ps2 knowledge wanted

chief wiggum · 07-10-2008, 05:37 PM

so, got this ps2 which is a bit long in the tooth. worked fine until today, when you put a disc in, it makes a hunting kinda noise with the laser, then acts like there's no disc ie goes to browser. pulled the top off, cleaned the laser, put it back together, tried again. same. opened it up again, played with it, threw a disc in and it actually worked, so that tells me the laser's not fooked. put the top cover back on, no go.
so, anyone care to theorise why it wont work with the cover on?

Teedo · 07-10-2008, 05:38 PM

When my ps1 died i had to turn it upside down for it work, Maybe give that a try?

markus.mc · 07-10-2008, 05:50 PM

Seems similar what happen to mine. When you take the dvd drive cover off theres a allen key screw (i think) used to adjust the laser, change it a bit one way or the other and see if it helps, put a mark on the screw first to remember the original position.

chief wiggum · 07-10-2008, 07:18 PM

you know what? the fuckn thing's working again. when it's all bolted together. it's more hot n cold than my missus

Scribble · 08-10-2008, 06:02 AM

Yep i was given a bunk PS2 before, bit of googling and found you can adjust the laser focus by spinning a little white cog. Got it working great.

Will have a look for the bookmark when i get home today.

Melchior3 · 08-10-2008, 06:14 AM

You could try this. My PS2 is still fine because I use it so little

but I'm just waiting for the day...

likefry · 08-10-2008, 06:51 AM

if turning it upside down works then it means the motor that spins the disc is starting to get rooted. happened with a cheapo dvd player of mine turn it upside down and it would work fine.

Try finding a new motor maybe.

Captain Starfish · 08-10-2008, 08:46 AM

When you load a disc into a player, the first thing that happens is the laser head attempts to focus on the disc. It usually does this by moving the head back and forth behind the lens until it locks onto the disc.

If it can't lock, it won't register a disc's presence and most players won't even attempt to spin the drive up.

Hunting noise but nothing else?

95% diagnosis you need to adjust the offset position of the head to accommodate worn parts, or replace the laser head (more likely the whole drive).

Scribble · 08-10-2008, 04:59 PM

This may help if it plays up again.

Captain Starfish · 08-10-2008, 05:04 PM

lol - no warning there (or here).

CD lasers are typically infrared, so you can't see them.

Doesn't mean they won't damage your eyes if the focal length is right.

DON'T power the thing up when you can see the lens.