the cable back in, and pushed on the clips a little, my GameBoy fired up and was as good as new.  I just fought another Gym Leader in Pokemon Red and caught 4 more Pokemon.  YAY!

Unfortunately, I am currently spending my Canadian Tire money on chocolate bars and chips in the hopes that they will provide me with enough nutrition to survive the weekend.  I am also rolling pennies for ramen though, so there is a little hope that it will work.

Ah well, there's always a downside to everything.

[Nintega]

Congrats on getting it working again.  I know about those clips.  You have to hold the cable in while pushing both clips in or else the cable somehow rises back out and isn't inserted fully.