- = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - NINTENDO 64 TROUBLESHOOTING FAQ - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - = - version: 2.0 contact: paranoidtsi@hotmail.com paranoidxe2 on AOL Instant Messenger author: reddemon (aka paranoidxe/nemesisera) +----------------------+ [ LEGAL IMPLICATIONS ] +----------------------+ As a reader of this guide, you have automatically agreed to the following: - you may not post this faq on any page without expressed explicit permission. - you may not modify this document in any way, shape, or form. - if given permission to post on another website, all information will be in regular form. +----------------------+ [ UPDATES ] +----------------------+ v2.0 : I have decided to recompile some of my guides that I do not particularly like. My nintendo64 faq was probably one of the worst ones, hopefully this will be a improvement considerably from the last one. +-------------------------------+ [NINTENDO 64 DIAGRAM] +-------------------------------+ Front: _______________ __________/ \______________ | 1 1 N64 1 1 | | _ _ 2 _ _ | | |o| |o| _ |o| |o| | |_________________________________________| Top: ___________________________________________ | _____________________ | | / \ | | | ___________ | | | | / \ | | | | ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ | | | | 5 | | | \_____________________/ | | | | | | | | | | 3 4 | | _ _________ _ | | |_| | -- | |R| | | | | |_________| |_| | | ¯ | |___________________________________________| Back: _______________________________________ | 5 6 | | ___ ___ | | |___| |___| | |______________________________________| 1. Controller Ports - This is where the controller is inserted, Player 1 starts at the leftside, then continues to the right, P2, P3, and P4. 2. Power Indicator - Indicates that the power is on or off, if it is bright green it is on, if not it is off. 3. Power On/Off - To turn on the system. 4. Reset - This is to restart the game if it freezes or if you want to restart the game! 5. Multi Out Connector - Used to connect the picture/video/sound to the tv or VCR. 6. AC Power Supply Connector - To give power to the system. +-------------------------------+ [ N64 HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS ] +-------------------------------+ 64-bit RISC Chip @ 93.75Mhz DRAM 4,500 MPS RCP:SP Graphics Processor DP Pixel Drawing Processor@62.5Mhz Resolution: 256x224 ~ 640x480 pixels, flicker free 32-bit RGBA color frame support, 21-bit color video support Z-Buffer, anti-aliasing graphics processor 260mm width x 190mm deep x 73mm height 1.1kg in weight +-------------------------------+ [ TROUBLESHOOTING ] +-------------------------------+ 1. There is no TV picture. Make sure that the tv is on, that the RCA cable is plugged in properly and that the n64 is on. 2. There is no TV picture but TV is on. ensure that you are using the correct AC power supply that should be plugged into a 120v wall outlet, and that the adapter is pushed in all the way in the back of the N64. 3. Game is on but the screen is rolling. Adjust the vertical and horizontal hold controls on your tv, this may also happen if you have the N64 hooked up to your tv and there is another device on that is interfering (vcr/dvd players) 4. picture is fine, but the sound is buzzing. Try changing the channel setting for the N64, change to channel 4. 5. the controller joystick automatically goes to a diag. corner This is caused by calibration problems, hold L + R and press start. +-------------------------------+ [ N64 HARDWARE COMPONENTS ] +-------------------------------+ INTERACT GAMESHARK PRO - - - - - - - - - - - - Allows you to cheat in various games, features include: - selectable built-in key code list to unlock features of your games - use memory card manager to copy game saves from a memory card or a N64 game cartridge. NINTENDO 64 DISK DRIVE - - - - - - - - - - - - Orignally planned to be an extension to give the N64 more power, was canceled in favor of the gamecube release. The idea behind it is due to limited spacing on the cartridges this disk drive would get rid of this limitation. EXPANSION PACK - - - - - - - Gives your nintendo 64 more memory, this is required/recommended by various games that were released. Perfect Dark, Turok 2 are some examples. RUMBLE PACK - - - - - - The equiv. to dual shock on a playstation, this allows companies to insert points in the game in which the controller will shake when certain events happen. MAD CATZ EXTENSION CABLE - - - - - - - - - - - - - This is a extension cord for your nintendo64 designed to allow more freedom around the area in which you play video games in. N64 ULTRA RACER - - - - - - - - This controller looks like a remote control to a tv, instead it is a easy to use controller for racing games. This is for the hardcore racer only, in most games the regular controller should work better. INTERACT DEXDRIVE - - - - - - - - - This nifty device is designed to take your saved games to another level. Using DexDrive allows you to save your games onto your computer and either store them, share them or download them to use on your/their console. +-------------------------------+ [ N64 SYSTEM CARE ] +-------------------------------+ - Hold Reset then press power when turning it off it will prolong the life of your N64. - Make sure you dont eat while you play video games, dirty controllers dont last as long, believe it or not. - Do not leave a controller on the floor! This is not only a hazard to the controller it is a hazard to anyone that walks on it. - Do not use a system cleaner, they dont work! N64 will automatically clean itself! Using a non-licensed cleaner will void the warranty on your system. - Make sure the system is on a firm surface (Not a chair, or anything that could just tip over with a little bump) - Do not leave the console/games out in hot weather for a extended period of time, this obviously causes them to overheat and melt. - +-------------------------------+ [ N64 MINI-FAQ ] +-------------------------------+ 1. WHEN WAS THE NINTENDO 64 RELEASED IN THE UNITED STATES? The launch date for the nintendo64 was september 1996 in the united states. 2. WHAT WAS THE NINTENDO 64's CODENAME? Nintendo 64 had two different codenames before its release, the first was project reality, and the 2nd was ultra 64. 3. IS THERE ANY OTHER 64-BIT SYSTEM AVAILABLE? No, Nintendo 64 is the only 64-bit system that was widely available. This makes the n64 special in its own right. 4. WHEN WAS THE NINTENDO 64 RELEASED IN JAPAN? The launch date for the n64 was june 1996 in japan. 5. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY N64 USED CARTRIDGES ON THEIR SYSTEMS, WHY? I have a couple of theories, the cartridges have no load time, which is a huge problem with cd-based consoles. Also catridges are also much more prone to taking abuse as opposed to cds that get all scratched up. 6. WHAT ARE THE DOWNFALLS OF USING THE CARTRIDGES? As forementioned, the price is higher for one, and for two the capacity for cartridges is considerably less than a typical cd...this leads to shorter or less detailed games. +-------------------------------+ [ N64 STATUS ] +-------------------------------+ As of writing the nintendo 64 has been replaced by the gamecube, nintendo no longer actively makes games for this system anymore. There were a couple of planned games that did not make it to the N64, instead they were used as scraps and transferred to gamecube. These games include: Dinosaur Planet Eternal Darkness Animal Forest Animal Leader All-in-All the nintendo 64 is a successful system, even though it did lose to its competitor the sony playstation it was successful in its own right. The reason for the loss is mainly because of lack of games that appealed to older generation, and the fact the cartridges were almost twice as much as a playstation game.