PS1/2 PS2 Wont read internal HDD anymore... I've tried EVERYTHING

ThaKarra · Sep 25, 2020

About 2 years ago I brought a GameStar IDE HDD adapter for my PS2. I installed a 160gb HDD and it was working completely fine. I used an OLD PC that still had IDE connectors and WinHIIP to load the HDD with a bunch of games and used OPL to boot them. (You could always tell the HDD was working with the PS2 because you could see a yellow light indicator through the vents of the console). Everything was working fine, absolutely no issues.

Fast forward to last week and I decided that I wanted to install some new games on the HDD. But I now no longer had the OLD PC with the IDE connectors. So I went on Amazon and purchased one of those IDE/USB dongles. I took the HDD out of my PS2 and plugged it into the USB dongle but I stupidly plugged the power connected of the dongle into the HDD the wrong way around and it completely blew the HDD. It would no longer read attached to the PC via dongle and I tried plugging it back into the PS2, but nothing. You could physically hear the HDD failing to spin up.

I didn't think it would be a problem because I have another 3 IDE HDDs laying around the house. I whip out a Samsung 250GB IDE HDD and plug it into the dongle (This time I make sure I plug the power connector in the CORRECT way). I format the HDD using WinHIIP, take it out the dongle and put it into the PS2... Nothing... The PS2 is not even detecting it. There is no yellow light indicator visible through the console vents, just nothing. So I tried a second Western Digital IDE HDD, same thing.. PS2 was NOT detecting ANYTHING. I even tried to use UELF so I could try formatting via the HDDFORMAT tool, but that idea failed because the PS2 wasn't detecting anything plugged in. So I tried the third Seagate IDE HDD. This one was only 40gb but I thought it was worth a try just to test it. This time I plugged it into the PS2 and the yellow light came on BUT it wasn't flickering to indicate it was reading the HDD. It was just a solid yellow light. Still though, the PS2 would not detect any HDD connected. --

I remembered that there was an 80GB IDE HDD inside my old original Xbox. So I unscrewed my Xbox, took out the HDD and plugged it into the PS2, just to try it. Still the same thing.. No yellow light indicator and PS2 detecting no HDD.

At this point I'm completely lost. So I decided to order a SATA adapter for my PS2 and ditch the idea of IDE. The SATA adapter arrived today. I hooked up a 300gb Hitachi HDD to the PS2, same thing. No yellow light, PS2 not detecting it.

LASTLY. I think it's worth mentioning that whenever I have a HDD plugged into my PS2 and turn it on, the PS2 boot screen takes FOREVER to load. - Like, you know the screen that says "Sony Computer Entertainment" and it has the cubes and space look? That screen completely hangs. I recorded a video so you can see what I mean. - https://streamable.com/i9e3i5 - Take the HDD out and the PS2 boots at normal pace.

ADDITIONAL NOTES...

I just want to point out that every HDD I tested in the PS2 works perfectly on my PC. I can format it, install games via WinHIIP.. No problems.

It might also be worth mentioning that my PS2 has a Matrix Infinity Modchip installed. Not that I think that's the cause of the issue.

Please help! I am completely out of ideas. Something that has been working perfectly for 2-years and now nothing. It can't be a coincidence that all 5 HDDs I tested in the PS2 have compatibility issues.

slaphappygamer · Sep 26, 2020

It’s got to be something simple. The HDD must be set to “master” when in the ps2 and “slave” for pc connection.

ThaKarra · Sep 26, 2020

slaphappygamer said:
It’s got to be something simple. The HDD must be set to “master” when in the ps2 and “slave” for pc connection.

I've tried playing with the jumper switch. Doesn't make a difference

kaputnik · Sep 26, 2020

Sounds very strange. Just double checking, you never connected the original drive to the PS2 after it blew, right?

Would start by making sure that the connectors are ok and makes proper contact. Common problem with that kind of China stuff, build quality and fit isn't always the best.

Regarding jumpers, some drives got separate "master" and "single drive" settings. When the drive is alone on an IDE channel with no slave drive present, like in the PS2, you're supposed to use the latter.

Edit: you might want to try the "cable select" (CS) setting too, if you haven't already.

ThaKarra · Sep 26, 2020

kaputnik said:
Sounds very strange. Just double checking, you never connected the original drive to the PS2 after it blew, right?

Yeah I stupidly did. I wanted to make sure the HDD was definitely stuffed. I didn't think a faulty HDD would cause any damage to the console. I thought at worst it just wouldn't detect anything. -- Looks like this mistake might be the issue.

kaputnik said:
Regarding jumpers, some drives got separate "master" and "single drive" settings. When the drive is alone on an IDE channel with no slave drive present, like in the PS2, you're supposed to use the latter.

Edit: you might want to try the "cable select" (CS) setting too, if you haven't already.

I've tried literally every combination of jumpers (with and without) on the back of the HDDs. There was a SATA drive I tried that didn't even have a jumper switch. It made no difference. -- Like I said above.. I think I've damaged the PS2 by testing the busted HDD.

zfreeman · Sep 26, 2020

There are 2 fuses that regulate power between the PS2 and the HDD. If the HDD spins up but doesn't have enough to load or isn't detected at all, that may mean that 1 or 2 of the fuses needs replaced. You can identify these fuses by the '50' or 'S3' marking on them. Using a multimeter while the system is powered off, you can check the fuses for continuity.

[PS2 HARDWARE] Map of the Various PS2 Fuse Locations

https://www.ebay.com/itm/172205248693
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//172205248693

Ryccardo · Sep 26, 2020

ThaKarra said:
a GameStar

Was it one, after all?
Among the 3rd party "network" adapters (most of them without network, in fact) there are way too many internal designs of varying compatibility with various drivers, so I only recommend the original (especially an imported American one with 56k modem, of which there are no known fakes and is usually still cheaper after shipping than an European one!!)

And yep, I would suspect a fuse problem, especially if you ever attached or removed an expansion bay accessory without turning off the mechanical power switch!

ThaKarra · Sep 26, 2020

Ryccardo said:
Among the 3rd party "network" adapters (most of them without network, in fact) there are way too many internal designs of varying compatibility with various drivers, so I only recommend the original (especially an imported American one with 56k modem, of which there are no known fakes and is usually still cheaper after shipping than an European one!!)

I totally get this. I fully understand that 3rd party network adapters aren't as good as the original. I only went for this option because living in Australia the real ones are hard to find (even online) and people ask for stupid money. I guess the frustrating part is that even though it wasn't a genuine network adapter, it worked perfectly fine for 2-years.

Ryccardo said:
And yep, I would suspect a fuse problem, especially if you ever attached or removed an expansion bay accessory without turning off the mechanical power switch!

Oh I can't say I've ever done this before haha

kaputnik · Sep 26, 2020

ThaKarra said:
Yeah I stupidly did. I wanted to make sure the HDD was definitely stuffed. I didn't think a faulty HDD would cause any damage to the console. I thought at worst it just wouldn't detect anything. -- Looks like this mistake might be the issue.

I've tried literally every combination of jumpers (with and without) on the back of the HDDs. There was a SATA drive I tried that didn't even have a jumper switch. It made no difference. -- Like I said above.. I think I've damaged the PS2 by testing the busted HDD.

Right, that's probably where it went wrong then

See zfreeman's post. To take a number out of thin air, 99% chance that's why your new HDD won't initialize. Those fuses probably need replacement. Not as sure of the fuse PCB designations as zfreeman, might differ between models, but there's plenty of info on it online. Yours are not the first HDD feed fuses to blow. Suggest you read up some on the matter, to identify the fuses, and decide what you want to do about it

theravingrabbid · Mar 14, 2021

Can’t you just get a new PS2 so it can read the HDD?

I know this is a silly answer but knowing that I’ve had this problem since July 2020 and can’t really OPEN the system and replace fuses due to me not having any experience with repairing old systems and would probably just make it worse by attempting to replace the fuses, I figure getting another PS2 is just an easier way out for me personally, unless if that’s not how it works.

ThaKarra · Mar 14, 2021

theravingrabbid said:
Can’t you just get a new PS2 so it can read the HDD?

I know this is a silly answer but knowing that I’ve had this problem since July 2020 and can’t really OPEN the system and replace fuses due to me not having any experience with repairing old systems and would probably just make it worse by attempting to replace the fuses, I figure getting another PS2 is just an easier way out for me personally, unless if that’s not how it works.

I could do this, but my PS2 has a Matrix Infinity mod-chip inside, that I got professional installed over 10 years ago. If I get another PS2, then I lose the ability to read burned discs.

theravingrabbid · Mar 14, 2021

ThaKarra said:
I could do this, but my PS2 has a Matrix Infinity mod-chip inside, that I got professional installed over 10 years ago. If I get another PS2, then I lose the ability to read burned discs.

Ah, fair enough. I guess if you do have a modchip installed that reads burned discs and you don't want to install it again on another one, then I guess replacing fuses is your only choice.

PS1/2 PS2 Wont read internal HDD anymore... I've tried EVERYTHING

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