The $5 'magic' fix for a Sega Genesis that actually worked

So my buddy's old Sega Genesis from 1992 just had a black screen, no sound, nothing. He was about to toss it. I told him to let me try one thing I saw online, which sounded like total nonsense. The tip was to take the console apart and clean the cartridge slot with a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol, but then also to gently bend the little metal pins inside the slot OUTWARD with a toothpick. I was SO skeptical, thinking you'd just break it more. But after about 20 minutes of careful poking, we put it back together, popped in Sonic 2, and the thing fired right up! The picture was perfect. I couldn't believe a free fix from a random forum and five minutes of work saved a console. Has anyone else had a weird, simple trick save a piece of old tech they thought was dead for good?

3 comments

3 Comments

christopherwilliams1mo ago

My cousin fixed a dead Game Boy with a pencil eraser.

schmidt.amy1mo ago

Wait, how did that even work? I mean, that's pretty cool, @christopherwilliams.

simon_wood721mo ago

Bent the pins on an old NES cart slot @schmidt.amy and it worked like a charm.