Nintendo DS troubleshooting

[taigr81m]

Hello, Friends,

  I am wondering if anyone here can help me with a problem. I have been asked if I can help someone with a problem reagrding Nintendo DS. I repair computers but not handheld gaming systems. I do not own a DS, so I know nothing about the product. Here is what I notice:

after powering the system on, everything seems to load as usual. I touch the screen to continue and it shows a sort of desktop. A bar is on the bottom screen with icons. No matter which icon I click on, the system shows a black screen with an error message: "an error has occurred.  press and hold the power button to turn the system  off. please see the Nintendo DSi operations manual for help troubleshooting."

anyone know what is causing this error?
it seems to me that it is a system problem. the system does this with or without a game cartridge. the game that was in the system when I received it is a legitimate cartridge.

thanks for reading.

[sniperlobster]

Sounds like the Wifi Board or Motherboard needs to be replaced...did you do a firmware update that failed? Install any new apps? Use an Action Replay?

[sheep2001]

try a factory reset....

to reset the ds to factory settings, you will need a screwdriver. on the back of the ds is a little panel, just unscrew that, take the cover off and that that should reveal the battery pack. then all you need to do is take out the battery for a few seconds and stick it back in. put the cover back in and the next time you turn on the ds you will need to input all the data again as if you bought it for the first time.

found via google, so don't blame me if it blows up! lol

[taigr81m]

@sniperlobster
the DS is not mine, so I do not know the answer to those questions. I will ask her if she has done any of those things lately. I read something about WiFi and a digitizer. I suppose I will have to study these handhekld systems now, so that I can repair them too. Seems like a neat little gadget. Perhaps I will try one of those 3DS systems but I do not like the fact that there is not a BIOS like feature in the system. I'm used to PC's. Thanks for responding. I will let you know how it goes. 

@sheep
LOL  you are a nut. 
I will try that as soon as I can find my tiny screwdriver. I have a few things to do today, so I will not be able to try it at this moment. I will do it later and see what happens. I agree, the system needs to be inspected. I will have to look in there anyway. If you hear a big boom later, then you know it exploded    or maybe I farted 
okay, I will give it a try. Thanks for helping, Sheep and I love the Hebereke cart. Good job my Friend. Type to you later ...

[wiggy]

The digitizer is the touch screen element. They do go haywire on occasion, but that doesn't se like the issue here.

I'm guessing no error code, eh?  Have you looked at Nintendo's diagnostic page?  Its not often super helpful, but can sometimes point you in the right direction.

[taigr81m]

Hello, Wiggy, I still haven't opened the back. I fell asleep and didn't wake up until after 4am. so tired lately.
I will look at it this afternoon.
I downloaded the operation manual and I will look at the Nintendo site as well.
I feel that it could be a corruption of system data that causes it to crash. Perhaps a factory reset will fix the problem.
otherwise, it may be something more like the digitizer.
I just have to remember that it is not a PC, so I cannot apply the same troubleshooting methods.
I'd like to fix the system for this girl because it is her daughter's DS and she is sad that it is not working.

anyway, I will post after further inspection.
Thank You for helping.

edit:
no error code. just switches to a black screen and shows the message that I had posted earlier.
The manual suggests that I call customer service.

[wiggy]

Let me know if you end up needing parts at all.  I have quite a few parts systems sitting around.

[taigr81m]

Hello, Wiggy, Thank You for the kind gesture, you are a good friend. I will let you know as soon as I can work on it. I have been so busy since February. I am mentally exhausted. I had to configure a firewall and a gateway router today. I have to install the firewall and 6 routers tomorrow, so time is short. I will drink some coffee now and relax a few minutes, then I will tinker with the DS. I didn't expect the firewall to arrive until Monday, so I am behind with work now. Anyway, Thank You for helping me. I will try to find the problem, then go from there. If I need any parts, I'll let you know and we'll discuss cost and shipping if the girl wants to replace the part(s). I understand that she wants to buy a new one, so I'll have to convince her to not waste it and just repair it. I'll be back later if I find something soon. I'll finish disassembling it and look around.

[taigr81m]

just finished peeking at it and I think that I've identified the source of the problem to be the WiFi card. I've disconnected the antenna and the DS functions normal. She is happy using it without WiFi but I told her that I'd ask you if you have a spare card and how much would you want for it?

[wiggy]

Oh I'm sure I do.  Lemme look.  If so, like 5 bucks shipped. 

[taigr81m]

excellent! I will wait for your reply. I'll see her again tomorrow as she has a laptop for me to repair as well. I will tell her about it and we can make arrangements for billing and shipping. If you cannot find one, then no worries.

Thank You very much, Wiggy. You are a good friend.