The giant sized PS2 troubleshooting thread

[JoenOcoee]

My PS2 will no longer play DVDs. It says disk read error. I don't need it play DVDs but dammit I would like to know why it won't play them now and if possible how to fix it.

[bundy]

is it out of warranty?
when i first bought a PS2, i got it home, and it refused to play dvds or games...
i had to cart it all the way back to the shop, and have it replaced.
is the problem in that it just won´t register that they´re in the tray? or is it just that it won´t let you access the dvd player?

[aphex140]

I can not relly advise but ....
I have heard that the PS2.1 is coming out as they have identified that the DVD has a limited life span.
I do not use my for themfor DVD's but a friend is on his second one.

Not much use, but they are resolving the issues, wish they had done more ressearch at the start though. It is typical of the electronics ( p.C s game units etc)

[JoenOcoee]

My PS2 is one of the first that came out, so it's not under warranty. When I put in a DVD it spins around, I can hear it, then the message disk read error comes up. Out of curosity, do you know how long the 'lifespan' of the DVD player is?

[Ganguro]

about 2 years
seriously..
the hardware was kind of faulty upon release. If you can get your ps2 fixed, good deal.. if not.. it's time to look at other options.
You could replace it, but since you dont want to play dvd's anyway..that's not a big deal
Or you could perhaps purchase another system.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

[Lasereth]

Sorry, but it sounds like it's fucked. My PS2 did the same thing (my first one) except it did it with games as well. It was out of warranty. I bought my friend's PS2 for $140 (this was back when PS2's were $300).

First-gen PS2's are known for having major technical issues like the first-gen PS1's did. Try to get a new or used PS2. There's not a very big chance of getting it repaired.

Maybe the $99 price drop is more than a rumor. Maybe it's not. Either way, I'd be getting a new one. There's a ton of great games coming out for PS2 in the next two months.

-Lasereth

[Buk]

You could also try a DVD lens cleaner, for most people this solves the problem...

[LaZy]

Use an air duster. Open the disc drive and just blow around in there for a second. Works for me.

[WhoaitsZ]

ok: I'm one of those who staked out til 2 am to get a ps2. mine worked for a year perfectly then boom.... movies fucked up all the time. bought a lens cleaner for like $5.. fixed it for awhile. later i had t o clean it like every damn movie.

then it finally died. -weep- so i bought another

-Z < ---- broke now!

[R_one]

Dude mine did that and it was two years out of warranty. Did some searching online and found out this was very common and was told what to do - so now I'm telling you. Call Sony and tell them you have a Disk Read Error Message. They will ask if you've opened it - say 'no' and they will give you a address and a RMA number on the phone. Sent mine in, one week later I had mine back - good as new. Again I was two years out of warranty.

[JoenOcoee]

I don't want to sound all mushy and shit, but from the cockles of my heart, thanks everyone who has replied to this.

This site is by far the best thing to recomended by FARK....with or without the boobies.

[Lasereth]

Originally posted by JoenOcoee
I don't want to sound all mushy and shit, but from the cockles of my heart, thanks everyone who has replied to this.

This site is by far the best thing to recomended by FARK....with or without the boobies.

Welcome to TFP...the best online community on the Internet.

-Lasereth

[apetaster]

Funny you mention this. I started getting the disc read errors in the past couple weeks too. Tonight I took the unit apart (very much voiding the warranty, but also very simple to do unless you have eight thumbs) and got direct access to the lens. Took some compressed air to it (and the rest of the unit) and then lightly swabbed the lens.) Put it back together and voila, worked like new. Took all of ten minutes.

Risky in that yer screwed if you break something, but good if you are impatient like me.

[Neato]

Man, that's nothing. My PS2 started destroying games.

Yea, I retired it. Its warrenty was voided do to a blemish on the casing. I supose it is possible that the blow that caused the blemish caused the disc reader to start scratching CDs, but I doubt it. They didn't really coincide.
I haven't gotten a new one yet. I wanna put a NES in my broken PS2 case though.

[bparker805]

Originally posted by R_one
Dude mine did that and it was two years out of warranty. Did some searching online and found out this was very common and was told what to do - so now I'm telling you. Call Sony and tell them you have a Disk Read Error Message. They will ask if you've opened it - say 'no' and they will give you a address and a RMA number on the phone. Sent mine in, one week later I had mine back - good as new. Again I was two years out of warranty.

That is some great advice! I just got off the phone with tech support and they are going to fix it for free!!! I'm just waiting for my info via email then its gone... My ps2 went down at about the same time two of buddies' went down to. I kinda wonder if they are trying to cover up crappy craftsmanship or something. Im hoping that they cant fix and just send me a new one!

[R_one]

Yep Sony knows all-too-well about the DRE problems. Also "won't eject" problems. I was told by some techs to NOT stand the PS2 upright even though they tell you full well you can and I have the vertical base to do so. By following a few simple rules, (cross fingers) I haven't had any problems. The thing that caused mine to start the DRE messages was pausing a game and getting back to it in the morning. Apparently "definitely don't do" rule.

[Shokan]

is there a way to soft reset my PS2, so I dont need to reach around to the back in order to turn it on?

[Prophecy]

There are 2 methods to soft reset your ps2,

1) press that button above the eject button. unless your writting is faded, it should actually say reset on this button.


2) In game press and hold L1,L2, R1, R2, Select and Start at the same time on your controller. This method may not work on all games, and it doesn't work during times such as a loading screen.

[Mr.Deflok]

Not without modding it, you can turn your reset button into a power button. I gather this is what you mean, just like a TV and being able to turn it on via a remote and the button on the TV.

[Lasereth]

Originally posted by Shokan
is there a way to soft reset my PS2, so I dont need to reach around to the back in order to turn it on?

The button on the back is the actual power supply. When using a computer, you don't turn it off at the back do ya? Nope, you use the power button! There's a power button on the PS2 as well. You see the button above "eject?" Press and hold that button in for 3 seconds to turn the PS2 on, and hold it in for 3 seconds to turn it off. The power switch on the BACK should always be "on." Your PS2 should emit a red light on the front when it's off. This uses no noticeable power. Never turn it off from the back unless you're moving it or something. Like I said, to turn it off, hold the reset button in for 3 seconds. Then hold it in for 3 seconds to turn it off.

To reset it during gameplay, simply press the reset button on the front (above eject).

The soft reset that Prophecy mentioned works on 90% of PS1 games, but I haven't been able to get it to work on any PS2 games. It's definitely game-specific.

-Lasereth

[rrf]

just in the last couple of weeks, certain games have not been working on my ps2...

like i put in NHL 2004, and it says disc read error
madden also did this
and some other games do this as well
and the same games work on my roommate's ps2

does anyone know about anything i can do to fix it?
like can i send it in somewhere to get it fixed?...
or am i out of luck

thanks

[Wyodiver33]

I don't know where to send it, but I was just talking to a guy today that told me about his problem. First his PS2 stopped reading DVD's, then like a moth later wouldn't even read game discs. He told me that the laser gets out of adjustment over time. He had his for like 1.5 years before it flipped out. I know this doesn't help you, I just wanted to let you know it seems to be a common problem. Good luck.

[Buk]

If you haven't tried a DVD Lens Cleaner/CD Lens Cleaner disc yet, try that first before you try sending it back to sony for repair or buy a new one. They are only about $10 and most of the time this solves your kind of problem.

Also, try standing your ps2 up Vertically this in my experience helps alot as well.

[NeverBorn]

Try the cleaner, if not looks like your screwed. Do you have it under worrenty. About the vertical thing, my buddy had his vertical and it started to actually burn the discs, I dunno how but the laser would mar the disc.

[Prophecy]

Careful with the lens cleaner, some can actually damage your system. I'd say go with a can of compressed air. If that doesn't work and your warrenty has expired, then well your S.O.L.

[t3m3st]

ok, so I had a friend over tonight, and we decided we would watch LOTR: Fellowship extended on DVD on my PS2.

about half way through the first disc, my playstation said the disc could not be read. I took it out to see a surface without blemish. I put the disc back in the Playstation, and It wasn't able to load the DVD at all. Just said "disc read error" on my browser screen.

We watched the rest of the disc in another room on another DVD player, and came back to the PS2 to start disc 2. Half way though, same problem. Just stopped reading. Couldn't detect the disc after being turned off and on again either. I'vbe heard of first gen PS2's losing the ability to play DVD's out of nowhere, but other DVD's still load up. I got my PS2 a good 6 months after release. Any ideas?

[SiphonX]

wow, that sucks. if there's one thing that pisses me off it's electronics that don't do what they're supposed to. most likely a defective ps2? have you tried playing another DVD 'sides LotR? Maybe some encoding issues er something, eh, i dunno.

[Laladien]

Most first gen PS2's have a problem when the disc has to read the dual layers... when that transition hits, the PS2 goes haywire...

[Sexodus]

the laser dosnt get out of wack. the lasers that sony put in them if they get even a little dirty they dont work... try compresecx air and a dry Lense cleaner.

Then call SONY Support and bitch.. if it is after 60 days then they no longer Warrenty it.

If they dont you can clean it yourself with a q-tip

|-------------------------|
|.X ..|.o.......X......X.|
|.....|...................|
|.....|.o.......o.....o..|
|.....|-------------------|
|.X.............X.....X..|
|-------------------------|

EDITk ignore the .'s spaces didnt show on thread.
This is a Ugly Diagram but ya
Turn your PS2 Upside down it should look like this Diagram

Ok the Capital X's are the screws you take out. the o's you leave alone. there is also a Seal you have to break. Make sure it is OFF

Then turn the PS2 Over again and take the cover off.
There is a wire conncected to the Eject and Power buttons
On the right side (Same side as wire) there is another cover
This should cover the CD.
There are 4 very small screws... (You need a EyeGlass Screwdiver)
Remove those 4 screws and remove the cover.

Do not use Rubbing Alcohol.
USE Windex or NOTHING.
Wipe the lense very SOFTLY

Remember I did this probably over 100 times over the year... Fixed it every time. but a month back i did it and fucked the lense up. I BOUGHT a new PS2.

hope this helps

[Mr.Deflok]

Blue surface discs are CD's, silver surface discs are DVD's.

[DownwardSpiral]

I had this same problem. I was under warranty and sent it back to Sony and they fixed it. The invoice I got back said 'Keep clear of dust' and all that stuff. So clean the lens, and try one of them cans of air lol. If that don't work, call up Sony and see what they tell you.

[zero2]

make sure the disc doesn't have any scratches, I've heard of problems w/ the blue colored cd's sometimes not working, but not dvd's.

If the disc doesn't have any scratches clean the lens.

And if that doesn't work. Send it to Sony, they will even fix it even if the warranty expires.

[Sexodus]

Originally posted by zero2
make sure the disc doesn't have any scratches, I've heard of problems w/ the blue colored cd's sometimes not working, but not dvd's.

If the disc doesn't have any scratches clean the lens.

And if that doesn't work. Send it to Sony, they will even fix it even if the warranty expires.

if you bitch enough they might fix it, If not they will fix it but charge you!

[Fire]

my wife owned one before we got married- it went out, just flat out stopped working- so she called sony and bitched- we just payed for shipping- works fine now....

[The Geek]

Mine was way past warranty, but Sony fixed mine for free because I never did anything to damage it, modded it, or anything. I guess I got lucky.

[bocamper]

OK, alot of us have they same story, but mine has a little twist.

Same thing, after two years, PS2 games stop working, along with DVD's. (PSX and CD's are fine)

So I call Sony, they say it is a KNOWN FLAW and will fix it for free, even though it's out of warranty. I'm geeked, right? Well I send it to them, and 25 working days later...nothing. So I call to bitch, and the tech says, we were awaiting payment. HUH?

Well I explain to him that it was quoted Free of Charge. He does some digging (Probably just went to a supervisor for approval, since the first tech probably didn't note it), and comes back and says, "We'll ship that out today". Five days later, my PS2 is back and I'm killing on TW'04, and Madden.

Fast forward 3 weeks, the thing just quits, disk won't even spin, won't even try.

So I call them again, and they said to just send it back in the package it was shipped to me in, and they will fix again.

So I sit here waiting another 2-3 weeks, hoping it gets back by XMAS, since I am getting 3 games and a network adapter from friends and family.

Hope everybody else has better luck than I.

[VitaminH]

People people we are NOT SOL. Sony is aware of this problem, and last I checked they were fixing it for free regardless of your warrenty status. Call them, tell them you are getting said error and they will have you ship it to them, they replace the drive and the sucker comes back good as NEW.

[MontanaXVI]

ok here goes, my problems wih the DRE.

NO PROBLEMS whatsoever out of my 1st edition release date oct 2000 ps2 until august of this year while playing the beta for EQoa frontiers AND the final fantasy beta while trying to install the hdd i got a disk read error and called sony told them what was going on and boom here ya go RMA number and addy send it in, its on us free fix. YAY well now it is december and 4 months later i sit down after work today to play EQOA and i get a disk read error, grr since i had just fired it up on sunday so i toss in socomII and get same error GRR AGAIN. call sony get told its a different problem than before but i get it fixed free again. just call 1-800-345-7669 and let them know what is going on maybe you too can get yours fixed for free, just makes me hella mad and pissed off its doing it again after i just had it fixed 4 months ago for the seam freaking thing.

[Same Guy]

One thing to note as well is that ps2 will not play certain dvds there was some website out there that documents this, sorry i don't have the link to put here...

also, not to bash ps2 but if you compare the quality of the dvd video the ps2 puts out compared to any other dvd player including sony made ones, even the dvd players you can buy
these days for like 50 bucks are much better.

can't wait for ps3...or psp...
have they put out release dates yet?

[Prophecy]

not yet, but the PSX is out in Japan now.