PS1/2 Disc won’t spin in PS2 Slim

[MaxiBash]

I saw a lot of people on the internet complaining about this, and this happend also to me,

When I was at my cousin’s house, he showed me off his Super Nintendo. We played a couple of games of Super Mario All Stars, until I looked at the back, and saw he has a PS2 Slim, covered in dust, hooked up for years, doing nothing. So, I decided to put in a PS2 game and plug it up to the TV, however, the PS2 never made a noice, disc never spinned.

I saw the motor might be broken, but is there a way to fix this without buying replacements?

 

[Snomannen_kalle]

You could try to open the PS2 and disconnect and reconnect the ribbon cable connecting the motor to the motherboard. If that doesn't work, and you don't want to install a replacement, you could look into samba file sharing through OPL as described in this thread:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-load-from-usb-on-ps2.432102/

Edit: file sharing wont fix your drive, but it will make it possible to play games without it

 

[MaxiBash]

Sorry for a late reply. After 2 months, I finally got the PS2 Slim. I opened it up, cleaned the dust out of the console, tried to play a game, yet the motor wasn't spinning.
Instead, it made a noice coming out of the whole console that sounds like you're drilling in iron. Sure doesn't sound very healthy.
I'm pretty much stuck now and I don't know if a raplacement is neccasairy. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but to be sure, I'm going to buy a replacement, but that noice clearly was not coming from the motor.

 

[Snomannen_kalle]

That sounds really strange. In a PlayStation 2 Slim, the only moving parts, if I recall correctly, are ones associated with the drive, and the fan, so it seems to me it must be one of those. There are one motor to spin up the disc, another to move the laser assembly, and at least one more to focus the laser, you are completely sure the sound didn't come from one of those? You could also check the fan, but I find it hard to believe that that is the problem, when the sound only appears when you put in a game

 

[jellybeangreen2]

Years and years a go. Talking 10 years ago! I had the exact same problem. This was my fault though, on the motherboard there are two or three sensors. Double check these. My problem was I had swap magic at the time and people recommended to use super glue to keep the sensor down. This was a big no no as I found out. It in actual fact caused the same problem you described. I just swapped it at the shop and they did happily. I instead used tape to hold it down which worked great. So I’d check that first buddy

 

[MaxiBash]

Ok, so after doing some research (and asking my dad, thanks dad ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ), I figured out what the problem was. It turned out to be very common with PS2 Slim models:

There are 2 pins that are held down when a the top panel is closed. These 2 pins tell the PlayStation that it's safe to spin the disc. However, a lot of PS2 Slim models bent the top panel after many years, causing the pins not to be fully pressed down.
Here's what I did: Get some sticky ducktape, check both pins and put a little bit of ducktape over the pin that cannot be regoniced properly. So, the motor wasn't broken after all.

It can now fully play all discs again, except for a PS2 game that's heavily scratched from the back. Some toothpaste will maybe do the trick. The loud noice is also gone. I guess something was stuck when it wasn't properly closed.
Anyway, still thanks for the help!

 

[uyjulian]

If your laser on your PS2 dies, you can still use Open PS2 Loader to play games from USB drives or from a network share. Compatibility has improved massively for USB mode.

 

[jellybeangreen2]

Ok, so after doing some research (and asking my dad, thanks dad ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ), I figured out what the problem was. It turned out to be very common with PS2 Slim models:

There are 2 pins that are held down when a the top panel is closed. These 2 pins tell the PlayStation that it's safe to spin the disc. However, a lot of PS2 Slim models bent the top panel after many years, causing the pins not to be fully pressed down.
Here's what I did: Get some sticky ducktape, check both pins and put a little bit of ducktape over the pin that cannot be regoniced properly. So, the motor wasn't broken after all.

It can now fully play all discs again, except for a PS2 game that's heavily scratched from the back. Some toothpaste will maybe do the trick. The loud noice is also gone. I guess something was stuck when it wasn't properly closed.
Anyway, still thanks for the help!

Read my post above Yours told ya buddy. Glad it’s fixed

 

[MaxiBash]

Read my post above Yours told ya buddy. Glad it’s fixed

I did, tape worked better.

 

[MaxiBash]

Actually, I'm presented with a new issue:
(Maybe) none of the PS2 games will play.
I know there's a list of games that will not work, but this doesn't fall in that category.
PS1 games work fine (tested Crash Bandicoot) but Roland Garros Paris 2005 on the PS2 says "Error while reading disc."
I slapped that thing into my PC and it works, so, bullshit!
And yes, I even tested it on PCSX2, it worked.
I even cleaned it with toothpaste and let it sit for 10 minutes and yet it wont play.

Is it the PS2 Slim acting weird?

 

[jellybeangreen2]

Actually, I'm presented with a new issue:
(Maybe) none of the PS2 games will play.
I know there's a list of games that will not work, but this doesn't fall in that category.
PS1 games work fine (tested Crash Bandicoot) but Roland Garros Paris 2005 on the PS2 says "Error while reading disc."
I slapped that thing into my PC and it works, so, bullshit!
And yes, I even tested it on PCSX2, it worked.
I even cleaned it with toothpaste and let it sit for 10 minutes and yet it wont play.

Is it the PS2 Slim acting weird?

Since you’ve now taped it down. You’re putting the disc in. Then powering on the console?

 

[MaxiBash]

Yes.
I put in the PS2 disc, turn on the console, actually tries to load, but goes to the main menu.
Selecting it from the browser says "Error while reading disc."
Then, I put in the PS1 disc, turn on the console, loads and sends me to the PS1 bootscreen.

 

[uyjulian]

Actually, I'm presented with a new issue:
(Maybe) none of the PS2 games will play.
I know there's a list of games that will not work, but this doesn't fall in that category.
PS1 games work fine (tested Crash Bandicoot) but Roland Garros Paris 2005 on the PS2 says "Error while reading disc."
I slapped that thing into my PC and it works, so, bullshit!
And yes, I even tested it on PCSX2, it worked.
I even cleaned it with toothpaste and let it sit for 10 minutes and yet it wont play.

Is it the PS2 Slim acting weird?

"Error while reading disc" is the new version of the "Disc read error." message. Your laser probably died, so you need to replace it or use Open PS2 Loader.

 

[zfreeman]

Sounds like a laser issue. Try playing a DVD, see if you get the same result.

 

[MaxiBash]

"Error while reading disc" is the new version of the "Disc read error." message. Your laser probably died, so you need to replace it or use Open PS2 Loader.

But that can't be!
It reads Crash Bandicoot from the laser, why not the others?

 

[uyjulian]

But that can't be!
It reads Crash Bandicoot from the laser, why not the others?

DVD games are read on a different wavelength than CD games.

 

[zfreeman]

The PS2 laser has two potentiometers that control the voltage output. One is to read CDs and the other reads DVDs. If cleaning doesn't work you can try adjusting the DVD one to increase the voltage.

 

[MaxiBash]

Sounds like a laser issue. Try playing a DVD, see if you get the same result.

I played a DVD. It was region-locked, but told me enough it worked.
So, so far:

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

The PS2 laser has two potentiometers that control the voltage output. One is to read CDs and the other reads DVDs. If cleaning doesn't work you can try adjusting the DVD one to increase the voltage.

Where can those potentiometers be located?
Is it under one of those iron shields?

 

[MaxiBash]

So a few hours have passed, and I finally got the PS2 game working.
Just like what zfreeman said, I had to turn up the voltage. Only by turning both screws into 2 degrees, the PlayStation can now play all games and it's fully repaired.
I want to thank everyone who gave me these tips, because I thought that all I could do it put the PS2 out of misery.

Thanks all!