iFixit - Answers With Device "Game Boy Color"

Game Boy Color: [GBC] game won't boot, cartridge works fine with an other GBC

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:36:15 -0700

So I recovered an old gameboy and changed the screen that was broken. The process seems to have succeeded as I could see the Game boy logo upon turning on the device.

I tried it when a Pokemon yellow cartridge but the game won’t start. I have a blank screen without sound. I tested this same cartridge with an other GBC and it works fine, which means that the problem doesn’t originate from the cartridge.

I tried to look at the pins in the cartridge receiver of the GBC, but it also seems fine.

Does someone have encountered a similar issue ?

Thank you in advance for your help.

⟐ Commented March 19, 2024 at 16:36 MST

Game Boy Color: D-Pad Up and Left are double Clicking Game Boy Color

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 08:04:02 -0700

The D-Pad on my GBC is not working correctly when I push it normal it’s recognizing it as double click and when it push hardly it working just normal I just tried to clean the contacts and it didn’t work any other ideas?

⟐ Edited by author October 01, 2023 at 8:04 MST

Game Boy Color: I have a problem with my Gameboy Color

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:11:46 -0700

i I have a problem with my Gameboy Color I bought. First of all the original power switch was toast, it simply fell appart. I bought a replacement and soldered it on.

When the switch is in the on position and I put batteries in, everything is fine.

When I turn the switch off, it turns off (although the last picture stays for a while on the screen) But here comes the issue. If I put batteries in while turned off, and I turn the power switch on, the power light just flickers shortly but the console does not turn on. This is repeatable.

Switchposition ON: put batts in, works fine

Turn OFF, Gamboy turns off, although picture remnants.

try to turn on again, Powerlight flickers but nothing happens...

I desoldered it already, to check if there is no short cleaned it up once more with alkohol, resoldered, same issue.

The problem seems to come in the transition from pins C + 1 to C+3 which causes something, but I have no clue

⟐ Commented May 18, 2023 at 9:11 MST

Game Boy Color: My gameboy color will not turn on, it only makes a small sound when on

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 05:30:33 -0700

when powered on:

-the power light flashes on, then nothing

-makes a weird noise when turned on

-nothing appears on the screen

all happen simultaneously

the Gameboy colour seems to be in good condition, I have not opened it yet but it is transparent and the internals looks clean, this was from my uncle and has only have been found recently

⟐ Edited by author March 22, 2022 at 5:30 MST

Game Boy Color: Game boy color not working

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 04:34:09 -0700

Hello, I turn on my game boy color and it just shuts off. The volume does not work, when the game boy color stays on the buttons work fine but the system itself just shuts down even if I change the batteries.

⟐ Commented October 24, 2021 at 4:34 MST

Game Boy Color: Why does my gameboy color turn off when I save Pokemon Crystal

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 06:54:31 -0700

So I have been playing Pokemon Crystal on the Gamboy Color and have made it to the elite four. I was training up my team and was gonna go to bed so I went to save the game. Like usual it said “SAVING. DONT TURN OFF POWER" When randomly the game turned off. Because of this I lost all progress and was very upset but I sucked it up and started a new game. After playing 20 mins of the new game I went to save and the same thing happened losing that little progress too. The next day I turned it on again to see I'm the error was temporary but this time there was random buzzing coming from the speaker and before I even got to start moving my character the game shut off without me even saving. If anyone knows what is happening and how to fix it please let me know. I don't know how to rewire or mess with the insides of a console so if I have to do that you'll have to explain it a bit. Thanks.

⟐ Edited by author October 03, 2021 at 6:54 MST

Game Boy Color: What is wrong with my Gameboy Color?

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 13:24:04 -0700

So I recently got a Gameboy Color, which was previously my uncles, and it turns on and makes the on sound but the screen seems to show a few lines and it just stays like that. There is also a video attached.

⟐ Commented September 19, 2021 at 13:24 MST

Game Boy Color: Why is my GBC continuously restarting when the volume is turned up?

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 07:05:38 -0700

So Iv got GBC, Iv fitted a Q5 OSD backlit screen, fitted a CleanPower regulator from Retrosix aswell as a CleanAmp v1.1 from Retrosix. When turning the console on with the volume low it operates fine, as soon as I turn the volume up the console restarts continuously until I either switch off the console or turn the volume down again. If I disconnect the power to the amp the console operates fine but obviously without any sound. Iv checked all wiring, nothing has shorted, Iv even redone some of the wiring and used a different amp with still no success. I suspect the amp is drawing too much power when the volume is turned up but have no idea how I would go about rectifying this issue. Any advise would be hugely appreciated.

Game Boy Color: I get a dark screen when I power the unit on, but is not a bad screen.

Tue, 18 May 2021 02:42:38 -0700

I bought an apparently damaged motherboard on my game boy color. I get a darkish screen display with alternated colors and I tried replacing the screen but I get the same. So could you please let me know what could be the motherboard component I need to change on the motherboard?

Hope you can help me bring this GBC back to life :)

Game Boy Color: Why won’t my link port work?

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 10:46:46 -0700

I recently purchased a link cable so that I could trade Pokémon between my two game boy colors. I tried using the link cable and it only registers on one of them. The other gbc doesn’t recognize that there is a link cable attached. There isn’t a problem with the cable or with either game I checked with different ones. I think it may be an issue with the port but I’m not sure how to fix it.

Game Boy Color: Can't get Gameboy to turn on?

Sat, 26 Dec 2020 22:57:31 -0700

I have cleaned the terminals, opened and cleaned the power switch (essentially cleaned the whole thing inside and out) and tested the fuses and i still can't get it to turn on. When you switch the power on the red light comes on for a second and then goes off. Any ideas?

Game Boy Color: Battery pad missing, can this be fixed?

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 09:32:40 -0700

This gameboy colour has a missing battery pad and I was hoping to do the rechargable battery mod with it. Is there any chance that this can be usable?

Game Boy Color: We're can I get the replacement screen connector?

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 02:49:15 -0700

I was swapping out the screen to a new back light screen on my gameboy color and the plastic pieces to the screen connector broke off because of how old and fragile it was . Where can I get a new one?

⟐ Commented April 06, 2020 at 2:49 MST

Game Boy Color: Game boy color repair service?

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 08:02:00 -0700

found my gameboy color in my parents garage with the Pokémon yellow cartridge in it. I put a fresh pair of batteries in it but no go. I was curious if u guys offer a repair service?

I saw ur tutorials but I don’t have enough faith in myself to pull it off without doing any permanent damage

Game Boy Color: System doesn't turn on, but the speaker makes a popping noise.

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 13:33:58 -0700

Hi, whenever I try to turn on my Game Boy Color, the speaker (or headphones when they’re plugged in,) makes a single pop/click sound, and the system doesn’t start up with no LEDs turning on either. I already tried opening up the system and tried cleaning the battery terminals, but it still doesn’t work. Everything looks completely normal on the inside, so I’m not sure what’s wrong. Can someone please help?

⟐ Edited by author March 15, 2020 at 13:33 MST

Game Boy Color: My Game won't save, issue is not the battery confirmed

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 08:45:56 -0700

I see a lot of great answer’s on these forum’s for fixing a save game issue for my Pokemon Crystal catridge, and followed them to the T and even enlisted the help of my IT professional friend for the soldering of the new battery, but the issue is still occurring even though we went through the trouble of double checking, and evening trying a second new battery. Are there any other issues that can occur that prevent saving outside of Battery issues?

Another piece of perhaps relevant info would be there was the tiniest bit (and I cannot stress the tiny part) of wear on one of the corners of the board. Could it have burned through?

⟐ Commented March 09, 2020 at 8:45 MST

Game Boy Color: Is there a fix for the trade cable port? On GBC.

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 20:03:10 -0700

I have tried to use a trade cable between my GBA and GBC. Sometimes they recognize that they are connected, but it never works. Is there a way to fix or swap the trade cable port on a GBC?

Game Boy Color: Why won't my game save?

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 18:35:25 -0700

I have a copy of Legend of Zelda Oracle of Ages and it won't save my game. I'll save and turn it off and it deletes my save. The battery in it is working perfectly fine and is not dead. Any suggestions as to why?

⟐ Commented February 20, 2019 at 18:35 MST

Game Boy Color: D-pad on my gameboy color does not work

Sat, 21 Jul 2018 09:17:40 -0700

I bought a faulty Gbc and tried to fix it, at first i thought it was a problem with the buttons or the silicon under it so i replaced them and still does not work, im new to this so i dont know whats wrong on the motherboard and could not find out on the internet. Help me please

Game Boy Color: tried to mod a back light, and now it won't turn on...

Thu, 18 May 2017 22:39:20 -0700

So i attempted, "with the help of a bad guide..." i tried to attach my two wires to power the backlight from the red circles in the photos... So when it didn't work i believe i messed up the power button by touching it with the soldering iron to much.

so i de soldered it, and tried to install a gba start switch, which i put upside down. and wired it, circled in the black, i had to go to the c34 due to losing the metal pad for 3...

so when that didn't work, i just tried to bypass it by attaching c, and c34, with no luck.

any advice? besides my use of so would be extremely appreciated. THANKS!