My N65 (Previously ...f**cking case...)

[Rabid Ferrets of DOOM!!!â„¢]

Title says it all. Only method I've seen so far is the melt a pen and use it as a screw driver. I've gotten 1 screw out and I barely budged a second one... Help? Thanks.

[vskid]

Try and try again, it doesn't always work the first time. The fact that you've gotten any out is a good sign, because you have a decent pen and are doing it right.

If you start going crazy and are about to start killing people, there are several other options to remove the screws.

If you're making a portable, it is best to wait as long as possibly before removing your N64 from its case, that'll give it the best chances of not frying.

[Rabid Ferrets of DOOM!!!â„¢]

The fact that you've gotten any out is a good sign, because you have a decent pen and are doing it right.

*Had* a good pen. Most of it is melted, now. xD

What other screw removal options are there, and do they involve maiming of said screws in any way?

What else should I do I thought the rule was guts then case...

[benol]

Awesome username. Must be a pain in the ass to type. Try making a new screwdriver out of a new pen.

[Rabid Ferrets of DOOM!!!â„¢]

Awesome username. Must be a pain in the ass to type. Try making a new screwdriver out of a new pen.

...I don't have any other pens. xD

And no, my username isn't really much of a pain in the ass. Alt + 0153 on the numpad.

[benol]

And no, my username isn't really much of a pain in the ass. Alt + 0153 on the numpad.

I meant the whole thing, not just the â„¢ part.

[vskid]

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=5001
Its a sticky in the SNES forum, dunno why there isn't a link to it, here...

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/18/mini ... ty-screws/
Expounds on the "modify existing screwdriver" idea in the other link.

I'm pretty sure there are a few more tutorials on instructables, too (too lazy to go searching).

[Valium]

You could cut open the case and cut the screw posts.

Thats what I did with a SNES, except, I didn't really cut it, I just melted it open.

[Rabid Ferrets of DOOM!!!â„¢]

So I tried with a new pen with harder plastic. I got screw #2 pretty loose. And then... The pen broke... Inside the hole. So I got a big hunk of plastic between me and the screw. Plan B time. I'm not to sure how I would cut open the case, but maybe its a good idea.

And if anybody cares, I plan on doing a vertical gameboy style layout unlike the GBA looking things everyone keeps doing. At the top I'm going to have a switch and a cable port so the portable can be switched to be used as just a controller to either be hooked up to a big N64 or so me and my friends can play smash bros on our portables on vacation. I'll basicaly just have the switch go between the controller signal going to the mobo or to the port, and the cable going into the port will be a standard controller cable with two male ends.

[grahf]

I have never owned an N64, let along taken one apart, so this may not be relevent here.

If the screw holes are not too deep on the N64s (or you have a very long soldering iron tip), you can just hold the soldering iron against the screw head for about 2 minutes. It will heat up the entire screw, slightly melting the plastic around it. This allows you to just pull the case apart With minimal mess.
I usually do this to open SNES carts, since I just replace the screws with slightly bigger + head screws when I'm done anyway.

[Rabid Ferrets of DOOM!!!â„¢]

I have never owned an N64, let along taken one apart, so this may not be relevent here.

If the screw holes are not too deep on the N64s (or you have a very long soldering iron tip), you can just hold the soldering iron against the screw head for about 2 minutes. It will heat up the entire screw, slightly melting the plastic around it. This allows you to just pull the case apart With minimal mess.
I usually do this to open SNES carts, since I just replace the screws with slightly bigger + head screws when I'm done anyway.

Yeah I read that on one of the links given above. Problem is, the holes are *really* deep on the N64 and I'm not sure I'd be able to grab it. I do have a long enough sodering iron, however. But then of course... I still have that new hunk of plastic to deal with...

[viksmart]

Pay five bucks like I did and get the bits on ebay It's so worth the money I promise.(Try to dig out the plastic with a knife while slowly melting it with a soldering iron. It worked for me)

[Kyo]

Agreed. I have a bit myself, believe me, it's worth the money.

[Rabid Ferrets of DOOM!!!â„¢]

K. Well while I wait for the bit to come in the mail, there's another question I had. Can I use any PSOne screen for this? I have a third party one from a loooooong time ago. It's pretty similar to the official one in that it has a volume and brightness dial, but it also has a color dial, a headphone jack, and a switch to just power the conosole or to power the console and the screen. (I think the switch would save some time since there'd be one switch for both anyway with the console's switch sodered to permanently on, right? Plus I think I want to have the option of no screen on for video out...)

[Rabid Ferrets of DOOM!!!â„¢]

Rofl this screen... Had a *interesting* way of holding the circuit board in place... There's two wires sodered to a pin connected to... nothing! and those wires are taped to the metal shielding with this weird metal tape... I rofld for a bit.