iFixit - Answers With Device "Retro Game Console"

Vectrex: Vector display has collapsed into a single vertical line.

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 16:04:54 -0700

I found a Vectrex for 10 bucks at a local swap meet! Score! But wait, it can't be that easy right?

When I fire up the unit the Vector display has collapsed into one single vertical line in the center of the Screen. This would seem to indicate that the beam emitter is not drawing vector lines on the X-axis.

I've done some research and found this service manual online and trouble shooting guide online:

http://www.playvectrex.com/shoptalk/vecm...

http://www.playvectrex.com/shoptalk/vecg...

I've cracked the system open and reseated all of the ICs as the trouble shooting guide indicated that the sort of trouble I was having might be related to "IC Creep". I'm not that technically inclined, so maybe somone here can take a look and come up with some additional suggestions.

Any ideas?

⟐ Answer accepted 2月 12, 2018 at 16:04 GMT-7

Atari 2600: Why does my Atari 2600 just show static when turned on?

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 21:32:38 -0700

I rescently came home with my Atari 2600 console and hooked it up to Older TV (manufactured 1996) And it was working, But then my older brother suggest that we hook it up in the living room and play it with the family,so we hooked it up into the TV (LCD HD 1080P TV Manufacured May 2009) and it we turned it on and it wouldnt work, so we took it back down stairs and hooked it up on the older TV and turned it on and it wouldnt work. There was just static when it was turned on.

⟐ Answer accepted 1月 23, 2017 at 21:32 GMT-7

Atari 2600: Why does my Atari show a blank screen when turned on?

Sat, 16 Jul 2016 17:40:57 -0700

Why does my Atari show a blank screen when I turn it on? The problem may be a worn out power switch. A bad connection. The cause was repeated testing of different games. The console is about 27 years old.

⟐ Answer edited 7月 16, 2016 at 17:40 GMT-7

Atari 2600: What kind of AC adapter is needed?

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 21:23:13 -0700

Hello all,

I couldn't find my Atari 2600 AC adapter.

Please send me information about the Atari 2600 AC adapter so I will be able to try and located one.

If you know where I can buy one it will great to know.

Appreciate your help

Oren Zandberg

email: Oren.Zandberg@Gmail.com

⟐ Answered 3月 13, 2017 at 21:23 GMT-7

Atari 2600: My Atari 2600 has a broken knob

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:35:27 -0700

I was playing it one day and i broke the color/black&white knob is there a way to fix it?

⟐ Answered 2月 28, 2013 at 20:35 GMT-7

Atari 2600: Why does player 1 pull to the left?

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 00:27:13 -0700

My 2600 still works except for one problem - player 1 pulls to the left. On some games, the problem is avoided by just playing player 2, but single player games are more tricky. Games like Defender are ok because you can just go to the left (the best you can do is stop if you try to go right). Games like Kangaroo are impossible since both directions are required.

It's not the controller (I've tried several that work fine for player 2, but not player 1), and the wheel controllers (for Circus Atari and Kaboom, etc.) work just fine.

Nothing has obviously had its smoke released on the inside, but I'm also not an electrical engineer, so I have no idea what could be the culprit for such an issue.

Ideas? Or do I just need to accept that my 30-yr-old game console might be past its prime?

⟐ Answer deleted 1月 26, 2022 at 0:27 GMT-7

Nintendo Virtual Boy: Left eye keeps glitching

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 08:52:11 -0700

The only problem I have with my virtual boy is that the left eye keeps glitching out, the right doesn't glitch at all, it's only the left one. Please help!

⟐ Commented 4月 14, 2024 at 8:52 GMT-7

Atari 2600: What are the screw sizes for the case?

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:13:04 -0700

It looks like the case has four screw holes and all the screws are missing. Mine is a sears tele-games console, but I think it's an exact clone of the 4-switch atari 2600. I'd like to know the screw sizes for the case so I can put this thing back together properly!

Here are the exact screws I ended up using, in case anyone else needs the info. #6x3/4" from Lowes. Model #: 490198

⟐ Commented 4月 18, 2023 at 5:13 GMT-7

Retro Game Console: Replace connector on motherboard of Fairchild Channel F

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 17:38:43 -0700

I have a Fairchild Channel F that I bought, where I had to replace the onboard speaker. I did this with no problem, but when I went to re-assemble the unit, one of the connectors for the ribbon cable came off of the motherboard. The ribbon cables are housed within the cartridge assembly, and they connect to the motherboard through a 10 pin connector directly, meaning there is no male connector on the ribbon cable. It's a flat 10 pin cable that pushes directly into the connector on the board. What I'd like to do is either a) replace the connector with a new one, or b) make the ribbon cable connection a true male/female connection. Here is an image of the motherboard. The connectors in question, are directly under the box shield on the right (there a 2 connectors side by side).

I'm not too familiar with ribbon cables, or soldering onto the motherboard for that matter, but I can get assistance with that. I just need assistance on identifying the type of connector that I need. Thank you.

⟐ Answered 10月 07, 2020 at 17:38 GMT-7

Intellivision: Help with my Intellivision! #2

Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:37:02 -0700

Well, the old question was getting cluttered, so I started a new one. Now, TP4, is not getting power. (That's capacitor #3 on the power supply board.)

⟐ Answered 9月 01, 2014 at 16:37 GMT-7

Intellivision: game connection problems on my console

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 08:14:28 -0700

i get connection for around 10 to 15 seconds, then lose it for 10 to 15 seconds. This repeats itself. the connection does not stay.

⟐ Commented 8月 22, 2025 at 8:14 GMT-7

Atari 5200: Where Can I Find Replacement 5200 Controller Ports?

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:55:19 -0700

Good day, I've been working on repairing a lot of my consoles recently and noticed that the controller ports for my Atari 5200 for 1st and 2nd player are badly damaged, I was wondering if you knew of a place where I would be able to buy just the ports to be soldered on? Thank you for your time and have a great day.

⟐ Commented 2月 09, 2023 at 15:55 GMT-7

Atari 2600: Sport/Racing Controllers not responding correctly when wheel is turned

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 09:20:05 -0700

Hi All,

Just wondering how to fix the 'wheel' controllers for Atari 2600 systems. Both sets usually have the same problem, eventually they seem to wear out and the buttons will work fine, however when spinning the knob (or wheel), you might get a jitter at best as a response from this joystick.

If anyone could enlighten me, that would be great! Many thanks in advance!!

Mike E

EDM, AB, CA

⟐ Answer accepted 10月 04, 2016 at 9:20 GMT-7

Vectrex: it works but I only have a half screen

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 13:48:55 -0700

my vectrex works..but have only half the screen lit up

⟐ Answered 10月 20, 2017 at 13:48 GMT-7

Intellivision: Intellivision 2 model has major static in picture

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 08:11:56 -0700

Hi folks! I have an Intellivision 2 console. when I hook it up with coax to my led tv, I can see the picture ok, but it's filled with static. I have two of these consoles and they are both the same. I have seen this same problem on two different TVs as well. I tried switching cable as well. Same. I am currently using the cable from a classic Nintendo (push in style plug goes to a box and converts to screw in type coax)

I tried cleaning the connection port of the Intellivision with a small wire brush and the I side of the port with some light sandpaper. No change.

Help?

⟐ Answered 8月 22, 2025 at 8:11 GMT-7

Atari Lynx: Console contrast adjusting itself until eventually losing power

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:12:30 -0700

Hey there!

I’ve recently started a refurbishment on an Atari Lynx Gen 1, before I powered it on for the first time in my ownership, I replaced the Q11 power MOSFET, The ZD1 Zener Diode, and all the capacitors on the board in order to give it the best chance of working because i know the lynx has a tendency to nuke itself if powered on with bad power components.

After replacing all these parts and trying to power the console on, i get greeted with a black screen, reinserting the cartridge and powercycling the console a random amount of times will finally get the console to play, however, after about 8 minutes I notice that the screens contrast/brightness has adjusted itself without prompting from the wheel, the brightness will adjust via the wheel, but eventually it fades to where the wheel doesn’t do anything, then the game crashes and the console powers off without obvious cause.

This whole process takes about 15 minutes before it powers off on its own. The console wont turn back on unless the batteries are removed and reinserted. Then the cycle repeats itself with the black screen, having to power cycle and mess with the cartridge in order to get it to run again.

The game works fine in my Lynx II and this issue happens in the Lynx I regardless of the game I have inserted.

Im honestly at a loss here and would appreciate any advice or suggestions anyone could provide.

More information if it helps, after more testing ive found that this issue only happens on battery power.

Ive also found that removing the cartridge while the console is on does not shut the console off like it should. The screen just goes black. Power is run through the cartridge so when the cartridge is removed the entire console should power off.

Super confusing

⟐ Answered 11月 30, 2024 at 19:12 GMT-7

Atari 2600: Any idea why this asteroids chip isn't working?

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:00:35 -0700

I've tested each lead for continuity and also each leg of the black chip to see if any we're loose. I've also cleaned the pins to like new. Still getting a glitched screen every time.

⟐ Answer accepted 2月 19, 2024 at 9:00 GMT-7

Retro Game Console: astro wars no power

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 18:06:24 -0700

UPDATE

it has now been fixed by using a replacement diode from a tv power board

i have an astro wars console that i dont know anything about, does anyone here know anything about repairing them

⟐ Commented 3月 21, 2023 at 18:06 GMT-7

Retro Game Console: Why does my NES display a solid pink when it is turned on?

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 17:03:03 -0700

When I start up my NES system every time, it displays a solid pink. Does anyone know why it displays pink? The pink screen is annoying me. I've already tried using my air pump to try to get dust out of the console and also I keep trying to reset the console.

⟐ Commented 11月 03, 2020 at 17:03 GMT-7

Atari 2600: I need repairs on my Atari 2600

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:41:31 -0700

i have an atari 2600 that will not turn on. I am trying to find a repair shop in NH that can fix it and retrofit it with hdmi to work with modern tv's.

⟐ Edited 4月 21, 2019 at 0:41 GMT-7