So I’m a pretty avid video game collector, and I finally was able to track down a Virtual Boy since it was one of the few Nintendo systems I didn’t already own. I found a copy of Mario Tennis in the $1 bin of a used game store I go to, so I had something to test the system with. Hooked it all up, but when I go to turn it on, nothing happened. I cleaned the connector (it was dirty) and even the contacts on the battery pack, still nothing. I picked up an AC adapter thinking the battery pack was bad, and it still won’t work. I’ve seen other posts where the motors will make some noise, but I’m getting nothing. Doing some research on the interwebs seem to point to this being the place to go for any VB related questions, so I;m putting it out to the experts: Is there anything else I can try or is this unit DOA?

with the game pack inserted, you do not hear the mirrors spin up or get any sound out of the speakers?

Lester Knight wrote:
with the game pack inserted, you do not hear the mirrors spin up or get any sound out of the speakers?

No sound at all, I fear the system may be toast. Could it possibly be an issue with the controller since that holds the power switch?

Yes, it could be a problem with the controller but it doesn’t have to be.

Have you got a voltag- meter? If so you could measure the voltage comming out of the controller.

http://www.goliathindustries.com/vb/img/Misc.gif

Following this diagram you have to connect the + side to pin 2 and the – side to pin 5.

You could also test the head unit by plugging 4,5 ~ 5 volt into it. (again + side on pin2, – side on pin 5).

Let me know the results :).

Kind regards,
Roelvdm3

I was using my VB fine 2 days ago and now when you power it on you can hear the motors but no display. The only sound you hear is when you power it off.

When I first turned it on Wario Land display was messed up so I tried turning it off and on again but now it would display anything.

I’m using an AC adapter and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

wario has sound on the main menu. put in the cart and turn on the vb. wait about 5 seconds and then press A. wait about 5 more and then press A again. now you are on the “automatic pause” screen, so press A again. after that the intro will play and you will have sound. does it work?

if yes, and you are not getting any images, then it is probably an issue with the cables. nintendo used glue to connect two parts of the display cables together, and after 18 yrs that glue no longer holds up. if this is the issue then this is an extremely common problem that pretty much all of us have experienced.

there are a few ways you can fix this but all of them require opening up your VB. you can either make a screw driver to do this or buy a gamebit and modify it. there are also some screw drivers already designed to work that are long enough to reach the deepest screws.

give this a read to get a better idea of what you might be dealing with: http://www.projectvb.com/displayfix.html

just to reassure you, opening up the vb and taking out the display cables is REALLY easy. its a few screws, and then everything neatly pulls apart. the displays are also screwed in and will require a small precision phillips screw driver. if you do open it up, consider replacing the security screws with something more common. i used pan phil sheet metal screws #4 x 12 plated. they were a perfect fit.

finding someone to solder your cables may be easier than you think, we have a few qualified members here on this site. =)

Thank you for the response. I was able to get sound so it is a display issue. I don’t have any soldering experience so is it worth trying the oven method considering it’s not displaying anything at the moment?

the oven method is not permanent, and you risk damage to your cables. what you should do is post in one of the threads about this problem and find one of our capable members who is willing to solder your cables.

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3295&forum=1

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=5152&forum=1

DogP recently fixed 20 sets of cables. RunnerPack has fixed a few sets, 1 for at least one of our members. TheForce81 was fixing them for awhile but may no longer be doing so.

Just to let everyone know, I haven’t forgotten this thread. It turns out the guy who runs one of the used game shops I go to is a Virtual Boy guru and I’m going to have him take a look at my system on Saturday.

just make sure he is a soldering guru before you let him at your cables. a new set will cost you close to $40 on ebay.

good luck, i hope he can fix it for you!

Looks like the issue is a bad power supply in the main unit. Anyone know someone with the know-how to take a crack at repairing or should I just scour the interwebs for a working VB?

PM sent.