# my ps2 keeps getting disc read errors **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 24, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850 "2010-07-24T16:34:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/1 "2010-07-24T16:34:04Z")
I mean some games are scratched up alot so I can understand, but I have some games in great condition and they still don’t work. What am I to do? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/2 "2010-07-24T16:59:19Z")
If the discs seem in good shape, it’s likely a faulty laser. There are fixes all over the Internet, but it’s probably easier just dropping a few bucks on a used system. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/3 "2010-07-24T17:14:26Z")
Welcome to 2010! Get a PS3! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/4 "2010-07-24T17:30:12Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Welcome to 2010! Get a PS3! Oh god! **LOUNE** ’s been taken over by a pod person! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/5 "2010-07-24T17:38:45Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Welcome to 2010! Get a PS3! Least Helpful Post Ever I kid! Not meant to be mean. I’m just joking about your name and all. 🙂 Seriously, though, are PS2’s expensive to get a new one? Amazon has used ones for about $40-$45. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/6 "2010-07-24T19:06:21Z")
yeah I thought I would have to get a new one should I get a slim one? ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/7 "2010-07-24T21:11:26Z")
I could of course definitely recommend a PS3 (PS2 has gracefully retired, though still working without issues), but you can fix the PS2 pretty easily. All you are likely in need of doing is regreasing the rails on which the DVD’s laser platform moves back and forth (use white grease). This is very easy to do and generally works right away. On rare occasions, you may need to carefully tweak the angle of the laser by turning a small (and fragile!) screw, but usually you are fine as soon as you cleaned and regreased the rails. If you are confused on how to do it a quick google will find you instructions online (or maybe even with video on Youtube). If you can’t find them, let me know and I’ll hunt them down for you. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/8 "2010-07-25T00:09:55Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > > [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > > > Welcome to 2010! Get a PS3! > > Oh god! **LOUNE** ’s been taken over by a pod person! Well, he’s already got his PlayStation games and what not. Presumably he has some brand loyalty, so if he wants to stick with it, go for it. All things considered, I’d recommend a Xbox, but it he likes the exclusives there, more power to him. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/9 "2010-07-25T00:19:21Z")
I already have a 360. I tried to fix the PS2 by following what a youtube video did but it still didn’t play games but it worked with a DVD so maybe my games are all too bad condition or something. I don’t have the patience to bother with it now so I will just not play PS2 games anymore. I only had a few anyway. Back to NES then ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/10 "2010-07-25T00:22:52Z")
Smack it. You think I’m kidding, don’t you? Im not. My 360s optical drive acts up fro time to time, so I issue it percussive maintenance when it starts to act a bit hokey, and it works just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/11 "2010-07-25T00:25:18Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > I already have a 360. > > I tried to fix the PS2 by following what a youtube video did but it still didn’t play games but it worked with a DVD so maybe my games are all too bad condition or something. I don’t have the patience to bother with it now so I will just not play PS2 games anymore. I only had a few anyway. Back to NES then Pleh. Back to your time warp, demon. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/12 "2010-07-25T00:45:52Z")
Sounds like the laser reader, I had the same problem. Figuring that it was already broken, I opened it up and cleaned the laser. Works fine now, so if you’re gonna get another one you might as well have a pop. There are a few guides on the internet, just unscrew it and clean it with a tissue was what I did, [this](http://www.cyber-mag.com/station/laserPS2.htm) has pics which are always useful. Just make sure you don’t touch the laser with your finger. What exactly did you do from the youtube vid? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/13 "2010-07-25T01:05:10Z")
I did this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4aDoNScvNA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4aDoNScvNA) I went 10 up one way and 5 down the other and the game never worked then I got impatient and gave up and put it back to where it was. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/14 "2010-07-25T01:39:06Z")
Looks roughly like what I did, although I just used tissue to clean the laser and no cleaning bits and pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/15 "2010-07-25T02:12:07Z")
Suggesting a PS3 for this isn’t really a real solution. It’s more like “go waste money on an old build of a PS3 that may well die and is probably overpriced because it has PS2 compatibility.” No thanks. I’d rather buy a slim PS3 -and- a PS2. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/16 "2010-07-25T02:14:27Z")
yeah I thought new PS3s don’t play PS2 games anymore ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ps2-keeps-getting-disc-read-errors/547850/17 "2010-07-25T02:19:32Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > yeah I thought new PS3s don’t play PS2 games anymore They don’t. There was an early model that did, but I wouldn’t bother hunting one down. A new PS2(well, used) woudl be a lot cheaper and the way to go. I have a slim one and it is quite nice.