iFixit - Active Questions With Device "Game Console"

Nintendo Switch: Can anyone help me identify where this pad lead to?

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:30:38 -0700

I tried (& obviously failed) to swap the display flex ZIF socket in the original first-gen Nintendo switch and tore a solder pad off. I’m pretty confident that I can fly a wire out from that remaining bit of solder pad, but I need to check whether I did the job properly. Can anyone tell me where this particular pad(10th from the left not counting the large one) lead to so I can check it with a multimeter or smth?

Thanks in advance!

PlayStation 4: Can't install PS4 system software onto new HDD

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:31:29 -0700

Hi. Have installed replacement HDD into a PS4 mk1 but am now stuck in a Safe Mode loop of trying to install the latest update .pup file from USB. All other Safe Mode options are locked out. Any ideas..?

⟐ Commented April 16, 2026 at 4:31 MST

PlayStation 4 Pro: PS4 Pro Displays Black Screen, Even in Safe Mode

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:02:05 -0700

Hello, I have a PS4 Pro CUH 7016B, and it has some strange issues. When I got the PS4, it would turn off after some time while playing demanding games, and it also had an overheating warning, so I thought new thermal paste would solve it. I used Arctic MX-6, and I am sure I applied it correctly, as I have done this many times. After reassembling the console, it was still not that quiet, but as far as I know, this is normal for Pros. The next day, I tried testing it further to ensure it was working properly, and in the middle of the game, it beeped three times and turned off. The weird thing is that the fans were not even at max speed, so I am assuming overheating is not an issue. I did not receive any overheating warnings. Sometimes it would also turn off without even beeping. To be completely sure, I reapplied the thermal paste, but that did not change anything. Then I tried testing the PSU with a multimeter, and it was showing 11.86 volts, so that should be okay. The next thing I tried was replacing the HDD, but after doing so, the blue light would flash once before the console turned off. After trying to power it on a few more times, it turned on, but now all I see is a black image, and that's it. I tried putting the old HDD back in, but nothing changed. The same thing happened in safe mode. I also tried cleaning the HDMI cord, using different TVs and displays, and using a different HDMI cable, all with no success. Does anybody know why this is happening? Maybe my APU is dead?

Edit: i should have clarified this before but it does actually seem to enter safe mode because the light turns white.

⟐ Commented April 16, 2026 at 4:02 MST

Nintendo Switch: No output to TV on Nintendo dock. But ok on third party dock.

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:12:00 -0700

My Nintendo switch (non OLED) all of the sudden stopped showing on my TV. It charges on the dock and the Switch screen goes black when docked. The dock little light also goes green.

Tried numerous things:

Checked HDMI.

Plugged power source directly to the wall.

Followed the correct way to connect the dock.

Tried different TVs.

Finally decided to buy another dock and got a third party option from AliExpress. It works fine. However I was not happy with it because the USB-C connection is a lot tighter compared to the Nintendo dock. So I decided to buy the Nintendo dock that comes with the OLED version (has a LAN port).

To my surprise it has the same issue as my original Nintendo Dock... No output 🫠.

Has anyone had a similar issue?

⟐ Answered April 16, 2026 at 0:12 MST

DualShock 4 CHU-ZCT2U Generation 4: Burnt a chip in the right of the touch pad 😭🙏

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:34:33 -0700

So i connected my controller but to the wall instead of my ps4 and ts burnt n don’t know how to replace it or buy a replace

I opened it, because i though it was the battery, and replaced it and didn’t work, then i unassembled it completely, and it even has the black thing that appears when something burns, and all the plastics around, like the one holding the battery is melted in the closer parts, and also the case plastic

⟐ Commented April 15, 2026 at 22:34 MST

DualShock 4: How to connect the traces?

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:32:57 -0700

Do I scratch off mask right by the yellow circle(pic2 or pic3), then connect the with a wire correct? What size wire do you recommend? Also the trace in picture 4 should I cut it off of leave it?

⟐ Commented April 15, 2026 at 22:32 MST

Nintendo Switch: My iFixit battery for my Switch is draining quickly - why?

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:30:59 -0700

I have a Nintendo Switch, from about 2020. This is the model with the detachable joycons so I can put it in the cradle and see it on TV. I just replaced the battery last night with the new one I bought from iFixit. After completing that, I turned it on to be sure everything was working, then off. I was in my shop, so I left it off - I thought I had powered it down, but I guess not. 3 hours later I took it up to the house to plug it in and give it that first full charge. It showed 1% charge at that point!

I've charged it for over 6 hours and the next morning I left it in sleep mode, but pulled out the charge cord. Just sitting there, not used, in sleep mode, it's going through about 8-10% of the charge per hour! After about 4 hours, it's down to 62%!

Again, it is just sitting there, asleep, but not plugged in and it's draining that quickly.

Is this normal? I read that I needed to charge it up, then play and use it until the battery was low, then charge it again. I thought i had powered it down - guess not, so that's why it was in sleep mode after I put the new battery in, but today, after a full charge, and just sitting in sleep mode for ±4 hours, for it to be at only 60% does not seem right for a new battery.

⟐ Commented April 15, 2026 at 22:30 MST

PlayStation 3 Slim: I don't know what this problem is, any hints?

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:20:37 -0700

So I got a PlayStation3 Slim model CECH-2004A, PAL 120, I guess; and when I press the power button, green light, it beeps three times and then red blinking light. Is it the famous Yellow Light Of Death? What can I do? (weird fact: i checked the HDD and it said it was 40GB, is it possible?)

⟐ Answer accepted April 15, 2026 at 14:20 MST

PSP 2000: Start button problem psp

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:01:30 -0700

Start button not working and all rest of the buttons

⟐ Answered April 15, 2026 at 7:01 MST

PlayStation 4 Pro: My ps4 pro will not accept my psn account since it was an exchina main

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:58:47 -0700

How to create a psn account to an exchina mainland console at home

⟐ Answered April 15, 2026 at 6:58 MST

DualSense Edge: Fn button stuck in pressed state

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:48:53 -0700

Pad just stuck in profile select mode due to always pressed right Fn button, I swapped the modules and even bought new ones, but it didn't help.

also i have this: 0300e0274c050000f20d000000016800,*,a:b0,b:b1,back:b4,dpdown:h0.4,dpleft:h0.8,dpright:h0.2,dpup:h0.1,guide:b5,leftshoulder:b9,leftstick:b7,lefttrigger:a4,leftx:a0,lefty:a1,rightshoulder:b10,rightstick:b8,righttrigger:a5,rightx:a2,righty:a3,start:b6,x:b2,y:b3,touchpad:b11,misc1:b12,paddle1:b16,paddle2:b15,paddle3:b14,paddle4:b13,crc:27e0,platform:macOS,

So the main question is how to understand what exactly the problem is next, and what to change, since this is definitely not a problem with the stick module.

⟐ Commented April 15, 2026 at 6:48 MST

R36S: How do I fix the screen

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:25:42 -0700

So my R36S's screen has a black spot

⟐ Answered April 15, 2026 at 1:25 MST

Afterglow Wireless PS3 Controller: Why won't my remote turn on?

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:40:07 -0700

Hi, I haven't used some PS3 controllers in a while and now they won't turn on. I've tried connecting them to the console, the PC, and the power outlet, but nothing works.

I managed to get one of them to turn on by pressing the small button on the back, but now it won't.

Thanks.

⟐ Answered April 14, 2026 at 22:40 MST

Vectrex: Game & Sound But No Picture

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:45:27 -0700

*Update After Cleaning the pins of the J204 connector the screen emits a glow after turning the brightness up all the way and the tube on the back of the crt has a glow which did not happen before as seen in pictures.

*Edit Here are some photos of the power board. As far as I can tell none of the capacitors look damaged. I also took a picture of the board on the tube itself, not sure what that is called. Sorry for the weird angles but its the best I can do without removing the board.

I have a vectrex with game and sound both working but zero picture, no dot in the middle of the screen or anything. The only thing I have done to repair the vectrex was replace a fuse which brought back game & sound function. I am not very tech savvy and this is out of my league, any help is appreciated.

⟐ Commented April 14, 2026 at 18:45 MST

Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller Series 2: My rubber grip is coming away...

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:33:55 -0700

Is there a way to reseat / realign the rubber handgrip on a Xbox Elite Series 2 controller??

⟐ Answered April 14, 2026 at 16:33 MST

PlayStation 5 Slim: Fixing the vertical stand screw mount of the PS5 CFI-2115

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:02:18 -0700

I accidentally stripped the screw whole of my PS5 where the vertical stand is supposed to go, and I’m trying to use these Mr. Grip screw hole repair kits to fix it. However, I can’t get the strips to stay in without falling into the console and needing to be shaken out. Is this the best option for fixing it? Or is there something else that might need to be used instead?

⟐ Commented April 14, 2026 at 13:02 MST

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

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:09:59 -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

⟐ Answered April 14, 2026 at 2:09 MST

Nintendo Switch: Loose LCD connector ribbon?

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:08:11 -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 14, 2026 at 2:08 MST

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

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:03:18 -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.

⟐ Answered April 14, 2026 at 2:03 MST

Nintendo Switch: Will the switch boot without an LCD

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:01:34 -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.

⟐ Answer accepted April 14, 2026 at 2:01 MST