PS2 problems

[ChadTower]

Erf... just picked up a PS2 and GC from someone I have coached baseball with recently for a good price.  Sadly, the PS2 boots and then sounds like the disc motor is grinding badly.  Won't read any game or CD, did at least recognize a movie DVD but had the parental rating set so it wouldn't play (Independence Day).

So, first, I need to find out how to reset that parental rating.

Second, need to figure out if that grinding issue is easily fixable.  I highly doubt it.  It was a good price for working systems but not nonworking.   

This was a gift for my kids for Xmas, but not now I guess.   

[SithMaster]

for the parental setting try all the same button or number.  i think it uses numbers so try all zeros.  that what all my friends use to make it more conveinent.

maybe try opening it to check it out maybe its clogged or something.

actually try this enter 7444 then when the movie starts stop it stopped".once its stopped bring up the menu by hitting select or the button that says display if u have the remote, then scroll over to the custom setup tab and go down to where u see parental conrtols.u should now b able to highlight it and change your p/w and parental cnotrol level or completly turn it off"  found this try it out

[AlanS17]

I've found a lot of older PS2's have trouble reading just certain discs. My brother's older PS2 would only read discs of a particular type. I don't rememebr if it was the black ones or the blue ones. Is it a grinding sound or is it a scraping sound?

Unless you're afraid of breaking the thing even worse, I would recommend opening up the drive and seeing if the laser is properly on its track. I'm sure it uses plastic gears. Maybe they're wearing down. Even if that's the problem, though, I don't know what you could do to go about fixing it.

[ChadTower]

It's not that old but it is a fat PS2.  I'm not sure how describe the difference between grinding and scraping.  It's pretty loud, though.

I have no fear of opening it and poking around.  I'll do that soon, but $50 is too much if I have to put new parts in.

[ChadTower]

Good link on the disc read errors and fixing them.

So most PS2s have trouble with the blue discs... and ironically the only PS2 game I have (Slipheed) is a blue disc.  It didn't read an audio CD either, though, but did read a commercial DVD movie.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Go rent of few games from Blockbuster.

[SithMaster]

Wouldnt it be better to try working games with the ps2 not scratched up ones from bb?

[ChadTower]

Yep.  I'll pick up a silver game from Gamestop on the way home.  Usually they'll let me look at the DVD itself first and decide from there if it's a used one.

[SithMaster]

what game?

[ChadTower]

Didn't get the chance to head to Gamestop, had to pick up the kids instead.

[Sprucemoose]

Chad,
Had the same problem as you.  Got a cheap PS2 that was making a really loud grinding noise.  In my case it turned out to be the laser itself.  Cost me about $25-30 for a new one.  What you want to do is first open the case and with the drive ejected.  there will be a white, plastic cog that you need to adjust.  Turn it all the way in one direction (clockwise) and move it the other direction (couter-clockwise) one click then check to see if the disc reads.  If not move one more click of cog and see if that helped...so on so forth.  If that does not work its your laser.  Replacement was easy.  PM me if you have any questions.

[ChadTower]

Thanks.  If the laser is no good I'll probably just try to get my money back.  I was told it is a barely used PS2... already, clearly not the case.

[More Cowbell]

This may sound completely lame but I have that problem sometimes with my PS2 and what works for me is...
banging on the top of it when you hear the noise. It appears that the disc is spinning improperly and giving it a whack on top settles the disc. This may or may not be what you are experiencing but if it is, it's a cheap fix (well not fix but at least you can play).

[boykster]

This may sound completely lame but I have that problem sometimes with my PS2 and what works for me is...
banging on the top of it when you hear the noise. It appears that the disc is spinning improperly and giving it a whack on top settles the disc. This may or may not be what you are experiencing but if it is, it's a cheap fix (well not fix but at least you can play).

what sized hammer works best?

[ChadTower]

Got a chance to play with it a bit more... plays a copy of Jackie Chan Stuntmaster for the PS1 just fine.  So a good cleaning should do it.

[SithMaster]

i read that placing tape on top of the game helps to keep it balanced.  so then you dont need to hit it.  jeez its not like its a child, it could get seriously damaged.