Back in the day I was the guy who knew how to replace save batteries on old pokemon gameboy games, my friends & family would buy or trade for old pokemon carts and bring them to me to get them fixed. Pokemon batteries seemed to die sooner because of the constant Saving players had to do, whereas there are still original N64 carts with working save batteries after 20+ years which is insane. I just acquired a copy of Super Smash Bros that I need to restore. The label is faded and the game doesn't save. Your tutorial is spot on. Thank you!
One little thing I like to do when I change a game battery is write the date on the top of the battery surface in sharpie. That way, if the game is opened again (for another battery change or whatever reason) the battery change date will be known.
I'd say it's pretty close to time to fail on you. You can open the cart up and test with a multimeter set to DC. If its over 3.1 volt I'd say your good for a little longer. Most n64 games do not need a battery though.
Ty ty! My resident evil 2 battery was dead. First video I stumble across and it beautifully explains how to change it out. Super easy and well articulated.
@@gammon_gaming Not so much a defect but a choice of save method, Most N64 games use EEPROM to save to cart. EEPROM games shouldn't be a worry game save wise. A handful of games, however use SRAM and save to batteries which will need to be replaced. Resident Evil 2 is on that list alongside 1080 snowboarding, OoT, Smash and a few others.
I will need to do this. The three N64 carts which will need it (Ocarina, 1080, and F-Zero X) are still going good after 24 years, but now I know how to do it thanks.
you have a recommended source for the batteries. I see them online for various prices but I dont wanna buy one and it last 3 months when they are good for 5 years or more
howdy! thanks for the great vid. i've got a Q for ya: i replaced the battery with a battery holder (and a new CR2032) but i can't close the cart anymore. can i play it with the board in and the cart open? or is there a risk there?
Should be updated for battery holders instead. HARWIN - S8421-45R seem to work for all Nintendo carts minus some minor modifications to the holder tabs and varying based on some game pcbs.
Viewing this video I went and opened my N64 Resident Evil 2 cartridge and tested the Maxell battery labled 1999 production. Battery measured above 3V, unbelievable. All my saved data remains to this day, I wonder if the battery is charged from console when played???
Is it also possible to upgrade from SRAM to FRAM with N64 game cartridges, because I know it’s possible with the N64 Controller Memory Pak, only that the chip seems to be different on game carts and the memory pak.
Will it delete my save file or not? After I replace the battery because my game started to not show my save file every 1-3 time of restarting the n64 and I need to replace the battery
Yes to both questions. You can backup your save file digitally with some special devices. Other than that, if you are able to power up the PCB game cartridge and remove the old battery, somehow, and replace the dying battery with a new one while the game is running, you can keep your progress if you save it on the new battery. Your saves are automatically (and completely) wiped once the old battery is either removed or too low on voltage. So make sure to load a continue save you want to keep and begin the tricky process of removing the old battery. Remember to save once you replace it. This works with any game that relies on a battery to save game files like NES, SNES, N64, GB and GBC games. N64 memory cards also use a battery as well.
I just replaced the battery on my ocarina game. It boots up, but when I press start, the game beeps and the screen goes black.. anyone know what my problem might be?
I just looked up if I can use my Pyrography tool for soldering. Can someone confirm it's safe to use for this purpose? It seems like I can from what I've read online.
I have this problem with my banjo kazzoie n64 cardridge, but when I had opened it there was no battery, do you know, is there something different? Thanks a lot!
Did you guys ever figure it out I’m kinda scared to do it I don’t wanna ruin my copy of ocarina of time or majoras mask they were hard to find and pretty pricey.
@@Skankhunt-hl9zj I did this method with Super smash bros 64, but i could not make it work, I finally watched a video where a guy changed the memory chip to other cartidge, so i bought the same and did the process (its so common an cheaper) I had to change 2 chips just because He said it, i dont actually know what exactly they are. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vZU78PawK3Y.html hope it help you.
Are they usually all dead? I just was playing ocarina of time and my new save file deleted after a few days but the older save files stayed I’m about to try majoras mask to see if I have any luck.
I vchange the battery but the game still doesn't save... i've been changing my gameboy and snes games without issues. But ocarina of time just doesn't save.
pikaarceus did you make sure you have the battery lined up correctly? If you have the + and - ends of the battery connected in the wrong spot the save won’t work
@@wumpols I do not think Mario 64 uses a battery in the cart. (SRAM) I know about 12 games or so do like Smash 64, Ocarina of Time, Resident Evil 2, and F-Zero X. Also Memory Packs do use the same batteries as well as carts but Mario saves to the cart. They are CR2032 if your looking for any.
I've never done this before, so I didn't really find this to be a helpful tutorial. A lot of "do this" and "do that" without much guidance or explanation. This tutorial seems like it would be way more helpful to people who already sorta know what they're doing.
