/vr/ - Retro Games

Anyone have repair stories?
>picked up an NES this past Saturday at a flea market with zelda for $30
>haven't played the original zelda since my dad bought it when it came out
>I never beat it as a kid so I'm super excited to finally give it another go
>so it's my 26th birthday, bought the NES as a present to myself. I pop in zelda and, fuck, it's a solid red screen
>the most vidya maintenance I've ever done consists of opening systems to clear dust and fixing a few analog sticks on N64 controllers
>I sigh and tell myself, "don't be a bitch, get on Google, you'll get it going."
>I get the NES open, taking over 30 min to remove the stuck reset switch/controller inputs on the main board, take the metal back plate and cartridge elevator off, gently remove the 72-pin connector, and scrub down everything with alcohol.
>put it all together, still doesn't work, birthday ruined
>almost buy a shitty Chinese 72-pin connector for $10, but refuse to be beaten so easily
>open the NES up again, scrub 72-pin connector again with windex and a toothbrush, adjust each pin individually with a safety pin, gently clean main board contacts, very carefully sever lockout chip, put it all back together, and prepared myself to be disappointed
>it works fine.
>just beat third dungeon.
>best birthday post 25 ensues.