MS3 freezing during attract mode (need ground?)

I just put my MVS 25 cab in the locally owned game store/arcade I work at, and about once every two hours it'll freeze up, always during Metal Slug 3's attract mode. I've never had this problem in my apartment, or at the other arcade this machine's been in. It's plugged into an outlet by itself, between a Area 51 and Pump It Up.

Now, the only thing I can think of is the problem of the wire not being grounded. It's just a two-pronged plug, and our House of the Dead machine had the same kind of power cord and it always froze up just like this.

I'm going to the hardware store tomorrow to buy a two-prong to three-prong adapter and see if that fixes the problem. Any other suggestions?

BenMonkey said:

I just put my MVS 25 cab in the locally owned game store/arcade I work at, and about once every two hours it'll freeze up, always during Metal Slug 3's attract mode. I've never had this problem in my apartment, or at the other arcade this machine's been in. It's plugged into an outlet by itself, between a Area 51 and Pump It Up.

Now, the only thing I can think of is the problem of the wire not being grounded. It's just a two-pronged plug, and our House of the Dead machine had the same kind of power cord and it always froze up just like this.

I'm going to the hardware store tomorrow to buy a two-prong to three-prong adapter and see if that fixes the problem. Any other suggestions?

Click to expand...

I have that same cab..Two prong plug also....
Never had a problem..
I've had it plugged in all over my apartment,even with two ther cabs pugged into the same outlet.....with MS3 in the cab,since I play this particular game a lot.

I'd say since the game is freezing during Metal Slug 3's attract mode...it could be boot..
Have you checked to see if the cart is legit..?

Maybe the carts connectors or motherboard prongs are dirty....or the prongs in your motherboard are getting weak.
(Try the cart in another slot)

What mix of games do you have in the cab..?
Some games just have problems working with other games.
Is this a selection of games that you never had together at home.?

.............................................................................
(IMO) your losing contact somehow between the board and the cart,It's probably due to not a super clean connection between them...Or bootleg cart.
http://www.hardmvs.com/html/projects.htm
I'd say failing power supply also..But it's only happening during Metal Slug 3's attract mode.

BenMonkey said:

I'm going to the hardware store tomorrow to buy a two-prong to three-prong adapter and see if that fixes the problem. Any other suggestions?

Click to expand...

I'm no expert on this, but I don't think this would help, unless the power cord you are using actually has 3 wires (one for ground and 2 for AC) and you connect the ground wire to the ground hole of the power outlet.

chris1 said:

Maybe the carts connectors or motherboard prongs are dirty....or the prongs in your motherboard are getting weak.
(Try the cart in another slot)

What mix of games do you have in the cab..?
Some games just have problems working with other games.
Is this a selection of games that you never had together at home.?

Click to expand...

The MS3 cart is definitely legit (should've mentioned that in my first post). I'll try cleaning the connectors and switching the games around. I currently have it set for:

Slot 1 - SVC Chaos
Slot 2 - Metal Slug 3
Slot 3 - Samurai Shodown V
Slot 4 - Garou: Mark of the Wolves

If this doesn't help -- what about getting a single-outlet surge protector? I think the 2-prong to 3-prong adapter wouldn't do anything (Amano is probably right) but maybe this would, just in case it's a voltage thing?

BenMonkey said:

The MS3 cart is definitely legit (should've mentioned that in my first post). I'll try cleaning the connectors and switching the games around. I currently have it set for:

Slot 1 - SVC Chaos
Slot 2 - Metal Slug 3
Slot 3 - Samurai Shodown V
Slot 4 - Garou: Mark of the Wolves

If this doesn't help -- what about getting a single-outlet surge protector? I think the 2-prong to 3-prong adapter wouldn't do anything (Amano is probably right) but maybe this would, just in case it's a voltage thing?

Click to expand...

I would put it on a surge protector anyway...just for safety reasons.
All my cabs are on surge protectors..One for each cab...

Though that's not going to solve the freezing problem.

Try the cleaning method...Either the one in that Briggs link or mine.

I use (dry)Green "Scotch Brite" to clean the carts connectors.
(or very fine piece of sand paper)
For the motherboard I get in the prongs with the finer side of a cardboard nail file.
(rubbing each prong and blowing out the dust/dirt.)

Sometimes the dirt is just/corrosion to hard to get off using other methods..
Since I clean/ed my carts this way I never have problems..Cleaning each cart as I get them.
(When I get other motherboards to sell etc,I clean them using my method)


Also try a different cart line up..after the cleaning..

Switching MS3 and SVC fixed the problem! Thanks again chris!

BenMonkey said:

Switching MS3 and SVC fixed the problem! Thanks again chris!

Click to expand...

Wow!!!

That's great news,glad to hear..
Your welcome,....anytime..