Alright, these are some methods to open up certain Nintendo game systems. Some methods in this guide are meant for people who do not care about ruining the case, who only want access to the inter-workings. You see, Nintendo had to be a retard and put in special screws that can’t be unscrewed with the common screwdriver. The screws’ ports are like a triangle, the screws are called tri-wings. You can’t open them. It’s a pain in the ass. Here are some ways to get around this.
Method 1 – The Nintendo screwdriver:
This is the easiest way. You can purchase screwdrivers specifically fitted for Nintendo screws off Ebay or some other place. Here is an Ebay listing.
Method 2 – The melted pen:
If you’re some idiot kid, seek an adult for help, this involves fire. This method could damage the case surface, but not much.
- Get a plastic ball-point pen, and a lighter.
- Hold the pen over near the system.
- Light the lighter over the pen’s bottom until it is well melted.
- Insert the melted pen bottom into the screw port of the console.
- Wait about 30 seconds keeping the pen in place.
- Very, very carefully turn counter-clockwise, be sure not to break the pen, as it the point is now very delicate.
- Repeat for other screws.
This method is meant for consoles that have shallow screw ports.
Method 3 – Electric sander:
This method is EXTREMELY dangerous. It can skin your flesh pretty well. Seek an adult if you are a minor and use caution.
- Find an electric sander/grinder belt somewhere.
- Turn it on, and hold the game system’s side that has the screw port.
- Keep it under the belt until the screw well is completely destroyed.
- Repeat for other screw ports.
Method 4 – Saw:
- Find a hack saw.
- Saw through the side of the system that the wells are on.
- That should do it. Avoid hitting important components.
A word of note, for screws in tight places such as ones holding circuit boards down, use pliers or either Method 1 and 2.
Systems that have Nintendo Tri-wing screws include:
- Original Nintendo Gameboy (1989)
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1991)
- Virtual Boy (1995)
- Nintendo 64 (1996)
- Gameboy Color (1998)
- Gamecube (2001)
- Gameboy Advance (2001)
- Gameboy Advance SP (2003)
- Nintendo DS (2005)
- Nintendo Wii (2006)
- Nintendo DS lite (2007)
That’s all I can think of for now.
-Talonox
