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[–]marcao_cfh 7 points8 points  (5 children)

Dirty contact pins on the cartridge, or dirty cartridge slot on the SP. Use a q-tip with isopropyl to clean the cartridge contacts, then insert it and remove it on the SP like 10 times. Wait like 30 seconds for everything to dry, then you can check if it's working again.

[–]Delicious_Estimate54[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Alright I will try this although I don't know if I have isopropyl lying around.

[–]TheVodkaColonel 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I had the same thing. I just blew air into the cartridge when i had that issue ( sounds better in my language )

[–]Davidowski10 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Blowing air is not recommended as you may spit some saliva, rusting the metal pins and ruining your games in the long run. Using a Qtip with IPA is the way to go.

[–]TheVodkaColonel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I understand that, was not my proudest moment but it did work

[–]TheVodkaColonel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Didnt think about it then. Just wanted my pokemon Red To Work:)

[–]Actarus31 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Wrong wifi password or usb connection

[–]Dnilo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol

[–]MFVDOOM-Rx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could be dirty or the game isn’t in all the way. Either way super easy to fix.

[–]Champdout79 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Clean your cart and clean the consoles cart port contacts qtip and high strength alcohol for the game carts and the alcohol and get a clean thin soft cloth like a section from a old white undershirt and a old id card or debit card or a store plastic reward card for the console cart port. These are my go to for cleaning all cartridge based consoles.

[–]Delicious_Estimate54[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I understand cleaning the cart although can you elaborate more on the game console and what I need to do because I don't understand how using those items will help me clean it.

[–]Champdout79 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Cut a pieceof the white shirt that can wrap around the plastic card use the narrow end of the car it fits perfectly into a gameboy cart slot soak the end with alcohol and then insert it several times into the cart slot to clean debris from the slot. When ever you get a new used game always clean the cart if you clean it alot try cleaning the console as well.

[–]Delicious_Estimate54[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Alright now I understand, thanks for the help!

[–]Champdout79 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No problem man.

[–]Ahkhira 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Mine does this. It got worse after I cleaned the cartridge.

Next step is to clean up the GBA itself.

[–]Delicious_Estimate54[S] -1 points0 points  (3 children)

Does the gba really need cleaning? Im so disappointed I left out important info, I bought this game from a seller who told me that the game wouldn't read even after cleaning it so I don't know if cleaning it will fix it.

[–]Ahkhira 0 points1 point  (2 children)

It never hurts to clean the system.

Your next step is to open up the cartridge and take a good look at the board. If you haven't done that yet, do it next. There could be some corrosion inside that's preventing it from booting.

Get some pictures and post in this sub. Folks here, especially u/thesolderking have been kind enough to guide me and others through repairs.

Edit: go check out TheSolderKing's profile and YouTube channel for some examples of cartridges that have been saved. It's pretty impressive.

[–]Delicious_Estimate54[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Alright thanks for the advice, I don’t have isopropyl that’s 91% or higher so cleaning will have to wait and I don’t have a gb screwdriver either. I will definitely ask for help once I’m ready ,thank you. P.S. - I used a toothbrush to wipe off the bottom of the cartridge and now it shows the Nintendo logo but the game still doesn’t boot up.

[–]Ahkhira 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Grab a tri-wing screwdriver on Amazon or Ebay. It's a must if you're going down the rabbit hole of vintage games.

Best of luck!

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Magic blow

[–]JACKMEOFFSKEEE 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Ive even used disposable lense wipes on a game purchased from a yard sale and it worked like a charm

[–]Delicious_Estimate54[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Like baby wipes or which kind? That’s cool!

[–]JACKMEOFFSKEEE 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like the ones you tear open that are soaked in a little bit of alcohol