Weird Boot Up Issue - Model 2

[marlowe221]

My Model 2 Genesis, that worked just fine yesterday, now basically won't boot up.

It shows the "Licensed by" text and then goes to a black screen.

Nothing about my set up has changed since yesterday. I literally tried every cart I own (I only have about 20); same thing.

Any ideas on how to fix this would be greatly appreciated.

[EyeDeeNo76]

Try cleaning the cartridge slot first, a piece of copier paper folded over a credit card can do the job of cleaning the pins, push the card with paper all the way down into slot and pull out if the paper comes out with stuff on it place new paper over the card, do this three times of all of the cartridge slot.

[marlowe221]

Thank you. I will try that and see what happens.

[EyeDeeNo76]

Also while you are at it clean the pins on the cartridges themselves, it's all about good metal to metal contact with this stuff.

[marlowe221]

My games are pretty clean. They are all in their cases if I have the case for the particular game. My loose carts are in a rubbermaid container.

But I've got plenty of cotton swabs and 91% rubbing alcohol so I might at as well take a run at them!

[EyeDeeNo76]

Even in their cases the air can get to them to tarnish the pins. I put some cartridges in sandwich bags to store long term especially the ones for put up for sale.

[marlowe221]

Well, it kind of works...

After cleaning the cart slot, which came up more or less clean with the copy paper/credit card method anyway, and every cart I own I can now play a game 1 out every 20-30 times I push the power button. Of course, the games are freezing up a good portion of the times they actually boot.

If you have any other ideas I wouldn't mind hearing them. Otherwise it may be time to shop for a replacement. Mine is a VA1 with bad sound quality anyway.

[EyeDeeNo76]

Try using rubbing alcohol next as xelement5x suggests in this thread "how to clean the Sega Genesis Pin Connector" if that doesn't yield better results you would need to than dig deeper. Are you good at using hand tools?

Edit: Always better to try and start with a easier simple fix that more involved. If not so good at using tools than maybe it's time to pass the Genesis along to someone who can and shop for a replacement as you put it just don't toss it the trash you might be able to sell it as it is not working it still worth something. In hindsight I should have suggested the use of rubbing alcohol too but just paper has worked for me. Give that thread a good read.

[marlowe221]

Try using rubbing alcohol next as xelement5x suggests in this thread "how to clean the Sega Genesis Pin Connector" if that doesn't yield better results you would need to than dig deeper. Are you good at using hand tools?

Edit: Always better to try and start with a easier simple fix that more involved. If not so good at using tools than maybe it's time to pass the Genesis along to someone who can and shop for a replacement as you put it just don't toss it the trash you might be able to sell it as it is not working it still worth something. In hindsight I should have suggested the use of rubbing alcohol too but just paper has worked for me. Give that thread a good read.

Thanks - I will try that. I have some microfiber cloths (as a wearer of glasses) and I also have a copy of some horrible Joe Montana football game I could use as he suggested as well (or The Incredible Hulk - that game sucks!).

I'm pretty good with hand tools but a soldering iron is kind of intimidating to me. I own one and used it to reflow the joint for the AC adapter that often fails in Model 2s but that's about the extent of my experience with one.

That said, I definitely won't throw it away. It's got a CX1145 in it, so the video quality is actually decent. The sound is bad, but someone who knows what they are doing could easily mod it, I'm sure. If I do end up replaceing it I will make sure it finds its way to someone who can fix/mod it and pass it along to a good home.

I really appreciate all the advice!

[Helder]

Maybe bad caps, corrupt traces, bad ram, bad z80. A Number of things but if it's caps you can often see them if they bulge or leak if they are bad, this isn't always the case though.