After two decades or so of service, my SNES cartridges have started to crap out. They save games, but when you shut off the system the saves all get erased. I strongly suspect that the cartridge batteries have died due to age.

My question is two-fold. Have I correctly diagnosed the problem? And if so, what is a good place to purchase replacement batteries?

Don't know where you get new ones but that's dead cartridge batteries for sure.

Edit: From Google.

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/how-to-change-snes-game-save-battery

http://www.racketboy.com/store/super-nintendo-snes/cr2030-battery.html

Thanks for the confirmation, Rath. And holy crap, I did not know that the SNES used CR2032's. That's surprisingly convenient!

My original Zelda II cart's battery backup saves are still going strong. I got a used copy of the original LOZ from Funcoland back in the mid 90's, and sadly its battery died out awhile ago.

I had to get a Sim City fixed and a Pokemon red (GB) fixed. But I have other games that are working well.
Unfortunately, it is time that this will be happening more and more.

Mike from Morgantown

noname2200 said: Thanks for the confirmation, Rath. And holy crap, I did not know that the SNES used CR2032's. That's surprisingly convenient!

Yeah, this is a bit of a revelation when you first learn about it. Getting them fixed in place is a bit of a trick; you can use a soldering tool or a couple of strips of electrical tape depending on how technical you are.

Interestingly I think still more Nintendo cartridges use the same batteries; I can't remember if Gameboy and NES titles use it, but I think so.

meh... my $8 spent on Wii VC is easier. :P

There is something awesome about playing on the old consoles though =P

That's an easy fix. Just open up the cart, carefully pri off the battery and replace it. You might need some hot glue to hold it in. Don't use anything too permanent to attach it because in another 15 years you'll need to replace it again.

try to look on youtube, there are tons of video-guides on how to replace dead batteries from old cartridge-games