Fixing eBay Junk - Game Boy Color Pokemon Edition - No Power or Sound 

We've missed you. You inspired me to start repairing consoles, and over the years I've gotten just about every console I want in my collection from "broken" listings on eBay. It's crazy how straightforward it can be when you have videos like this to reference for ideas as to what might be going wrong. Thanks to you I'm starting my own small business selling the consoles I repair (though it's mostly for fun)

On a special Edition one like this, I'd leave it original. I put an IPS display in one where I replaced the ratty old discolored shell with a new one, and it actually made the screen usable, after using iPhones for 10 years I forgot how bad these old Gameboy displays were. The Funnyplaying shells look and feel just like the originals.

PR Dox was actually Paradox, the triangles are A

A tip for the makeshift battery pack: take a neodymium magnet and connect the batteries in series (+ -> Magnet -> -). Then take two more magnets at the ends and put your crocodile clamps on them. Works great.

Really appreciate that you gone the long way and not just replaced the main board but ran a root cause analysis and solved the AC distributor issue. Big fan of you! As for the screen replacement for an IPS one I would leave it as it is. This piece is a collectors item and since its Pokemon, it will only go up in value. Keep up the good work!

If the original screen was bad, I’d replace. Otherwise, leave as is. If you don’t care about collecting value by replacing the screen, then go for it. The IPS screens are such a great upgrade.

I'd say keep the original screen/preserve the "authenticness" Plenty of other broken GBCs out there that aren't special editions to put an IPS screen into.

I've been repairing and selling Game Boy colors for the past two years. Some observations regarding special editions: the majority you see for sale are fakes. There are small differences that become obvious IF you have a real case vs the reproductions. The texture is usually off, the graphics, particularly the color of the screen bezel are usually off, and the raised area around the bottom front of the case on reproductions tends to be smooth where as the original cases will have a crisp line. I've seen reproductions that range from poor to very good, but again, when you put even the best reproduction case out there next to an original, you'll see some differences. Top Tip (as the Brits say): There is a very easy way to check to see if a case is a reproduction: look for a color coded sticker on the back of the case under the battery compartment. Skip to 2:27 and you'll see exactly what I am talking about. There is a blue sticker located at the bottom of the battery compartment in-between two of the case screws. I have yet to see these stickers reproduced, and every reproduction case I have bought is missing this sticker. The sticker will be color coded to the case, and if its two tone, then it will typically be coded to whatever color the back half of the case is. The presence of a sticker is not a 100% guarantee that it is original (you may have an original back, but the front has been replaced), but it is an important clue that should not be overlooked. I would treat any unit missing this sticker as having a reproduction case, regardless of the story the seller may tell you. Having bought and sold numerous units made in China, Japan, and in Japan for the U.S. market I can attest that the sticker is very durable and wont just fall off.

That was part of a coil, used for what I'd imagine is a SMPS. The top being broken probably affected the magnetic field...It's a ferrite material, but you might be able to glue back together. It took a pretty good drop to break that.

Thank you so much for the regular uploads recently, Adam. Absolutely love you and your channel, everytime I see a new video, it puts a smile on my face.

I would leave it original for the collectors special edition imo. Another great repair video, keep up the great work.

41:20 I was thinking the same thing and was cautiously worried about your finger lol. I agree with the original screen at least on this one. Not because it's nicer, it's not even comparable, but because the novelty of this is that it *is* the original special-edition console.

*finds part of voltage regulator bouncing around* "I don't think this will affect power." 😁 Love your videos!

4:21 sound of opening beer can

Nice job getting this one working again Adam! I'm going to go with what the majority of people are saying on this one and leave it stock, if the shell or screen were toast then it would be a candidate for the IPS upgrade.

It looks much better and it works. As it is a special edition I would keep it original. Good luck for the 100'000.

Great vid! For a special edition, I'd keep it original. You could get a standard edition gameboy color, do the screen mod and put on an after market pokemon shell.

Nice to see a long video from you buddy 😉 thank you 😊

Traded in my gray xbox one s 500gb and a pretty bad shaped GBA for a pokemon gameboy color and a zelda 3ds xl. Gameboy in great condition and 3ds in excellent. Thanks for your video!

I agree with other comments. IPS screen will require new lens. Since the current screen lens makes it special I would leave as is. Put the IPS in your daily driver where it’ll get used.

This week I was quarantined and really enjoyed allot of your video's. Thanks for the great content, awesome stuff. I would personally leave this Pokémon edition original, you've got a nice system there. Very nice repair, and thank you so much for taking us on these repair adventures 😃 It made my week.

Wish I could subscribe twice, love your videos

Really cool video. Great work 🙂

i would leave original screen personally since it is a special version, if standard I would say replace.

Nicely done man!

An hour special! Since you decided to stay with the original, I guess maybe its not worth it, as - like you mentioned - it is a collectors item by now. Plus you'd have to pay for the screen, and I imagine, that it doesnt cost lunch money. However another great repair! By the way, what do you think about me donating you a bootleg console I mentioned last time? As a form of having something new on the workbench

LOL "...and whatever you need for supplies." *cracks open a beer"

Personally id recomend against IPS modding it partly because its a collectors piece but secondly most the screen mods requires you to cut the shell to fit them in, and some evern require a whole new lens because of bigger screen.

For playability I would install the backlight, I am getting ready to build a modded gameboy DMG-01 here soon.

I would keep it original but maybe try lightly polishing the scratched up lens?

When are you gonna do the ps1-ps2-xbox repairs? I would like to see you working on the slightly newer stuff

I'd leave the original display. As as you said, its a special collectors edition, and while it is true that a new screen may be better, you'd have to ask yourself "how many times am I going to play this specific gameboy?"

Adam, I think you should check sound mod for Game Boy called GBAmp3.5. Cannot put a link here, because youtube delete it. And how large your collection of consoles that you have repaired? Did you sell fixed consoles from time to time?

Love your channel. Doesn't make any sense to have kept the original board and changed the chip just to modify the display.. keep it original.

Great work👌

Been watching for a while, finally subscribed. sorry it took so long, I'm a dick lol

I really love your videos but I gotta ask why the de-soldering gun? I use a soldering wick and it works for me without a hitch for retro electronics.

Hi boss! I have a question. I have a gameboy color that I messed up. It was perfectly working, then I decided to clean the motherboard and power switch with alcohol, so I did. I think that I didn’t wait enough time to let it dry out. I powered it on and it didn’t work anymore. It’s not powering on anymore. I did some continuity tests and it seems that everything is fine. I was thinking that you could made another of your awesome videos if I send it over to you. Maybe you can detect the problem. I will pay for the shipping cost and the return shipping costs. What do you think?

Reminder to refill on rosin flux :)

Definitely do the black light mod bro!

Two weeks ago i fixed my gameboy color that had a faulty dc-dc converter too, i fixed it with two aliexpress boards, one to convert to 5v and other for the +-15 volts that with some diodes I fixed the voltajes to what the original board gives. The dificult part was to fit everything into the case but I got it in the end.

Do you think that using flux for a job like this is essential? Considering they're decent sized pads and through hole I'm certain it will have made little difference and I presume your solder already has a Rosin core aswell. I mean from my own experience It's generally not necessary to use flux for through hole soldering and I've done plenty.

I still have two Game Boy Colors, one of them the Pokemon edition. Both power on, but no sound. I used headphones and I got audio on the left side. I thought replacing the speakers would work, but same thing. Someone told me that it might be the headphone jack which I did replace, but still no luck. Any idea if replacing certain capacitors would restore the sound to the speaker or something else would be needed?

Don't replace the screen and keep it original. Maybe just polish the screen lents and find a new battery cover ;)

Your audio from the purple gameboy isnt working cause capacitir c32 is backwards

I was leaning toward the IPS screen until I realized you might have to modify the shell. I say keep it original. That screen has years of use to go.

i would go for a backlit screen but with special editions like this it’s a tough choice to make

I really don't understand people who don't you to improve the screen just because it's a collector's item. Like people who buy figures and leave them in the box because it will "ruin the value".

I had the same issue. Dump isopropyl alcohol on the power regulator. Issue was solved

I say go for the screen replacement, it makes the GBA so much more usable

Keep it oem you could fix other one up with new speaker etc and add new screen

Are you actually going to use it? Otherwise leave it stock.

Leave it as is. This type of items should always stay as close to original.

Original.

"i dont think this should affect power" thats literally the power regulator ....

if you want to play with it... IPS screen. If you want to keep it as a collector's piece keep it original that should increase the price IMHO

What type of desoldering gun do you use?

Leave the screen

Why does his face looks like Joey from dk oldies

i have no idea how that part would fall off, other than mechanically

Keep it original !!!!

SERIOUS QUESTION, how much do you charge to repair GBC i can give you details in the email if possible,

Gamer cheese

Are you still making videos?

I'd just keep it the way it is now since it works.

The key is to rip the power regulator board off taking the traces with it

A long video oh boy.

👍👍

Keep it orginal

yes

Use a IPS Display :)

If you plan to keep it, I'd go with the upgraded screen. If you plan to sell it, keep the original

If it were my original piece I would leave it original

:D

A bit early.. 😅

If it’s not getting power it prob won’t play sound

P▲R▲DOX

hi

gameyob

Don't mod it. Collectibles lose dramatically lose value after modding, especially unreversible mods

Yes put IPS display

I cast my vote for an ips display

Okay, this to most collectors, isn’t collector quality. Not a biggie. You yourself paid quite a bit with it not working. If you’re selling it, which I assume you are(if you’re not, definitely go backlit) then it’s 50/50 backlit or no. Most people who are going to buy this would probably rather have it if they’re going to use it. Most who would rather have it original would rather have a better condition and more wholly original system. Those in between are few and far between. Think about it, the average person sees your listing, sees it’s been backlit modded, that’s a plus, not a negative. The flip side is that most people searching are looking because they want to add this specific model to their collection. Meaning they’re a “collector”(they still wouldn’t see that as a bad thing, besides who backlit mods a “fake” system) Do what you choose, but I personally as a collector type person(though not in the conventional sense) would, if I had any game boys, would backlit mod all of them, for the same reason I would mod any system for a better quality experience. P.S. you forgot to push the clips down on the ribbon cable for the screen. Good to have you back.

I totally believe that screen replacement to a more modern screen, backlight and all, is super worth it, specially a special edition. I would do it. Doesnt it also save battery? the newer components?

New screen for sure

change the screen lol