chadlung Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 I've noticed on my 2600+ the Coleco, CBS and m-Network cartridges are the most problematic to get working. In particular I have several Coleco Venture cartridges (the light tan colored ones, not the newer red boxed ones) that just won't work. CBS Wizard of War won't work nor will m-Network Burgertime. However things like Coleco Carnival (light tan colored cartridge) works every time for me so its not consistent with basically the same cartridge style being used . Sometimes re-seating the cartridge works but Burgertime never works and Venture almost never works. There are several others I've noticed problems with but I'm curious to know if anyone else is seeing this and figured out any solutions. I do clean the cartridge connections when I purchase them and I can confirm all work because I test them in an Atari 2600 Jr. first. Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad_from_the_80s Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 I'm not sure I have any CBS carts, but my Coleco and M-Network carts just work. But, with the original cartridge socket maybe yours is weaker than some. A few people have also managed to bend pins in them. The revised hardware should help I would think. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561000 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 (edited) The problems described are known and AFAIK solved. Are you using the latest firmware? Edited November 5 by Thomas Jentzsch Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561063 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyindrew Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 I own every original Coleco 2600 cart and they have worked perfectly on my 2600+ (before and after firmware update). The 2600+ is quite finicky loading carts that need cleaning. More often than not rubbing alcohol and Q tips solve issues. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561084 Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadlung Posted November 5 Author Share Posted November 5 54 minutes ago, Thomas Jentzsch said: The problems described are known and AFAIK solved. Are you using the latest firmware? Yes, I'm using the latest firmware and have cleaned each cartridge (99% rubbing alcohol). Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561102 Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz0red Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 27 minutes ago, chadlung said: Yes, I'm using the latest firmware and have cleaned each cartridge (99% rubbing alcohol). Did you also update the dumper? Thanks, Chris. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561111 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripweade Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 4 hours ago, chadlung said: I've noticed on my 2600+ the Coleco, CBS and m-Network cartridges are the most problematic to get working. In particular I have several Coleco Venture cartridges (the light tan colored ones, not the newer red boxed ones) that just won't work. CBS Wizard of War won't work nor will m-Network Burgertime. However things like Coleco Carnival (light tan colored cartridge) works every time for me so its not consistent with basically the same cartridge style being used . Sometimes re-seating the cartridge works but Burgertime never works and Venture almost never works. There are several others I've noticed problems with but I'm curious to know if anyone else is seeing this and figured out any solutions. I do clean the cartridge connections when I purchase them and I can confirm all work because I test them in an Atari 2600 Jr. first. Thanks. I have the three you mentioned and mine work fine. My Burgertime gave me attitude the other night, but a quick clean and it was fine. I had a couple of carts that just didn't want to work, but after numerous cleanings, they work fine. When I clean, I go parallel with the contacts, one at a time, and they has worked well for me, but it does take some time! Not easybtondo when I get impatient and I want to play a game NOW! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561166 Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadlung Posted November 5 Author Share Posted November 5 1 hour ago, raz0red said: Did you also update the dumper? Yes, did everything according to their instructions. Thanks. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561171 Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadlung Posted November 5 Author Share Posted November 5 10 minutes ago, Ripweade said: I had a couple of carts that just didn't want to work, but after numerous cleanings, they work fine. When I clean, I go parallel with the contacts, one at a time, and they has worked well for me, but it does take some time! Not easybtondo when I get impatient and I want to play a game NOW! hmm, ok maybe I will need to go over these cartridges again with the cleaner. Thanks. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561172 Share on other sites More sharing options...
5x7 Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 I have a number of carts that won’t work in any system, Burgertime is one. Sometimes they just go bad. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561181 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riko Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 Burgertime and Barnstorming is not working well. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561184 Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPAWS Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) I also have 5 - 6 carts I'm 90% sure are dead. Unfortunately - one of my copies of HERO is one of them. If my 2600+ won't load them and my old rainbow 2600 won't load them after extensive cleaning then I'm calling them dead. I've had *one* cart come good after opening the cart and lightly polishing the contacts. However - if it's a cart you've recently bought 2nd hand - doing that usually kills being able to return it for a refund. Some of these carts *are* 40 years old - ish. So - it's not entirely unexpected. Edit: fully updated firmware + Dumper and checking here if said carts work for others. Is polishing the cart contacts a good idea? Any other rejuvenation tactics people have? Edited November 6 by IPAWS 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561191 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_813 Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) I had 2 that would not work even after changing out the cart socket for the undated version: TacScan and Eggomania. I cracked open Eggomania and it looked like dry solder sockets on the ROM chip. I reflowed the joints and it now works every time. TacScan looked fine when I opened it. Not sure what's up with that one but it just does not want to load. It fails on my other 2600 units as well. Edited November 6 by Alex_813 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561197 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChickenz Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) 48 minutes ago, IPAWS said: Is polishing the cart contacts a good idea? Any other rejuvenation tactics people have? That’s debatable! In my opinion if you believe some of your carts are dead, you have nothing to lose. If they are not working at all a little polish followed up with Isopropyl alcohol might revive them. I’ve used a bit of Brasso on problematic cartridges with much success. Again followed up with Isopropyl alcohol. Most cartridges only need Isopropyl alcohol. Edited November 6 by MrChickenz 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561201 Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPAWS Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 I hear you MrChickenz. Worth a try. So - what's the deal with the gold colored coating on the contacts? I've read that if you polish too much back to a silver color that's a bad thing? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561210 Share on other sites More sharing options...
5x7 Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 I have a dead Tacscan also. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561225 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChickenz Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) 2 hours ago, IPAWS said: I hear you MrChickenz. Worth a try. So - what's the deal with the gold colored coating on the contacts? I've read that if you polish too much back to a silver color that's a bad thing? When I use Brasso it’s a small drop on a q tip lightly rub it on use the other end to remove excess then apply Isopropyl alcohol. As for the gold color contacts it’s better to have than to have not! I just picked up some duplicate cartridges for a $1.00 each at my local game store. A mix of Atari and Activision games. All are in pretty rough shape as far as the label and cleaning is concerned. Just yesterday I pulled the label off of a Chopper Command cartridge, opened it up and noticed most of the gold was missing from the contacts. I wasn’t expecting it to work but I cleaned it anyway. To my surprise it works like a charm in my 2600+. So for what it’s worth silver is a bad thing but in this case it’s working. All my carts that I clean I never noticed a silver color after cleaning. Just a brighter gold. I must point out these are my cartridges which I have no intention of ever selling. Almost all of them have been in my collection since the early 80s. One cartridge failed on me about 5 years ago, an Activision cartridge which I purchased from a game store used. Other than that 40 years later and I still have my whole collection and more and they play just fine! Edited November 6 by MrChickenz 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561245 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChickenz Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) Also check to see if the cartridge feels snug in the case. Not loose or wiggly. I’ve purchased a few used ones where the notches inside the case were damaged. So the cartridge no longer sat firmly in place. I just purchased two from eBay that had this issue when I inserted the cartridge in the console it didn’t work. When I transferred it to another identical case it worked fine. Also if the cartridge looks like it was opened for cleaning there’s a chance it could’ve been assembled backwards. I had this issue once. Make sure it’s inserted the correct way. Edited November 6 by MrChickenz 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561248 Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPAWS Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 24 minutes ago, MrChickenz said: Also check to see if the cartridge feels snug in the case. Not loose or wiggly. I’ve purchased a few used ones where the notches inside the case were damaged. So the cartridge no longer sat firmly in place. I just purchased two from eBay that had this issue when I inserted the cartridge in the console it didn’t work. When I transferred it to another identical case it worked fine. Also if the cartridge looks like it was opened for cleaning there’s a chance it could’ve been assembled backwards. I had this issue once. Make sure it’s inserted the correct way. Actually, trying a different case is a really good idea! Quite a few of mine feel a little loose. Going to try that. When I opened my HERO cart - the ROM chip was facing the back (non-label) side of the cart. Which isn't usually the case right? The ROM chip usually faces the main label side of the cart? Wondered if some carts might be made that way as it didn't appear to have been opened. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561254 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeM_ Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 Forgive me if someone already suggested this, but I’ve had good luck with inserting troublesome carts 1/2 way in and running them. Just about all my Activision carts need that method and it might work for the ones the OP is having issues with. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561258 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChickenz Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 6 hours ago, IPAWS said: Actually, trying a different case is a really good idea! Quite a few of mine feel a little loose. Going to try that. When I opened my HERO cart - the ROM chip was facing the back (non-label) side of the cart. Which isn't usually the case right? The ROM chip usually faces the main label side of the cart? Wondered if some carts might be made that way as it didn't appear to have been opened. I’m not positive on H.E.R.O. I have to do some research and get back on this. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561313 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChickenz Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) 7 hours ago, IPAWS said: When I opened my HERO cart - the ROM chip was facing the back (non-label) side of the cart. I just opened My MegaMania cart which is Activison, the ROM chip is facing the front ( LABEL SIDE). I noticed the Activision cartridges fit perfectly both ways! Still not positive about H.E.R.O. As you can see my label comes off quite easily to access the screws, after placing it back down it doesn’t appear to have been opened. Edited November 6 by MrChickenz 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561318 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChickenz Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 Here is a YouTube video of PITFALL! Being opened and cleaned! Again ROM facing LABEL. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561321 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Intellivision Master Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 19 hours ago, chadlung said: I've noticed on my 2600+ the Coleco, CBS and m-Network cartridges are the most problematic to get working. In particular I have several Coleco Venture cartridges (the light tan colored ones, not the newer red boxed ones) that just won't work. CBS Wizard of War won't work nor will m-Network Burgertime. However things like Coleco Carnival (light tan colored cartridge) works every time for me so its not consistent with basically the same cartridge style being used . Sometimes re-seating the cartridge works but Burgertime never works and Venture almost never works. There are several others I've noticed problems with but I'm curious to know if anyone else is seeing this and figured out any solutions. I do clean the cartridge connections when I purchase them and I can confirm all work because I test them in an Atari 2600 Jr. first. Thanks. I have 2 carts in particular that just don't fit into the cart slot at all. It's something with how the cart is shaped. One is a Brazilian multi-cart. The other is a PAL cart. But they do work fine on my 7800. Also, my Wizard of Wor cart works on my 2600+. 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561332 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Intellivision Master Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 8 hours ago, MikeM_ said: Forgive me if someone already suggested this, but I’ve had good luck with inserting troublesome carts 1/2 way in and running them. Just about all my Activision carts need that method and it might work for the ones the OP is having issues with. Yes, sometimes you need to insert the cart and then pull back on it a little. Then the console can detect it. I've had to do this on certain games like Activision. 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/374929-anyone-else-having-issues-with-certain-cartridges-on-the-2600/#findComment-5561333 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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