Testing a Gamecube without owning any games?

I got a gamecube some time ago, with no games...

Should the laser attempt to read any regular cd, if I remove the lid, and hold the lid closed buttons down?

Should it spin up the disc? Should I be able to see the laser moving to focus?

 

The pickup should go to the center of the disc, the laser turn on (it's visible red) and the lens go into focus search. If you have a (non gamecube) disc in it, then it should get focus and tracking lock but will quickly shut down because it can't find the right sync patterns.

 

Should it spin the disc up before it realises its not a gamecube disc?

 

yes

 

Thats what I assumed... this turns the laser on, moves it, focuses it, but doesn't spin the disc.... it tried spinning the disc motor once when I didn't actually have the disc on the spindle...

 

Sounds like it's not getting focus lock - possibly the optical pickup is bad.

 

worn out laser maybe? or, is it possible that it simply won't focus on this type of disc, so never spins it up?

 

Honestly, it's rather silly to be testing this out without a game, as you can't make any concrete conclusions without one. Just get an old sports game for a dollar or something locally. I just looked on eBay and you can get sports games for GC for $3 - including shipping.