Sega and retro console repair
Dreamcast, Saturn, Mega Drive and other consoles from the 1980s and 1990s.
What goes wrong
Consoles of this age fail in predictable ways. Capacitors leak or dry out, lasers weaken, power supplies give up, and the contacts in cartridge slots and controller ports corrode. Many of these faults are repairable with ordinary electronic components.
Parts that are unique to a console, such as a laser assembly, depend on what can still be sourced. Tell us the console and the fault, and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth sending.
Repairs
No power
Power supply and regulator faults.
Disc not reading
Dreamcast and Saturn laser and drive faults, where parts are available.
Picture and sound faults
Failed capacitors and video output circuits.
Cartridge and controller ports
Cleaning and replacement of worn connectors.
Leaking capacitors and batteries
Removal, cleaning of the board and replacement.
Your saves and data
The Dreamcast saves to its VMU memory cards. The Saturn saves to internal memory that is kept alive by a coin battery inside the console, and when that battery dies the saves go with it unless they were copied to a cartridge first. Mega Drive and SNES cartridges that save do so with a battery inside the cartridge.
If a save on one of these systems matters to you, say so at the start. In some cases it can be backed up before a battery is changed, and it is far easier to do that before the battery has gone flat.
Sending a console
- Take out any disc or game card, and remove memory cards you want to keep at home.
- Send the console itself and its power lead. Controllers are only needed if they are part of the fault.
- Box it with at least 5cm of padding on every side. The original box alone is not enough protection.
- Add a note with your name, phone number and what the console does. Include your sign-in PIN if one is set.
We collect by insured courier from anywhere in the UK, or you can bring it to the workshop in London SE1. Every repair starts with a free assessment and a fixed price, and carries a 3-month warranty. See console repair prices and how the courier service works.
Common questions
Do you repair consoles you have not listed?
Often. Send us the make, model and fault, and we will tell you before you post it.
Can a retro console be sent by courier safely?
Yes. Pack it like any other console, and remove cartridges and discs first.
Related pages
PlayStation 5PS5, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro: HDMI, power, cooling and disc drive.
PlayStation 4PS4, Slim and Pro: blue light, HDMI, overheating and hard drives.
PlayStation 3PS3, Slim and Super Slim: yellow light, disc drive and saves.
PS1, PS2, PSP and PS VitaEarlier PlayStations, PSP and Vita, and their memory cards.
Xbox Series X and SSeries X and S: HDMI, power, cooling and disc drive.
Xbox OneXbox One, One S and One X: HDMI, power and hard drives.
Xbox 360 and Original XboxRed ring faults, disc drives and saves on the hard drive.
Nintendo SwitchSwitch, Lite, OLED and Switch 2: charging, power, screens and saves.
Wii, Wii U, 3DS, DS and Game BoyEarlier Nintendo consoles, handhelds and cartridge saves.
Steam Deck and Handheld PCsSteam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go and MSI Claw.
Get a price from a technician
Tell us the make, the model and what has gone wrong. A technician replies with a price and the quickest way to get your laptop to us – normally the same working day.
020 7237 6805 Creative IT workshopUnit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm