[Mike9137]

Has anyone had this problem: On certain games, particularly "Simpson's Skatebording" the playstation 2 system will not read the disc. Sony has offered to repair the system no charge if I mail it in. Any ideas? Thank You

[colman77]

Do other games work on your ps2? Might just be the disk(s). You might try a DVD doctor...I know they work on ps2 games, but I don't have one and can't vouch for their reliability in fixing games. They run about $30 at Radio Shack.

You might also try cleaning it yourself.
These directions are for dvd's, but it's the same process.

With a soft, lint-free cloth, wipe gently in only a radial direction (a straight line between the hub and the rim). Since the data is arranged circularly on the disc, the micro scratches you create when cleaning the disc (or the nasty gouge you make with the dirt you didn't see on your cleaning cloth) will cross more error correction blocks and be less likely to cause unrecoverable errors).
Don't use canned or compressed air, which can be very cold and may thermally stress the disc.
For stubborn dirt or gummy adhesive, use water, water with mild soap, or isopropyl alcohol. As a last resort, try peanut oil. Let it sit for about a minute before wiping it off.
There are commercial products that clean discs and provide some protection from dust, fingerprints, and scratches. Cleaning products labeled for use on CDs work as well as those that say they are for DVDs

[colman77]

Do other games work on your ps2? Might just be the disk(s). You might try a DVD doctor...I know they work on ps2 games, but I don't have one and can't vouch for their reliability in fixing games. They run about $30 at Radio Shack.

[Mike9137]

Thanks for responding coleman77. The game is brand new, it works on a friend's system but not mine. I think Sony has a defect with the machine or they would not offer to repair it for free. I was just wonering if anyone else has had this problem.

[GearType2]

some of the first stocks of PS2 had problems reading blue discs and some others, Sony has offered to fix/replace these consoles(or any other showing similar symptomes) for free, so go ahead, nothing beats a new ps2 except a umm... newer ps2? heh

But seriously, you'll get your new ps2 in a couple of days if you go ahead with it, it's fast, and free. Go ahead .

[Mike9137]

Thanks for responding GearType2. Do you have any documentation on Sony's problem or a web site that I could go to about this?

[smile]

Mike9137,
I have the same problem for my ps2. It has the disk read error on all games (new) that I have. But my games work fine in my friend's ps2. You said that Sony has offered to repair the system no charge, are you still in the warranty period?
Thanks!

[Mike9137]

Hi Smile,
There is no warranty expiration on this problem. I suggest that you call Sony at 1-800-345-7669. They can give you all the details.
Oddly enough, the one game that we were having problems with is now working! Good Luck.

[hbic]

I have had this problem. I bought my kids "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" for the PS2 for X-Mas. At first it played ok, with some noise from the system, so I thought my PS2 was getting worn out(it gets alot of use). However, recently I could not get it to play. When I took it out, I realized that it was one of those darned blue/purple disks that everyone has had trouble with. This is the first one Ive ever had. I called Sony, and they said, "There is no known problem with the PS2 systems." YET, if I would ship it to them, they would fix it for free and return it for free, the only thing I had to pay for was the shipping and handling to get it there. It would take 10-24 days to get it back. My question is, if the is "no known problem", how are they going to fix it? And if there is no known problem with these blue disks, why would they fix it and return it for FREE?
Anyways, to address the title of my post. Depending on which version of the PS2 you have, you may have to install the DVD driver before the dvd player works. I dont have one of those, but the I bought a Sony PS2 dvd remote with mine, and the remote comes with the dvd driver. The dvd driver cd is the same blue/purple type cd as the games that are having issue. Yet it plays with no problem. Sony made this blue cd so, Maybe, JUST MAYBE, it isnt Sony who is at fault for this problem. Maybe it the makers of the games(other than Sony), like EA Games, that are not using the correct format on their blue cds. Or, Sony has copywrited their format language for their blue cds, and the game makers have to do their best to come up with something similiar. Either way, Im pissed off that not only did I pay 300 for the darn thing, but now I have to pay more money to have a ps2 that plays new games. Wondering if the new TombRaider release keeps getting pushed back for this reason.

[hbic]

AND POSSIBLY PROOF OF THIS NOT BEING A SONY ISSUE!!!
I discovered that the disk I was trying to play was too thin and was not being held in place by the magnetized guides in the drive. You can test this by trying to slightly bend the disk compared to one you are not having trouble with and seeing if it gives a bit easier. If your machine is making clicking, whirring, and grinding sounds when trying to play the blue/purple disks, that sound is of the cd slipping off the guide as it spins. Solution VERY CHEAP!!!! Using the centers of CD LABEL STICKERS (depending on the maker, you may have to carefully cut out the centers of these too), I stacked about 5 of these label center stickers and centered them over the TITLE SIDE of the disk. DO NOT STICK THEM TO THE DATA SIDE! This made it thick enough to be held in place by the guides. If you have tried cleaning your disks, the lens with a lens cleaning cd, or it has no scratches in it, try this. If you are still having a problem, you are either trying to use a PS1 game that is not compatible with PS2 backwards technology(there are about 10 PS1 games that wont work in the PS2), or there is a very deep scratch or the disk is otherwise damaged beyond repair. DO NOT OPEN THE CASE OF YOUR PS2 EVER. NOT ONLY WILL YOU VOID THE SONY WARRANTY BUT, IF YOU EVER DO NEED REPAIRS TO THE SYSTEM, SONY OR ANY OTHER REPAIR SERVICE WILL CHARGE YOU MORE FOR HAVING OPENED IT. BE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU DO NOT DAMAGE THE WARRANTY STICKER ON YOUR SYSTEM, EVEN IF YOU DONT OPEN IT. THIS TOO WILL VOID IT. ALSO, OPENING THE PS2 OR ANY OTHER CD PLAYER WITH THE POWER ATTACHED COULD CAUSE YOU TO BE EXPOSED TO LASER RADIATION IF YOU LOOK INTO THE LASER LIGHT AND BLIND YOU!!! Anyone having this problem, try my suggestion and email me and let me know if it worked for you. Good Luck!!!

[mike870]

I will tell you I have been having problems with my PS2 for months now but after I blowed some compressed air in the cd tray and stood my ps2 on its sides, its been working fine.
It wouldn't read the blue discs before.

hope this helps you out.


Mike

[w1rww]

Had the same problem with reading blue disks as well as the system will no longer read DVD's or DVD based games. Cleaned the heads with a DVD/CD cleaner and it worked for a couple of months and stopped again this past weekend. Found several threads on other sites indicating that if you contact Sony customer support and verify that: (1) you ran thru diagnostic mode (Page 9 in manual), you CD/DVD's work in another machine and aren't damaged, they'll fix it for free.

Contacted Sony yesterday, shipped the system to them in PA, and they are "waiving" the repair charges. There explaination is that since they aren't sure what's causing the problem with my system, they won't charge me for the repair. Shipping charges where $18.00 for UPS ground. It will probably take approx. 3 - 4 weeks to get the system back, but that's a huge savings over buying a new one or trading it in at EB Games for a new / refurbished one. They also will reinstate the 90 day warranty as well.

Update: 1-March-2003 -- Got the playstation back from Sony repair in PA and everything works wonderful. Only repair info. on the workorder was that the "optics" were replaced. Same machine, model, and serial number.

[silverorb]

i started to observe this problem first with my DvDs--i would buy them-come home try to watch them and bam...error--thought it was the dvds for the longest time, cause i would return them and the new one would work....then after about 6 months none of my dvds would work..not a one--

and recently 3 months later my games are slowly poping up with that msg...its just a matter of time b4 none of my games work---

there is thousands of ppl with this problem--i think a recall is in order-

[hbic]

Clean the disks and the laser lens, I think youll find your machine will work like new again. DUH!

[silverorb]

ahh no...excuss me my friend...cleaning is the FIRST step in troubleshooting--i have tried repeatedly--all this clean disk crap is bs--i dont think i need to clean a brand spanking new cd right out of the package--i have contacted sony and they are aware of the problem...sooo.. hmm.. how does it go.....duh-if you dont have anything intelligent to say, dont say anything at all