Disc-Read Errors

[WaBBiT]

To anybody having "disc read errors" here is a simple solution if you dont mind voiding your warranty. This has worked on every ps2 ive ever fixed with the disc read error.

 

You're going to be surprised when you find out how easy this is. Read the instructions all the way through before you attempt the repair just so you'll be familiar with the entire process. First take off the outer cover of you PS2. If you haven't done this before, you will have to remove all the screw covers from the bottom of the unit, both plastic and rubber, these will be the only screws you will have to remove in order to take off the outer cover.

 

 

 

To remove the outer cover, lift up from the rear of the unit and pull towards the front in order to clear the controller jacks and the eject/close buttons. As you remove the outer cover you will notice a small metallic ribbon cable inside the machine leading to the eject/close and reset buttons on the front of the unit, this cable is usually taped to the top of the disc tray. This cable is not a sensitive as it appears; just remove the tape holding the ribbon cable. Once the outer cover is off you need to remove the cover to the disc tray, this will require a rather small phillips screwdriver (I've seen a few that use a standard slotted screw). Now that the tray cover is off, the first thing to do is to clean the laser eye. All you will need is a Q-Tip dipped in alcohol. Just swab the eye a few times and allow it to dry on its own, making sure that no lint was left behind from the Q-Tip.

 

 

 

After the cover is off of the disk tray and the laser has been cleaned you will need to plug the unit back in, (The unit needs to be hooked up to a TV as well to test it while you have it open. You should have a DVD, a game disk with a silver or gold back and one with a purple back in order to fine tune the system to play all three.) It will be necessary to have the unit powered up to perform the repair. Press the eject button so that the tray slides forward exposing the undercarriage. At the back of the unit you should see a small white, geared wheel about the size of a quarter. This little ******* is the cause of all your problems.

 

 

 

This wheel changes the angle in which the disk is held. You will notice that there is a small metal tab that holds the wheel in place. Take a felt-tip marker and mark the point on the wheel that meets the tab. That way you will always know the original position that the wheel was in. Now that the orig. position has been marked, feel free to spin the wheel for a few full rotations in order to see how it changes the angle. It will only alter the angle a few degrees before it goes back to zero, after it reaches the maximum angle it will go back to flat after each full rotation. Once you've toyed with it to see how it works, put the wheel back to the original position that you have marked. Then advance the wheel about 1/8 of a turn clockwise and place the disk tray cover back on top of the disk tray. (You will not need to screw the tray cover back down in order to test the machine; you will only need to hold down the cover with your fingers while trying to load/test a disk) Now place a DVD in the tray and press the eject/close button in order to close the tray and load the DVD (hold down the cover as explained above). Wait to see if the DVD loads, you may have to use the browser in order to load each disk you test. If the DVD loads, eject it and load a silver backed disk, if that loads try a purple backed disk. If all three loaded successfully, congratulations you're finished. If not, remove the tray cover, eject the disk and advance the wheel another 1/8 turn and repeat the process. It just a matter of finding an angle that will facilitate the operation of all three types of disks. Once you've found the proper angle and the system is operating to its full potential, close it up and let'er rip. I also do not recommend placing the PS2 on its side once you have fixed it. Although Sony says they recommend it in the owner manual, I have since seen internal Sony documents retracting the statement and attributing many malfunctions to storing and operating the unit on its side. Keep it flat at all times.

 

 

 

Let me know how it goes or if you are having any problems with the instructions. I have fixed dozens of units with "Disk Read Error" and this has always done the trick

 

Hope this helps some of yaz

Edited November 2, 2004 by WaBBiT

[gav1100]

i get them but my ps2 is OLD so it wouldnt supprise me.mine manages to get to the loading drawing things but freezes for a few seconds when the loading bar is about a CM away from the end, then i get the DRE, no matter what i try, i cant get past this screen. i have had this problem since i was playing the valet mission and all the roads and buildings dissapeared, it froze so i re-started the ps2 and now cant even load it.

Edited November 2, 2004 by gav1100

[AJDude07]

on my old ps2 it was hell to play my games...especially when i bought new ones:(...i bought the sims at one time and the ps2 would only read it "when it felt like it"...it ended up barely ever reading my games so i got a refurbished one for 129 $ at gamestop...it has never had problems....and im shure if you have problems with san andreas you have problems with other games?....i dunno...the only thing ive seen is the game freezes for about a millisecond...then unfreezes...but that doesnt bother me seeing that theres no loading screens:colgate: ... i actually at one time fixed my ps2 by turning the power input up so that the laser would get more power...but eventually my laser just wore out..probly from turning the power input up to high hah but oh well

[WaBBiT]

Most DRE's can be fixed with my method. The problem with them is from wear and tear and playing your PS2 on its side causes the disc alignment to get whacked. So by adjusting the wheel you can get it tracking back where it needs to be in order to read the disc.

[Crimson Scorpion]

SCPH - 39003: (UK PAL)

 

Had the game since Friday, been playing minimum 12 hours per day since then with no problems. Then, suddenly this evening, it started making an awful noise. Then came the "Disc Read Errors". Now it just keeps freezing.

 

My PS2's only 14 months old, got it last September to play Vice City. Never had a problem with that.

 

What I can't understand is why San Andreas works absolutely fine for nearly 5 days before this started occuring.

 

My PS2's not chipped, nor modified in any way. I'm not using any cheats, nor cheat cartridges.

 

I want to continue playing SA as soon as possible & am considering buying the new Slimline version. Has ANYONE had any "Disc Read Problems" with one of these new models? If the new model is guaranteed to play it without problem then that's what I'll do, but I don't want to spend that kind of money on something if I'm just going to have the same problems.

 

Are RockStar & Sony aware of these problems?

Edited November 3, 2004 by Crimson Scorpion

[hitmankilla]

"What I can't understand is why San Andreas works absolutely fine for nearly 5 days before this started occuring."

 

exactly. what, our only option is to shell out for a new PS2? what a crock of sh*t! (degeneratron humour )

 

but seriously .. this really sucks the hot monkey ass. when i take my console back to EBgames i will not take "we can't take it back " for an answer. they will have to call the f*cking cops on me cos i want a PS2 that will run the game that i worked hard to pay for, goddamnit.

 

trading in the ps2 i bought last week for the new ps2 will leave me having to pay a 62 dollar difference, and that is not cool .. especially since i bought an EBgames warranty for the bloody thing.

 

this is why i gave up consoles for PC gaming, dammit!

[gav1100]

im sure rockstar and take2 are already aware, but just incase, i sent them both a detailed email describing the problems. They said in an interview, that they had trouble fitting it all onto one disk, could this be the problem? that they overloaded the disk and now the ps2 is getting confuzed.

I dont think it has anything to do with the ps2 itself because its happened to so many people in a short space of time

[Night Eyes]

well it stuffed up my PS2!!! agh!!!

It wont play any games now... or dvds... whats going on??

[gav1100]

i think Rockstar are going to have to recall all / some of the games because its obviously a fault with the disks. They also owe most of us a new PS2

 

 

edit: just noticed that quite a large propotion of the people with problems are from the UK. could it be that the disks shipped to the UK are faulty?

Edited November 3, 2004 by gav1100

[BigDunc]

Unfortunately, I too have experienced the Disk Read errors on San Andreas. Very annoying but, for me, not so unexpected. Before the Disk Read errors start the PS2 makes a wierd clicking/scratching kind of sound. I've also noticed the San Andreas disk now has a couple of light scratches on it (this definitely is caused by the machine - it was fine when I put it in there). I first expierienced this problem with the Abbatoir level of Hitman Contracts. Surely this would indicate it is a problem with the PS2 and not the San Andreas disk.

 

Unfortunately, with my retarded technical skills I doubt I'll be able to fix this by taking the machine apart and cleaing/correcting stuff.

 

That leaves me with having to buy a new PS2 (I think I'll go for one of the slimline ones). However, there's no way I'm gonna shell out £100 (I'm from the UK). Luckily GAME are doing a bit of an offer: Trade in your old PS2 and any 2 games and they'll give you a brand new slimline PS2 for only £49.99! (hopefully they won't check the operational ability too stringently).

 

Hope this might help some of you guys save a few quid...

[gav1100]

im guna stick with my ps2 until rockstar release info about the problem. If its the disk then ur gona waste £50 or watever, if its the disk wrecking the ps2 (probably) then R* owes us all a new one.

[ugnhkonsotwsn]

Worked fine for 5-6 hours then dick read error popped up and even after resetting ps2 50+ times, still doesn't work. The thing is that the dvd is not scratched at all and I have a brand new dvd drive + all the other games I have work on first try every single time. Anyone has any explanations?

Edited November 3, 2004 by ugnhkonsotwsn

[gav1100]

i think it might be the dual layering on the disk. im sure R* and take2 are working on a solution. they must have a bit of spare time now they have finished SA right?

[hitmankilla]

surely SA wasn't the first dual-layerd PS2 game .. was it?

[gav1100]

i dont know. but i know that rockstar included SOMETHING different about the disk which no other disk has, im only guessing its the dual layers

[Jos2]

I had this really sad problem too.

My PS2 is about 1.5 years old, but I don't use it a lot (just a few hours a week, before I had SA ).

After I put San Andreas in my PS2 for the first time, I heard a really strange noise. That noise was over in 10 seconds, so I played further. After a few hours of playing SA I heard it again. Since then it was still the same, every 15 minutes did my PS2 strange.

So, I went to the local PS2-store around here, and I asked what to do. They told me to buy a special DVD, called a "clean-disc". After a few days searching for that stupid-disc I found it. It's just a normal DVD with some hear on the bottom of it (sounds a bit strange, I know ). So I've put that stupid disc into my PS2, and it worked! The strange sound stops for a few days, and then it starts again. The only thing you've got to do is playing that disc again, and it's over again for a few days!

I really don't know what exactly goes wrong in the PS2, but what I do know is that it works! So, if you're having problems with your PS2 ad SA, try this kind of a DVD (it was about 7 euros, thats better than buying a new PS2 I guess)!

[WaBBiT]

First off DO NOT USE THE CLEANING DISC!!!!!!!

 

This will scratch your laser lens forever if its dusty. The problem is solved in my post above. Its not rocket science Its way better than spending money on something that dont work.

 

The problem is most likely the San Andreas disc's "dual layering" makes for a heavier or thicker CD. This weighs down the PS2 guides which calls for re-adjustment so the laser reads the disc at the proper angle. I hope some of you just try the method above you will find it is easier than u think.

[errorreadingdisc]

I too have the error reading disc black out screen for a few seconds before it goes back to the game. My PS2 is only about 4 months old. I'm from the US so it's not just a UK problem. The friend I went to go get a copy with said his is also making this noise. It started off just a little clicking and whirring every once in a while but it has got out of hand in the last two days. Also I tried putting it on it's side and still get the same noise?

Model: SCPH 50001/N

Edited November 4, 2004 by errorreadingdisc

[madlagr]

Mine is doing it. It makes scratching noises and pops up with the "disk read error" message every 30 mins or more. For the first 3-4 days there were no problems.

[agent_smith_x_1000]

So get this, i had to wait untill wednesday the 27th to get my game(money trouble). anyway, My friends and i drive to the nearest mall, 25 miles away, where i reserved my copy. I get the game, get home, pop the game in and to my suprise, "disk read error." I am pissed now, i dont have time to worry about it, ive got church. one of my friends wants to borrow it until i get out, so i tell him sure. any way, church drags on and finally gets out. I fly to my friends house and knock on the door. He tells me he came home to play it, but he didnt have his controller, it was at my house, so he went, spent 25 on a new controller. he came home popped the game in, and to his suprise, "disk read error". he was pissed. anyway i borrowed my gf's uncle's laser cleaner to try out on my playstation. Before i try this, i tried the game on my bro's ps2 just to make sure the diks wasnt messed up. it works just fine. i am about to leave when my bro says, i will play it while your gone. i go to the uncles house to get it, bring it home, pop it in just to see "disk read error." At this point i am very pissed off, the **** thing wont even play the cleaner disk. i took the cleaner disk to my bros ps2 and it works fine. I finally rip the cover off of my ps2, find the laser, rub it with an old shirt, and put it back together. pop in SA and wala, it works perfect. no problems at all. next day, borrowed my buddy's ps2(the ones who wouldnt play it either) and did the same, wala just like new.

[Night Eyes]

The same clicking noise happened to me... after a while it just stopped playing SA

 

 

 

I am gonna try wabbits cleaning thing, cause i think its a laser problem.... but im a bit paranoid about opening the PS2

 

But i think ill do it anyway

 

 

Edit-By the way wabbit.... i found the site you got that cleaning thing off

Edited November 4, 2004 by Night_eyes

[gav1100]

news: FOUND THE REASON FOR THE CLICKING NOISES!

 

 

i opened up my ps2 and was searching for anything that may have caused a problem, then i found that the motor system which moves the lazer is at fault.

 

Since dual layered disks needs more precision to read, the lazer will move slower, the slower it goes, the more chance there is of it "slipping" over the cog-type system which moves it (resulting in a clicking noise). I blamed this on the oily stuff they put on it in the factory, i wiped a bit of this off and now i dont get so much of the clicky noise.

 

i do, however still get the disk-read errors which (i think) is the fault of the disk as it happens to so many people.

[BUM]

I have yet to get an error message when my game loads, but my PS2 makes a lot of noise when loading it.

 

BTW, I'm new here so hi everyone!

[MetallicaDTFan01]

My model number is 39001.

 

I'm not sure if I could a disc read error, as it didn't say that, but I was doing Catalina's "Local Liquor Store" mission and it would freeze up in the same place every time on my way back to the hideout. The radio would keep playing and everything, but it would just freeze. I loaded up my game again and made a new save file (of the same game, just a different slot) and it worked fine.

 

The one thing I've noticed, though, is that there's A LOT of pop-up and some slowdown in the game. I had a video an example of the popup I was talking about. (A building in Verona beach, not sure which one, but the trees popup pretty bad in front of the building)..

 

I'm not sure if it's my ps2 (which plays every other game perfectly) or a faulty disc.

 

It's been fine today, other than the popup and occasional slowdown.

[WaBBiT]

Gav while you have you PS2 apart follow my directions and adjust the guide wheel 1/8 inch clockwise you will be very happy with the results. I hope someone else tries it so they can post how easy it really is.

[gav1100]

you meen the lazer-leveling wheel? to adjust the level of the thing? if so i already tried that. i know it works for most DREs but not SA DREs

[WaBBiT]

hmm worked for mine

[gav1100]

maybe you have a working virsion which was just being flawed by the lazer level.

[SaintGeorge1]

My first PS2 I bought six months after the system was first released. At first, it worked fine, but after a year or so, it started to act a little wierd. This is partly because I was so hooked on the games that I would leave the motor running when leaving to go do something so that when I get back I don't have turn it back on. So this caused the motor to wear out more. When the clicking noises came, this happened when I wanted to use a PSX game or one of those blue/purple-ish sided discs and it wouldn't read the disc. Silver-sided discs had the same clicking noise, but after several seconds it would read the discs and everything would be kosher. So maybe the wear on the motor affected the laser sensitivity..

 

I eventually bought another PS2 sometime early this year, so I'm ok now.

 

As for SA? I do get the occaisional game freeze, and other times I would experience something of 'lag'-type thing, where everything would stop moving for a split second (long enough for me to notice it) and then the game would resume.

 

So there's my two cents on the subject.

[hitmankilla]

this is too annoying to believe .. so i just gave up and ordered the 7k series.