Restoring an old console - N64

WezV

My girlfriend still has her old N64 from 1997.  Yesterday we were going to use it to play through Ocarina of Time, but it started crashing every few minutes.   We blew out all the slots and cleaned all the grills, but still couldn't get it stable 

Thankfully we were able to get it running on the gamecube instead and spent the next 16 hours completing the game... but she really wants to get the N64 working again properly.

Does anyone have any experience fixing up old consoles, or know of anywhere it can be serviced?

She has quite a collection of old consoles, so it probably won't be the last to start showing issues.

vasselmeyer

Probably needs recapping. If you're handy with a soldering iron, there are plenty of YouTube examples.

strumjoughlamps

Did you take the expansion pak out and clean it?

RiftAmps

I've done a few before, there are recap kits available online and just be careful with the soldering iron.

I also fitted a HDMI output to one but it's really not worth it if I'm honest, they look better plugged into an old TV.


EDIT: If your one is crashing, replace the voltage regulator

WezV

strumjoughlamps said:

Did you take the expansion pak out and clean it?

Done that.  It only has an aftermarket one,   the original is long gone.

RiftAmps said:

I've done a few before, there are recap kits available online and just be careful with the soldering iron.

I also fitted a HDMI output to one but it's really not worth it if I'm honest, they look better plugged into an old TV.

I might look to recap then.   She wouldn't want to upgrade anyway.

Tbh, I was happier on gamecube as it looks better on a 50" TV,  but thats heresy to her

thecolourbox

I've nothing to contribute on fixing it, however I just have to say how much I loved that game. I even bought the GameCube in order to play it again! Absolutely brilliant

Stratavarious

A good spray of a contact cleaner can work wonders on the cartridge edge connector elements.

joneve

The minute they release a remaster of the Ocarina of time for the Switch, I’m buying one. 

WezV

I'm hoping for Majora's mask at some point, need the N64 working again for that at the moment

RedRabbit

joneve said:

The minute they release a remaster of the Ocarina of time for the Switch, I’m buying one. 

Me too.  Not sure it'll happen though.  The anniversary (35 years?) seemed the ideal time to do it but all we are getting is skyward sword.

No idea why Nintendo seem so reluctant to do it. I think a bundle similar to the mario 3d all-star release would have sold ridiculously well.  Ocarina of time, majora's mask and wind waker? Nah, clearly no-one is interested in playing them again.

strumjoughlamps

RedRabbit said:

joneve said:

The minute they release a remaster of the Ocarina of time for the Switch, I’m buying one. 

Me too.  Not sure it'll happen though.  The anniversary (35 years?) seemed the ideal time to do it but all we are getting is skyward sword.

No idea why Nintendo seem so reluctant to do it. I think a bundle similar to the mario 3d all-star release would have sold ridiculously well.  Ocarina of time, majora's mask and wind waker? Nah, clearly no-one is interested in playing them again.

ive started Twilight Princess on Gamecube but really struggling to get into it, not a patch on Wind Waker IMO

WezV

The good thing about getting the Gamecube out is Windwaker is now ready to play again.  She also has a copy of Twilight Princess for Gamecube, so it gives us Ocarina, Master Quest, Windwaker and Twilight all on one machine

Makes me wonder if its worth getting the collectors edition for Gamecube which would add , Legend of Zelda, Link, and Majora

Breath of the Wild and Skyward Sword can then be on Switch


Found a couple of old DS's when going through the games boxes too

RedRabbit

strumjoughlamps said:

RedRabbit said:

joneve said:

The minute they release a remaster of the Ocarina of time for the Switch, I’m buying one. 

Me too.  Not sure it'll happen though.  The anniversary (35 years?) seemed the ideal time to do it but all we are getting is skyward sword.

No idea why Nintendo seem so reluctant to do it. I think a bundle similar to the mario 3d all-star release would have sold ridiculously well.  Ocarina of time, majora's mask and wind waker? Nah, clearly no-one is interested in playing them again.

ive started Twilight Princess on Gamecube but really struggling to get into it, not a patch on Wind Waker IMO

I had Twilight Princess on wii - can't remember how far I got but I didn't really get into it.

Wind Waker was my first Zelda game.  One of my housemates at uni got a gamecube after we finished our final year exams.  He didn't like Wind Waker so left me to play through it.  Managed to complete it the morning my brother came to pick me up to move back home.

I've been holding out for Nintendo to do a remaster but I think I might as well just download Dolphin.

WezV

I was similar with Ocarina, played it on a mates console at Uni and took up 3 months of my life.  It was odd to work through it all in 16 hours this weekend.... think half of that was the bloody water temple

I didn't want to like windwaker as it looked so childish, but its a beautiful game... really makes the cell shaded graphics work

olafgarten

It's an unpopular opinion, but I really like Twilight Princess. It starts off slowly and has it's issues, but I like the atmosphere of the game. 

Stratavarious

Gamecube.. windwaker, yep.. great game that unfolds.

nothing wrong with Twilight Princess.  My son has the special game cube / wii editions of the zelda games.

I love link to the past on SNES too and the old gameboy zelda with the egg on top of the pyramid.

horse

I hadn't realised until the last year that an old Wii can be "updated" to run N64 and GameCube ROMs from an SD card (and other emulators too). I've been playing some windwaker for the first time during the third lockdown. Never did finish ocarina back in the day, but certainly spent a lot more than 16 hours on it!

marauder

Nintendo already did the HD remasters of Windwaker and Twilight Princess, on the Wii U.  Get one, hack it, worth every penny.

WezV

Bit dusty inside





This is under the cartridge slot



I cleaned it up with rubbing alcohol and q tips, seems much more stable now. 

olafgarten

WezV said:

Bit dusty inside





This is under the cartridge slot



I cleaned it up with rubbing alcohol and q tips, seems much more stable now. 

So that's what 25 years of dirt looks like  

stickyfiddle

so... essentially you just needed to blow really hard on the whole console?