PS2 Problem

BaZ87 · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:11

Got a bit bored and decided i would have a go on my PS2; haven't played it for about a year or so (apart from watching a dvd on it a few months back) and its not reading any discs i put in it, keeps coming up with "Browser, System Configuration".
Ive tried the usual shaking and blowing inside the drive but no luck, anything else i can try?

Thanks

Scrutinize · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:13

Large screwdriver ???

Zefan · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:15

Try running it upside down or on it's side. Works sometimes.

Weebull · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:20

Yup, sounds like time to crack it open and fiddle. The drive/laser is probably playing up, but with a bit of tweaking, they can usually be gotten working again.

BaZ87 · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:31

Weebull said:
Yup, sounds like time to crack it open and fiddle. The drive/laser is probably playing up, but with a bit of tweaking, they can usually be gotten working again.

how on earth do you open this thing up?

Scrutinize · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:35

BaZ87 said:
how on earth do you open this thing up?

Same technique applied to a Terry's Chocolate Orange i.e. "Whack it don't tap it"

fergie666 · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:35

ok try cleaning the laser lens before you adjust anything, if you don't know what your doing you can bork up the laser settings easily. use a cotton bud with some mild alchohol on it to clean the lens

there should be 8 screws on the bottom that hold the ps2 together (some are underneath the rubber feet)

is it a slimline or fatty ps2 ?

edit: there is a ribbon that connects to the on/off reset switch, be careful not to rip it as you open the ps2 up

Zefan · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:36

BaZ87 said:
how on earth do you open this thing up?

I really wouldn't unless you've got something to hold the numerous parts with (Like two people). They're designed to be stupidly tricky to fiddle with, I recall the main board and the drive itself are connected by very thin wires on paper which looks incredibly easy to tear and the stuff is very difficult to hold all at once. I recommend you try a cleaner cd before taking anything apart as I managed to screw my PS2 even more when I did.

fergie666 · 22 Dec 2006 at 18:45

you can open them quite easily without disturbing any parts. the motherboard etc has it's own mounting screws, so it will not fall out when you pop the top cover off.

on the fat ps2's there is a plastic cover over the dvd drive, pop out the 4 screws and pull of the plastic cover (will be a little resistance as its held with a magnet) you will now be able to see the laser etc

BaZ87 · 22 Dec 2006 at 19:02

Ok, ive opened it up and cleaned the lense. Its now come up with "inster a playstation or Playstation 2 format disc"

BaZ87 · 22 Dec 2006 at 19:18

keeps coming up with the browser thing again.

Anything else i can try other than cleaning the laser?

fergie666 · 22 Dec 2006 at 19:23

stick a cd game or audio cd in and see if it plays that

the cd and dvd lenses are seperate (one is above the other)

if it plays cd's ok then you need to adjust the dvd laser

BaZ87 · 22 Dec 2006 at 19:31

fergie666 said:
stick a cd game or audio cd in and see if it plays that

the cd and dvd lenses are seperate (one is above the other)

if it plays cd's ok then you need to adjust the dvd laser

ok ive put a music cd in and it works.
How do i adjust the dvd lense?

fergie666 · 22 Dec 2006 at 19:52

lol well the laser unit it mounted on 2 metal rods, it glides up and down on them.

on the one of those metal rods the laser is attched and the other one it just rests on it, on the side that it's attached to, remove the little black screw that holds the rod on place, you can now tilt the rod up and slide the laser unit off the rod.

now there are 2 screws on the laser unit, one for the dc lense and one for the dvd lens. these are what you use to adjust the power of the laser. they must me turned a tiny amount each time then tested. ideally you need an ocillyscope to check the power output of the laser, but you can make it stronger without it.

PLEASE NOTE: if you turn the screw to much, you will kill the laser completely.

it depends on what version ps2 you have, on the positioning of the 2 screws you need to adjust. heres a sample pic, so you know what your looking for -

this might not be completely accurate

make sure to turn the screw as little as possible each time ( a couple of degrees )

there is no guarantee that this will work either, without the specific tool, you are adjusting it totally blind. and there is a good chance the laser is dead anyway or you could kill it if you over adjust.

mark the screws starting position and don't go beyond about a quarter of a turn in total

hope that all makes sense, it's been agaes since ive been inside a ps2, so some of the details are a little fuzzy.

have a google theres loads of info on it out there

good luck !

BaZ87 · 22 Dec 2006 at 20:08

fergie666 said:
lol well the laser unit it mounted on 2 metal rods, it glides up and down on them.

on the one of those metal rods the laser is attched and the other one it just rests on it, on the side that it's attached to, remove the little black screw that holds the rod on place, you can now tilt the rod up and slide the laser unit off the rod.

OK ive taken the screw off but i can't manage to tilt the rod to take the laser off

edit\ just a bit of force needed

BaZ87 · 22 Dec 2006 at 20:50

managed to get the laser of the rod thing, but didn't have a screwdriver that would fit the 2 little screws on the unit to adjust it

all that work for nothing.
Thanks for all you help.

fergie666 · 22 Dec 2006 at 21:52

no problems, tbh ive only been able to get a couple working by adjusting the laser, but the way i look at it is, it's already not working, so how can i make it worse lol

new laser is about £30 - £40 on auction site, thats your best bet imo

BaZ87 · 23 Dec 2006 at 01:12

fergie666 said:
no problems, tbh ive only been able to get a couple working by adjusting the laser, but the way i look at it is, it's already not working, so how can i make it worse lol

new laser is about £30 - £40 on auction site, thats your best bet imo

don't play it much tbh got a 360 and may get a wii if ive got some spare cash in January. I'll just bribe my little brother to use his when i want to play on it.
Cheers anyway.