What the HELL is in my PS2?

[Louche]

I went to install my Duo2 SE chip today, and I disassembled my PS2, which I had to take off the warranty sticker, which had not been voided or tampered with, and find this is on my motherboard.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y207/Louche1/wtf.jpg

It looks like somebody did some piece of **** patchwork for what i dunno. There's also a capacitor in the tape. I'm wondering what the hell it is and if anyone thinks it would be a problem to unsolder and rip out, or should i try and solder my chip right on top of whatever it is? It seems very odd since the sticker was still there. Any help would be awesome.

[Jay_83]

Thats a Neo2.2 Install aka "I'm gonna kill your laser"

Turn on your ps2 with no disc inside using the standby button. When u press the button to turn it on HOLD it for about 5-7 seconds, then release.

When u release the drive should open, stay open for about 5 seconds, then close.

The capacitor was used to delay the "killing" of the laser.

If I remember rightly the neo2.2 pumps 5v's through a 3.3v circuit which burns out the laser of the dvd drive.

If ur machine is playing dvd'rs ok then u may be lucky.

[Louche]

Thank you for replying and telling me. However, what does that process do? Disable it?

I have been able to play all original games and watch DVDs on my PS2 since I got it a month ago, so I guess the laser is in fact ok?

As well, am I ok to take this out?

[Jay_83]

The neo2.2 is one of the first generation of modchips that came out for the ps2.

Many of the first generation modchips required you to swap discs without the ps2 knowing in order to play backups and different region games.

With the neo2.2 it was generally the Action Replay and Gameshark that was needed, you'd load that, then put a high content dvd in (Like GTA3), do the sequence above changing the disc while the drive was out. Meanwhile the ps2 doesn't have a clue.

I posted the sequence for you in case u wanted to make 100% certain of the install. Another way of testing is that ps2 CD based backups will boot like the originals. The swap was only needed for dvd based games.

The sooner you get that thing outta there the better but I would warn you that it deteriorates the laser even without doing the technique etc above.

[WordBringer]

were did u get the ps2

[Louche]

I bought it used off some kid in Richmond. I still find it weird that the PS2 warranty sticker was still on there.

But my laser is still fine if it plays DVDs?

[Warlock]

It looks to be a v3 PS2. Its hard to tell from the picture but it looks like its a 5 wire install. If so the EA swap method (Hold reset for 5 sec then release to eject tray) wont work. It should load PSX backups no swap but you will need A GS2 or AR2 to load the PS2 cd-r games. Dvd-r backups wont load with this setup.
As mentioned earlier Neo chips will destroy the laser. If it was mine i would take it out and get a Duo2se or something.

[Neipas02]

As forthe warranty sticker.. He may have lined it up again with the void portions that were stuck on the console after the initial removal.. It doesn't look absolutely perfect but if you weren't examining it close up you could miss it.. That or he just may have had access (or his mod installer) to warranty stickers.

[lufcfan]

or he could have used the old Hair Dryer trick... :)

[scamper]

also i would like to say i have a v4 machine with the neo2.2 using ar2 v1.93 and it is still going strong boots everything and plays all games , so i must be one of the lucky ones and also my friends that had it done from the same place at the same time so they must be lucky as well , but i do have anew machine with the messiah 2 pro as i got fed up with doing the swap disc , but my bro use's my old machine all the time and like i said still going strong like when i got it boots everytime , nothing replaced same old laser same old everything but get a no swap mod chip as it does get on ur nerves after a time.