PS2 slim loading PS2 discs very slowly, but not PS1

Tried playing a PS2 game and it started freezing/hanging; after restarting, it failed to even reach the main menu. Pretty much all my other PS2 games show similar issues. But there no such trouble with PS1 games.

-The problems started while playing a PS2 game, where it would hang for a few seconds during gameplay (music still plays). Tried a different level and it was loading forever. I restarted the PS2 and it failed to even reach the main menu, loading forever. Now, it gets to the main menu, where the background is black instead of showing cutscene clips, and selecting most options hangs the game (with music playing).
-My other games load much more slowly too and have other issues. For example, opening sequences freeze frequently; music frequently stop and resume, menus take very long to appear and they do so disjointed (individual menu elements appear separately instead of simultaneously).

I'm thinking it could be the laser, but not sure. Could be dirt/debris in other components. Hesitant to resort to adjusting the potentiometers, since my expertise with hardware consists of unintentionally breaking everything. Just want to hear other's opinions on if it possibly could be due to anything else.

I have an unmodded slim SCPH-70011

 

First you can try replace the laser unit. Will sold cheap for around 20 bug complete.
But when it reads CDs fine but DVDs not i will say its the laser. I not really go to adjust the laser, buy a exchange one will be the better option.

 

Hm, alright. I guess that's something I can look into. Since it involves a bit of hands-on with the system's internals, I have to approach it more carefully since again, I'll most likely end up breaking something in the process.

However, I want to bring up something that is very strange because it has now happened 3 times. First 2 back in December/January and now again.
The system had gotten to a point a few hours ago that it flat out wouldn't even recognize the PS2 games (screen reading insert a Playstation or Playstation 2 disc, no data on disc, etc.), or get stuck on a black screen after the Playstation 2 screen. I popped in PS1 Doom and played it for a bit. Come back to my PS2 games and they mostly all work. What's the reason for this?

 

hi contra , is your PS2 drive making any clicking sounds when trying to read a disc ?

 

Do you mean only at startup or any time while the game is running? No clicks at startup, but the system does make a noise when the disc is being read; usually at/around loading screens or when an event like dialog or cutscene is about to begin, or the environment is being rendered. But it does this for both PS1 and PS2 discs and I wouldn't describe it as clicking; it's been doing that way before this bigger issue (maybe even always, just hadn't noticed for a while).

Should be worth mentioning that playing certain games (MGS3 Subsistence or Mega Man Anniversary Collection, for example) will send my PS2 out of whack and then I need to run Doom again for a bit to undo this issue, just like this recent problem described in this thread. But the problem is not with these discs, for sure. It seems my PS2 struggles to play these particular games, which somehow puts it into some state full of read errors on PS2 discs and makes it struggle to play other PS2 games from there.

 

The laser of ps2 have ps1 and ps2 functionality so, they are independent... probably the part os ps2 are broken. you have to replace all to get it ok again

 

If it has to come down to replacing the laser, which it really does seem like, I guess that's it. But I'm still baffled at my console's particular phenomenon. Why is my copy of Doom partly fixing the issue?

 

I'm not an expert but maybe using any PS1 games warm up the console and "something" happen to the laser when it's still hot that let you start a ps2 game... Did you tried by simply cleaning the lens first? Just use a cotton swab barely wet (do not use alcohol).

 

Get yourself one of those lens cleaning CD, you pop it in, a music plays for a couple of minutes and it will automatically cleanse the lens. I wouldn't even bother trying to clean it with a cotton swab, better not touch it at all considering this component is very sensitive, you could end up just making things worse. If that doesn't work simply buy a laser replacement and you should be all set.

Below is an example of a lens cleaning CD, you can get one for less than 5 bucks it's ridiculously cheap and works pretty well.

 

Not just any PS1 game, only that particular one out of my entire PS1 library; but I see what you mean, I have the same guess that it does something to the lens when it's trying to be read that somehow brings back some functionality.

Err... I kind of already of already went the laser swabbing route Luckily it didn't damage anything, though it didn't fix the issue either; most important is the former. The lens cleaning CD is definitely something I want to try now as well before turning to replacement.

Thanks!

 

Also bare in mind the cost of a PS2 nowadays... it may be marginally more expensive but much easier to replace the whole unit.

 

If you have a fat model, you can install a hdd on play the games without burning any disk, you can do the same on the slim model, but with a pen drive, and the loading times inst too bad