A console that won't boot isn't done for — it's usually just tired. I diagnose what's actually wrong, clean out decades of dust, and repair what's repairable so your old hardware gets another run. No promises I can't keep, just honest work on the machines I grew up with.
- Diagnosis first — you'll know what's wrong before any work starts
- Power, video, and audio faults traced and repaired where possible
- Cartridge slots and 72-pin connectors cleaned or replaced
- A/V jacks, power jacks, and switches repaired or re-seated
- Full teardown cleaning — dust, grime, and corrosion removed
- Tested with real games before it goes back to you
The faults that come in most
No power at all is often the power supply rather than the console — a failed brick or a broken barrel jack. No picture, rolling video, or sound that's dropped to a hum usually points at aging capacitors or a tired A/V jack. A flashing NES, or games that need reseating three times, is the cartridge connector giving up.
Then there's the quiet killer: a leaked battery or corrosion inside a machine that sat in a damp basement. That one is caught early or not at all, which is why a console that boots but acts strange is still worth looking at.
Systems I work on
Retro first: NES and Famicom, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis and Master System, Atari 2600 and 7800, and the Game Boy family. Modern hardware too — PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, every Nintendo Switch model, and the Steam Deck.
Each system has its own page below with the faults it's known for and what the repair costs. If yours isn't listed, ask anyway — a lot of this hardware shares the same handful of failure modes.
Sending a console safely
Consoles need real packing: a box the machine can't shift inside of, cushioning on all six sides, and nothing loose that can work its way into the cartridge slot. Include the power supply and A/V cable so the whole chain can be tested together.
Mail-in runs nationwide on the same two-label setup as cartridges — one label out, one label home, both paid up front so nothing stalls once the repair is done.
Questions people ask
My NES flashes on every game — is that the console?
Almost certainly. The NES 72-pin connector loses tension over time and stops gripping the cartridge properly. Cleaning or replacing it is the standard fix, and it turns a temperamental console back into a reliable one.
Do you diagnose before charging for repairs?
Always. The console is opened, tested, and diagnosed first, and you get told what's wrong and what it takes to fix before any repair work is authorized.
Can every console be saved?
No. Water damage, battery leakage on a board, severe corrosion, or a previous rough repair can put a machine beyond economical repair. You'll get that answer plainly instead of an open-ended bill.
Should I send controllers and cables too?
Send the power supply and A/V cable — a lot of “dead console” tickets turn out to be a failed power brick or a broken cable. Controllers are welcome if they're part of the problem.
All work is carried out under the repair authorization & risk acknowledgment.
Repair pages by system
Every system has its own page with the faults it's known for, what causes them, and what the repair costs.
Retro consoles
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) repair
1985–1995
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) repair
1991–1999
Nintendo 64 (N64) repair
1996–2002
Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket repair
1989–1998
Game Boy Color repair
1998–2003
Game Boy Advance, GBA SP and Micro repair
2001–2008
Sega Genesis and Mega Drive repair
1989–1997
Sega Master System repair
1986–1992
Atari 2600 and 7800 repair
1977–1992
Sony PlayStation (PS1) repair
1995–2006
Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) repair
2000–2013
Microsoft Xbox (Original) repair
2001–2009
Nintendo GameCube repair
2001–2007
Nintendo Wii repair
2006–2013
Sega Dreamcast repair
1999–2001
Modern consoles
PlayStation 5 repair
2020–present
PlayStation 4, Slim and Pro repair
2013–2021
Xbox Series X and Series S repair
2020–present
Xbox One, One S and One X repair
2013–2020
Nintendo Switch, OLED, Lite and Switch 2 repair
2017–present
Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED repair
2022–present
Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) repair
2006–2017
Microsoft Xbox 360 repair
2005–2016