GBO screen help

eurddrue · Post by **eurddrue** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:42 pm

the screen on my Gameboy went completely black, for the last few days it has been flickering, but I assumed weak batteries. I have never done any modding to this GB and It is my cousins old one that I have had for about 3 years, with no troubles at all.

Any advice would be appreciated!

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:57 pm

I dont remember if its on the GBO, but on the gbc there was a little potentiometer underneath a sticker on the back that when twisted changed the contrast. Maybe that potentiometer got broke if it existed?

SS

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:26 pm

Do you mean completely black as in all pixels are always on, or 'completely green' as in all pixels are always off? The GBO is odd in this respect.

grossaffe · Post by **grossaffe** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 1:39 am

ah, the GBO screen. Unreliable as they come.

and SS, the potentiometer is on the GBO (maybe GBP as well?) but its on the side of the device opposite the audio potentiometer.

Bibin · Post by **Bibin** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:58 am

The contrast potentiometer has probably died.

eurddrue · Post by **eurddrue** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:16 am

well guys now today it is working but the screen blinks like crazy, and then flashes like a mother, so it is impossible to play any of my games, and totokan, it was all black.

Wrong! ugh I went to register for school, and came back, all of the pixels are dark again!

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:42 pm

Yeah, the contrast potentiometer is probably broken, you could attempt to replace it, but you'd have to either find someone who knows about this, find a schematic for the GBO, or just open it up and look at the broken one.

eurddrue · Post by **eurddrue** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:06 pm

I need to get some funds for a screw driver then, because we don't have one. and my mom put all of my saved money in a era bond or something like that. $2k!!! I'm really pissed....

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:40 am

You can usually use a super tiny flat head screwdriver. The kind you find in an eyeglasses tool set. You can usually get these small screwdriver sets at dollar stores and such. Mine fits in just right so that I can get a crooked yet good tight fit.

If it is too tight to turn at first for the initial loosening, use a vice grips on the mini screw driver for extra torque. Sometimes those tiny little screwdrivers can be hard to get a good grip on.

Good luck.

eurddrue · Post by **eurddrue** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:21 am

wow, you kinda, bumped up an old thread, I've taken it apart, and it works just fine opened up, but when I put it all back together the screen goes black.

thedevilman · Post by **thedevilman** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:02 pm

It was only about a week old, I figured that wasn't too long, hehe. I found your post while searching for a replacement LCD screen for my own GBO project and thought I would comment.

http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=25613

There is a small black rubber strip glued to the inside of the front cover that presses against the bottom of the LCD screen when assembled. Sometimes when the LCD screen starts to get old, taking that pressure off can help. In other cases, more pressure helps. It sounds like you need less pressure. In either case though, your GBO may not have much time left I'm afraid. There are exceptions of course.

Try turning it on with the front cover off and while it is working, press slightly on the bottom of the LCD screen and see if that kills the picture. If so, you can try relieving the pressure of it fully assembled by removing the black rubber strip or by adding your own custom cut foam pads around other areas inside the case to give the screen more room and less pressure. I hope that makes sense.

For foam pads, I like to use the small spacer rings that come in Blank CD or DVD spools and cut them to my needs. Sometimes they come with harder plastic, but most come with a foam like ring that is perfect for projects like this. Though, I'm sure there are plenty of other random sources for good material that will work great.

It could also be something as simple as a solder point that is cracked. The pressure of the case once screwed together tight could be putting too much stress on the bad solder point if that is the case. Check your solder points with a magnifying glass if you have one. Cracked solder points are usually pretty easy to fix with a small tip soldering iron.

That's about all I can think of at the moment but I hope that helps.
-TDM