No-Solder USERS READ THIS!!! - Dvd-rip Issues "Explained" & DVD-DRIVE DAMAGE WARNING

[elkayps2]

O.k its a known fact that the no-solder mods dont boot dvd-rips that are over 650MB... right? well hasn't anyone ever asked the suppliers why?

Did u know that trying to boot dvd-rips could damage your DVD laser?

I didnt........................ until now :eek:

Infomation supplied by www.gamegizmo.com's Support team

-----
There's a limitation of the V5 and V6 No-Solder modchip in conjunction with the PS2
BIOS.
The PS2 reads the TOC to see how to boot the disc. If the disc is larger
then 650MB the PS2 interprets this as a DVD Rom based game. If the
disc is 650 or less it then looks at the boot files to see if it is a PS1 or
PS2
game and then boots accordingly. The games that are more then 650MB on
CDR will not work as a result of this boot check of the PS2. The
manufacturer
is currently working on a possibly BIOS bypass of this for the next revision
of the V5.
This may never be fixed as the DVD Rips which are bigger then 650MB are not
necessary any more due to the support of DVDR backups in the new solderless
series
of chips. The DVD rips are not considered a CDR backup as a true CDR backup
of a
PS2 CD based and PS1 CD based game are all under 650MB.

------


Now at this point I might add that atempting to load large dvd-rip games on a no-solder modded ps2 "Can and will Cause DVD Drive Damage" you'll hear the drive try and access the rip and then usually clunk loudly....

The clunks are the Laser becomming un-alligned and in somecases shorting out.

I'm living proof, I just spent $100.00 bucks having my DVD-laser replaced on a PS2 30005-R that was only a month old and when I went off at gamegizmo.com the suppliers of the chip that is their explaination

The bottom line is official sony DVD rip games dont exist! we all know they are made by the ps2 developer community.

The no-solder mods are actually very good If u know and obide by their limitations.

;)
The sollution is simply to copy CD-games to CD-r and DVD-Games to DVD-R ONLY! stay away from the rips...

I know that the internet can be a good source for games at times but you reallly have to double check what source media they cam from before you try and boot em :(

I use www.dvdempire.com to check out the original back cover if its a dvd game I dont bother with it..
I'd wait untill I can get the original DVD-rom version and them do a dvd-r from that..

If someone had of explained this to me , I would never of atempted to load the rips and then never had to fork out the repair costs...

Be carefull

Elkay :mad:

[NightStalker]

This is really a good post about the no solder mod Elkayps2. It explains all the issues and limitations :)

[Mr Slippy]

Hi,

A couple of questions.

1. Is there a utility that will tell you the TOC of a game before you try and boot it.

2. I have seen the No Solder R-Modchips some cover V5 & V6 and I have now seen one that is specifically for V5 or V6, does anyone know the difference between these two apparently different versions of the R-Mod.

3. How do you tell the difference between a V5 or a V6 PS2, I have seen the diagram with the different connectors but where are these connectors on the PS2 motherboard, I have checked mine and I cannot see where the hell they are!

4. Is it true that the region X will not boot DVD-R backups with a R-Mod, 'cause if the problems with AR2 / GS2 not booting them what are you supposed to do? Except get a Messiah.

Thanks for the info.

[elkayps2]

TOC checker.. not that im aware of

as well as dvdempire u can check with www.isonews.com
to find out infomation about what dvd-rip games are out there.

search for the game title under "Dupecheck"

as for your ps2 vesion hassels i used www.gamegizmo.com 's guide to figure out what board is in my 30002-R

(i think i accidentaly posted 30005-R previously)

Region X booting dvd-r I dont know about sorry

One thing to keep in mind id that if u are looking at getting a No-solder chip you also require and AR2v2 to boot dvd-r. Some ppl are having hassels because the latest version or AR2v2 wont work you need AR2v2 versions 1.7 - 2.0.2 to boot dvd-r


Elkay

[ihaveanosebleed]

Does this info Apply to just No MOD on V5,6 boards? What about NEO2.2/USB Mod users?
And V4 boards?

I'm sure most of you know by now that BLUE CD's (regular CD format games) USUALLY
make more noise than DVD games. I tried Crash Bandicoot WOC, made lots of noise,
the CDR backup made just as much noise, they played the same.

I've made a few DVD rips, and of course the CDR's make much more noise than the
DVD originals, for the most part the RIPS sound like Blue CD format games. Some
make a extraordinary amount of noise, such as GTA3. Is the TOC messing up the GTA3
rip and all the noise because the PS2 is freaked out cuz it thinks it's a DVD...
OR has GTA3 simply been coded specifically for DVD format, resulting in so much
noise on CD format?

I think it is the game itself and how it loads the levels. It was designed to
load from a DVD at DVD speeds and it has nothing to do with the TOC because my
RIP is 560MB. Some other interesting RIPS: Tony Hawk 3,674MB Jak and daxter,
1.3 GIG on a 650MB CD! (They modified the TOC to repeat files!) These games
play just as good as Original BLUE games with my V4/NEOKEY.

Is this bad for your laser, yes, probably, especially GTA3 !? The more noise
the more wear right? I don't believe the TOC is the reason, it seems the games
can be coded to make minimal noise, or LOTS of noise. Running Backups on the
media they were designed is obviously the best thing, but I can't afford to
go DVD media just yet and I hope people still support RIPS, I wish there was
more kits to find!!

I wonder if you burned Crash Bandicoot WOC on a DVD-R, would it be quiet then!?

[elkayps2]

yes this just applys to No-solder RMOD users, that what the title of the post states. :(

NOTHING TO DO WITH NEOKEY/S-BOX

I pitty u if you have an neokey/s-box as it wont support Dvd-r At all.
dont you love the way it covers your firewire port?

Elkay

[pjclark1]

This post is complete and utter bollocks (IMHO)

The TOC limit of 632.5meg (not 650m) is due to the AR/GS2
you use to boot the Backup game with.

When you boot any game, it checks to see it is a PRINTED
CD or DVD, then it reads and remembers the TOC size.

When you swap your Boot CD for a backup, it don't read
these items again.......if your PS2 tries to access any
part of the CDr beyond the Boot disc TOC..the PS2 will
promptly stop working.
Older AR/GS below v1.9 had smaller TOCs, hence they would
only boot some CD copys if you had a new PS2!

Why do you think you have to double swap with DVDr?
It's the same old TOC problem........Ps2 reads TOC of DVD
and won't read past that on a DVDr.

Neo 2.2 changed the data going into the PS2 on early
versions..so any TOC was good. On newer versions of the
PS2 this won't work (and thats why you only connect 4 wires
on a v5 PS2 with a Neo2.2)
a Neo2.2 + a V5 PS2 is exactly the same as using a no solder
mod..........its only opening and closing the tray without telling
the PS2. If you want to boot bigger TOC cds than the boot CD
you have to fit a Neo 2.6 (x-key)..............

Burning out your laser may be because the Neo 2.2 is a 5v chip
and it is connected to a 3.3v system......but I doubt that would
cause much harm! (some of the other chips use 5v as well)

Oh...and the large amount of noise you notice on playing DVD to
CDr rips is cos the files are not in the same order and the laser
hunts up and down as it loads them......nothing to do with TOC

[pjclark1]

Mr Slippy
1 on V6 PS2 one of the ribbon cables is upside down
fitting a V5 no solder mod to a V6 PS2 will not work.
and vice versa.......some of the mod chip sites have made
a mistake in their ads.......the same no solder mod cannot
be used in both versions.

2 here is a method of booting DVDr using the latest gs/ar2
that have had the dave mirra bmx method removed.

1 boot GS/AR2
2 NORMAL eject after loading bar finishes
3 insert big TOC original DVD game (Devil May Cry is best)
4 Normal tray close
5 goto codes screen...select any game other than the one
you are already using.....and turn 1 of the codes on or off
(tick or untick)
6 Goto the Start game screen (with or without cheats)
7 press x to start game...AND IMMEDIATELY do swap trick
YOU MUST HAVE FINISHED THE SWAP WHILE IT SAYS
'UPDATING CODES' and the tray must be back in when
the laser trys to read the DVDr
8 press x afew times and play the game.


Note.....you only have the 'updating codes' up for 7 secs
so u have to be quick..............

[surtees]

Originally posted by elkayps2
yes this just applys to No-solder RMOD users, that what the title of the post states. :(

NOTHING TO DO WITH NEOKEY/S-BOX

I pitty u if you have an neokey/s-box as it wont support Dvd-r At all.
dont you love the way it covers your firewire port?

Elkay
mine takes anything i throw at it,nothing wrong with the usb/sbox mod.ohh and sorry i buggered up :),post above elkayps2 about the usb\sbox,noises coming from your console *touch wood *i havn't encountered that problem with any game,ripped ,etc

[Arakon]

data is data for the PS2, it doesn't matter AT ALL if it's on CD, DVD, or ripped from DVD to CD.
there's no way it could physically damage the laser unit. laser is light, nothing physically touches the CD/DVD.
as said above, the TOC limit comes from the GS/Region X only having a ~640 MB TOC. if they were pressed on 700 MB CDs, all games would work.

[surtees]

Originally posted by Arakon
data is data for the PS2, it doesn't matter AT ALL if it's on CD, DVD, or ripped from DVD to CD.
there's no way it could physically damage the laser unit. laser is light, nothing physically touches the CD/DVD.
as said above, the TOC limit comes from the GS/Region X only having a ~640 MB TOC. if they were pressed on 700 MB CDs, all games would work.

agreed :).......i was only stating that my console/games doesn't give off funny noises,and i was also pointing out that there is nothing wrong with the usb mods,especially the keyboard/mod-usb

[Mr Slippy]

Thanks for all the info guys.

I must confess I am still a little confused as people do seem to contradict each other.

I have gone for an AR2 version 2.02 and a V5 No Solder MOD, waiting for a friend to do some backup games to test. Have booted some of my old PS1 backups without any problem.

I will wait to see if my laser starts clunking or my PS2 dies!!!

[surtees]

Originally posted by Mr Slippy
Thanks for all the info guys.

I must confess I am still a little confused as people do seem to contradict each other.

I have gone for an AR2 version 2.02 and a V5 No Solder MOD, waiting for a friend to do some backup games to test. Have booted some of my old PS1 backups without any problem.

I will wait to see if my laser starts clunking or my PS2 dies!!!

why would it start clunking?? you are at more risk of tearing the ribbon if you or who ever instals the no solder mod,and they are only available as a limited supply from a third party

[Mr Slippy]

OK, change the words clunking for clicking. The way I see it when the laser tries to find the data on the disk and has to move around a lot it clicks, thus wearing out the laser faster.

[ihaveanosebleed]

Originally posted by Arakon
data is data for the PS2, it doesn't matter AT ALL if it's on CD, DVD, or ripped from DVD to CD.
there's no way it could physically damage the laser unit. laser is light, nothing physically touches the CD/DVD.



So you don't think that a CDR Rip of GTA3 that causes non stop
laser noise during the game will wear out a laser any faster than
the DVD original that has hardly any noise at all? Interesting.

[surtees]

Originally posted by ihaveanosebleed



So you don't think that a CDR Rip of GTA3 that causes non stop
laser noise during the game will wear out a laser any faster than
the DVD original that has hardly any noise at all? Interesting.

all i can say is mate you must have a serious malfunction with your machine,mine runs the same as an original,and iv'e only a usb mod

[Justice]

man, some of you guys are just noobs.

how does a laser that doesnt move make noise? it isnt the laser your hearing making noise, its the motor thats turning the cd. the laser inside the console doesnt ever move. i dont see how your laser can be damaged at all no matter what you try to boot. the motor that turns the disc however can be. if its trying to send mass info, such as a dvd, then its going to spin up very fast. but the laser doesnt have anything to do with that.

[ihaveanosebleed]

Originally posted by Justice
man, some of you guys are just noobs.

how does a laser that doesnt move make noise?

No, the laser CHIP itself does not make any noise. Please
excuse all of us for generalizing! The LASER sled DOES move
across the radius of the CD. This Can be heard, especially
when it resets to the start. How can you call people noobs
and tell us the laser does not move!!??

And the sled's not the only other thing that moves. The
lens that the laser is reflected through moves up and down.
This can also be heard, especially when it hits it's limits
(sometimes the CD surface itself!).

So what do we have for distinctive sounds:
-Lens clicking
-Sled seeking
-motor spinning, can also cause CD slippage, yet another
sound.

[Justice]

right so explain to me how this can damage your laser?

[ihaveanosebleed]

Originally posted by Justice
right so explain to me how this can damage your laser?

I guess you have never heard of lasers wearing out!!
Where have you been??

Again, most of us generalize here, any part of the SLED
including the track wears out we say the laser is
gone bad or worn out. If any part goes, you replace the
whole unit. Laser units are very precise microscopic
devices, it does not take much at all to throw one off.

Lightbulbs don't move and they wear out! Take one and
shake it and flick it on and off and see how long it
lasts! All electronics have a limited lifespan and the
lifespan depends on how much stress (heat,vibration,
voltage fluctuation,current interference,humidity...)

I know using DVD Rips must be bad on my laser, just
how bad is what I'd like to know. Exactly how much
laser life will I loose from playing rips. One hour
of playing my GTA3 Rip could be equal to 20 hours of
normal DVD play. Or Maybe it 200 hours or only 2. I
don't know!!

[Justice]

of course they go bad you knurd, he specifically said IT CAN DAMAGE YOUR LASER. the sled and the laser are two separate components. hes talking about going and spending a shitload of money because his laser was damaged and im trying to inform people that it CANNOT damage your LASER. if you mean the sled, say the sled. its guided by a motor that costs around 2 dollars at any radio shack. he said nothing about the laser wearing out. he said it damaged his laser even though his box was only a couple months old. and im saying its BS. so get your facts straight and stick to the topic instead of spending your time trying to flame me. you NOOB.

[ihaveanosebleed]

When and where did I flame you? You don't know that a CD lasers moves, you don't know what
a flame is... Who is the NOOB here!!! The laser IC chip and lens are built into the sled
assembly, you need to replace the whole thing if any part breaks, YOU are just being a
difficult kurd, as you put it. This thread is about DVD Rips causing DRIVE Damage and
that's what I'm talking about so get you act together, contribute something useful or
get lost!!

[surtees]

Originally posted by Justice
of course they go bad you knurd, he specifically said IT CAN DAMAGE YOUR LASER. the sled and the laser are two separate components. hes talking about going and spending a shitload of money because his laser was damaged and im trying to inform people that it CANNOT damage your LASER. if you mean the sled, say the sled. its guided by a motor that costs around 2 dollars at any radio shack. he said nothing about the laser wearing out. he said it damaged his laser even though his box was only a couple months old. and im saying its BS. so get your facts straight and stick to the topic instead of spending your time trying to flame me. you NOOB.

OK...OK no need to blast someone fer nothing,why the name calling? the only thing that can damage your laser is the mod chip,not a rip,after all its data thats stored on a disc,correct??when the chips first came out you had to adjust laser pots etc,how old is your chip? the newer chips does not require any adjustments.there fore quiter running...correct??.like ihaveanosebleed explained to you,just like everything else they are prone to wearing out,much like the psx,they had the same problem with earlier chips.

[charlie_ps2]

PJClark and Arakon come closest to answering the point which has now focussed on laser damage. So here's the full skinny.

The Laser means the Laser Diode, the semiconductor that lases to produce coherent light. This diode is a sandgrain in size reaching 70 deg Centigrade. A very small increase in current (like pushed through by 5v or by over-reducing the resistance using the recalibration pots) will take the temperature through the breakdown barrier so that it lases dark light or weakly lases at the right wavelength. So yes, like a light bulb, the Laser will eventually wear out according to use.

A cheapish DVD-R has about/less than half the reflectivity of a pressed DVD and the laser power required to avoid re-reads is higher on poor media, achieved by re-calibration. A more expensive DVD-R (e.g. Verbatim) has about 60% ideal reflectivity which, with a clean lens, is sufficient to work with the standard laser power, esp. on a v5.

So now we come to the CD/DVD decision. Gamegizmo is talking bollocks - the TOC is irrelevant and relates only to the used portion. You can have less than 650MB on a DVD; what would the PS2 think then? When the disk is inserted, you can here something akin to a mouse squeeking very rapidly. That's the lens moving up and down to focus and side-to-side to locate the groove that it follows to obtain the data. This lens movement is activated by magneto through tiny wires, current and magnets. Then the sled traverses the disk to measure its diameter (there are mini sized CDs).

When focusing, it tries first in red light; if there is reflectivity, the disk is a DVD/DVD-R and it can boot; if it is not a PS2 disk, the red screen appears.

If there is no reflectivity, it tries infra-red light and if there is then reflectivity, the disk is a CD/CD-R. if it is not a PS2 disk, the red screen appears.

If there is still no reflectivity, it goes to the broiwser. Either the lens is dirty or the laser cannot muster enough power and needs recalibration and eventual replacement.

There is an outside chance that the laser needs adjusting for the lens being parallel to the disk (azimuth) or the sled being parallel )the white cog).

So, who's up for a challenge on this lot?

[The_Real_TEK]

LMAO :D :D

[Justice]

Wow!

very nicely put

*waves white flag*

[Mr Slippy]

Thanks for the information, this answers my later question. You know your stuff, cheers!

[Warlock]

God i just love it when Charlie gets technical lol:D

[JT Productions]

damn elkayps2, always there wit the info I need. I'm stayin the hell away from dvd rips now, it may be pricey but im stickin wit dvd games to dvd-r's..thanks guy

[elkayps2]

JT, respect man ...

I have just realised that My RMOD has the very fast eject speed problem, I think that this might be the reason for the dvd-drive damage.

it makes a hell of a thud, and i know that this issue has been fixed on the new model PNP key, ect

any thoughts???

[JT Productions]

when im puttin in a cdr back up(via gameshark swap)the disc tray does come out faster than usual, is there a threat to system b/c of this??also can someone tell me how large fantavision is?

[elkayps2]

i'd say hold your other hand out to brace the tray as it pops out..
the suppliers of the first no-solders swear that it wont damage the tray, but in my opinion its one hell of a thud. so brace it just in case

[charlie_ps2]

Originally posted by JT Productions
when im puttin in a cdr back up(via gameshark swap)the disc tray does come out faster than usual, is there a threat to system b/c of this??also can someone tell me how large fantavision is?
In my experience of a different chip that did that, it takes about 9 months for the thudding to affect synchronisation between the tray going in and the spindle engaging. This can have the effect of engaging a split second too late/early (I can't tell which) and the disk being held in a skewed position. The groove that allows this to happen was removed in v4 & later.

[JT Productions]

thanks guys ( just put in my chip a few days ago finally and its goin smoothly)

[filippos]

I dont think that using a dvd rip such as GTA3, could harm your laser..:eek: probably because the files are not in order (as the original) the ps2 is working more and pushing it self, jumping from file to file inorder to read the cd!
The fact is that GTA3 rip makes a lot of noise and keeps loading way to much.:confused:

[elkayps2]

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[elkayps2]

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