Dude - just wanted to say thanks for your videos. The way you explain your troubleshooting process and techniques gave me the confidence to finally start working on my old consoles. I've restored my childhood Genesis, my original Xbox, and now moving on to my PS3 and Xbox 360. Again, thank you!
I love tinkering with my Mega Drive. There's a lot of mods you can do. I did a selector switch to change the region between Japan and USA (don't have interest in PAL option) and I did a p2 output in the back of the console (because I hate it to have a cable coming from the front of the console to the back of my TV). Now I'm thinking about installing a s-video output in the back of the console. Very cool console for mods.
I think we all GENUINELY FELT ,SHARED and related to the JOY that YOU experienced when the fruits of all your work paid off (above your own wildest dream and expectations). This seems like the summation of your comments to the best of my estimation. I think it deeply resonates with the human spirit and deep desires many of us possess. To me this was the most rewarding of all your videos that I've seen (and I've seen and enjoyed many intellectually and otherwise). I think this is why many of us that watch these videos and have the specific interests that we do. The intellectual challenge and that genuine, unbridled EXCTASY when the fruits of our labor (and struggles) end in a BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT and undeniably tangible crescendo the fact that humanity has progressed from a nomadic lifestyle to this advanced technological society... is the culmination of millions of these "A HA" moments added multiplicatively over a matter of millenia/centuries. Its what separates humans from our nearest ancestors. Its what brings meaning to many of our daily lives. A departure from the mundane and a true measure of genuine personal and intellectual growth by every conceivable measure! Thank you for all that you do! Also, understand that you're inspiring more people than you can possibly imagine to be better and more refined and inspired versions of themselves!
Ill give further context to my comments and analysis. I'm likely a couple of years older than you are. I grew up a SEGA fanboy: owned the SMS, genesis, game gear, 32x. sega saturn ...all as early adopters (only owned a gimped/janky NES with mario/duck hunt and never owned a SNES, gameboy or N64). I watched the 32x coverage in the media and gaming magazines, which was likely overhyped and as a stop gap to the SATURN. A lot of people lost faith in SEGA due to the 32x "console", which was a 200 dollar minor, stopgap upgrade to the genesis (with 50-60 dollar games in the 90s). A lot of us felt burned by the console and SEGA, which likely led to SEGAs untimely demise. I never adopted dreamcast (as a sega fan) in large part due to this 32x console (loved the saturn, despite its lukewarm reception in the west). I fully understand that this isnt about the money or clout, its about the pursuit of personal growth. I SHOULD technically be the target audience of buying one of these used/refurbished 32x's... yet I have 0 interest....as it was in retrospect, a terrible, stop-gap console, despite its few and brief wins 20+ years ago (GIMPED DOOM for those that couldnt afford a real PC, etc)
I figured it was cartridge connection, as it showed the license screen, but didn't load the data. I was figuring it was maybe just dirty pins, but ya, that little trace break there, must've been a pain to narrow down to and uncover. Nice find, and nice work as always, bud. Nice to see a 32X saved and restored.
GREAT FIX!!! The way you edited the video really did make it seem like a quick and simple fix... but I can only imagine the repetitive beeping driving you nuts when all you want was to hear some silence for once... but then when you find it must have been SUCH A RELIEF!!!! (kinda like having to drop a duece but you're in the car on your way home... but then you finally make it to the john and AHHHHH!!!! WHAT A RELIEF lmao 🤪 ) Thanks for the video!! :D
Bravo mate. I too have been working on game consoles for decades. Had my own store and everything. Miss it. No longer do this thing but always fun to watch. I used Kynar wire to bridge dead traces, etc. Worked like a charm. These old X32 have known problems all the time. the flat ribbon cables are classic spots and oxidized connectors.. so common. Nice work!
"I do not know this man" - 🤣🤣 Nice repair, this unit clearly had multiple faults, I was half expecting you to recap it as part of your troubleshooting, but you got it! Seems like the cartridge port traces may be a somewhat common thing with Sega products?
Nice fix! I had the same issue with my 32X’s power connector. Luckily for me after replacing it it worked fine. Don’t think I’d be able to find the rotten trace.
Your channel is giving me inspiration and motivation to learn how to solder on circuit boards and fix my NES. I'm a mechanic so I have soldered wires and can read diagrams but that was just soldering wires together, not at all like working on boards. Hoping to start with the nes and work my through all my old consoles. Thanks for your videos!
Great episode and final ! 👏🏻 I was just about to send you a message to look up around the cartridge slot since the issue seams to be reading the game. Excellent diagnostic and solution, really nice job
Everything you went through is every reason why 22 years ago I bought a 32X for $10 on eBay, and then wound up giving it away for free less than a year later.
There are a couple of pins on those connectors that are bridged from the factory. I noticed it too while doing the continuity checks off camera. One of the bridges was a ground line but the other wasn't so not sure what signal it carries.
I had a really strange thing happen with my 32X....it would NOT play Knuckles Chaotix. Sometimes it would start but then it would freeze up. I saw a couple other people post about this but never really found a solution. AVGN did a video (I think it was a James and Mike Mondays) where they tried to review the game and the same thing happened to them, the game kept freezing or wouldn't play. I thought maybe it was my specific copy of the game itself or maybe I had some weird revision of the 32X that didn't work. Then I got the HD Retrovision cable (it converts the native RGB signal to component video) and never had the problem again. Somehow that video cable allowed the game to run. I have no idea how or why.
I had to do my continuity checks across the ribbon cable to where they terminate on the board, not just to the connector. It's very time consuming - 80 continuity checks for the 4 double-sided ribbon cables. The pins on the inside are particularly tricky to probe while connected. In other words, the ribbon cable connection might be fine, but something is still broken on the path of the signal it's carrying from the top board to the side board.
i fixed 2 32xs in one sitting by having to reseat both those flux ribbon cables. They generate alot of heat on the top of the unit (if you ever played a 32x it gets hot to the touch) and it backs these cables out. So anyone reading this id start there if you once had a known working 32x and all of a sudden it doesnt work.
I'm thankful I discovered this channel, I'm truly enjoying the content, you are a great explainer, don't do silly jokes or stuff I don't like from other similar channels, very professional, I love it :D
As a (not really) proud 32X owner myself, I have some things and grievances to share First, the ribbon cables in my unit were a constant pain. No matter how much I cleaned or reseated them, my 32X would always find a way to freeze or crash mid-game. I ended up having to bust out my soldering iron and just tin the connectors on the cables themselves. That completely fixed all my freezing issues, so now I can finally enjoy Doom Resurrection with no issues whatsoever Second, I noticed your 32X revision was a MARS VA 0. Mine's a VA 1, and apparently the older revision has problems running on certain Genesis/Mega Drive board revisions. Sega even provided a small piece that connects to the side where the Sega CD hooks up, which terminated some pins on the side to fix those compatibility issues. Was about to say that might be the problem with your unit, but props for finding the small trace rot when you did. Anyway, 32X rant over. Thanks for another great repair video, and have a wonderful day
Man, I am jealous of your organization, my shop looks like some kind of Frankenstein's laboratory, I've got an entire basements worth of stuff in here and I've just got stuff put anywhere that it will fit to keep it off the floor in all kinds of mismatched shelves and cabinets o.0 Good job on keeping your work area so efficient!
Great video and love your work it was great to see you bring this 32x back to life really awesome as I love the 32x its a shame as there were many planed games that never got to see light of day as I’ve seen videos from Janovi I would have love to have seen AVP to the 32x alien vs predator would have blown my mind as a kid back then
Man, i just love when you cheer up on the discovery of the problem. And I can relate to it ! It's something that gives the chills for us, electronic hobbysts when we solve something. Keep up the great work!
I have worked in the electronics industry since I was an apprentice in the 90’s, I watch a few different people on TH-cam doing console repairs but your thought process during fault finding is the most comprehensive and has me nodding along. Thank you for the videos, they really bring me a lot of pleasure to watch.
I’ve been cracking it your videos for a few days and I’ve become fascinated with your process of elimination. You have a vast knowledge of circuitry and it definitely shows. 👍🏼
Excellent work, friend. This is a great, fun video to watch. Your troubleshooting and attention to detail is otherworldly and your repair work is the finest there is. None better. Thank you for sharing with us!
Hey man :) This repair was excellent. NEVER GIVE UP. You’ve moved on so much ever since I’ve started following you and your audience is stronger then ever. I wish you only the best for the future.
Thanks so much for your videos!!! I have been wanting to get back to electronics after years of trying it got the first time. Thanks to you I am going to have a go at fixing a Sega Saturn and a GBA that are coming from Japan to me in March!!!
That was awesome!! I'm going to setup one of my rooms as you have, organized with the systems on one side and the soldering tools on the other. If you have recommendations for a decent hot air-station please do share. Great vid.
"I'm gonna sleep like a baby tonight".... I think you need a better victory chant. How about "Boom goes the dynamite" :p. Seriously though, congratulations, I'm incredibly jealous. I'm guessing you are going to smile when you look over at that thing for the next 10 years. :)
At the time it first came out in the arcade I thought Virtua Fighter was actually kind of gimmicky, there didn't seem to be much to distinguish it and I was ready to dismiss 3D fighting as a dead-end. So, yeah. My personal history for predicting the future is a 100% failure rate. 😆
My genesis had the same symptom (license screen then black screen). The problem was a single broken trace. Took me a few hours of board inspection to find the location of the damage
Soldering skills are sweet. Glad I learned some basic electronics from my old job. It was fun watching you succeed and troubleshoot it and then you just had the endorphin rush when you got sound and I loved it.
Haha. It was a bit out of character but it was very late and I had been working on it all day with nothing to show for it so I guess I couldn't contain my excitement when it finally worked 😅
Dude - just wanted to say thanks for your videos. The way you explain your troubleshooting process and techniques gave me the confidence to finally start working on my old consoles.
I've restored my childhood Genesis, my original Xbox, and now moving on to my PS3 and Xbox 360.
Again, thank you!
Great to hear!
I love tinkering with my Mega Drive. There's a lot of mods you can do. I did a selector switch to change the region between Japan and USA (don't have interest in PAL option) and I did a p2 output in the back of the console (because I hate it to have a cable coming from the front of the console to the back of my TV). Now I'm thinking about installing a s-video output in the back of the console. Very cool console for mods.
Literally just picked up a 32x, has no cables with it. Now I know what I need and what to look for. Love your channel, always learn something!
same,picking one up tomoz did you manage to fix yours?
This gives me renewed hope for my broken 32x. Been trying to figure it out and haven't yet.
Your reaction when you fixed it was priceless 😂 well done!
Thank you! 😁
Haha pure joy
I think we all GENUINELY FELT ,SHARED and related to the JOY that YOU experienced when the fruits of all your work paid off (above your own wildest dream and expectations). This seems like the summation of your comments to the best of my estimation. I think it deeply resonates with the human spirit and deep desires many of us possess.
To me this was the most rewarding of all your videos that I've seen (and I've seen and enjoyed many intellectually and otherwise). I think this is why many of us that watch these videos and have the specific interests that we do. The intellectual challenge and that genuine, unbridled EXCTASY when the fruits of our labor (and struggles) end in a BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT and undeniably tangible crescendo
the fact that humanity has progressed from a nomadic lifestyle to this advanced technological society... is the culmination of millions of these "A HA" moments added multiplicatively over a matter of millenia/centuries. Its what separates humans from our nearest ancestors. Its what brings meaning to many of our daily lives. A departure from the mundane and a true measure of genuine personal and intellectual growth by every conceivable measure!
Thank you for all that you do! Also, understand that you're inspiring more people than you can possibly imagine to be better and more refined and inspired versions of themselves!
Ill give further context to my comments and analysis. I'm likely a couple of years older than you are. I grew up a SEGA fanboy: owned the SMS, genesis, game gear, 32x. sega saturn ...all as early adopters (only owned a gimped/janky NES with mario/duck hunt and never owned a SNES, gameboy or N64). I watched the 32x coverage in the media and gaming magazines, which was likely overhyped and as a stop gap to the SATURN. A lot of people lost faith in SEGA due to the 32x "console", which was a 200 dollar minor, stopgap upgrade to the genesis (with 50-60 dollar games in the 90s). A lot of us felt burned by the console and SEGA, which likely led to SEGAs untimely demise. I never adopted dreamcast (as a sega fan) in large part due to this 32x console (loved the saturn, despite its lukewarm reception in the west).
I fully understand that this isnt about the money or clout, its about the pursuit of personal growth. I SHOULD technically be the target audience of buying one of these used/refurbished 32x's... yet I have 0 interest....as it was in retrospect, a terrible, stop-gap console, despite its few and brief wins 20+ years ago (GIMPED DOOM for those that couldnt afford a real PC, etc)
The ''don't wake up anyone'' victory cheer :D
OUTSTANDING troubleshooting and repair! Also, It's awesome you have not one but TWO rooms dedicated for video game repairs. :D
I figured it was cartridge connection, as it showed the license screen, but didn't load the data. I was figuring it was maybe just dirty pins, but ya, that little trace break there, must've been a pain to narrow down to and uncover.
Nice find, and nice work as always, bud. Nice to see a 32X saved and restored.
One of, if not the best, console repairers on TH-cam!! Great work, love the explanations on the major details!
GREAT FIX!!! The way you edited the video really did make it seem like a quick and simple fix... but I can only imagine the repetitive beeping driving you nuts when all you want was to hear some silence for once... but then when you find it must have been SUCH A RELIEF!!!! (kinda like having to drop a duece but you're in the car on your way home... but then you finally make it to the john and AHHHHH!!!! WHAT A RELIEF lmao 🤪 )
Thanks for the video!! :D
The repair was easy, finding it was not. Great way of putting it and the fixed reaction was excellent.
Bravo mate. I too have been working on game consoles for decades. Had my own store and everything. Miss it. No longer do this thing but always fun to watch. I used Kynar wire to bridge dead traces, etc. Worked like a charm. These old X32 have known problems all the time. the flat ribbon cables are classic spots and oxidized connectors.. so common. Nice work!
Excellent repair! Congratulations! Loved seeing how elated you were when you saw it work for the first time!
Man, I wish I had that kind of extra room to organize and store my projects 😎. Family and stuff takes up all my room though 😆
"I do not know this man" - 🤣🤣
Nice repair, this unit clearly had multiple faults, I was half expecting you to recap it as part of your troubleshooting, but you got it! Seems like the cartridge port traces may be a somewhat common thing with Sega products?
Nice fix! I had the same issue with my 32X’s power connector. Luckily for me after replacing it it worked fine. Don’t think I’d be able to find the rotten trace.
Best part when you say: I'm gonna sleep like a baby!
Nice fix. I'm guessing the black plastic cartridge insertion part of the 32X is sitting on the inside part of the pcb.
Rest well.
Your channel is giving me inspiration and motivation to learn how to solder on circuit boards and fix my NES. I'm a mechanic so I have soldered wires and can read diagrams but that was just soldering wires together, not at all like working on boards. Hoping to start with the nes and work my through all my old consoles. Thanks for your videos!
Awesome content like always. Started doing small repair myself cuz of this channel. Keep it up.
I swear it's always something with the ribbon cables with these.
best repair channel on here
Great episode and final ! 👏🏻 I was just about to send you a message to look up around the cartridge slot since the issue seams to be reading the game. Excellent diagnostic and solution, really nice job
Everything you went through is every reason why 22 years ago I bought a 32X for $10 on eBay, and then wound up giving it away for free less than a year later.
I seen a small bridged connection at those ribbon cables.
There are a couple of pins on those connectors that are bridged from the factory. I noticed it too while doing the continuity checks off camera. One of the bridges was a ground line but the other wasn't so not sure what signal it carries.
yes i love that you captured that feeling of success! congrats and well done!
I had a really strange thing happen with my 32X....it would NOT play Knuckles Chaotix. Sometimes it would start but then it would freeze up. I saw a couple other people post about this but never really found a solution. AVGN did a video (I think it was a James and Mike Mondays) where they tried to review the game and the same thing happened to them, the game kept freezing or wouldn't play. I thought maybe it was my specific copy of the game itself or maybe I had some weird revision of the 32X that didn't work. Then I got the HD Retrovision cable (it converts the native RGB signal to component video) and never had the problem again. Somehow that video cable allowed the game to run. I have no idea how or why.
Wow! you're like a professional surgeon but operates on electronics. I learned alot from your videos.
Excellent video haha "oh I'm gonna sleep like a baby now" I felt that so many times and it's the best feeling hahaha
Haha indeed, unfinished business needed to be taken care of!
Finally I've decided to subscribe after many fixes properly done.
Hulk Hogan poses, it's a shame that you didn't rip your shirt off at this point 15:26
So was the old power connector just highly oxidized? It seems odd that it wouldn't even produce voltage when touching the pin directly.
definitely shared the joy when the thing finally booted! thanks
Awesome repair job!
What a reaction on that nice save!
It is very interesting to see those consoles disassembled. Try to disassemble as many different consoles as you can for our entertainment.
I bought a broken 32X a couple years ago, tried all of this AND a recap and replacing the ribbon cables, still the same black screen.
I had to do my continuity checks across the ribbon cable to where they terminate on the board, not just to the connector. It's very time consuming - 80 continuity checks for the 4 double-sided ribbon cables. The pins on the inside are particularly tricky to probe while connected. In other words, the ribbon cable connection might be fine, but something is still broken on the path of the signal it's carrying from the top board to the side board.
When that sound came on, you got a fist pump from me. That fix was super satisfying. Cheers 🍻
Impressed. Good job!
This is truly a victory for all 32x owners past and present ...
How many consoles is too much? It's never enough.
i fixed 2 32xs in one sitting by having to reseat both those flux ribbon cables. They generate alot of heat on the top of the unit (if you ever played a 32x it gets hot to the touch) and it backs these cables out. So anyone reading this id start there if you once had a known working 32x and all of a sudden it doesnt work.
Как здорово, что вы показали обстановку дома, будет интересно сравнить чере пару лет 😁
Excellent work!
Awesome job well done bro.
You’re channel is Amazing! Go Sega!!!
Should have done a cap kit and sound fix cap while you were in there.
good job man!!! congrats!
Cool! The First I was think what this unit has bad capacitors.... but this been corroded line on the board....)
Hey you have the most interesting repair channel. Any new videos coming out anytime soon?
Great work buddy 👍
Siempre hay que buscar la avería mas simple .
GG Mate. Good job
i like his shirt. for anyone knowing what game it´s from. i know!
Great video bud
Another amazing job buddy.
When you celebrated after fixing the 32x, I really felt like your victory was our victory. I loved this!
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire 20 minutes. The authentic joy of your success is going to help get me through the rest of this week 😂
Glad you enjoyed it!
It was so cool to see the genuine joy (and a winner‘s dance) when you found the culprit =)
Thank you for having your flag out front. Seeing it never gets old.
I'm thankful I discovered this channel, I'm truly enjoying the content, you are a great explainer, don't do silly jokes or stuff I don't like from other similar channels, very professional, I love it :D
same, i hate the clowning that others do, this channel is so relaxing and interesting
lol, like M Fixes stuff?
Same I am glad the algorithm recommend this guy. He is awesome.
I fully agree! But I gotta to say, I really smiled at 15:25
As a (not really) proud 32X owner myself, I have some things and grievances to share
First, the ribbon cables in my unit were a constant pain. No matter how much I cleaned or reseated them, my 32X would always find a way to freeze or crash mid-game. I ended up having to bust out my soldering iron and just tin the connectors on the cables themselves. That completely fixed all my freezing issues, so now I can finally enjoy Doom Resurrection with no issues whatsoever
Second, I noticed your 32X revision was a MARS VA 0. Mine's a VA 1, and apparently the older revision has problems running on certain Genesis/Mega Drive board revisions. Sega even provided a small piece that connects to the side where the Sega CD hooks up, which terminated some pins on the side to fix those compatibility issues. Was about to say that might be the problem with your unit, but props for finding the small trace rot when you did.
Anyway, 32X rant over. Thanks for another great repair video, and have a wonderful day
Man, I am jealous of your organization, my shop looks like some kind of Frankenstein's laboratory, I've got an entire basements worth of stuff in here and I've just got stuff put anywhere that it will fit to keep it off the floor in all kinds of mismatched shelves and cabinets o.0
Good job on keeping your work area so efficient!
Great video and love your work it was great to see you bring this 32x back to life really awesome as I love the 32x its a shame as there were many planed games that never got to see light of day as I’ve seen videos from Janovi I would have love to have seen AVP to the 32x alien vs predator would have blown my mind as a kid back then
Man, i just love when you cheer up on the discovery of the problem. And I can relate to it ! It's something that gives the chills for us, electronic hobbysts when we solve something. Keep up the great work!
the sneakiest trace damage, so frustrating. Great work
I have worked in the electronics industry since I was an apprentice in the 90’s, I watch a few different people on TH-cam doing console repairs but your thought process during fault finding is the most comprehensive and has me nodding along. Thank you for the videos, they really bring me a lot of pleasure to watch.
Seeing the genuine joy you felt, when it finally worked was truly rewarding. 😁
I’ve been cracking it your videos for a few days and I’ve become fascinated with your process of elimination. You have a vast knowledge of circuitry and it definitely shows. 👍🏼
Does anyone know his name? I reckon it’s Mike. He looks like a Mike.
Excellent work, friend. This is a great, fun video to watch. Your troubleshooting and attention to detail is otherworldly and your repair work is the finest there is. None better. Thank you for sharing with us!
15:21 When you want to celebrate but remember it's late at night 😅
Hey man :) This repair was excellent. NEVER GIVE UP. You’ve moved on so much ever since I’ve started following you and your audience is stronger then ever. I wish you only the best for the future.
How can someone be super excited and super chill at the same time?
Very nice job! "I gonna sleep like a baby tonight"! Lol, Im your fan.
Brings back memories of playing this game with my brother. Nice job!
15:25 most genuine happines eruption I've seen lately. Made me smile too.🤣🤣🤣
Awesome troubleshooting and diagnosis! I enjoyed this fix alot.
One of your best fixes yet!
nice perseverance! I had the same symptoms but I was able to fix it with new ribbon cables. That was a lot of fun to watch!
Thanks so much for your videos!!! I have been wanting to get back to electronics after years of trying it got the first time. Thanks to you I am going to have a go at fixing a Sega Saturn and a GBA that are coming from Japan to me in March!!!
Great job!!! Your reaction was priceless, it made me really happy for you.
"I'm not one for showing my excitement on camera..." - glad you made an exception for this one man, you really deserved that!
That was awesome!! I'm going to setup one of my rooms as you have, organized with the systems on one side and the soldering tools on the other. If you have recommendations for a decent hot air-station please do share. Great vid.
I’m very thankful my 32x and CD are both still functioning.❤
This channel is so legit, it's gotta be a matter of time till you're raking in the subs
most pumped Ive seen you after a repair
I reacted the same way when I fixed a Sega CDX. Love the videos and always looking forward to new content on this channel.
"I'm gonna sleep like a baby tonight".... I think you need a better victory chant. How about "Boom goes the dynamite" :p. Seriously though, congratulations, I'm incredibly jealous. I'm guessing you are going to smile when you look over at that thing for the next 10 years. :)
“That’s a rhetorical question of course.” Lol
Hehe love the little victory dance when it finally starts up!
At the time it first came out in the arcade I thought Virtua Fighter was actually kind of gimmicky, there didn't seem to be much to distinguish it and I was ready to dismiss 3D fighting as a dead-end.
So, yeah. My personal history for predicting the future is a 100% failure rate. 😆
My genesis had the same symptom (license screen then black screen). The problem was a single broken trace. Took me a few hours of board inspection to find the location of the damage
Soldering skills are sweet. Glad I learned some basic electronics from my old job. It was fun watching you succeed and troubleshoot it and then you just had the endorphin rush when you got sound and I loved it.
The way you show the process gives me confidence to repair the HDMI port on my original PS4
Good job mate was fun to watch i even cheered when it was fixed too.
First time your happy face was actually noticeable lol. Well done, great video.
I like how the PCB has "Mars" printed on it....32X codename
Good video
i like your parts room it really shows how much you care about repairing stuff
i might steal some shelf ideas from you heh
Alô amigo eu sempre quiz ter um 32x , você mim doaria esse 32x que você concertou?
15:25 Aaaand with that nice dance his "I don't like to overreact" policy is officially over. XD
Haha. It was a bit out of character but it was very late and I had been working on it all day with nothing to show for it so I guess I couldn't contain my excitement when it finally worked 😅