Mario Advance 4 Fake?

[Spoonman]

Posted an initial pic of this in the June pick-ups thread, but want some second opinions on this cart.

Since I picked it up, I got myself a tri-wing and opened it up.  Here's what's inside:



I don't see a save battery, so I'm thinking it's a fake... I cleaned it up more and it still won't start up properly, so I think I'm ready to give up.  Anybody got input?

[Ozzy_98]

That's a legit nintnedo board, and they don't use batteries for the save, it's flash or eeprom based

[Spoonman]

Oh ok.  Good to know.

Then I don't know what else to do with this thing.  It starts up and I get the gameboy logo with the Nintendo logo underneath which is a good sign.  Then the screen goes white and just stays there indefinitely.  Now I've opened it up and cleaned it pretty well.  Any suggestions?

[Lashek]

If that picture is what clean is, It's pretty bad... What's all that gunk in the cartridge? It looks like it's sat in a desert for years...

[Kriegspire]

Yeah, that's a legit cart, but it's damn dirty. It looks like erosion, so you most likely wont be able to fix it...

[Spoonman]

Yeah the picture is PRE-cleaning.  It was damn dirty inside.... which is a shame... didn't seem dirty from the outside at all.  Maybe it's gone... oh well.

[Jeff]

It looks like something was spilled inside it. What does it look like now, after you cleaned it?

[FFXIK]

Some of the pins on the chips are rusted badly.  It's been fully submerged in water at one point.  I hate to say it but looks like it's too far gone.   

[Nacho3]

Oh ok.  Good to know.

Then I don't know what else to do with this thing.  It starts up and I get the gameboy logo with the Nintendo logo underneath which is a good sign.  Then the screen goes white and just stays there indefinitely.  Now I've opened it up and cleaned it pretty well.  Any suggestions?

I'm pretty sure the Gameboy logo comes up even if you turn it on without a cart inside so I don't think your game is working at all. 

[irvgotti452]

Try cleaning it with 90%+ iso alcohol and a clean toothbrush and let it dry a while. See if that will make a difference after you have dried it and let it sit for a while.

[palmer6strings]

Oh ok.  Good to know.

Then I don't know what else to do with this thing.  It starts up and I get the gameboy logo with the Nintendo logo underneath which is a good sign.  Then the screen goes white and just stays there indefinitely.  Now I've opened it up and cleaned it pretty well.  Any suggestions?

I'm pretty sure the Gameboy logo comes up even if you turn it on without a cart inside so I don't think your game is working at all. 

The gameboy logo does come up with or without a game in it, the Nintendo logo doesn't pop up without a game inserted into the system.

[Spoonman]

Oh ok.  Good to know.

Then I don't know what else to do with this thing.  It starts up and I get the gameboy logo with the Nintendo logo underneath which is a good sign.  Then the screen goes white and just stays there indefinitely.  Now I've opened it up and cleaned it pretty well.  Any suggestions?

I'm pretty sure the Gameboy logo comes up even if you turn it on without a cart inside so I don't think your game is working at all. 

The gameboy logo does come up with or without a game in it, the Nintendo logo doesn't pop up without a game inserted into the system.

Correct.

Thanks for all the replies guys.  Here is the photo post-cleaning:

[Lashek]

Some of those pins around the chips still look really dirty or rusted (not sure which).

This cartridge is probably too far gone.

[Spoonman]

Yeah I think so.  I'm ready to give up.  Really gave it a good cleaning, even tried the toothbrush suggestion with the alcohol, but can't get that last bit of rust off there.  Makes me sad haha

[Ozzy_98]

try a DRY toothbrush first.  I like to use an electric one myself.