PS3 drive issues

So, I've been having some issues with my PS3. Basically it has problems with Blu-ray movies. Everything else appears to be fine; the OS works, Netflix works, games on the HDD play, it'll even load game discs just fine. For some reason it just has problems with BD movies. I actually use my PS3 for this quite a bit, so it matters to me. I talked to Sony customer support about it, and they couldn't give me any advice other than to send it to them, and they would fix it for $100. I don't want to do that right now, but I might eventually if I have no other options. Is there anything I could try myself before I send it in to Sony? The drive makes weird sounds when it's trying to load a disc. But like I said, it will load a PS3 game disc (which are all Blu-ray-based), so that would suggest that the laser is fine. It doesn't really make sense, then, why it wouldn't load Blu-ray movies. Sometimes, randomly, a Blu-ray movie will load, but usually not. Any ideas as to what's going on here?

It's an original 120GB Slim model, by the way.

 

What kind of weird sounds does it make? It does actually sound like the laser is failing. I'm wondering if any of your games might hiccup while playing, for example, a game that has a lot of cutscenes or something like that.

 

I think the sounds it makes are the loading mechanism for the tray. It's kind of a buzzing, whirring sound. I tried a few different games, and they all seem to load and play fine. I didn't notice any problems in the gameplay or the cutscenes. It's possible that the loading times are slightly longer than before, but it's hard to tell.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that it often does this thing where it tries to load a disc, then makes a sound like it's ejecting the disc, but the disc doesn't actually eject. Then it tries to load it again. When it does this with a game, it usually loads. When it does that with a movie, usually it'll keep trying to read the disc, but it never actually loads.

 

Hmm, I reckon it's the mechanism. Is it like this ?

 

No, it's not quite like that. It makes a sound as if the mechanism you see in that video is trying to eject the disc, but I guess it isn't working properly, so the disc doesn't eject. However, if I press the eject button, it does eject. I'm not sure what's going on there. It also makes another sound that's probably the drive motor. There may be something wrong with that as well.

 

If your console doesn't have any warranty left, then I would suggest getting a replacement drive and swapping it over yourself, for half the cost that sony are asking. Not sure on best place to get replacement, but you're looking at roughly $50 - $60 for a replacement. There's an awesome how-to here http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/PlayStation+3+Slim+Blu-ray+Disc+Drive+Replacement/3228

 

In case of drive replacement you'll need to re-marry new bd-drive to motherboard.
Which means you have to be able to run unsigned code.
Which means you must have custom firmware installed.

 

Can't you just swap the circuit board from the old bd drive with the new one??

 

^^ NO!
the controllers are hardcoded to the drive hardware as well as console...
it may as well be a new drive altogether! (and bear in mind, some of the drive pcb designs can vary)
...
[edit]
i HATE using keyboards..

 

Ah ok. Didn't know it was that complicated to replace one.

I personally find your comments to be quite fun to read lol.

 

:cocksure: thanks!
....
the [edit] usage is literally for corrections (typo) but my fingers are so fat and chunky, i hit 99999999 keys all at the same time...
forcing inevitable cleanup!

 

People who don't have an ability to run unsigned code usually replace lens assembly - it will work, but you need to make sure it's same model as one used in your console.

 

^^ never thought of it that way around... :friendly_wink:
but it should be the same effect as the controller swap?!
...
never had an ounce of luck swapping pcb's, and never swapped a lens!
....
the pcb's (i'm certain) were the same design as the drive busted, got nowhere!
(had to fork out for a drive in the end! thank god that hasn't died....yet!)
....
i'll keep the above pointer in mind, appreciate it!
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for the subject itself, thought i'd leave a youtube search result on BD stripdown...
there's a good set of hits!

^^ plus other things that appear related to the subject!

 

You HATE using keyboards? What do you prefer to type with? Your posts are really confusing to read. I don't know why you use ellipses in between lines.

In my case, I'm not sure if that will solve the problem. I think there is an issue with the motor and/or the eject/load mechanism. So simply replacing the lens probably wouldn't fix the issue. Also, I don't want to run any unsigned code on the PS3. I want to keep it as stock as possible.

 

^^ thanks for that!
f*ck trying to offer YOU advice again! (your own subject DERAILED by yourself!)
...
second to get on my 'friends' list....
way to go!

 

Geez man, calm down. I was just commenting on the style of your posts, I didn't mean it as an insult. I hardly think a one line reply is derailing the entire thread. And if you respond to criticism by lashing out at people, that's probably not going to work out very well for you in the long run.

 

Could the games be single layer 25GB bluray, yet the BD-movies are 50GB? I remember having an XBOX360, would play DVD-R and single layer pressed discs, but wouldn't read dual layer movies and thus obviously XBOX360 games

Yeah, most people I know tend to CFW PS3s that have broken drives, most down-graders on eBay charge less than just a new laser lens part.