Original Game Boy (DMG) vertical lines on the screen (LCD ribbon bond repair)

Written by the CircuitScope research team in our own words, from the sources listed at the end, and checked by our moderators.

Dead vertical columns of pixels on an original Game Boy are caused by the flexible ribbon losing its bond to the LCD glass. Gently reheating the ribbon bond with a clean, temperature-controlled iron usually brings the lines back; horizontal lines are much harder and riskier.

Difficulty: Moderate · Time: about 60 minutes

Symptoms

• One or more vertical lines (columns) of pixels that never turn on
• Lines that flicker, come and go when the case is pressed, or change with temperature
• Missing lines most obvious with the contrast turned up

Likely causes