Hardware Misc PS5 Disc Drive Replaced, Still Not Reading

[repairdisliker]

So I have a PS5 CFI-1015A with an issue reading discs. It would take the disc, the laser would engage maybe 4 or 5 times before the drive would sound like it's realigning something, spit the disc back out, and then I would be unable to insert it again. Like a piece of plastic was blocking a disc from being inserted. Turning it off and back on I could insert a disc, but it would be the same result. So when the usual troubleshooting didn't work (IPA, checking alignment, etc), I ended up buying an entirely new drive assembly. When I swapped the optical board into the new one, it seems to spin the disc and attempt to actually read, but it spins very fast, and the xmb says "unsupported disc" on any blu-rays or games, but read dvd's just fine. I swapped the other optical board in, and it has the original issue as before the brand new disc drive assembly. I rebuilt the database, updated the system, even factory reset with both boards, and still nothing. Is there something I'm missing, or is there a much larger issue that I am not aware of?

 

[Hayato213]

You need the original daughter board of the disc drive

 

[repairdisliker]

You need the original daughter board of the disc drive

I have used the original daughter board in it, that's when it only reads DVD's. With the original daughter board it shows "unsupported disc" with any blu rays. I'm not sure if it's a bad new laser or a bigger issue with a chip on either the mother board or the optical drive daughter board. I've used a few lasers at this point and I'm struggling to think it's a laser issue.

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

Those drives have 2 laser units, one for DVDs and one for Bluray discs.
It's basically 1 drive with 2 pickup units and the information from the 2 lasers is send to that daughterboard where it is processed.

With a new unit, I think you can assume that the both lasers are working.
So maybe it is that daughterboard that has some sort of fault or a bad connection with the main board.
Since there are no schematic, I don't know if for example the power for the BD laser is separated from the power of the DVD laser.
If you have a thermal camera, maybe check if something is getting warmer than usual.
Else isopropyal alcohol might reveal something.
The PS5 schematic were leaked so maybe someone else knows more details.

 

[stetofix]

"unsupported disc" is an indicator that the disc drive board or at least the SIE chip is not the original one.

From my knowledge the PS5 laser units are single laser and a mechanic is moving the lense in the needed position for DVD or BD.

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

Did the drive every read BD discs in the first place?

 

[cene]

I have the same issue with "unsupported disc". I bought faulty console that does't turn on. After diagnostics I found that the HDMI IC was shorted. Replaced it and console turns on and works but with "unsupported disc" on every disc. Also the LAN port not worked. For that reason I think that console has been hit by lightning strike. Replaced the southbridge - now LAN is working but still have "unsupported disc". I'm pretty sure that console has original disc drive inside but I don't know for sure. Also I make the last update from Internet without any error codes like on PS4.

 

[Rasa39]

I had the same issue, tried everything and nothing worked except when I replaced the motor controller. Which was odd because I thought it wasn't faulty since the motor was working and the discs would spin up a bunch, try to spit itself out (or at least sound like it), then give me the same error as you.

So try replacining the motor controller, for my CFI-11xx unit, it was the rectangular chip across from the SIE chip, luckily I had a faulty ps4 pro which had the same motor controller on it, swapped it out and it worked great afterwards.

Just be warned if you're looking at using a ps4 to source the part (if you have one, otherwise just buy the chip), because some ps4 pros use a different type of chip than the ps5, my ps4 pro was the latest version so maybe that's why the chip was the same as on the ps5.

ED: Just realised you can obviously use the motor controller from the spare board you have. It sounds like this might be the issue, since DVD's play with the new board, meaning the motor controller works on that one, but obviously games won't since the SIE is paired like mentioned by others.

So either put the new motor controller on the original board, or put the original SIE chip on the new board, but it's safer and slightly easier to replace the motor controller since it's less of a deal if you damage it compared to the SIE chip.

 

[cene]

I've replaced that chip now but same issue. I'm start thinking that this console really not has the original daughter PCB board on disc drive. Can somebody confirm that the PS5 can update without error code with non matching disc drive PCB board?

 

[stetofix]

Yes, it is possibel to update a PS5 with not matching disc drive. There is only an error if the disc drive isn't responding at all.

 

[Rasa39]

Oh that's a shame, I was under the impression that you bought it working and it later broke. But yes it's probably as you said, and that someone swapped out the board, hopefully without knowing about the SIE chip, otherwise you might have gotten scammed.

Personally I think you should be able to send consoles like that to Sony, so they can reflash/re-pair the chips for a fee, at least that saves the part going to landfill. Or maybe stop pairing the fucking things in the first place, or provide an online re-pairing service like they basically do with the slim disc drives whenever you slap those on a console.

Especially since some people might just throw the whole console out instead of turning it into a digital only (which I guess technically you don't need to since the drive is at least recognised by the console).