silver Gamecube read error

I'm pretty sure the silver one is the original "limited edition" platinum and not later issue, it has digital video port and extra serial port not present in later revisions. Anyway I got it for a mere $5 and it powers up but it won't read disc, it reports read error. I can tell it is spinning but I can't tell if the laser is working without taking it apart.

Using original GC disc that works fine in my other GC so it's not a damaged disc or burned disc. What are the common causes and solutions for GC that can't read disc?

 

90% of the time its just a dead laser.

 

hi kat , common causes are.............



- the Laser Lens is dirty
- the POT has gone down to a level where it cant read discs anymore , 90 ohms etc
- the Laser is completely dead ( no red glow )
- the drive needs a Lube
- the Laser Lens needs to be realigned



i actually bought a GC off an idiot it was either $5 or 10 bucks but yeah it wouldnt boot games anymore and i fixed it in no time................ after that i rubbed it in his face

 

REPLACE THE OPTICAL PICKUP (aka the LAAAZZOORRRRRRR!!!)

wam bam thank you mamm!

If the drive mech is stuck, ie the the pickup can't seek(move backwards and forwards), you will know..

pot tweaks are like fixing a leaking pipe with chewing gum, works but there are better less diddly ways.

 

If you end up needing a laser, megalomaniac from gcforever has a store with cheap gc parts:
http://www.badassconsoles.com/parts/
drive assy (without the board) is only $1 + shipping.

 

Wait… WHAT? THEY SELL IT FOR 1$???

 

Yeah, he sells a board to easily hook up an sd card drive replacement for the gamecube. He designed it so it would be plug-n-play by using the connector from the dvd assembly board. He bought lots of consoles just for this connector so has extra good parts hes selling for cheap.

 

Replacing the laser is something I find rarely works. Replacing the entire drive, OTOH...

 

I took the case off and checked. I can see the red laser on the disc as it spins up. First it goes to the outtermost track, then to the middle before it stops at the inner most track and reports read error.

I noticed if I released the disc lid switch then pressed it back down, it tries again and reports a different error message, to shut it off and check instruction.

I think it needs adjustment. Will check it later as I can't find the tiny screwdriver I need to finish taking it apart and gain access to the drive board.

 

as i learned from emu_kidid how to POT tweak GC's do the below , some is what i learned from another site as well and experience doing 12 of my own GC's..................


first get a reading of where your GC's POT is , then raise it to 350 ohms and test a game if it doesnt work drop 50 ohm and test again


keep going till you find where it will read discs , then get the games Super Smash Bros Melee and Metroid Prime 2 Echoes


run them for 20+ mins ( 30 mins recommended by me ) for each game you dont have to play the games just run them in demo mode


if they both pass you've most likely found the right ohms for your GC , if it fails you will need to drop a little more ohms to find the sweet spot


so if you get the games to boot at 250 ohms but fails ( DRE ) later on in the 20+ minute test , drop about 50 ohm and test again.




good luck