PS2 Laser

[dezzzza9995]

My PS2 has stopped playing DVD originals and DVD-R. It still polay CD-ROM and CD-R though. I have tried adjusting the pots after this happened but did not help.

Do I need a new laser putting in and if so where can I get one?

Thanks.

[charlie_ps2]

In 50% of cases I've diagnosed, the lens needed cleaning (esp. if you play the PS2 horizontally).

In the other 50 % there are a variety of reasons any/all of which could apply bearing in mind that the DVD side is much more sensitive than the CD operation:

1 You have a NEO2.2 and the constant voltage on pin 2 has worn the laser

2 The laser is worn out through having a difficult time with DVD-Rs

3 You have not calibrated correctly

This last point is important. If you hadn't cleaned the lens with a CD cleaner (flail disk), then your approach to turning the pots is crucial. If you turned the DVD pot up too far, you will have overloaded the laser and DVDs will never work again. If you did not use an ohm meter, then you won't know what to set it back to. Moving it up 10% on the original value is the only option in my experience; if it still doesn't work you need a new laser.

If you are in the UK you can get one within 24 hours from www.kanection.co,uk for £45. DOn't know other places in the world apart form www.lik-sang.com.

Finally do see my post entitled Laser (Azimuth) Adjustment.

[dezzzza9995]

So if the laser is knackered then it is correct that the CD-ROM disks still work?

[Arakon]

yeah. the ps2 laser has both lasers in one unit, with the dvd laser being alot more sensitive. an almost sure sign of a dead laser is a clicking sound when it tries to read a DVD (any type).

[dezzzza9995]

It does click on DVD's. CD-ROMS work great. I will try cleaning the laser before buying a new one.

[dezzzza9995]

Claimed of home insurance and got a nice new PS2. Not sure of version though. The DVD-R games I was previously using still jump/skip on FMV. Does the laser azimuth need to be adjusted?

[Arakon]

you can adjust the dvd laser a little, but there's a high risk of killing it with that.

try re-burning the games on verbatim blanks at 1x, should work fine then.
skipping is often caused by bad blanks or too high burning speed.

[dezzzza9995]

By adjusing the laser, do you mean the Laser pot things? Or just the azimuth thing?

The disks I'm using are only burned back at 1x and are Infiniti Professional and Princo.

[Arakon]

the pots. wtf is the azimuth thing?

[dezzzza9995]

read it in an earlier post, it the position of the laser on the slider. It tilts it up and down.

[Arakon]

ah, the height adjustment screw.
problem with that is that it can knock the cd laser out of focus, so if you manage to get dvds working, cds might now longer read right. you can try it, but you have to be VERY careful and only turn it very little.

[dezzzza9995]

Can this cause a lot of damage?

[Arakon]

the height adjustment will not cause damage (but might take quite a while to get it right), the pot adjustment can destroy the dvd laser.

[dust2dust]

try putting a cd/dvd cleaning disk through it first
the one with little brushes on it
i had same problem wouldnt read dvd but cd was fine
all i did was clean with a disk

[emms dad]

is it both types of dvd-r your having trouble with ?
had trouble with the princo branded and unbranded but haven't tryed there new dye ones infiniti/discplanet/verbs/pioneer seem fine

[dezzzza9995]

Normal DVD's work fine and the console is only 2 days old so not dirty.

[cogknifey]

Originally posted by dust2dust
try putting a cd/dvd cleaning disk through it first
the one with little brushes on it
i had same problem wouldnt read dvd but cd was fine
all i did was clean with a disk

Hi dust

where can I get one of those cleaning disks?, only my copy of Max Payne which seemed to work okay has started freezing and I wondered if the laser needed cleaning.

[PSXMech]

I just finished a nice little tutorial on how to calibrate the Playstation 2 laser the PROPER way, including oscilloscope test points for most mainboards.

http://www.ps2.nu/playstation-2-laser-calibration-with-oscilloscope.asp

Enjoy...

[charlie_ps2]

Originally posted by cogknifey


Hi dust

where can I get one of those cleaning disks?, only my copy of Max Payne which seemed to work okay has started freezing and I wondered if the laser needed cleaning.
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