Thread: Interna battery life of Generation I...

I've been hearing a lot about people losing their Generation I save files due to the game's internal battery dieing... I was wondering, is that common? None of my Generation I games have deleted themselves yet (yeah, my Generation II games have, but I figure that's because of the clock constantly sucking away the battery).

How much longer will they typically last?

Also, do N64 cartridges die as fast? I'm wondering, what would be the safest place to store my Pokémon (as I have 2 official Mews from the Pokémon 2000 Stadium Tour that I don't want erased)... should I transfer them to Stadium or Stadium II or just leave them on the Generation I cartridge?

Additionally, is it possible to replace the internal battery with some sort of glue or something rather than soldering it? I don't have a soldering gun or any experience soldering so currently I have no way to replace the batteries in my cartridges.

I don't see Generation I games dying on people after being left untouched for awhile. The thing to keep in mind is that batteries in GB games are mainly used to save your progress. So the more times you save, the more likely you'll have your battery die out on you. With Generation II, the time feature also used battery life, which is why many people have had their GSC cartridge batteries die out on them much sooner than their RBY cartridges.

The people you mention most likely have a habit of saving very frequently in their RBY games, thus eventually having their battery die out on them. RBY doesn't have a time feature, so I just can't see it happening that the cartridges would use up battery life on their own over time.

N64 cartridges, as far as I know, work the same way. The battery is mainly used for saving.

Originally Posted by dannyjenn

I've been hearing a lot about people losing their Generation I save files due to the game's internal battery dieing... I was wondering, is that common? None of my Generation I games have deleted themselves yet (yeah, my Generation II games have, but I figure that's because of the clock constantly sucking away the battery).

How much longer will they typically last?

Also, do N64 cartridges die as fast? I'm wondering, what would be the safest place to store my Pokémon (as I have 2 official Mews from the Pokémon 2000 Stadium Tour that I don't want erased)... should I transfer them to Stadium or Stadium II or just leave them on the Generation I cartridge?

Additionally, is it possible to replace the internal battery with some sort of glue or something rather than soldering it? I don't have a soldering gun or any experience soldering so currently I have no way to replace the batteries in my cartridges.

I use electrical tape to replace my batteries.=)

Doesn't matter which stadium. If I remember correctly both stadiums use a flash save. N64 was a interesting system for me when it comes to looking at save types since it used a few types of different save types depending on cartridges and games. There aren't many battery save N64 cartridges from memory. I remember someone posting a small list of battery run N64 games on gamefaqs long ago.

Depending on N64 game they can use one of these 3 types which are flash, battery or EEPROM.

I think the N64 was literally the system Nintendo started to experiment with different save methods.

How long a battery lasts in a game with no clock really depends on the battery and how much you use the game. I've heard of old system battery run games from the SNES and nes era lasting 20 plus years. Though I don't know how common this is since alot of people also have replaced batteries before then aswell.

My GB games haven't died yet, but my Zelda NES cartridge has bad battery. Does anyone know how long a Playstation memory card lasts? I don't know how their save works. About the Pokemon GSC battery, it lasted around 5 years for me, but I saved a lot when cloning Pokemon.

I've personally seen dead Generation I batteries, a friend a few months back gave me 2 generation I carts with dead batteries.

Though, they aren't as common as dead Generation 2 batteries, as like others have said, Generation 2 uses the battery to drive a RTC circuit as well, and usually batteries that drive those die a lot faster.

If the internal battery runs out it deletes your save file? How long does a GSC battery last? I save a lot when I clone Pokemon.

Originally Posted by BlackWhite2!!

If the internal battery runs out it deletes your save file? How long does a GSC battery last? I save a lot when I clone Pokemon.

Like 7 years I think?
Nearly everyone's has already died... if yours hasn't died yet then probably either your game wasn't started when it was first purchased (someone had it stitting around in its box unopened for a few years), or if it was bought used maybe it has died and someone else has replaced the battery.
If neither of those are the case... you are extremely lucky and your battery is going to die very soon. If I were you I'd transfer all of my Pokémon / items to Pokémon Stadium 2 ASAP.

I don't have stadium 2 or a 64.

Transfer the Pokemon to another GSC, change the battery in the first game, then transfer back from the other.
I wish there was a way to know how much battery life one has in the game.

I just checked all 3 of my RBY cartridges, all obtained secondhand:

• Pokémon Red (obtained May 2004; circa-1998 copy?)
• Pokémon Blue (obtained May 2004; circa-1999 copy?)
• Pokémon Yellow (obtained April 2005; circa-2001 copy?)

...and all of them can still hold save data.

Also, yes it is possible to use something other than solder to replace the battery; in my Pokémon Gold cartridge, I used gaffer tape.

Wow I didn't know about this happening and for that matter I didn't know that the cartridges could expire. I saved my Pokemon Yellow game loads of times by habit and that is still going strong today since 2000, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Originally Posted by Isamu Akai

With Generation II, the time feature also used battery life, which is why many people have had their GSC cartridge batteries die out on them much sooner than their RBY cartridges.

According to my guy friend this is a glitch in gen II that was corrected in Crystal on. So this will be why you may also notice that your Crystal lasts longer than your other two gen II games.

Originally Posted by Isamu Akai

The people you mention most likely have a habit of saving very frequently in their RBY games, thus eventually having their battery die out on them. RBY doesn't have a time feature, so I just can't see it happening that the cartridges would use up battery life on their own over time.

Or I think you can gameshark or missingno them to death. Glitches and cheat devices were not meant for the game thus can erase your save files and possibly even damage the battery. This is likely what happened to my Red and Blue since throughout their lifespan I went a few times without playing for months even years. Even so I am surprised they lasted as long as they did and that my yellow is still fine which I have had since 2001.

The battery life span being based upon how many saves are performed is news to me though. I thought the battery just eventually died like a AA. Thank you though I shall keep this in mind. Usually when out of the house and not hooked up to my charger I saved every time my pokemon gained a level just to be safe.

Crystal's time function still uses the battery, so it will still run out faster than a RBY cartridge eventually.

My Crystal battery is dead. The clock function, saving and loading drains the battery.

Even RSE and FRLG will stop too, luckily it will take a lot longer.