Consoles breaking left and right.......all from the same generation

Just a side question, if you had a Gamecube and it would not read a disc but the disc does not seem messed up and you used a q-tip with rubbing alcohol on the lens but you have been nervous about checking up the system with another game since (considering the Gamecube games you have are hard to come by), what do you suggest to do? I think getting a low cost game in very good condition and checking would be best, but I have had the system stored away in a plastic container for awhile and have not done anything as of yet. Can you harm the lazer with rubbing alcohol? I guess I have been on edge sense my Playstation 2 had acted up and my DS Lite need replacement parts......but I am not confident in repairs............

 

Rubbing alcohol wont harm it, infact, its the opposite. You are supposed to clean laser lens with rubbing alcohol.

 

I mean, there's no harm in getting like Madden 2004 for a buck or two to test it if you're really worried, but unless you pressed down too hard on the lens you should be totally fine.

 

I actually haven't had many problems with consoles of that generation. I got the GC, PS2, and Xbox new when they were still in production, and I still have those systems. I did have one GC that died, but that was because I accidentally dumped ice all over it. I had a warranty on it, and they gave me a new one, which I still have (and it's still functional). My PS2 and Xbox are still working fine. I have a Japanese SCPH-10000 unit that's still working, although it seems like the eject mechanism is kind of slow, and it sometimes takes a while to boot the game. Once the game is running, it has no issues. That system is probably going to die sooner than most of my other consoles, unfortunately. My other NTSC-U PS2 is a later model (around 2003-2004) which has no issues.

I've had a lot of problems with the generation after that. My first 360 RROD'd once, I sent it back to Microsoft (it was under warranty at the time), they "fixed" it and sent it back to me. It worked for another year or so and then RROD'd again. It was no longer under warranty, so rather than pay for it to get it repaired, I just got a new one. The one I have now is a Jasper system, which is supposed to be more reliable than the early models. I've had that system since 2009, and it's still working. My PS3 has issues. It has trouble loading Blu-rays, and it makes weird noises when loading discs. Strangely, it seems that games load fine most of the time. Sony wants $100 to fix it. I might just get another PS3.

 

I've had 3 RRODs, but my 360 has been working fine for years no, but since I got my PS3 I never turn it on. Heavily considering upgrading it to a Slim 360 all I really use my 360 for now is Shmupping.

 

You should think about adding a hard drive to the PS2, then you can boot via McBoot, and load games from the hard drive using Open PS2 Loader, which is much faster, and saves wear and tear on your hard drive. Since you can boot from the hard drive or memory card, then you don't even need to boot from the DVD drive, and you can copy ISO images to the hard drive via an IDE connector in your PC using WinHIIP.

It really is brilliant, using a hard drive with a PS2. For more information, see:



http://theisozone.com/tutorials/ps2/hardware-and-modding/ps2-hdd-modding-tutorial-hddosd/

http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/playing-ps2-games-from-hdd.45953/

http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/fat-ps2-hdd-loading-tutorial.56774/#post-812783

http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/need-some-advice-installing-an-hard-drive-to-fat-ps2.44928/

 

seems kind of complicated but I am considering that as an option.

 

I upgraded to a Slim just because it doesn't RROD, then the disc tray stopped working after the warranty expired (never again getting a GS refurb). My PS3 is basically my Netflix machine. I don't even watch Blu-Rays as much as I thought I would.

I would use Free McBoot, but both my PS2s are slims, and I don't think there's a way to use an HDD with that at all.

 

Can't say I have any problems with consoles from that generation, but then again I don't leave them exposed like most people. When not in use and any heat has dissipated I drape a dust cloth over it. I use that white plastic wrapping that the original playstation came with. No dust is ever allowed to settle. Bit anal, but it works.

My nemesis is failing controllers, more specifically failing dualshock 2. I've had about 6 of them and despite gentle handling they all develop problems. Buttons stop working, become difficult to get a response without pressing hard, analog stick becomes creaky and the infamous 'drift' and spazing out of analog directions. There is something wrong wih those official dualshock 2 controllers I tells you.

 

There is actually a way to mod PS2 slims for them to accept IDE drives. It involves a ton of soldering and is probably not worth the hassle.

I agree. For me, DualShock 2 always seems unreliable. I have 3 original Dualshock controllers and they all work fine. But in the past year, I have had 2 DualShock2 controllers fail.
And it's stupid that games like Battlefront 2 require DualShock2 to actually play, although all the buttons are the same.
If I'm correct, then the only difference between DS2 and DS1, is that DualShock2 has pressure sensitive buttons.

 

Every phat ps2 I have owned eventually develops an issue with the DVD tray where it starts to get stuck or railing begins to break. Current one I have with hdd for exploit makes horrible noise when I open tray. Even slim ps2 I had had issue with door being recognized closed cause tab for 2nd switch is warped in back. Had to solder trace to get it working again. Also have had 2 dual shock 2 go bad. Sony just made this stuff super cheap. Japanese phat ps2 surprisingly has little issues after cleaning laser.