iFixit - Active Questions With Device "Game Console"

Nintendo Switch: Lines on screen with "clear circle" in middle after LCD replacement

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:55:27 -0700

I am experiencing persistent display issues on my Nintendo Switch. There are lines running through the screen, and interestingly, there is a circular area in the middle that seems less affected by the lines.

I have already replaced both the LCD and the digitizer, but the problem persists. The symptoms are slightly different with the new screen: the lines appear whenever a new page or image loads, but if I leave the console on a static screen for a few minutes, the lines mostly fade away. As soon as the image changes, they return immediately.

I have checked and reseated the LCD ribbon cable multiple times. Is this likely a faulty replacement part, or could this be a motherboard/GPU issue (like a failing display IC or capacitor)? Any advice on what to check next would be greatly appreciated.

Nintendo Switch: Loose LCD connector ribbon?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:15:48 -0700

I had been using it normally, until these very fine vertical black lines appeared all over the screen. The colors of the pixels would then start to 'bleed' out, forming these bright horizontal bands. I've hopped between a few forums, and apparently a few others have had similar issues. Commenters said that it was a potentially loose LCD connector ribbon cable, so:

I'd like to know if this is the case for my device, and if so, how exactly should I fix it. Would disconnecting and reconnecting the ribbons suffice?
If it isn't just a mere loose cable, could it possibly be an issue with the LCD itself? If so, would it be better for me to take it to a repair shop?

⟐ Commented April 13, 2026 at 19:15 GMT-7

Nintendo 3DS XL: What other things I should try to fix my bottom screen for old 3ds xl?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:54:46 -0700

My bottom screen does not put out display, just all black but the whole device turns on and everything works, just not the bottom screen.

I know the motherboard is the problem and not the ribbon cable of my bottom screen as I have tested the screen on a known working 3ds xl board and it is completely fine.

Now I'm stuck with what to look out for to repair. The 2 ZIF looks normal to me as far as my eyes can see, I do not have access to a microscope to look a little closer.

So before I do anything, what other things I should look out for other than the ribbon cables? Is it possible that a fuse is dead and which one are those? Thanks for the help

PlayStation 3 Slim: Why does my PS3 turns on but never turns

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:55:39 -0700

When ever I turn on my PS3 it turns on but doesn't read the HDD and doesn't display any output and never turns off till I rip the power cord out please help.

⟐ Commented April 13, 2026 at 10:55 GMT-7

Nintendo 3DS: Nintendo 3ds - Cannot display the software on the SD Card

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:52:25 -0700

Like the title says my 3ds started giving me this error after i removed the sd card i have always used on it since 2011

I've used the card on a computer and its working fine,even formatted it to fat32 to make sure it wasnt a software issue but still gives me this error,tried a new sd card but same result

I've opened the console up and cleaned the sd card slot pins with isopropyl alcohol and tried to make sure the pins were okay but the issue still persists

Also used some compressed air to maybe remove dirt from inside the card reader I've already ordered a sd card reader for the console but im wondering what other options i have,any ideas?

⟐ Commented April 13, 2026 at 10:52 GMT-7

Nintendo DSi: DSI flashing light, turns off when attempted to turn on

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:51:06 -0700

So I recently bought a new touchscreen and shoulder Button cable for my DSI and I didn't get to test them cause it wouldnt turn on. I figured I put the battery in backwards and I checked the fuses and the fuse on the button board seemed to be dead. So I ordered a replacement that just came. I installed it, the fuse looked good, and it still did the same thing. I have two batteries and they don't seem dead as the multimeter says one has ~3.8v and one has ~4.1 volts. I put it in a bunch for both, tried many things, took out and reattached screen and camera cords, and nothing seems to work. I need help with this please!!!

⟐ Commented April 13, 2026 at 10:51 GMT-7

Nintendo DSi: How do I fix unresponsive shoulder buttons?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:27:33 -0700

Very simply, the L and R buttons on my DSi don't work anymore. I tried going to Nintendo about the problem, but they said it'd cost at least $50 to repair...and my system is long past its warranty. Will I have to take apart my DS to fix it?

⟐ Commented April 13, 2026 at 8:27 GMT-7

Nintendo Switch: Will the switch boot without an LCD

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:34:23 -0700

I bought a Switch v2 that has no LCD installed whatsoever, i checked for shorts or damage and found none. Then charged the console up to 4V and tried powering it up.

I expected some sound effect while it booted, but nothing ever happened. The speakers "hum" slightly for 10 seconds after i press the power button and then stop.

I do not have a docking station or any sort of usb c adapter to try plugging HDMI through.

So my question is if a switch can even be powered up fully with no LCD connected? AI chatbots claim it should power up normally.

⟐ Commented April 13, 2026 at 1:34 GMT-7

DualShock 4: Is this a broken trace?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:13 -0700

In my endless quest to replace analog sticks I can't seem to catch a break now what it looks like to be a broken trace.....again

⟐ Commented April 13, 2026 at 0:00 GMT-7

DualShock 4 CUH-ZTC1 Generation 2: My PS BUTTON DOESNT WORK

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:56:12 -0700

My PS BUTTON DOESNT WORK AND I CAN'T OPEN MY PS4

⟐ Answered April 12, 2026 at 12:56 GMT-7

DualSense: Lights up but unresponsive

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:53:16 -0700

Hi. My sons PS5 controller has stopped working. When the USB is plugged in, the orange light slow blinks once and 2 white lights appear below the touchpad. The controller is totally unresponsive.

I’ve connected it to my laptop and was able to update the firmware but it hasn’t resolved the issue. I’ve also tried several USB leads.

I’ve tried the soft and hard resets but no change.

Does anyone have a fix for this?

⟐ Answered April 12, 2026 at 12:53 GMT-7

Nintendo 3DS: Blue light of death?

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:45:32 -0700

Found my childhood 3ds but it won’t display anything. It turns on, the backlight and the 3d light obviously shine through, but nothing displays. Opened it up (ignore the result of stripped screws) and nothing seems out of placed or damaged. Also unplugged various parts and tried turning on but same issue. Am I missing something?

⟐ Answered April 12, 2026 at 12:45 GMT-7

Xbox 360: Should I replace all the caps or just the damaged ones<

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:39:20 -0700

I had the RROD so I replaced all the bad caps. It now works but turns off after 5-10 minutes while playing a game. Should I relace all the caps.

⟐ Commented April 12, 2026 at 12:39 GMT-7

Nacon Asymmetric Wireless PS4 Controller: The l1 button it not working

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:37:58 -0700

L1 button it not working

Sony TV Console: PS3 Slim Power Button Connector Ripped Off - Need Help Reconstructing

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:50:57 -0700

Hi everyone,

I’m in a bit of a tough spot with my PS3 Slim CECH-3004A.

While disassembling it for a thermal paste change, I accidentally pulled the power ribbon cable connector by the head instead of releasing it. This resulted in the entire connector ripping off the motherboard, taking some of the solder pads with it.

From what I can observe, the PCB seems to have a standard 2-layer traces on the surface, and I can’t see any obvious internal layers for these specific traces. I’ve tried to trace them, but I’m struggling to find where they lead to create jumpers.

Could you please help me with the following?

Does anyone have a schematic or a high-resolution trace map for the power button connector area (specifically for the Slim model)?
Are there any recommended videos or guides on reconstructing lifted pads or where to bridge (jumper) the connections for this specific part?
Confirming if I only need to worry about surface traces or if there are via-connections I might have missed.

I have some soldering experience but reconstructing pads is new to me. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Pcb bottom layer

⟐ Edited by author April 12, 2026 at 0:50 GMT-7

PSP 1000: Broken psp 1004 /try to restore it

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:57:27 -0700

I bought a broken psp very cheap and I want to try to restore it . Could you please give me some guidance?

Hi these are the photos .First time i open a psp device,

Here are the pictures

And the motherboard

⟐ Commented April 11, 2026 at 23:57 GMT-7

DualSense: My controller keeps flashing blue multiple times on a charger but not?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:56:05 -0700

So when I go to turn on my controller when plugged in and connting via Bluetooth it flashes blue multiple times then dose nothing and goes back off, when not on the charger and on Bluetooth it does nothing. Then when (the part I ran out of space for) I connect it via wire to my tablet it works so I know it's not the port I,I don't think it's the battery, and I don't have any issues that could be solved by a reset (the charger definitely has enough watage). Also when plugged in to charge it doesn't slowly fade in and out yellow

⟐ Answer accepted April 11, 2026 at 18:56 GMT-7

PlayStation 3 Slim: Games loading in but just sits with the badges spinning

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 03:40:01 -0700

I got a PS3 2001a and wanted to play some older titles, i did the two things to organize the files and fix corrupted ones however only certain games work, God of war, gta4, and dmc4 all work, but for instance twisted metal, war on Cybertron they will boot up, update fine, but they will get into the first black screen after the company logos and just show the spinning loading badges infinitely, I don't know what to do

⟐ Answered April 11, 2026 at 3:40 GMT-7

PlayStation 5: Ps5 won't turn on. No lights, no beeps. Just dead.

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:14:44 -0700

Last night in the middle of a round of Overwatch 2, the ps5 randomly cut off. New outlet, new cable tried, totally unresponsive. No lights, no beeps as long as I hold it.

⟐ Answered April 10, 2026 at 20:14 GMT-7

Nintendo DSi: dsi flashs on and then turns off

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:05:02 -0700

i got a dsi that will turn on and then it turns off immediately after i hit the power button. i think it may have a fuse that may be bad im not sure but i wanted to check on here before i took action on trying to fix it

⟐ Commented April 10, 2026 at 18:05 GMT-7

iFixit - Active Questions With Device "Game Console"

Nintendo Switch: Lines on screen with "clear circle" in middle after LCD replacement

Nintendo Switch: Loose LCD connector ribbon?

Nintendo 3DS XL: What other things I should try to fix my bottom screen for old 3ds xl?

PlayStation 3 Slim: Why does my PS3 turns on but never turns

Nintendo 3DS: Nintendo 3ds - Cannot display the software on the SD Card

Nintendo DSi: DSI flashing light, turns off when attempted to turn on

Nintendo DSi: How do I fix unresponsive shoulder buttons?

Nintendo Switch: Will the switch boot without an LCD

DualShock 4: Is this a broken trace?

DualShock 4 CUH-ZTC1 Generation 2: My PS BUTTON DOESNT WORK

DualSense: Lights up but unresponsive

Nintendo 3DS: Blue light of death?

Xbox 360: Should I replace all the caps or just the damaged ones<

Nacon Asymmetric Wireless PS4 Controller: The l1 button it not working

Sony TV Console: PS3 Slim Power Button Connector Ripped Off - Need Help Reconstructing

PSP 1000: Broken psp 1004 /try to restore it

Update (11/22/23)

Update (11/22/23)

Update (11/22/23)

DualSense: My controller keeps flashing blue multiple times on a charger but not?

PlayStation 3 Slim: Games loading in but just sits with the badges spinning

PlayStation 5: Ps5 won't turn on. No lights, no beeps. Just dead.

Nintendo DSi: dsi flashs on and then turns off