hitmanmcchitmanmcc
FeedConsolesCRTsSymptomsTechniquesLab

© 2026 Hitman's Museumv1.15.5

About·Privacy·Terms
Consoles/Nintendo/Virtual Boy

Nintendo — Virtual Boy

Nintendo Virtual Boy: Virtual Ribbon 4.0 Display Fix

February 17, 20233 threads~2 min readSuccessful repair
Corrupted graphics
Flex / ribbon repair

Virtual Ribbon 4.0 install on a Nintendo Virtual Boy is trickier than it looks. The mounting jig only screws on one side and won't apply even pressure, so some improvisation is required to get a consistent connection across the LED array. Worth it for a fully working Virtual Boy.

Parts & Tools (1)

Virtual Ribbon 4.0

Virtual Ribbon 4.0 by SegaSonicFan, the permanent fix for the Nintendo Virtual Boy's failing LED-array ribbon connections.

hitmanmcc
hitmanmcc

February 17, 2023· Thread 1

View on X ↗Without login ↗

Finally got myself a Virtual Boy stand (Repair Box version). My VB is now whole. 😄 Box had a bit of a rough ride and the clip and spring fell off but I managed to put it back together. Thanks @StoneAgeGamer! #RETROGAMING #Nintendo #VirtualBoy

hitmanmcc
hitmanmcc

March 20, 2023· Thread 2

View on X ↗Without login ↗

My Virtual Ribbon 4.0 by SegaSonicFan finally made it across the pond. Thanks @StoneAgeGamer! Between this and the repro stand, I'll finally be able to make my Virtual Boy whole again. #Nintendo #RETROGAMING

hitmanmcc
hitmanmcc

December 7, 2023· Thread 3· 5 tweets

View on X ↗Without login ↗

(1/5) Today I finally decided to install the Virtual Ribbon 4.0 kit I purchased a couple of months ago on @StoneAgeGamer. My Virtual Boy had lines that disappearing sometimes, common fault. Let's dive in! #RETROGAMING #Nintendo #repair #restoration

2 / 5

(2/5) Cutting the adhesive and separating the old ribbons from the LED array PCBs. First one already unglued, really easy. Second one not so much, thought I was lifting traces from the PCB at a point but I wasn't. 😬

3 / 5

(3/5) Soldering the VB 4.0 to the LED array PCBs is not an easy task even with the mounting jig. It only screws on one side so it doesn't apply pressure evenly. Making it hard to get a connection on the side opposite to the screw. This is the achilles heel of the kit IMO.

4 / 5

(4/5) I ended up soldering with the PCBs leaning on the mat and the lense with the LED arrays outside the table area, so as to not damage it. This applies pressure evenly, which is essential. Got there in the end. It lives! And yes the ribbon cables are supposed to be slanted.

5 / 5

(5/5) We have a clear picture and this Virtual Boy is now a Happy Boy and fully functional!

Related repairs

Disassembled Panasonic Q optical drive rails laid out for comparison; one 3D printed replacement rail next to original shattered rail pieces.

Nintendo — Panasonic Q (SL-GC10)

Panasonic Q (SL-GC10) GameCube: Drive Rails & FlippyDrive

Two Nintendo Game Boy Player (DOL-017) units seen from their top side (the side that docks to the GameCube) on paper towel, a silver one and an indigo one, each with a sealed Console5 GameCube GB Player cap kit bag (NIN-GC-GBPLAYER-SMD-CK) resting on it, and an FNIRSI soldering iron in its case to the right.

Nintendo — Game Boy Player

Nintendo Game Boy Player (DOL-017) Recap: Leaking Caps

Game Gear teardown after the IPS install and before the later accident: the new IPS panel fitted to the mainboard, with the original screen and the parts it replaced set aside, and a Columns cartridge resting beside the console.

Sega — Game Gear

Sega Game Gear Japanese: IPS LCD, FM, Flex Cable Fix

Super Famicom motherboard mid-repair: recapped with new capacitors, voltage regulator replaced, some SMD components remaining; soldering iron and loose components visible on workbench.

Nintendo — Super Famicom

Nintendo Super Famicom Recap & Voltage Regulator Swap

Super Famicom Jr. motherboard on workbench with purple mod board installed, soldering iron, wire strippers, and solder spool visible during repair work.

Nintendo — Super Famicom Jr.

Nintendo Super Famicom Jr. (SHVC-101) Recap & Upgrades

AV Famicom motherboard on a paper-towel work surface, with the old desoldered electrolytic capacitors, a removed 7805 voltage regulator, a spool of Kester Sn63Pb37 solder, used cotton swabs, and a black brass-sponge tip cleaner laid out around it.

Nintendo — AV Famicom

Nintendo AV Famicom (HVC-101) Recap, 7805 & Clean