- 46
- Posts
- 13
- Years
- Age 33
- Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
- Seen May 25, 2014
Addressing the problem involving batteries dying and being replaced.
OBJECTION! It's actually extremely easy to replace the battery in any Pokemon game. First you need the correct watch battery, CR2025 for the GBC games, including G/S/C (which use the battery for the clock function as well as keeping your save saved to the RAM.), and CR1616 for the GBA games that use the clock function -- R/S/E. The tricky part is getting the cart open. I ordered a special bit that can be used with certain screwdrivers for $5 on lukiegames website. I used scissors my first time opening my Pokemon Red cart. While effective, it's not pretty and I scratched up the screw a lot. There is also a way to do it by melting the opening of a pens ink-barrel and letting it form to the screw, then opening it that way.
After you open the cart, the only thing you have to do is take the battery off of the tabs that hold it in. It's kind of difficult, as it's soldered onto the battery. I used a razor blade and an X-Acto knife, because I'm familiar with working with razors. As always, be careful. After about 20 minutes I finally got the first tab off, and 10 minutes afterward, I got the second one from underneath. You have to be really careful not to scratch the circuit board or your game may not function properly.
Now that you have the battery off, take the time to straighten out the tabs that were connected to the battery. This is essential for keeping the battery in contact with the circuit board. The straighter, the better.
Ok, now that the tabs are straight, take your new CR2025 battery and slip it between the tabs, fat-side down. If your confused about what side is positive/negative, look at the circuit board. I'm pretty sure what ever side is supposed to go down (+/-) is printed on there.
Now, after the battery is placed in between there (it won't stay there until this step is complete), you have a couple of choices.
1.) You can go the more expensive, difficult route and solder the battery back in.
2.) You can go the cheap, easy, recommended route (I did this one because I don't own a soldering iron.) and use Scotch tape. I used thin strips of it that I cut using scissors or a razor. You can touch the tape to the circuit board, but be very careful not to go over any of the circuits. It's okay to go around the edge of the cart, but be careful of the other side.
3.) (Untested) You can go the semi-permanent route and glue it in. I haven't heard of anyone trying this, but idk why it wouldn't work.
Make sure that the tab on the bottom are in contact with the circuit board. Secure the battery down so it won't move if the cart gets tossed on your bed or something, or else you'll have to open the cart all over again if it loses contact, and you'll lose your save.
To answer a couple questions I anticipate will be here or have already been asked:
Yes, you WILL lose your save if the battery dies or you take it out. Why? because the battery keeps the save on the RAM on the cartridge. Like computers, RAM only stores data if it's powered on. As soon as the power goes out or is taken away, everything on the RAM is erased, and to my knowledge, unrecoverable. (This is ONLY FOR GBC GAMES. R/B/Y, G/S/C)
There IS a way to back up your GBC saves, but it's expensive. There's a utility out there called GB Transferer 2. I'm not trying to advertise, but the only site I've seen it on sale from is hkems or something like that. I sent them an email last week, and they haven't responded to me though. Be careful if you're buying this online, as it's really easy to fry the board, essentially breaking the device. My guess would be people would try to sell broken ones, just be careful. ~$23 USD.
No, you will not lose save data if you change your battery on the GBA carts. The battery, to my knowledge, is used solely for the clock function. If the battery dies, the clock will simply stop working and no clock-based or time-based or day-based events will occur. That means there will be no night time, which means no Espeon or Umbreon (right?...) because they evolve at night. My guess is when the battery is replaced, the game will return to normal, but I haven't tried this yet.
Yes, there is a screwdriver made for the screw on GBA carts. I got one for ~$1 USD on eBay. It's a tri-wing screwdriver and a lot of Nintendo Products use tri-wing screws.
Yes, there is a special device used for opening GB and GBC carts. It's called a 3.8mm Steel Security bit. It is just the bit that is commonly used with certain screwdrivers, but some reviews say that you don't even need the handle. ~$6 with shipping from Amazon.
"My GB/GBC games don't save." - This doesn't necessarily mean that your game is fake or garbage. Easy to replace batteries using the above method. Try that before throwing your game away or selling it. Much more economical to pay for one $1 battery.
"What about GBA games? How come the battery doesn't affect saves in those games?" - From what I have heard browsing the web for this answer, I have come across this. 3rd Gen pokemon games (R/S/E, Fr/Lg) save to Flash Memory instead of saving to RAM like previous games. This means that the saves are independent of the battery. And according to some sources, I guess Fr/Lg don't have batteries because they don't utilize the clock function.
Quick Reference guide:
GB/GBC Battery: CR2025
GBA Battery: CR1616
Pokewalker Battery: CR2032 (Might as well throw it in here)
*Batteries are generally available at a Walgreen's or Wal-Mart, but I get mine on eBay for $0.99/each, free shipping.
GB/GBC Screwdriver: 3.8mm Security bit/Gamebit (It's made specially for fixing and opening game cartridges.)
GBA Screwdriver: Tri-Wing.
*All available on eBay/Amazon.
Optional:
Scotch/Electrical Tape.
Scissors.
Razor Blade/X-Acto knife.
All-around estimated cost:
GB/GBC: $7 if you don't have the tool, $1 if you do.
GBA: $2-$3 if you don't have the screwdriver.
Time: About an hour if it's your first time doing it. All depends on how long it takes to get the old battery out. New battery in is ~2-5 minutes.
Now go out there and revive those dusty cartridges! :D
OBJECTION! It's actually extremely easy to replace the battery in any Pokemon game. First you need the correct watch battery, CR2025 for the GBC games, including G/S/C (which use the battery for the clock function as well as keeping your save saved to the RAM.), and CR1616 for the GBA games that use the clock function -- R/S/E. The tricky part is getting the cart open. I ordered a special bit that can be used with certain screwdrivers for $5 on lukiegames website. I used scissors my first time opening my Pokemon Red cart. While effective, it's not pretty and I scratched up the screw a lot. There is also a way to do it by melting the opening of a pens ink-barrel and letting it form to the screw, then opening it that way.
After you open the cart, the only thing you have to do is take the battery off of the tabs that hold it in. It's kind of difficult, as it's soldered onto the battery. I used a razor blade and an X-Acto knife, because I'm familiar with working with razors. As always, be careful. After about 20 minutes I finally got the first tab off, and 10 minutes afterward, I got the second one from underneath. You have to be really careful not to scratch the circuit board or your game may not function properly.
Now that you have the battery off, take the time to straighten out the tabs that were connected to the battery. This is essential for keeping the battery in contact with the circuit board. The straighter, the better.
Ok, now that the tabs are straight, take your new CR2025 battery and slip it between the tabs, fat-side down. If your confused about what side is positive/negative, look at the circuit board. I'm pretty sure what ever side is supposed to go down (+/-) is printed on there.
Now, after the battery is placed in between there (it won't stay there until this step is complete), you have a couple of choices.
1.) You can go the more expensive, difficult route and solder the battery back in.
2.) You can go the cheap, easy, recommended route (I did this one because I don't own a soldering iron.) and use Scotch tape. I used thin strips of it that I cut using scissors or a razor. You can touch the tape to the circuit board, but be very careful not to go over any of the circuits. It's okay to go around the edge of the cart, but be careful of the other side.
3.) (Untested) You can go the semi-permanent route and glue it in. I haven't heard of anyone trying this, but idk why it wouldn't work.
Make sure that the tab on the bottom are in contact with the circuit board. Secure the battery down so it won't move if the cart gets tossed on your bed or something, or else you'll have to open the cart all over again if it loses contact, and you'll lose your save.
To answer a couple questions I anticipate will be here or have already been asked:
Yes, you WILL lose your save if the battery dies or you take it out. Why? because the battery keeps the save on the RAM on the cartridge. Like computers, RAM only stores data if it's powered on. As soon as the power goes out or is taken away, everything on the RAM is erased, and to my knowledge, unrecoverable. (This is ONLY FOR GBC GAMES. R/B/Y, G/S/C)
There IS a way to back up your GBC saves, but it's expensive. There's a utility out there called GB Transferer 2. I'm not trying to advertise, but the only site I've seen it on sale from is hkems or something like that. I sent them an email last week, and they haven't responded to me though. Be careful if you're buying this online, as it's really easy to fry the board, essentially breaking the device. My guess would be people would try to sell broken ones, just be careful. ~$23 USD.
No, you will not lose save data if you change your battery on the GBA carts. The battery, to my knowledge, is used solely for the clock function. If the battery dies, the clock will simply stop working and no clock-based or time-based or day-based events will occur. That means there will be no night time, which means no Espeon or Umbreon (right?...) because they evolve at night. My guess is when the battery is replaced, the game will return to normal, but I haven't tried this yet.
Yes, there is a screwdriver made for the screw on GBA carts. I got one for ~$1 USD on eBay. It's a tri-wing screwdriver and a lot of Nintendo Products use tri-wing screws.
Yes, there is a special device used for opening GB and GBC carts. It's called a 3.8mm Steel Security bit. It is just the bit that is commonly used with certain screwdrivers, but some reviews say that you don't even need the handle. ~$6 with shipping from Amazon.
"My GB/GBC games don't save." - This doesn't necessarily mean that your game is fake or garbage. Easy to replace batteries using the above method. Try that before throwing your game away or selling it. Much more economical to pay for one $1 battery.
"What about GBA games? How come the battery doesn't affect saves in those games?" - From what I have heard browsing the web for this answer, I have come across this. 3rd Gen pokemon games (R/S/E, Fr/Lg) save to Flash Memory instead of saving to RAM like previous games. This means that the saves are independent of the battery. And according to some sources, I guess Fr/Lg don't have batteries because they don't utilize the clock function.
Quick Reference guide:
GB/GBC Battery: CR2025
GBA Battery: CR1616
Pokewalker Battery: CR2032 (Might as well throw it in here)
*Batteries are generally available at a Walgreen's or Wal-Mart, but I get mine on eBay for $0.99/each, free shipping.
GB/GBC Screwdriver: 3.8mm Security bit/Gamebit (It's made specially for fixing and opening game cartridges.)
GBA Screwdriver: Tri-Wing.
*All available on eBay/Amazon.
Optional:
Scotch/Electrical Tape.
Scissors.
Razor Blade/X-Acto knife.
All-around estimated cost:
GB/GBC: $7 if you don't have the tool, $1 if you do.
GBA: $2-$3 if you don't have the screwdriver.
Time: About an hour if it's your first time doing it. All depends on how long it takes to get the old battery out. New battery in is ~2-5 minutes.
Now go out there and revive those dusty cartridges! :D
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