PS2 problem: won't play cds now

[Mavrick007]

Here's something strange. My friend has a PS2 and for the past few days it will not read any PS2/PS1 games based on cd, but it will play all of his PS2 DVD games.

He can't use his cd cleaner in it anymore cause he gets a "disk read error". Some DVD movies won't play in it now too, but the strange thing is that usually if it's a 2 disk set with extras on the second disk, the second disk works, but the first disk doesn't, such as "Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back".

He tried a can of compressed air to get to clean it, but that didn't help cause he's not sure where the laser is located. Where is the laser located in the PS2? Is it down on the bottom in the middle where the tray would be closed?

Any ideas what might be the problem or how to fix it??

 

[Mitzi]

Due to the nature of consoles, I don't think this is something you can fix yourselves. Is the machine still under warranty? I would advise sending it back for repair because the problems you are describing make it sound like the machine is on its last legs.

 

[Mavrick007]

It was a first day machine (Oct 26 2000?) and they only carry the 90 day warranty. Bought it at Wal-mart. Hehe I stood in line with him at like 7am to get one of them too.

You might not be able to fix it yourself, but do you have any idea why it would read dvd games(all) and not one cd based game??

 

[Gunbuster]

Try a DVD lens cleaner, I have seen one that is "DVD Only" so it might read it

 

[Mavrick007]

Yep, that's what I told him too Gunbuster. His is meant for DVD/CD/PS2/PS1 machines so it won't access the cd at all.
I just wasn't sure if they make a solely DVD cleaner.

 

[Mavrick007]

Any other ideas?

 

[digi187]

most dvd players (including your ps2 and your in computer dvd players) usually have two lasers. One for regular cd reading and the other for dvd titles.

Thats where your problem lies...

 

[MTDEW]

GARUNTEED FIX

Mine used to do the same thing, it would read some cds/dvds just fine & others it wouldnt read no matter what.


Heres what you do.
Remove the outer shell of the PS2 & youll see a black plastic cover covering the DVD drive.
Remove the DVD drive cover & youll be able to see the laser "eye"

Use a Qtip dipped in WINDEX to clean the eye , Then use the DRY end of the Qtip to buff the eye to a streak free shine.
I reccomend windex cuz glass plus & other windows cleaners left a film on my eye & fogged the lens.

Youll also see a screw next to the eye, this is the eye adjustment, I just took my most stubborn DVD that my PS2 wouldnt play & I put it in the dvd drive & just sat the dvd cover ontop & tried the dvd.

I kept adjuting the eye adjustment screw up & down until I had it reading the dvd every time.
Then I put my PS2 back together.

Now it works better than new.
You know those swirling stars you see at startup?
I used to see them come out , form a circle then swirl around a couple of times.

Now my games & dvds start playing b4 those stars can even form a circle.

This fix is EXTREMELY easy.

You just gotta look at it this way.
It doesnt work now, its not like I can make it worse.

 

[Mavrick007]

Thanx guys, that makes sense about the two lasers digi187, I just thought the dvd laser would be able to read both dvds and cds. I'll tell him to check for a DVD cleaner disc and then hopefully that will fix it up I hope. It's cds that it won't read right now tho so it wouldn't take the cd cleaner.

MTDEW: I'll send him this link and get him to look at the info you gave. Hehe I don't think he'll really want to take it appart since he paid over $550 for it(Canada). I would try it but that's only cause it would tick me off. He was told from "SONY" that it would cost him $250 to fix it.

 

[MTDEW]

<< most dvd players (including your ps2 and your in computer dvd players) usually have two lasers. One for regular cd reading and the other for dvd titles. >>



Im pretty sure only saw one lens inside my PS2.
But I have heard the two seperate laser for dvds & cds b4.

Mavrick007, post this up on the pS2 board over on IGN.

Some guys over there have website links with pics on how to take your PS2 apart & fix the problem.

I wish I woulda saved the link to that site with the pS2 pics but I figured Id never need it again.

 

[MTDEW]

Well screw that!

You now have to subscribe to iGN Insider to use the forums.

Thats alot to ask for a forum with no search functions.

I wonder how long IGN is gonna be with us.

 

[Soulflare]

You can't really blame IGN for trying to pay the bills.

Also their "Insider" service is a lot more than just forums and also costs a lot less than
an ATOT subscription.

 

[Mavrick007]

I know about the subscription to the service there at IGN now, it's been that way for several months at least. I didn't expect that would also pertain to the forums though. I liked IGN alot before cause they had alot of different varieties of info(where I got most of my DC stuff at the time

Any other ideas where you can find a PS2 forum? I would like to ask more on that as well.

 

[Mavrick007]

My friend wants to thank you guys. He took apart his PS2 last night with another guy and adjusted the laser until it read the cds right. It now works great.

Hehe He said that Sony puts alot of "booby traps" into the machine to see if you will void your warranty. When they peeled off the sticker, "void" suddenly appeared all over the sticker. Also there were 3 tabs set to break off the case if opened. Thanx for the tips MTDEW.