Help me diagnose this ps2.
 

Ok, i got this broken ps2 off ebay. Got it in today, hooked it up,

Plays ps1 games fine

Plays ps2 cd rom based games fine

Plays audio cds fine

The only thing i have found wrong with it so far is that it will not play dvd rom ps2 games. I get a disc read error. It kinda sounds like the laser is struggling to read the disc. Im thinkin a good cleaning of the lens will fix it up. Might even need a new one. Am i right or is it somethin else. Thanks for any advice or help:D

Correct. If cleaning the laser doesn't work, stick a new laser in there and all should be fine. What version is it anyways?

I just got a v4 thats doing the same thing, In this case it is the dvd laser that went out.

Since the ps2 uses the same laser to read dvd as cd, do you think you could just adjust something to fix it?



Tyler!

Its possible to adjust the laser skews and it work a little better but usually this is only a temp fix. Once the laser gets to a certian point it may as well be replaced.

Just makin sure. I didnt think it was actually the laser that went out just that it was actually going bad.




Tyler!

wow, thanks for all the replies guys, actually upon further testing of the ps2 it plays the intro to the ps1 games and the locks up. I dont know what version it is, havent looked it up, its serial # is scph 30001 i think thats either v 1 2 or 3 dont know which, so i guess is bout time for that laser to go out since its an earlier model. I was surprised, i wasnt expecting it to work at all.

I just got my dms3 chip in today, i was planning on installing it in my current v7 ps2 that is fully functioning. Is it more difficult to install on the v1-3 or whichever version this non working ps2 is? Because if i can get if fixed i would rather install it in that one, because this will be my first time installing a mod chip, id rather do it on the older one. What do you think?

v1/v2s are harder to mod than the v7. I wouldn't mod that old of a system regardless of your soldering experience. Those old systems lasers were terrible at playing backups, if at all. Stick your DMS3 in your v7.

Thanks man, i just found out its a v4, its got 8 screws and the hazard warning on the bottom. Is it still difficult to mod the v4? I might just buy a cheaper chip for the older one. What would you reccomend puttin in a v4? I hear good things about the messiah and apple pro chips. Thanks again for the help. Im glad it wasnt a v1-3:D

v4s can still be difficult but are better than the v1/v2. Messiah 2 and Apple Pro are both great chips, but I would get a Duo. It only requires 17 wires to be soldered and is just as reliable as the Messiah 2 and Apple Pro. Only $22 from www.modchips.cc If you need a replacement laser check out www.foundmy.com

if you get the laser problem solved and plan to chip that one i recommend a duo chip for that one. thanks to tyler, he introduced me to it and the price is really right with no shipping cost. tippage on the chippage of the day !!!!!

thanks guys, ill check out those sites, the duo looks pretty good and cheap too, ill definately look into that chip when i get this ps2 fixed. Thanks for the help. One quick ? about my dms3, should i use solid or stranded wire for the power and groun, i have some speaker wire and i have some cat 5 wires, which would you prefer?

I am no installer, but I am not sure either of those should be used. 22-24 AWG is recommended.

Dont use any of that wire. Go down to radio shack and get some stranded 22 awg for the power and ground wires and 30awg kynar wire (if they have 32 awg get a roll of that also you might like it better some people do) for everything else. Another helpful tip would be to get a little soldering paste while your there and a nice 15 watt iron with the smallest tip you can find. Just remember to clean all the solder paste off your solder joints when your all done with a q-tip and some rubbing alcohol.

Ok, the chip came wire the wires for everything except for the power and ground but they were too ****ing short, dumbasses. Anyways i went and got a roll of 30 gauge kynar wire at radio shack, 2.99 great price. Thought it would be more. Didnt look for the 22-24 gauge wire but i will go back and get some.

By soldering paste you mean flux paste right? This is used to clean the spot on the motherboard you are soldering right? Sorry, kinda new to soldering, thanks for the info.

flux paste ...same thing.... and yes it cleans the area while soldering so you get a good bond. You dont need to use much either just a little tinny dab will do.

Ok, just got back from radio shack, they didnt have any 22 or 24 gauge kynar wire. All they had in kynar was the 30 gauge. So, i have some 16 gauge speaker wire or 24 gauge cat 5 wires, or is there something else i can use, preferably free around the house stuff or really cheap, im wiped out. This is for the power and ground connections.THanks.

DONT use speaker wire. If nothing else double the 30awg for pwr, gnd.

Ok, the speaker wire is too big anyways, hmm which would be a better power and ground, the cat 5 wires, which are 24 gauge, dont konw about the insulation though but i figured it has to be good, they use it for networking. Or double the 30 gauge wires up, thanks for the help man, i just started the install a couple minutes ago, 2 wires down, 21 to go. I bought some flux paste for 6 bucks but im not even needin it. Prolly end up takin it back

can't you send it back???

Why would i take it back? Nothin wrong with the chip, that i know of. Anyways, im half way through the install, 12 wires down, 11 to go. Those copper pads are a bitch to solder to, thats about the toughest part about it. ITs really time consuming to, but its worth it. Im just hoping it will work once im done, i see no reason why it wouldnt though, all my solders are lookin pretty good. Thanks everybody here for all the help, if it wasnt for your advice i prolly wouldnt have attempted the install my self.

Those copper pad are actually easy to solder to. You just gotta scrape the laquer off them. I use a fiberglass pen but a precision screwdriver will work as well, you just gotta be more careful. Lightly scrape the pad so you see some copper shining brightly and solder to that.




Tyler!

Well i got all but the power and ground done, i have to be at work soon so ill have to finish it up tonight. Damn, i wish i woulda known that ealier, but i did get all the copper pads soldered to, just needed a little paitence and a little flux. So do you think it will be ok to double up on the 30 gauge kynar for the power and ground?
THanks for all the help, after so many hours spent working on this i think i might just go insane if it doesnt work.