Sega Genesis/Old Console Maintenance

[Arkaign]

Johnw1104 said:

Arkaign said:
I use cut out pieces of cardboard from old boxes (to match the cart slot width), douse it in 99% rubbing alcohol (so it evaporates cleanly), and slide the cardboard into and out of the cart slot several times.

Give if 5 minutes to totally evaporate, and test. I've cleaned MANY an old retro system using this method, and you don't have to buy any special kit, just old boxes and rubbing alcohol. Of course q-tip + alcohol clean the games as well.

Beyond that, the next thing that tends to go awry is old capacitors.

Now my advice is that if your cleaning attempts fail, just get another Genesis, they're still quite cheap for now. MK1 'High Definition' models make great Gennys (in general, superior AV performance in my experience, though there is a big guide out there on the subject).

Just wanted to report that a variation of this suggestion worked. I used windex with qtips on the games and, more importantly, improvised something akin to what you described with a pair of breathable fabric boxers (weird I know, only cloth I could find that was thin enough and wouldn't risk leaving strands behind lol) held tightly around a Walgreens membership card doused in windex.

Given that there was zero dirt or residue on the qtips (I'd really cleaned the heck out of the games) it seems it was the latter that got it working. I've since tested the games and every single one boots up immediately and without issue, including one that I'd never succeeded in even reaching the license screen with. I tried putting them in slightly askew and everything, they just work every single time now. Even the game genie is fully functioning now after using the same trick on its cartridge slot.

Thanks a bunch for the help! Very excited to get this working as I didn't want to replace it for sentimental reasons... I'd played others before and my friends/cousins owned the NES etc, but this Genesis in particular was my first console :)

Happy 16-bitting! Great news!