iFixit - Active Questions With Device Nintendo Handheld Console

Nintendo DSi: The camera won't take picture

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:09:50 -0700

the dsi works just won't take pictures anymore

⟐ Commented June 17, 2013 at 9:09 pm -0700

Nintendo DSi: Put battery in incorrectly, now DSI wont work?

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:43:30 -0700

I cleaned the directional buttons on my sons DSI, checked to see if they worked before putting it back together, I put the battery in the wrong way now the DSI wont work - any sugestions greatly appreciated

⟐ Answer deleted June 16, 2013 at 9:43 am -0700

Nintendo DSi XL: Will not switch on after top screen replacement

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 08:48:51 -0700

Hi all! New around here and hoping to get some help from what looks like a very knowledgeable forum. I have recently replaced a broken top screen in my sons dsi xl, I'm usually very good at this sort of thing and the repair seemed to go without a hitch and I was very sure of myself, as I usually am when something is about to go wrong haha.

What has gone wrong is this, the dsi will now not attempt to switch on since the repair, at no point has any lights or screens flashed and it is as if the power button is not responding, I have taken apart again several times to check the power button and board and all the various cables are in properly etc but still nothing, when I plug a charger in the orange charge light comes on and stays on and seems to be charging fine but still will not switch on.

The dsi was working fine before apart from the cracked screen, I'm wondering what direction I should be looking in As my son is starting to get a little annoyed at his useless old dad! Could one of the fuses somehow have blown during repair even without power?

I will be very gratefull of any help guys, many thanks in advance!

⟐ Commented June 16, 2013 at 8:48 am -0700

Nintendo DS Lite: Why does the top screen of my DS Bleed(Run)?

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:48:21 -0700

Whenever I move the top screen while playing, the image on the top screen runs, But i can manage to play if the screen is set at its normal open position. any movement on the unit causes the colors to begin running. I would like to know the cause of this; and if possible if the problem is fixable. I'd like to make my DS in as good condition as possible so I can give it to a family member.

⟐ Commented June 15, 2013 at 9:48 pm -0700

Nintendo DSi XL: Have to push down charger to charge dsixl

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:46:49 -0700

Hello

My dsi XL will not charge unless you push the charger

For it to charge and have short battery life.

Is there any way that you can help me? Thank you

⟐ Commented June 15, 2013 at 9:46 pm -0700

Nintendo 3DS: japanese region 3ds how do I change to english

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:26:47 -0700

have a Nintendo 3ds bought in japan it however is in Japanese, how do i switch it into English?

⟐ Answered June 15, 2013 at 7:26 pm -0700

Nintendo DSi: for got pin number on parent control

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 04:58:50 -0700

we forgot our pin number on parent control how can we get it.

⟐ Answered June 15, 2013 at 4:58 am -0700

Nintendo DSi: How do I fix unresponsive shoulder buttons?

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:50:38 -0700

Very simply, the L and R buttons on my DSi don't work anymore. I tried going to Nintendo about the problem, but they said it'd cost at least $50 to repair...and my system is long past its warranty. Will I have to take apart my DS to fix it?

⟐ Answered June 14, 2013 at 8:50 am -0700

Nintendo 3DS: My 3DS has problems loading games; Now it's just not loading them.

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:28:33 -0700

So my 3DS has always had problems loading games, any kind from pre 3DS to pre DSi to pre DS lite. It's very touchy about loading these games, it always has to be in the perfect spot. If it doesnt work, it stops immediately before loading and says there's been an error

Yesterday I got Animal Crossing: New leaf, brand new cartridge. I was playing it all day, and now, today, I pop the cartridge in, it recognizes it. Starting the game....

...

It just sits there at the Nintendo 3DS screen with those red little boomerang things pulsating. It always does this. I've let it sit for hours before turning it off. It never loads. Im watching it do this right now. It has never done this before, and god is it !@#$%^& me off. The 3DS hasn't been as touchy with its loading though, i can just put this right in and the game shows up. It's a nuisance because now I cant see where the actual "perfect loading" area is seeing as to how it'll tell me the game is in anyway.

TL;DR 3DS always sucked at loading games and now it's sucking even harder. Help please.

⟐ Edited June 13, 2013 at 6:28 pm -0700

Nintendo DSi: Getting pictures back after formatting?

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:12:47 -0700

My son has a Nintendo DSi and accidently did a system format and lost all of his pictures that were saved on the system, not the SD card. Is there any way possible to get these pictures back?

⟐ Answer deleted June 12, 2013 at 7:12 pm -0700

Nintendo DSi: My DSi powers on then off only when a game is inserted.

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 17:52:40 -0700

My problem is similar to some others I've read, but it only does it if there is a game inserted. As long as there isn't a game inserted it stays on and you can go thru all the menus. I've even updated it while no game was inserted. When I insert a game and it blinks off. Any suggestions?

⟐ Commented June 9, 2013 at 5:52 pm -0700

Nintendo DSi: Why do BOTH of my LCD screens flash on briefly?

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 15:59:20 -0700

My daughter's DSi slid off the coffee table in the living room and hit the wood floor. Now when the Power Button is depressed, both LCD screens flash on for a second, but then the machine shuts down. I am a homemaker and mother of 2 young children who love their DSi consoles. I am hoping that this problem can be solved with little or no cost to me, as these units are not cheap to begin with. The charger seems to work fine, as when it is connected and plugged in, the orange light remains constant. I also checked the battery and connections. They seem undamaged, and worked fine in my other daughter's console that did not hit the floor! I am somewhat technically savvy, in that I can program my DVD recorder and work my smartphone, so hopefully the fix won't be too complex! I have never opened up the DSi before, nor do I own a "spudger" tool. Please help if you can. Thanks!

⟐ Answered June 9, 2013 at 3:59 pm -0700

Nintendo DS Lite: turn on my ds lite 3sec later screen flashes and powers off

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 13:34:04 -0700

I have an adult owned Ds Lite. I played it one morning, turned it off plugged it in to regharge. Picked it up later in the day to play. When I powered it on the green power light came on, the screens flashed after 3 seconds and then the power light went off and the screen were blank. Any suggestions? I have priced around to have it fixed (nintendo $75+ shipping, a new one is $100, not going to pay that, and someone else told me $55). Would this be easy to fix (I do not have any tools for repair)

Thanks

There is visible damages to the hinges. I'll be honest, the unit has been dropped, but not on the day it stopped working. It worked in the morning, then I placed it on the charger and went back to it a few hours later and that is when I powered up, got a flash on the screens after about 3 seconds and then it powered down on it's own.

⟐ Answered June 9, 2013 at 1:34 pm -0700

Game Boy Advance: How do I install a backlight LED in a Gameboy Advance?

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 07:21:34 -0700

I bought my son a Gameboy Advance only to be disappointed that it does not have backlighting as newer Gameboys do. There is also no contrast control on a Gameboy Advance so in some lighting conditions it is almost impossible to see the screen. I've heard that there is a way to install a white LED on a Game Boy Advance to provide internal backlighting. I'd love a step-by-step how-to.

⟐ Answered June 9, 2013 at 7:21 am -0700

Nintendo 3DS: Pops and turns off, disassembled and problem persists

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:24:44 -0700

I bought it "as is" knowing that if you opened it more than half way it popped and turned off. Tested it to confirm and it did indeed work until opened too far.

Thinking it was a loose ribbon I took it apart and put it back together. Now it pops immediately. I took everything off and just powered up the motherboard and it's still turning itself off after approximately six seconds.

My thoughts are maybe it won't work until everything is plugged back in correctly or something could be wrong with the motherboard. As for original problem, I'm thinking the connection to the top lcd could be the problem. Help? Thoughts?

Nintendo DS Lite: ds lite top screen black, bottom screen fine?

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 11:06:42 -0700

My daughter was given a used ds that had a right broken hinge. We put a stabilizing case on it and everything was fine....until yesterday. The bottom screen works fine, but the top screen is black. At first there were some small white lines running through the black screen, but now nothing. There are no flashing lights, the only light on is the green light that is always on when the ds is turned on. I did some research on replacing the top screen, but don't really want to do that if it might be something else.

Could the broken hinge have caused the top screen to die? Do you think it should be replaced or should I perhaps try something easier first?

⟐ Edited June 8, 2013 at 11:06 am -0700

Nintendo 3DS: Do you really have to take the whole thing apart?

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:51:28 -0700

Looking at the guide to get at the back of the screens (I will need to check the ribbon cables to make sure they are all connected) you have to completely tear the bottom part down. Can't I just follow the last like 3 steps and just heatgun the front bezel and then take out the screws?

⟐ Commented June 6, 2013 at 9:51 pm -0700

Nintendo 3DS: How do you fix a broken hinge

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:31:31 -0700

going to fix ds's and sell them of again need to know how to fix this stuff

⟐ Answered June 5, 2013 at 4:31 pm -0700

Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP: Games play right, blank white screen. Help?

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:34:34 -0700

So I recently dropped my GBA SP on the ground and for some reason the screen is just white whenever I turn it on. I can hear the game working and it seems like everything else works fine, it's just the screen is totally unresponsive. The GBA SP is the AGS model 001 (The one with only a front-light). I really want to fix this and i'd like to do it at home. Can you please find me a link to a how-to video or a step by step walkthrough?

⟐ Answer accepted June 5, 2013 at 12:34 pm -0700

Nintendo DS Lite: DS Lite won't charge

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:38:58 -0700

My nephew's DS Lite won't charge. When you plug in the charger (both car and home) the orange light comes on for a moment then turns off. Removing the charger and plugging it back in does the same exact thing.

Any ideas on what might cause this?