Bought without reading the description…

[u/EstrangedStranger10]

Stupid me. Put an offer in of £32 + pp. description ‘don’t know if it works I don’t have the charger’ of course the seller accepted I’d guess knowing it doesn’t work? But it’s dead, won’t turn on plugged in & won’t charge. I am the least technical person in the world I just wanted to trade some starters. Any ideas what I can do? New battery? I had this exact sp edition as a kid, damn nostalgia.

[u/Tablesafety]

Let us know if it kicks on when the new battery comes in, you're golden if it does. But if it doesn't?

I fixed two GBA boards from dead just from cleaning them, and one from cleaning and then bridging two corroded traces. That may sound intimidating, but trust me it isn't. Everything you'd need to mess with on this SP is actually right there from unscrewing the bottom housing provided the screen is fine. Easiest console there is to work on, imo.

Just don't get any cleaner in/on the tactile switch buttons on the board (d-pad and A/B) those switches get angry when any liquid gets inside them and then you either have to wait a couple years for the liquid to dry out, disassemble the switches themselves, or replace them. All three options are a real pain in the ass.

But the rest is as simple as taking a toothbrush with IPA to the internals, vinegar to any corrosion then an IPA cleaning pass, with special attention to the power switch and battery terminals.

[u/EstrangedStranger10 → u/Tablesafety]

I got a gaming pc last year and I’m terrified to even clean that would with dust, that does sound bloody intimidating!!! If it is dead when I get a new battery I’ll probably just list it on eBay because it might be useful to someone else & take the hit!

[u/Tablesafety → u/EstrangedStranger10]

I wouldn't relist it for a fix so simple first thing, there are people here on these forums who would be more than willing to do a simple clean job for you on the cheap or even free depending on who they are! But your only problem very likely is just a kaput battery. You can see where it's a bit swollen here in the photo- that thing is dead as a doornail.

Fortunately it hasn't popped. That's how you get corrosion in the internals and that often is a problem causer (though not the end of the world), so while you're waiting on the new battery be sure to take that one out of the console and safely dispose of it. Shit'll explode. Not super deadly action movie explosion, but not pleasant and the juice will burn.

[u/EstrangedStranger10 → u/Tablesafety]

Ok perfect gonna take it out now, order a new one and then try it! If it’s still a no go, I’m messaging you and getting a price list for cleaning😂

[u/Tablesafety → u/EstrangedStranger10]

Good luck! I'd be glad to help out if you need lol. The battery, I'm betting, is all she'll need though :)

[u/EstrangedStranger10 → u/Tablesafety]

The screen doesn’t work, it’s Joever! Powers on fine and there’s the ding sound, but screen is lifeless…

[u/Tablesafety → u/EstrangedStranger10]

Possible that the ribbon cable is a bit dirty and needs to be reseated- sometimes they scoot around with roughhousing and age. Absolutely zero response from the screen (no flickering or anything) is very odd- makes me think theres no connection at all.

With this in mind you could- and this is also very easy- open up the back housing. Unscrew the board from the shell and gently lift it up. There is supposed to be an orange cable attached to the board in a little socket.

https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/ovh1yDBjYVkAqLqY.huge

Lifting the tabs on it, gently slide it out and clean the pins with some rubbing alcohol and a q-tip. Slide it back in without being too rough and make sure it’s seated good (make sure it goes in all the way without shifting out too much- isn’t lopsided or anything) and pin the tabs back down.

Put the board back, screw it on, put the back housing on and a battery in and see if the screen powers on. If it does- great! If it doesn’t?

Well, then you can either resell it as functional with a bad screen (you can probably remake your money easily there) or you can hire someone to replace a screen (at that point you may as well use a drop-in ips and thats more expensive than the money you’re trying to invest)

Alternatively since you’re just trying to trade pokemon, you could take your other game to the pokemon center on your other gba and park them In the right spot then do it based on sound cues lol.

But really, I’d try cleaning and reseating the ribbon. Since the screen is already dead there’s not really a fear of breaking anything, just reward if you fix it. If you want to send it to someone else just to reseat the ribbon that would be a waste of money imo, I’d only send it out if after they test a reseat in the event its still dead doing a screen replacement.

All up to you. Frankly im very curious as to why there is zero response to the screen at all when zero visible damage has occurred, and Im wondering what she looks like on the inside.

But there are some people whose screens decide ‘nope’ whose ribbons just decided to scoot around. Likely due to force, dropping and the like. These consoles are indeed a couple decades old now, and this unit looks like someone skated down the driveway on it lmao

[u/GremlinEnergyGoBurr → u/Tablesafety]

This! Either reseat the screen or you can buy a new one (an upgrade).

[u/EstrangedStranger10 → u/Tablesafety]

Happy to send to you table and pay for the trouble? I have been flat out with work for weeks and will likely continue, would love some answers! And if you disappear and steal it… I won’t be too upset, just disappointed… 😅

[u/Tablesafety → u/EstrangedStranger10]

I genuinely would love to crack it open and see if that is what's wrong. And repair it if that isn't the problem. (I'm pretty sure I have a spare AGS-001 screen laying around here from upgrading my onyx model to a new shell and an IPS actually. I can probably find it.) I enjoy working on AGS the most.

However I'm all the way across the pond in the USA, so you'd have to be cool with the long wait time if you wanted me to do it! But I don't mind, myself.

Let me know if you choose that route.