Getting that old console or computer to work can be
tricky business. Heres a list of things to check:
1: Is the power supply working or of the correct voltage? Usually
easy to tell as most consoles have a LED indicating when it is switched
on. You should always use the official power supply that came
with the system. If not available, there are many third-party
replacements available just check the voltage levels etc. For regional
differences check here.
2: Is the television channel tuned in correctly? We're all used to SCARTs nowadays, so when you plug in the Megadrive remember that it needs a dedicated channel tuning in on the TV. Not all consoles
will tune into the same frequency, that said most do. Most consoles are on UHF36. On modern LCD, plasma TVs set the tuner to analogue TV auto search while the console is connected and turned on. Auto tune will pick up uhf 36 channel. If you are getting
any kind of signal at all (such as a blank or flashing screen) then
it's probably something else. Not sure what to hook up where? Check
out our video section here.
3: Do the leads you are using work? A lot of times a problem can simply
be down to a duff RF lead, they often break due to being wound up
repeatedly. Replacements are easy to come by and most PAL systems
will accept the same RF lead. Lack of sound is almost always due to the aerial lead not pushed into the back of the console tightly.
4: If you have rolling, black and white picture, then
its possible that the console does not output in a standard accepted
by your TV, ie NTSC. Converters are available to change a NTSC signal
to a PAL one but these are quite expensive at around £15-£30.
5: Dirt is the killer of Video Games and is probably the cause of
90% of the problems you will have with cartridges. It is, however, relatively easy to
fix, although not getting dirt in the console in the first place is
the best way to ensure your console stays working. Check the section
on cleaning carts below.