My display isn’t working, with lines showing up, flickering, or outright screens not working. Is there anywhere I can send it for repairs, seeing as how I lack the tools and skill for opening and fixing the VB?

Hello,

You can send that in France:

http://www.otakus-store.net/fr/virtual-boy/93-forfait-reparation-virtual-boy-toute-panne-.html

Here is a short movie (in french) about this famous firm (well know to repair a lot of retro consoles):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBK8ogPoTDw

I believe Runnerpack on this forum does VB display repairs, I’d try contacting him.

MagicManJapan wrote:
My display isn’t working, with lines showing up, flickering, or outright screens not working. Is there anywhere I can send it for repairs, seeing as how I lack the tools and skill for opening and fixing the VB?

Hey dude, have a look on youtube, its actually very easy you just need the long gamebit screwdriver and a very small philips head screwdriver. And just take care with the oven timing. If I can do it, anyone can do it

baking is not a permanent fix. you will have to do it each time the glue separates again. i would recommend that you have someone solder your cables for you. there are users on this very forum who can perform that procedure for you.

cool, i didn’t actually know there was an option to solder the ribbons. Would all i have to send be the two ribbon cable pieces themselves?

Fr0st wrote:
cool, i didn’t actually know there was an option to solder the ribbons. Would all i have to send be the two ribbon cable pieces themselves?

The oven fix is temporary and potentially harmful to the displays. For the solider fix will need to remove the displays which is very easy when you have the right tool.

You might want to contact TheForce81 (Europe):

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/usercenter/index.php?section=profile&uid=1229

or Runnerpack (USA)

http://www.planetvb.com/modules/usercenter/index.php?section=profile&uid=11

and ask them if they are willing to fix them. Runnerpack did an excellent job on 3 VirtualBoys of mine.

Thanks for that, i will definitely head that route the next time some glitches show up, i got about 8 months out of the last oven fix, but yea i guess its not something you would want to be repeatedly doing!

To Fr0st, and anyone else who has a currently-working-but-not-soldered VB, I would suggest contacting someone about soldering them sooner, rather than later – especially if you’ve done the “oven trick” multiple times.

First, it’s only a matter of time before it breaks again, so you might as well. Second, and more importantly, the detaching of the glue is often a symptom of a more serious problem (deteriorating strain-relief) which, if left untreated, can make soldering the cable extremely difficult, or even impossible, to solder. It also happens to be easier to solder one that’s still firmly attached (for me, at least).

I replied back through PM, though I am not sure if that is still working, the site is having some issues at the moment it seems.

Fr0st wrote:
Thanks for that, i will definitely head that route the next time some glitches show up, i got about 8 months out of the last oven fix, but yea i guess its not something you would want to be repeatedly doing!

To Fr0st, and anyone else who has a VB with currently-working-but-not-soldered displays:

I would suggest contacting someone about soldering them sooner, rather than later – especially if you’ve done the “oven trick” at least once (note: even if you heat the cables with a hair-dryer, etc. it’s the same thing as the oven trick).

First, it’s only a matter of time before it breaks again, so you might as well get it done and not have to worry about it again. Second, and more importantly, the cause of the glitches (the failing glue) is often a symptom of a more serious problem – deterioration of the silicone strain-relief – which, if left untreated, can fatigue the wires to the point of breaking, making soldering the cable extremely difficult, or even impossible. It also happens to be easier to solder one that’s still firmly attached (for me, at least), which may or may not be of concern to you.

Runnerpack, thats sound advice. I will definitely be getting mine done soon so.

Theforce, i saw you sent me a pm, but it was blank. If you want to email me my mail is actingtheham @ yahoo .ie

Thanks all of you for your help!

RunnerPack wrote:

Haha, quotes seem to be broken as well, ahhh well, I guess everyone knows what I was trying to quote.

I agree with Runnerpack’s comments on glitchy displays. Some displays let themselves be repaired easier than others, especially if you have heated them up before. It might render your displays irreparable if you are unlucky as it doesn’t happen too often. But again, when it happens you need to acquire a new set of displays which can be a pain in more ways than one.