Megadrives not always starting up

[Kikoskia]

Recently, I have come across a problem; my megadrives tend not to start up first time. I place a game in, turn it on and I am greeted with a blank black screen. Reinserting the cart a number of times will get the game to work, eventually.

This is a disturbing problem for me. It isn't the system itself as I have used another megadrive and it does the same thing. It isn't even the power pack as I have another of them that I have used, again it hasn't made it any better. It also isn't a particular game, as various games have started to do this. I am at a loss to think what could be causing this.

Any advice?

[Elusive]

It could be that the cartridge isn't making a good connection. Give the contacts a clean - or you can try getting a can of compressed air and giving the cartridge slot a blast, it's surprising how much crap can accumulate down there. Some games are just fussy like that.

Good slot hygeine is essential for a healthy Mega Drive

[Kikoskia]

I shall give that a try. Thanks.

EDIT: I gave the connectors a good clean, I think that sorted it. I think some of the new cartridges I got were dity on the connectors and so made the megadrive ones grimy. Thanks. :0