Expert: Octane - 12/26/2008

Question
Unit will read DVD movies discs but will not read a brand new game disc. A memory card is with the unit and seems it is only trying to see it. Can you help?

Answer
Gday Randy,

Okay this could be something simple or something more complex.

Is not reading just this disk or are there other disk that are having problem?  (More that one could point to something wrong with your PS2)  What color is the disk bottom?  (Black, Purple - CD based games or Gold or Silver - DVD based games.)  Do similar based games work?  (If it is a group thing ie all one type then it is probably a Laser issue)

What type of PS2 is it the older fat kind or the slim line model?

A lot of people are having issues with Guitar Hero 3 loading.  The problem may lie in the fact that GH3 is a DVD9 standard game.  (Dual layered Game)  There is about only 20 DVD9 games released http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_2_DVD-9_games for the PS2 if you have problems with one of these game then you will have problems with all these.  This would point to a laser  intensity problem.  And your laser may need adjusting for it to be able to read these disk properly.  It works fine with CD or DVD games just when it attempts to read the DVD9 Dual layered disks it has a problem.

I would first check your disk in question for major scratches, scuffles or marks.  Also check the picture side of the disk for any damage.  (The picture side is actually closer to the information burned on the disk than the data side.  If you have any marking on the disk clean if possible.)  Clean the disk with a glass cleaner and not abrasive cloth to remove all marks.  If it is badly scratched you might want to take it to a Blockbuster, Games Store or CD exchange they will be able to professionally buff it and remove most of the scratches for a few dollars.  Maybe worth the it to try.

Failing that check the disk inner spindle for cracks or the outer edge for chips.  Even lay it on a plat table to see if it is not warped.  (If you have any of these symptoms your disk is probably at fault)

I would also still check and clean the laser.  If you have a slim you can do it with a qtip and some cleaning alcohol if you have a PS2 older model you might want to invest in a lens cleaner CD.  Maybe your lens is dirty or cloudy.

Check the disk on another PS2 system if it works there you system has problem (Laser needs adjusting or replacing) if not then it more than likely points back to the disk being faulty in some way.

It could be the PS2 has a mod chip in it and it has gone bad or effecting the boot on games.  As if it reads DVD it should play games fine.

Hope this helps.

Octane