PlayStation 2 Disk read error Solutions!

If your warranty is expired, Sony will not fix it for free (they did for a short time, but not anymore) - $45 to fix it or $75 for a refurbished PS2.  Phone # for sony: 1-800-345-sony

If you're getting DRE or game freezes and your warranty is expired:

1. Try cleaning the game disc.

2. Try standing the ps2 vertically (my ps2 would freeze quite often with Kingdom Hearts' cutscenes and this did the job)

3. You can try a cd player cleaner kit but I'm not sure how effective those are.

4. Open the PS2 up, it's quite easy.  You'll need a phillips screwdriver and one that would fit tiny screws.  Just be somewhat careful when taking off the top part of the casing since the eject/power buttons are connected by a ribbon to the system.  There's a lot of slack at least two inches but as always take your time.  Then clean the laser lense with q-tip and water or alcohol.

5.  Mark the initial spot of the white cog and then just keep testing the different positions.  You can also adjust the tilt of the laser by tightening loosening the little black screw that's holding the laser to the rod.  Use a white crayon and make an initial mark.

website for the above steps: http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/ps2.ars

6.  If all that doesn't do it you can adjust the resistance/voltage for the laser.  You've really nothing to lose since a PS2 w/DRE is essentially a giant paperweight otherwise.  Make sure to unplug the system.  It's good if you have a multimeter (you want to measure the ohms of resistance).   Unscrew the two screws that hold the rods (that the laser sits on) down.  The laser is still connected by a ribbon but you don't have to take it off; just flip it over and you should see two screw like things.  These actually control the resistance thus the voltage that the laser receives.  If you're having problems with reading CDs (ps1, ps2 blue discs) adjust the one on the right.  For dvd's it's the one on the left.    I did this (even without a multimeter, I just turned it ever so slightly) on a DRE ps2 that couldn't read dvds and it was successful.  Now I have a working PS2 that I bought for $25 in my room and one I already owned in the living room.  Sweet.  Found these two very helpful sites with great pics:

www.cyber-mag.com

www.vandrunen.net

neither have i

i have had my for three years

I just bought ATV: Offroad Fury 2 and it's a good game, but the loading screen are taking a long as time to load, is there any way to cut down the loading..or?Uma-Chan

It's just the game, that's one of the reasons why I didn't get a ATV game...

maybe a sticky, helpfulRodg7790

whats up with your sig?

IF ANYBODY HAS ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE PS2 DISK READ ERRORS, CONTACT ME!!!!!!!!! I HAVE FIXED OVER 10 PS2 ALREADY FOR MONEY AND I CAN DO IT FOR YOU FOR FREE! IF YOU HAVE THE MODEL:SCPH 30001, THEN YOU MOST DEFINATELY HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND WILL IN THE FUTURE! ONCE AGAIN CONTACT ME AND I WILL HELP YOU!flamedisc91

I find it to be useful to open up the PS2 Consoles and very carefully vacum out all the dust.

I had a read error on all my DVD's i placed in there and found that a good clean fixed all the problems, yet i still agree to clean the disks or lens first!

Mackie

• Another solution is to open you disk tray then turn it off and spray the heck out of the tray and the slot in the ps2. (complements to jekkie)
  rob1101

like rob1101 posted this link shows pics, http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/ps2.arsnapyhd

I have a solution that works simple and not time consuming, put scotch tape in a square around the circle so that it touches the sides top bottom of the circle on the TOP SIDE of the disk. Top as in where the picture type cover is.

I never had a disk read error on my PS2, and had it scince 2001.