HuCard not working

[Gentlegamer]

I recently bought a copy of Cratermaze cic, the seller said he wasn't able to get the card to work, so he sold it "as is." I figured it just needed to be cleaned a bit. I received the game, it doesn't look beat up, cleaned the contacts... and it doesn't work. It gives a "static" display, though I can hear what is supposed to be the title sound ("Cratermaze" drops down).

Is there any known cause or cure for this? Any ideas?

[HailingTheThings]

I recently bought a copy of Cratermaze cic, the seller said he wasn't able to get the card to work, so he sold it "as is." I figured it just needed to be cleaned a bit. I received the game, it doesn't look beat up, cleaned the contacts... and it doesn't work. It gives a "static" display, though I can hear what is supposed to be the title sound ("Cratermaze" drops down).

Is there any known cause or cure for this? Any ideas?

I normally clean any non-working Turbo games with a Hi-Polymer eraser if that doesn't work then a tiny flathead screwdriver, gently scraping very carefully any dirt that may be on the pins.

What did you use, sir?

[Gentlegamer]

Just standard q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The pins and cart look clean to the eye.

[bust3dstr8]

Sounds like all contacts are good and the game boots, but the Rom is corrupt which crashes the game.

[HailingTheThings]

Just standard q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The pins and cart look clean to the eye.

I was under the impression that qtips and alcohol are a no-no for hucards because seepage?

[grache]

Just standard q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The pins and cart look clean to the eye.

I was under the impression that qtips and alcohol are a no-no for hucards because seepage?

I don't think seepage would be an issue. There's a lot of durable glue holding the ROM down. IMHO, it would be virtually impossible to ever cause any damage, even if you cleaned the contacts *every* time you played the game.

As far as alcohol damaging contacts, that's another issue.

[HailingTheThings]

Just standard q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The pins and cart look clean to the eye.

I was under the impression that qtips and alcohol are a no-no for hucards because seepage?

I don't think seepage would be an issue. There's a lot of durable glue holding the ROM down. IMHO, it would be virtually impossible to ever cause any damage, even if you cleaned the contacts *every* time you played the game.

As far as alcohol damaging contacts, that's another issue.

Seepage ain't a thang, but alcohol will kill, got it. I'll continue to clean the same way, yay!

Thanks!

[ishiyakazuo]

Just standard q-tip and rubbing alcohol. The pins and cart look clean to the eye.

I was under the impression that qtips and alcohol are a no-no for hucards because seepage?

I don't think seepage would be an issue. There's a lot of durable glue holding the ROM down. IMHO, it would be virtually impossible to ever cause any damage, even if you cleaned the contacts *every* time you played the game.

As far as alcohol damaging contacts, that's another issue.

Well, if the vias to the underside of the HuCard's PCB get corroded or something, that could be the "seepage" being described...

[Gentlegamer]

The alcohol is applied to the q-tip, not directly to the contacts, and rubbing alcohol evaporates almost instantly.

[Fidde_se]

Alcohol doesn't make metals to corrode...

[toymachine78]

There are folks here that wash arcade PCBs in the dishwasher. I don't think you have to worry about alcohol seepage. It seems a little ridiculous actually.

[Bernie]

Sometimes my anus has seepage....

[grache]

Seepage ain't a thang, but alcohol will kill, got it. I'll continue to clean the same way, yay!

Thanks!

There's an argument that alcohol hurts contacts on any cartridge: NES, Genesis, ... So, if you're happy cleaning other games with alcohol there's no reason why you shouldn't for TG, IMHO.

Source: I've taken apart a dead huey for advancement of science. It took *a lot* of Goo Gone and elbow grease to separate the PCB/ROM from the plastic case.

There are folks here that wash arcade PCBs in the dishwasher. I don't think you have to worry about alcohol seepage. It seems a little ridiculous actually.

Pretty much, flux cleaner has acetone which is much more abrasive than alcohol and people douse PCB's in it.

[HailingTheThings]

Seepage ain't a thang, but alcohol will kill, got it. I'll continue to clean the same way, yay!

Thanks!

There's an argument that alcohol hurts contacts on any cartridge: NES, Genesis, ... So, if you're happy cleaning other games with alcohol there's no reason why you shouldn't for TG, IMHO.

I don't care about "other games" as much as I do my Obey, though?

[clackattack]

Sometimes my anus has seepage....

That sounds like an entirely different issue you're dealing with there Bern