Ps2 Problems Please...

[Phalanx]

As some of you might've read, I'm employed by Sony at the moment.
Customer service/warranty/gaming consultant/forum handling/network gaming info..."Sony Agent" is the official term for this "allover the place" position, and I've largely just started the contract training...

So I'm predominately working with PS2 products for my induction.
Just a bit of homework here, troubleshooting stuff and all that.
Can't think of all that many problems that come to mind, but I'm certain there's many. I'm assuming some/most of you have owned a PS2 at some point or another?

Could any of you mention any legitimate problems you've encountered regarding this system?
Please only mention technical issues that aren't doe to warranty voiding procedures being done to the machine, mainly just...technical fuck ups?
Small, large, common, whatever.

I just need to be hit with some "problems" so that I can see if I've retained this troubleshooting info I've been trying to immerse myself in...

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

[bwind22]

Hmmmm....

Well my PS2 hasn't had any problems yet, but on my old PS1, it needed to be turned upside down in order for it to spin the discs. Any idea what that's all about? (Not that it matters, my former roommate traded it to his dealer for some coke without my permission.) But I just thought since I didn't have any PS2 problems for ya, I'd toss ya a PS1 issue instead. *shrug*

[Geddy]

My ps2 won't play god of war, or god of war 2.

[Phalanx]

but on my old PS1, it needed to be turned upside down in order for it to spin the discs.
Best guess would be that the spindle had weakened, but not broken, due to general system age/wear and tear. In most cases, it'd just stop spinning altogether. So yeah assuming it's a component of the spindle/mechanism itself...maybe a maligned berring or something like that.

I don't know what the warranty system is there, but here, being a PS1 and all it's probably got some age on it, Sony only generally provides a one year parts/service warranty (Makes you feel good about buying a ps3 right? ha), so it would not be under warranty, so you could send it into your closest service centre for a moderately priced repair job...or, at that point, may as well take it to ANYONE good with laser products, as sony would probably charge more, and not really put any further warranty on it anyways.


My ps2 won't play god of war, or god of war 2.
Are your disks genuine? If not, there's your problem.
If so...have you tried them on another ps2 unit?
Are they scratch free? Excessive scratching can cause them not to read...also, inspect the disks, if they have scratches in a circular pattern, this is a clear sign of laser malignment, and I would reccomend having your disks resurfaced, and the system fixed prior to putting in any more, as you'll only ruin them.
Anyways, back to trying the disks on another ps2 unit...If they don't work on either unit, the potential is that you've purchased the incorrect region disks (lots of people come across this issue on ebay)..it's not mainly about region, but the format difference between most of them...Here, we use PAL format disks and dvds mostly, and our systems are set for those.
There, you're more than likely on NTSC?
Anyhows, the cover will usually display region/format information on the back, maybe 2/3 of the way down, and in some cases, on the disk itself.
If it's not either of these things, I'd ask if prehaps the system was experiencing any problems with any OTHER ps2 games...if so, problem with the unit, should (if within a year of purchase) be able to be sent in and replaced with another unit of the same make and model within the week.
If it's out of the warranty period, or the warranty is somehow voided (this could be anything from "dropped" to mod-chipped, to third-party peripheral surge caused damage) they can still do this, at an additional fee...I'd actually suggest buying a new one were this the case, not sure about the story where you are, but HERE, electronics boutique will sell you a brand new ps2 unit for cheaper than the out of warranty repair/replacement fee.

While on EB, I couldn't reccomend their prices, service, extended instore warranty and exchange policies enough...

Well, I hope I shed some light there to the respective problems, and thanks for helping me out. If there's any further queries, I'd suggest hitting up your local (or closest) SCE Customer Service Centre.

Keep 'em coming, if you like folks. I'm good for now, but hey...if there's questions, can't hurt giving 'em a go.

[Despare]

One I had (and fixed). My PS2 drive would open on random and I would also get disc read errors (again at random). Sometimes the system would recognize a disc in the drive but would not recognize it as a PS2 game.

[Phalanx]

One I had (and fixed). My PS2 drive would open on random and I would also get disc read errors (again at random). Sometimes the system would recognize a disc in the drive but would not recognize it as a PS2 game.
Sorry, took a while to get back to this...it's pretty full-on training...
Before I get to the answer, it's funny how things work out sometimes - now that I have THIS job, I ran into a guy I used to work with about 11 years ago, turns out he's a branch manager for one of australias largest banks, the branch being my local one, wants to give me a job too...weird...but I'm gonna at least honour my contract.

Ok, onto that question, which I'll just answer for my own sake.
If you called in to me with that one, I'd log it as both a laser/disk recog error, and (of course) a disk tray fault. Now, if it was the older/larger ps2 slide out disk tray doing that, I'd say that there COULD be a potential way to troubleshoot that one yourself...there COULD be some dust or crud inside the machine. Open the drive and use a vaccuum with a thin nozzle (EXTERNALLY ONLY) on the back vents and around the front of the disk tray and run a dvd cleaner through it.
If the problem persisted, it's a tech error (I don't go too much into it, just know how to recognise one really, on my end).
I'd ask if the unit was in warranty....if it was, it'd be sent in for exchange with a remanufactured unit of the same make/model and colour as yours.
If it was out of warranty, same deal at a service cost.
Now, if it was in OR out of warranty and the machine was missing either the warranty seal, or showed signs of internal modification/tampering upon tech inspection, same deal, it'd just cost you more.

That there would be considered one of the easiest service referrals I'd ever encounter, ha...hooboy, some of the shit I've had come my way you wouldn't believe it.