Thread: Disk Read Error Repair Guide

Tools Checklist
Recommended tools:

2 x phillips screwdrivers: one is about "normal" sized, one is "very small"
(a pocketknife or small flathead may be used in place of the smaller phillips)
Q-tips or cotton swabs
rubbing alcohol or static free cleaner
a marker or felt-tipped pen
compressed air to clean the inside of the PS2
It might also be a good idea to have an original Playstation game, two Playstation 2 games (one with blue bottom, one with silver bottom), and one DVD movie. These will be used for testing to be sure you've completed the repair correctly.
Be sure you have at least one game to test with so you won't have to disassemble the console again later.


Disassemble the Playstation 2


1. Unplug the power and A/V connector from the back.
2. Remove all controllers and memory cards.
3. On the rear of the console, cut along the crack of the warning sticker, or remove it entirely.



4. Turn the unit upside-down and locate the screw covers. These are tiny (1cm x 1cm) squares. Older models have 8. Newer models have 12: 4 are offset on the ridge area toward the front of the console.



5. Pry these covers out by their corners with a small flathead, knife, or fingernail. Set them aside.
6. Remove the 8 or 12 phillips-head screws under the feet.
7. Rotate the top cover upward toward the front of the console. BE CAREFUL! If you meet resistence, check that sticker in the back. DO NOT RIP the cable that leads from the cover to the base. If this cable rips, your PS2 is probably as good as dead.
8. Remove the tape (yellow arrow in picture below) that holds the cable.
9. To completely separate the cover from the base, you need to remove the Power/Eject switch from the cover. To do this, put a flathead screwdriver or knife blade between the plastic switch and the cover (there's a tiny slot where you can fit one), then gently pry upward (away from the cover). Once it pops out of place, slide it toward the back of the cover to remove the switch. This is not necessary, but is recommended to be sure you don't ruin this fragile cable.



10. Remove the 4 small screws on the disc tray cover (red arrows below) with either a small screwdriver or a knife if you don't have one.



11. Lift the disc tray cover off and set it aside. Some models may require additional screws to be removed to remove the disc tray cover.

The disassembly process is now complete. Put all those screws somewhere safe and let's continue.

Clean the Inside
Since you're going to clean the laser lens last, it's probably a good idea to clean all the junk out of the case while it's disassembled. You'll probably find some hair if you have pets, lint, fuzz, and lots of dust inside, depending on the console's age.

Using compressed air preferably, clean out the following areas:

• Cooling fan (at back of the console)
  Controller and memory card slots
  Area around the battery, to the right side of the tray if looking at the front (*** If you remove the battery, you must reset all system settings. If your system is not saving such settings, clean the terminals to the battery with alcohol and scrape them clean. If that fails, replace the battery).
  Under and on all heatsinks
  Top cover of the console on the inside
  Under and over the disc tray
  Next you should clean the laser lens.

Clean the Laser Lens

Use a clean Q-tip or cotton swab to clean the laser lens. Dip it in rubbing alcohol (the less water/higher alcohol %, the better) and gently dab it onto the lens. Do this a couple times, or even *very* gently move the swab across the lens. Let it dry for a few minutes before you power on the PS2.



Adjust the Angle of the Disc/Laser

Most Disc Read Errors can be fixed by adjusting the angle between the laser and the disc. This step is essential to the repair but can only be performed on older PS2s.

To adjust this angle, we'll use the white gear at the rear of the disc tray. You can barely see it with the disc tray closed, so plug in the Playstation 2's power connector and eject the disc tray. Turn off the Playstation 2 from the rear power switch once it's been opened.

Using a felt-tipped pen or marker, put a line on the gear where it meets the metal notch, so you can always return to this spot if you have problems later.



Since the base angle is already recorded, you can now freely spin the gear and observe how the angle of the disc changes to and from about a 10º offset. Set it back to the base point where you marked it. Rotate the disc about 20º or 1/16 of a turn clockwise. You should then test the setting as mentioned before reassembling the console.

Another Method to Fix Disc Read Errors

If your PS2 has a bronze or copper cog next to the white gear, you'll need to follow the other repair process mentioned below and/or disable the motor that rotates this cog, as it will reset the position of the white gear, causing your efforts to have been in vein. I have not verified this technique, but it can apparently be disabled by disconnecting an orange power ribbon on the backside of the DVD disc tray. It may require additional disassembling of the PS2. This cable has no purpose except to reset the position of the gear. Thanks Josh Boston for the tip!


There is a different trick to fix this problem which works on all mdoels, passed onto us by Ari Vuorela, aka Thuuning, a veteran PS2 technician.

Ari explains that the reason for disc read errors is often not the white gear's position, but it's shape and dirt on the lens. He states that as time wears out the unit, the gear tends to bend, creating major problems. Additionally, the lens iself's movement and position may be part of the problem or the lower part of the lens is dirty. Ari's technique for repairing the PS2 is actually quite easy and can be applied if the fix we mentioned above does not work perfectly.

Here's the gist of Ari's e-mail (translated as best we could):

1. The white plastic gear that moves the laser must make contact with the "motor". A bad contact here can cause disk read errors. Sometimes it looks Ok, but you may need to remove the lens and bend the white gear for good contact.
2. The two rails on which the lens move must be very slippery - which can be lubricated with cooking or motor oil. Usually the holes where the rail is (on the right side of the lens) are dirty or you have to bore then out slightly, making the holes bigger.
3. The lens uses little torx screw (black) that move the lens up and down on the rail. Usually the lens is too high and requires adjustment.
4. Take the lens off these 2 rails and take the black plastic cover off. Turn the lense upside-down and you'll find there are 2 screws (silver, phillips or torx) that you have to remove to take the upper little lens off.
5. Then you'll see a larger lens that is usually very dirty (this lens is a mirror to light). If that's dirty, it will give a disk read error. You'll have to take the little electric board off that you see on the other side of the big lens-mirror. It's probably dirty too, so clean it. Alcohol should work OK for this task.
6. The lens bottom has 2 + 2 screws. You move the upper "little" lens up-down-left-right (this may require a special screwdriver)
7. The motor "rail" that moves the lens must be very clean and oiled and the 2 rails too.

PS - The secret that makes the PS2 work is that bigger lens under the little lens (the bigger is unknown to most and becomes very dirty).

Usually you don't have to move this white gear at all.

Test The Console

Reconnect the power and A/V connectors if they are disconnected. Plug in a controller to the front of the Playstation 2. Put the disc tray cover over the plastic alignment pieces and apply some pressure to the top (not much, just a bit to ensure the disc will seat correctly). It should snap into place and lock the disc in.



Open the tray if it's not already open, and put in a game that's given you problems in the past with DREs or load errors (in my case, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City). Close the Playstation 2 and access the Browser screen to view if the disc was correctly located.



Try out an original Playstation game if you have any and at least one DVD movie. Also try other PS2 games - at least one with a blue underside as well as one that's silver. If you still have problems with one of them, adjust the gear a little more until you find the right angle that works with all of your games and movies. I recommend shutting off the Playstation 2 between each adjustment.

You will probably need to adjust this gear several times to in order to find the perfect spot. Once you find this spot, add a second line to your gear with the marker, but distinguish this line so you'll always have that perfect spot marked. You may need to re-adjust it in a few months or if problems return.

I believe some of the PS2s had two gears instead of one, or a different type of adjustment. These gears do essentially the same thing - try playing around with it and make your PS2 work. If you discover some tips to make your PS2 work that aren't mentioned here, please let me know so I can share the information with others in your predicament.

A Couple More Checks / Fixes

While the system is disassembled, be sure to check to see if any wires or connectors are loose. Just tug on them gently and see if they come loose. DO NOT TUG ON THE POWER/EJECT CABLE. Also, if you're having problems with an especially loud open/close mechanism, check the tracks to be sure they're especially clean. The rods that the disc tray slides on are often dirty and can be cleaned with alcohol and a q-tip. Once cleaned, it would be a good idea to lubricate the rods with WD40, cooking oil, or another lubricant, but use a Q-tip when doing so to be sure you do not get the laser dirty. Also lubricate the path that the laser lens moves on - this is essential to longterm functionality.

If none of the fixes outlined here helped your disc read errors, you may need to calibrate the laser using an oscilloscope.

Reassemble the Playstation 2

1. Once you've thoroughly tested the PS2, reassemble it in the reverse order you disassembled it:
2. Replace the disc tray cover and tighten its 4 tiny screws.
3. Reattach the tape to the top of the tray cover.
4. If it was removed, reinstall the Power/Eject switch by pushing it forward at a 45º angle, over the tab that it locks into. The Power (labled "Reset") part goes toward the top of the cover. Gently push down on the plastic onto the cover. A screw fully secures it later.
5. Slide the cover on from the front (using the same angle from its removal), being sure it clears the memory and controller slots.
6. From the bottom, reinsert and tighten the 8 (or 12) screws (the shorter screws go on the shallow side, away from the power connector).
7. Put the square screw covers back on (the rubber feet go at the corners touching the ground).
8. Reconnect your A/V and power connectors, controllers, and memory cards.
9. Play your favorite game!




Conclusion

Hopefully these tips will help you eliminate Disc Read Errors and breathe some new life into your PS2. I've used this process to fix many Playstation 2s in the past so I know it works. Don't be afraid to give it a shot - what do you have to lose?

Good luck, and thanks for reading!

Yes I know this isn't your tutorial but +K for posting it.

In fact... it deserves a sticky! Congrats!

I know I didnt say that it was mine

Originally Posted by strey101

I know I didnt say that it was mine

Yeah lol I caught on to that

Just try and give creds next time to who made it, they probably deserve it if it's a long tutorial.

@below post, fair enough

yah I would have but it didnt say who wrote it I found it on another site

cool post. helpful

Awesome tut.I used this on my old original Ps2 and it worked for a while, but It was ready to bite the dust anyway. +K.

thanks it worked for me
:ThAnKs: