have I killed my ds?

it wont start up properly when I put in certain older carts, then when it gets going it wont reckognize that there is a cart installed, might be time to smash the piggy bank.

As with all metal contacts for electrical components, the best method of cleaning them is a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol on it. Rub firmly, remove the dirt, and the alcohol evaporates almost instantly.

However, in order to get a cotton swab in their, you'd have to open it up, and while this is great for experts, for the regular joe this is not an option as they will likely break their DS.

My advice would be to spray a quick blast of compressed air in there, this will (as will blowing on it) cause the contacts to corrode faster however, but unless you can fit something down there (for example some people use folded paper and isopropyl to clean the awkward Atari 2600 cart slot on the machine itself) that's gonna be the only option.

Also try doing this to the contacts on the carts themselves, they dont need to be opened to be cleaned at the pins are exposed. Unlike GBA and GB, where you need a special screwdriver bit (3.8mm GameBit) to open the carts.

REMEMBER if a DS is on fire they do make good smores and hot dogs

:P

Blow in the slot it should work.SSBFan12

You can get metal contact fluid from hardware stores. It cleans off the dirt from contacts and somehow gives them make better contact. I used it on my guitar when the switch wasn't making connection with the pickups.

try blowing and then playing if that doesnt work you could get a new DS i would