New Feature Idea

[Royce]

I recently read that blowing on cartridges does nothing to help, and can actually ruin a game. Although I disagree that blowing does nothing, I never really thought about how blowing could potentially damage the cartridge. After reading this I began a search on Sega Genesis maintenance and care. My search results came up with little to no information. Although it may seem like common knowledge, I think a feature detailing how to care for your console and games would be very useful. Furthermore, It could list Sega accessories made for cleaning, and DIY methods. I was surprised to see that information on this topic was so scattered and useless.

Any thoughts?

[N.Saibot]

It is all very simple and barely needs a special feature on the site. After all we're talking
only about one console, the Mega Drive. You just dust it off with anything that's any good
for it - cloth, a vacuum cleaner, whatever. Cartridges and systems are to be cleaned when
you buy them and afterwards every time they refuse to work.

How to clean a game cartridge: take some rubbing alcohol and q-tips. Put alc on the tip,
rub the contacts. Then rub the contacts with a dry q-tip. Make a stunned face at how
black the q-tip gets, repeat until q-tip comes out rather clean.

How to clean the cartridge slot: put a good amount of rubbing alcohol on the cartridge
contacts. Put in, pull out, repeat. Done.

When you buy really nasty looking hardware, it may be a good idea to disassemble it and
wash it with hot water. Even the worst dirt will come off of plastic things if you make a
mix of hot water and lots of soap, then let the piece lay inside for 10 minutes.

When washing electronics - beware! This stuff has to lay around drying for 24 hours at
least. If you try to turn wet stuff on, you break it instantaneously. So make sure it is all
really VERY dry.

[The Jackal]

An easier and just as effective means of cleaning your carts are to use a rubber/eraser on the contacts.

[Royce]

Thanks, but maintenance might not be so obvious to everyone, and there are many different opinions on the matter. You say use rubbing alcohol, yet I've met a couple people who think rubbing alcohol may damage the cartridge. A feature on maintenance and care would inform people the pros and cons of certain cleaning methods (rubbing alcohol vs. say.....Vodka), and dispel any rumors. Some people (myself included) may have never even thought about maintaining a console, but the Genesis is 20 years old now (and aging fast). If not for anything else, a maintenance feature would help keep individual Genesis consoles around so our great great grandchildren can enjoy the wonders of Shaq Fu! We are talking about legacy here.

[Nunzio]

If you think it's so important, go write it man! Do your own research and comparison.

[Royce]

If you think it's so important, go write it man! Do your own research and comparison.

That is the problem. I've attempted to research it, but there is not so much information on the subject. I think everyone is like you in the fact that they believe it is common knowledge. This is simply not the case. I think that a feature on caring for and maintaining a Genesis/Mega Drive should be a logical step in making this site the place to go for these consoles. It is a vital part of owning a console that not enough people do or do right. I would love to write the feature, but I need information from experienced people. So would anyone care to detail how they clean their console, and why they prefer this method? The problems with blowing? Any cleaning fluids you use? how about alternatives to rubbing alcohol? (I thought about vinegar when I was younger, but that would have been an acidic disaster)

thank you.

[Nunzio]

That is the problem. I've attempted to research it, but there is not so much information on the subject. I think everyone is like you in the fact that they believe it is common knowledge. This is simply not the case. I think that a feature on caring for and maintaining a Genesis/Mega Drive should be a logical step in making this site the place to go for these consoles. It is a vital part of owning a console that not enough people do or do right. I would love to write the feature, but I need information from experienced people.

So would anyone care to detail how they clean their console,

For the actual console, I blow it out with compressed air during the year, and every once in awhile I clean using the Coop's method. I take an old giftcard, wrap it with a thin old t-shirt, insert into the cart slot, and slide it from side to side (dry, no alcohol). You can't use paper towel because it will rip and leave debris.

and why they prefer this method?

It's the best way I know.

The problems with blowing?

Moisture in your breath is corrosive. Over time, you can rust out your contacts supposedly. I have always thought this was bullshit, and invented to help market official cleaning kits. Actual cleaning is simply more effective.

Any cleaning fluids you use?

I use isopropyl alcohol and q-tips. Many people, like Jackal swear by rubber erasers. I never got on board with it because I don't want to take the cart apart and do it right.

how about alternatives to rubbing alcohol? (I thought about vinegar when I was younger, but that would have been an acidic disaster)

Some people swear by Windex, really, you're after the ammonia in it. You can also use certain windshield washer fluid, but they contain either ethanol or methanol, other forms of alcohol. Both ethanol and methonal are more corrosive than rubbing alcohol, so you need to wipe the contacts with water afterwards to take off any residue. They are only super corrosive on aluminum however, so not huge worries.

[Cornholio857]

I thought we had a few Cleaning threads with a good amount of info.

How To: Clean Your Classic Cartridge Games

Anything else besides the Genesis cleaner can help clean the slot pins?

I'm sure there's more but that's all I feel like finding.

[ThunderForce]

I thought it was common knowledge to use q-tips?

[Kollision]

I blow my cartridges all the time.
This thing about corroding from breath is a myth. Besides, I have a dry breath.

[N.Saibot]

I blow my cartridges all the time.
This thing about corroding from breath is a myth. Besides, I have a dry breath.

No you don't, no one has dry breath. You spit out tiny moisture particles, no matter how low
the amount.

Besides, if the cartridge works after you blow on it, there is no way to explain that, but
moisture on the contacts. There is never that much dust inside to prevent current flow, so
what happens is most likely you make the contacts moist - thus current flows more easily,
because current flows better through water.

This ought to corrode the things in the long run, but only a little bit, just enough to prevent
current flow again, so you blow - make it better for a short time and then it goes all over
again. If you clean the contacts with alc., you'll see how much dirt there is. My q-tips
always come out black after cleaning.

[N.Saibot]

An easier and just as effective means of cleaning your carts are to use a rubber/eraser on the contacts.

It is just as effective, but have you tried cleaning Mega Drive carts with erasers? Taking
those things apart is what really needs a special feature on this site.

[Kollision]

No you don't, no one has dry breath. You spit out tiny moisture particles, no matter how low
the amount.

Yeah.... I know... my post has kind of a joke anyway....

The thing is I do clean my carts the appropriate way. And they work great after that, especially Genesis/MD. NES carts, however, are a pain. Nothing that a good blow won't fix though (and yes, I know the problem lies in the console innards - I'm just too lazy to open it and service it properly).

[MN12BIRD]

Yeah if the contacts are really bad you can open the game cart and use either a white rubber eraser or wet sanding paper (really high grit like P1000) and wet it a little and it will shine those contacts right up.

[Jibbajaba]

http://www.cgquarterly.com/articles/cleangames.htm