Problem w/ POL disc!

[Chronicle]

I just got an HDD and put it in my PS2, but it can't rea my PlayOnline Viewer disc. It can read the other FFXI disc and any other game I have. Anyone have any ideas?

[Palom]

Re: Problem w/ POL disc!

my little brother had the same problem, and it seemed to be that his ps2 had trouble reading ps2 format CDs (blue bottom disks) so we had to buy a new laser off ebay to fix the problem, you could also try the re-calibrating trick that might do it

I hope this helps and good luck

palom

[Effedup]

Re: Problem w/ POL disc!

I used to have the same problem with my PS2...it turns out that older models (ones that were made around launch or not long after) had a problem with blue backed discs because their laser's were not properly calibrated. Basically, the height of the laser would be just a little off, meaning the beam of light wasn't reflecting back to the lens the way it should be. The PS2 would try and read it multiple times (sometimes making a weird clicking noise) and then finally give up and give you a "Disk Read Error" message (or more rarely, lock up completely). It used to do this to me constantly...I'd buy a brand new game, come home to play it, only to have it "DRE" on me. Talk about frustrating...

If this sounds like the problem you're having, check out this link. It gives you a step by step walkthrough on how to fix this problem. Obviously cracking open that seal is going to void your warranty, but if you've got one of the old school PS2's then your warranty is long dead already. I did this myself a few years ago with mine and it worked perfectly after that, never had a problem reading a disc again. I make it a point to open my PS2 up every year or so anyways now so I can give it a good cleaning...

[Chronicle]

Re: Problem w/ POL disc!

Well, before reading these replies, I went to my friend's house, put the Hdd in his PS2, and installed it. Now, my PS2 can't launch PlayViewer from the Hdd Browser. I know it's not the Hdd's problem, because when I put my Hdd in his PS2 and tried to run it, it worked fine.

EDIT: I know it's not the laser, because I played a couple PSX games to test that, and they worked fine.

[Effedup]

Re: Problem w/ POL disc!

That's what I'm saying...the laser problem wasn't limited to one type of game for everybody. PS2's that had laser problems would be skitchy across the board. I've had PSX games not play for me before...I've had all kinds of discs not play for me before, and I'm talking discs without a scratch on them. That is, until I fixed the laser.

If you're positive it's not the laser, and the hdd works fine with a different PS2, then it seems like it's got to be something internal with your PS2. Maybe the motherboard isn't communicating correctly with the hard drive. Maybe it's just chock full of dust and needs a cleaning. If it's an older PS2, I guarantee you that it's full of dirt. PS2's weren't designed very well for airflow...and if you've played games for a couple hours and felt the top of your unit, it's gonna be pretty warm.

Either way, the only thing you can do is try and log on at your friends house on his PS2. If his PS2 allows you to set up an acct and begin playing, then it's obviously your unit (you don't have to worry about causing problems with your account...all of your information is on the hard drive, so moving your hard drive from PS2 to PS2 won't cause any problems), and you can pretty much either A) buy a new old style PS2 (well, used, cause odds of you finding a new one in the old style are slim to none), or B) check the laser.

I would seriously check the laser though. I was very hesitant to open my PS2 up back in the day when I first started having problems (which was about 3 months after I bought my PS2 NEW, like January 2001), but after buying some 10 games that wouldn't work immediately after opening them, I figured screw it and just did the adjustment, and then everything worked perfectly. Even games that worked before loaded faster. It was either that, or pay Sony to fix the problem they created...which at the time was a 2-3 month turnaround and cost like $100. After I'd just paid $300 for my PS2 I was obviously like "Eff that" and the rest is history.

Note: My original PS2 is still going strong...6 years and counting ^^

[Chronicle]

Re: Problem w/ POL disc!

My ViewOnline does work on my friend's PS2, so what I'm doing is trading PS2's with another friend that doesn't play FFXI, so I don't have to pay anything.