I ordered a gameboy pocket backlight mod from the internets (ebay). I went for a white backlight and used the instruction video from “this does not compute” on ebay to guide me through. It was fairly easy to install (though I did break my screen at one point and I had to re-flow the connection). The video I used is below.

The images that follow were taken during the mod

Setting my gear out ready to do the mod, making sure I have everything that I need to hand while I make the changes.

Removing the gameboy pocket case (again) and taking the logic board out to get to the screen.

Screen removed and ready to peel off the reflective back and the polarizer below.

After the polarizer was removed there was a ton of glue left. This was near impossible to remove. While trying I also broke the connector at the bottom.

Adding some flux and re-flowing the connection with a little solder.

It was getting late by this point, so I decided to stop.

Next evening, I attached the wires to the backlight

And placed the new polarizer and backlight on the screen

Then put them inside the gameboy pocket case

Soldered the power for the backlight

Added a little electrical tape to hold the screen

Then I realised I had the polarizer the wrong way round. And there was a load of glue still there :|

Damn. A ton of glue

I opened the case again, removed the logic board and screen, then flipped the polarizer 90 degrees

Final result looks not bad, except the glue spots (in the bottom leg of the 2 on the screen)

So I had to open the case again

Close up of the glue spots

opened the case, ready to do more cleaning

After the second round of cleaning this is how my gameboy pocket backlight mod turned out. Its not perfect, but for me it will do!

The next mod I have to do is to install the bivert chip that came with the kit. I have a few things to get form ebay first (A scalpel, some alcohol to clean the glue properly, some 28 guage wire [I might just sacrifice an old USB cable], some new solder and a pair of wire trimmers [and maybe a new soldering iron] ). For now the gameboy is perfectly playable in the dark :D I’m waiting on a copy of pokemon yellow coming form ebay (and might bid on a copy of final fantasy legends for it too)!

Sources: Does Not Compute on Youtube