Functionality Basics
The Magic 2, like Messiah, basically works like this:
1 It squirts the
SCEx code through the SCEx wire - used for booting PS1 games
2 It monitors whether you've pressed
RESET once or twice through
RESET
3 It sends data to the disk controller through
B through I clocked by
A
4 It patches the BIOS and manages the PS1 frame rate scenario through
M-V clocked by
R
5 It acts on the disk type supplied by
W
Pin Behaviour
· S SCEx pulses from 3.3v to 0v twice when a disk has just been put in and electrons are whirling
· RESET sits at 3.3v and pulses to 0v following the RESET buton
· A strobes on a “sample now” basis for B-I on the CD/DVD Contoller
· R strobes on a “sample now” basis for M-V on the BIOS chip
· W goes low on RESET in two steps 3.3v à 1v à 0v (Informs Magic 2 of disk type)
Tools needed
To diagnose a mis-install, you will need an
8x magnifying glass to identify bridged pins or small solder splays. A
multi-meter helps also to check continuity between pin and pad on the Magic 2. Sometimes the lacquer hasn't been adequately removed (esp. S SCEx) so a continuity check helps.
Clicking Laser - not booting
The laser apparently cannot see a good eye pattern - it apparently cannot focus on the groove.
Assuming that the laser lens is clean and the laser diode is not weak, then it is possible that the
CD/DVD Controller is unable to report having seen the good eye pattern. Check connexions
A through I for bridges.
A sensible check would be to boot the PS2 with no disk inserted. This will bring up the browser. Select "browse" and "no data" displayed. Now insert the DVD movie and wait to see if the laser unit recognises the disk as a Video. If it does, you will see "VIDEO DVD" at the upper right corner of the screen. This demonstrates that the unit can recognise a disk which is a good indicator that the CD/DVD Controller is probably not bridged. Perform this check:
- With the modchip in and if it doesn't work ...
- With the modchip fully backed out
Blank Screen at Power On
If the electrons never happened, then some wires likely snagged when you put the PS2 back together and possibly a fuse has blown (one of thos little square chips with a number on them).
If you have a memory card inserted, try removing it. Some people have had black screen issues when their memory card was inserted (see below).
If the black screen is accompanied by one or both of
no sound/disk won't spin, then check that the Magic 2 was fully seated on insulating tape.
Check fuses, especially the one located at
PS11. If the fuse is blown, there would be a cause that has to be found. Suspect nicked or snagged flat ribbon cables or solder/metal shards.
Blank Screen at Power On - Blue Light Pulsing
Thanks to
led1225 for bottoming this one out (with a little help, of course).
Symptoms usually follow this description. RESET button does not switch on but when EJECT is pressed, the green light comes on. On switching on, however, the screen remains blank but the blue light pulses. The tray will not eject and there is no means for shutdown other than the switch at the back.
Assuming the RESET/EJECT loom and switch to be undamaged and properly plugged in,
led1225 reported switching the
power/ground wires to 22 awg (actually he used 24 awg). I suspect that his complete re-wiring of the chip to the PS2 actually put the matter right.
Blank Screen - no graphics when booting
It is assumed that the whirling electrons appear when the PS2 is switched on. This problem is indicative of an issue with the BIOS which configures the CD/DVD Controller for the right disk bit-stream protocol (they differ as between the various types of permitted disk). If the protocol has not been set no display is possible.
Check that nothing is bridged on the
BIOS, wires
M through V.
Disk Reading on Browser Screen or clicking sounds
The disk is seen (groove is found and focus established) and the PS2 has been able to identify it as a valid disk type (Audio/DVD/PS1/PS2) but cannot do anything more with the disk or takes ages to load.
This could be a laser related issue (clean the lens and/or the disk).
If the drive seems to load sluggishly (like it seems not to have enough power which is not the case), particularly in
PS1 mode, check wire
S.
Power cables should be at least 24 awg (25 swg) and GND is advised to be 22 awg (23 swg) as it carries ALL the current. GND should be as short as possible - less than 10 cms..
DVD Movies don't boot/or Movies Choppy
Ditto as for PS1 games. If booting an import movie with GS2/AR2 v2, remember to boot GS2/AR2 with the PS1 method above so as to bypass what the chip would otherwise do for PS2 games.
If
movies are choppy, then it is most likely that there is DC on the SCEx line which needs to be removed. That DC is misread as a SCEx interrupt, which triggers PS2 code and disk seek activity, seriously interrupting movie play To overcome this,
fit a 1 uF 35 V polarised capacitor (Tantalum) between the S/SCEx point on the chip and the S SCEx point on the PS2. Orientation is
+ towards the chip,
- towards the motherboard. This can be done either by cutting the wire and soldering the capacitor in the middle and insulating all bar wire, or putting the capacitor at one end..
No apparent Disk activity
This is an indication that instructions from the BIOS to the disk drive firmware might not have been received.
Suspect in the first instance the ribbon cables going to the disk drive. They have the control signals.
Then suspect your BIOS connexions (
M through
V.
Power/GND cables should be at least 24 awg (25 swg) and GND is advised to be 22 awg (23 swg) as it carries ALL the current. GND should be as short as possible less than 10 cms.
There is an outside chance that the servo ICs driving the magnetos on the lens have overheated because they have been run for more than 20 minutes without conducting heat away.
Originals boot but not backups
This refers to PS2 games and is usually due to one or more of
A - I or
W on the Magic 2.
PS1 games don't boot
Assuming the games are known previously to boot, then assure your
Boot Method:
- All cases: If playing a PS1 game immediately after a PS2 game, switch off to STANDBY in order to clear PS2 mode.
- Magic 2 with the disk in the drive, press and hold RESET from STANDBY until the blue EJECT light comes on
- APPLE with the disk in the drive, press and hold RESET from STANDBY for at least 3 seconds after the blue EJECT light comes on
- MESSIAH with the disk in the drive, double-tap RESET.
The game will boot if there is nothing else wrong.
If it still doesn't work, check wires
S and
RESET.
PS1 games boot but not PS2 backups
Assuming the games are known to boot, with the disk in the drive, tap RESET from STANDBY . The game will boot if there is nothing else wrong.
Check wires in this order
RESET,
W,
A through
I.
PS2 won't boot if Memory Card is in
... but you can re-insert the memory card after booting. This might be accompanied by a loss of controller vibration. Please examine
fuse at PS7 marked with the number
57.
Red Screen Displays
The disk is seen (groove is found and focus established) but the PS2 has been unable to identify it as a valid disk type (Audio/DVD/PS1/PS2).
This can either be a laser problem (clean the lens and/or the disk) or,
more likely,
S or
A through I are possibly mis-installed. Also check wire
W - a common problem.
It is also possible that your
BIOS wires are too long. They should be less than 25 cm.
Likewise your
GROUND wire might be too long - it should be less than 10 cm.
Also check the installation of BIOS points
M N O P.
If all then fails...
Back out of your installation, get the PS2 under control into "normal condition"
I'll update this as more is learned. Thanks to Go-kun for some updates.
This advice is offered at your own risk