will it ever end?

[DownwardSpyral]

So, im back. Still with problems with the modchip. This one is a little more fine tuning. I'm hoping someone has some suggestions.

The chip has been working fine for the past couple of weeks. Occasionally giving me bootup problems, but nothing that isn't fixed if i am persistent. These are backup games that are recorded to what we will call DVD-R Media X (i dont know the name, so that will be it). Now, I recently ordered and received some nice Ritek G04 DVD-R blank dvds. Upon backing up games, Most of my games refuse to boot until i play hell with them, eventually getting them to boot while some others won't boot no matter how hard i try. Also, as some Ps2 games arent large enough for a DVD, I burn them to your standard 700mb Maxell CD-Rs. EVERY game I burn to these discs works perfectly each time.

So what is wrong? The chip can boot the CD-rs all the time every time, but when it gets a dvd, it doesnt work half the time.

Info: modchip is a dms3 with the newest flash upgrade. PS2 is a Version 9. Games are backed up using Alcohol 120% via instructions from Playstation Place (psplace.tk)

[lufcfan]

Sounds like you've got some laser problems...

[ottoman]

OK.For starters, while alcohol 120% is ok.... it ain't perfect. Used to trust it 100% (get the irony!!) until i found a bug in it...It doesn't burn .cue and .bin files correctly.

U must use Record Now Max or DX to ensure a 100% correct burn for DVD's every time.

Ritek G04 are the best so u have correct media.

How old is your version 9?

Mine lasted 6 months of playing DVD backups ( about 1 hour a day) before the laser started to not read dvd-r's (ritek g04).

If u in the same position then a "Minor adjustment" is needed.

I'm Not touching the laser pot!!! I hear u scream. No need to....Heres what to do...

Firstly unscrew the 8 screws on the underside of the ps2. Tkae the top ps2 cover off.
Next undo the 2 screws on the dvd drive lid. use a knife to lever out the two catches on the back of the dvd drive lid and remove lid.

At the back of the drive u will see two whit cogs that adjust the height of the rails that the laser head sits on. look in siodeways and try to understand how they work. By adjusting the gogs, u adjust the height of the rails and therefore adjust the height/closeness to cd/dvd of the laser.

Adjust it to the lowest position, put in an original dvd and boot.

Adjust both sides one click up and boot again.

Repeat until game starts to boot.

Keep going up until game won't boot again.

Count the clicks from lowest measurement until highest measurement that dvd will boot (should be about a bracket of 13-15 clicks).

Adjust to the middle cog click of the booting bracket, check that original cd will boot. If not adjust a few clicks above or below the middle bracket until cd does boot.

When u in a position where original cd and dvd will boot perfectly try backup cd and dvd.

If they don't boot adjust one click towards the disc at a time (within the working bracket) until they do boot.

If u go through the working bracket and u still get no boot then Its time to pot adjust.
#
Measure the resistance of the dvd pot and adjust it by 50 ohms down.

After doing this go back to the beginning of adjusting the height and start again.

U can do several adjustments to the pot but don't lower the resistance by more than 10% of the original value.

This is a time consuming exercise but do not rush it and do not stab in the dark on yr adjustments.

I would also recommend that the romeo mod be carried out on all v9/v10 ps2's b4 any laser adjustment takes place.

This advice is given as purely advice. Any adjustment that u make to ur own PS2 is yr decision and yr responsibility and i accept no blame for anyone who rushes it and messes it up.

Regards

[DownwardSpyral]

thanks for the info. I'm not entirely sure its the laser. When I toss in the backup disc(s), one of 2 things happen. Either the system boots and gives me a Disk Read Error message, or the red screen appears asking to insert a Playstation or Playstation 2 disc. The outcome appears totally random. as I can reset the system and possibly boot the disc, or get the same or the other error message. In any case, I played with the level of the laser, and learned that:

- Regardless of the level, (I think i counted 50 notches), an original game boots every time.

- Each notch gave random results for backed up games. First try it'd boot fine. then it'd read error. Then boot and then Ask for a valid disc. No level gave a stable response.

Therefore, it was really hard to find a bracket of notches that I could use as reference as to where to set the laser level.

I don't know how old the ps2 is. I bought it used, so god knows what its been through. I installed the chip myself, not to mention modded it with a clear case and cold cathode lights. The unit was in fine condition in and out when I tinkered with it.

You sure the bug in Alc 120 hasnt been fixed? I've recorded hundreds of bin/cue files without problem. (granted, none were ps2 dvds)

I'm willing to play with the laser pot, but I don't have enough knowledge of the procedure yet.

[lufcfan]

It may still be laser... But if it is, it shouldn't take much tweaking by the sound of things...