PS2 slim laser problem: DRE first try, but always success second try

Hey,

Got a weird problem with a PS2 slim... I just replaced the laser with another one from ebay. I've just removed the solder anti-static blob and put it in the machine. Now, basically - on at least one PS1 CD, the machine will almost throw "Could not read the disc" on the first attempt. However, after trying again soon after, it will always succeed. If the machine is turned off, or left in the OSD with lid open, for only a minute or so to "cool down", the next attempt will always fail again.

Videos of the issue:
http://youtu.be/D4zyycQvwLM - top view, first a failed attempt than a bunch of successful one. This is how it usually goes.
http://youtu.be/SLe_w8nnrdc - side view - a disc read error
http://youtu.be/eY6cZ49347Y - side view - sucessful read - not that interesting, for comparison

Note that the clicking sound of the focusing laser *does* clearly get progressively louder until it stops trying.

The problem is definitly in the laser... I've had two other lasers in this machine which both had other problems of their own. (The first gave random DRE on DVDs, but in a different way than this one and in a more random fasion. The second would play everything every time, but would instead skip CD-A in at least one game.) Getting really annoying to have a pile of SO-close-to-working-perfectly lasers

I do need to try more discs, I have only tried a few this far and so far it it only happens on this game. The game is not in the best condition but it does work fine with other lasers. I post this here already now just in case anyone else have an idea what this might be... Any ideas? Just a crappy laser or is it something that may be possible to fix?

Cheers!

 

So you are saying you are only having trouble with one disc in particular?

Do you know the original laser type for that console?

Check/adjust the pots and see if that helps.

Try cleaning the lens and the mirror, sometimes I get new lasers into the workshop that aren't reading and it's just because the supplier was sloppy and didn't handle them properly, a clean with some IPA usually gets them going 100%..

How many lasers have you tried? try a different seller, some are cheap for a reason..

hope this helps

EDIT: Also check the ribbon cable going to the laser assembly, may be damaged or have a dirty contact..

 

PlayStation2 has adjusts like any other kind of CD/DVD player. But it's not in the form of potentiometers as it was with late 80s and early 90s CD Players. It stores the adjusts on the mechanics controller eeprom.

A service technician at SONY would connect the PlayStation2 to a service JIG with a PC running the adjustment software and using adjustment discs the technician would send commands from the PC for the adjustment process to complete. The service center PC "talks" to the PS2 through a RS232C link.

 

Thanks,

So far there is only problem with one disc, have only tried 4 of them though (1 DVD movie, 2 PS1 games, 1 CD-A). But what's weird is that it is *almost always* fails the first attempt, but the 2nd (and 3, 4, 5...) attempt, the disc is ALWAYS read PERFECTLY. What you see in the first video is this typical case when the machine has been idle for about a minute: First attempt fails with clicking, while second, third and fourth etc is successful and fast. Also, it always fails or works in the exact same way - it doesn't appear to be struggling in any way. See on the video how quick it works when it works, while *something* happens around 0:05-0:06 in the side view video of the DRE - the disc slows down, the laser sort of "resets" (moves home and back) and goes back to focus spasms (click click click) with clearly visible light which invariably fails. In successful reads, nothing of this happens.

I have tried four different lasers (each from different source): None of them had this problem and two of them had other problems that I mentioned in the first post, a third worked perfectly but now sits in a different machine. The problems of the other lasers followed the lasers when they were moved to other machines. Basically, this is definitly narrowed down to the laser itself.

Given the "non-random" symptoms of this it doesn't seem like cleaning or adjusting things would help, or what do you think?

EDIT: All the lasers are PWR-802W, the machine is an SCPH-77004.

 

You're missing my point. The point is:

These consoles do have a COUPLE of adjusts that are out of reach from average tech personal as it require SONY equipment and software tools to change them.

If a console came from factory and was never serviced at SONY service centers it will have an "average" setting range saved in it's eeprom which makes it more likely to work with these aftermarket replacement lasers. If the PS2 has been to a SONY service center and got adjusted with a jig computer it will be adjusted in a non generic set of settings which will make it difficult for it to work with anything but the laser it had installed previously.

I suggest you try to get some "average" settings set with "lenschanger" application. You can also take another console of same kind dump it's eeprom and transplant on that one which is giving you headaches. Keep it in mind that consoles older than 50k will lose their serial number information if you do such a thing without properly edit the eeprom data to be written (place your console specific information back onto the to be written file.

Be careful if you play with lenschanger. Backup the original eeprom first so you can go back to the original settings, which at least work.