My playstation 2 is only 4 months old and it cannot read the games that are colored blue. It tells me to insert a playstation or playstation 2 format disk. The silver color disks work fine but now the blue color ones don't. Any idea's? I tried cleaning the playstation 2 with a cd cleaner and I tried cleaning the disks but still doesn't work. Any info would be appreciated.

This has been a problem in some PS2's. I think it was specific to a few different CD-ROM games (the blue bottom ones). I don't remember the solution (if there is one), but I do remember people that had their PS2 standing vertically had more trouble than those who had their PS2 sitting normally.

If you still have the receipt, I suggest calling Sony (1-800-345-7669) to see if you can still get it repaired under warranty. The PS2 only has a 90-day warranty but you may still be able to get it repaired for free.

I thought the blue colored discs were the DVD-Rom formats. If they are then you probably have the same problem that others have had, the PS2 has difficulty reading DVD formats after a time. This happened to a friend's PS2 and he only had it for 2 months. Put in any DVD movie and see if it will play. If it doesn't, then that's probably the problem.

Blue bottoms are CD format PS2 games. Call Sony. They should take care of the problem.

Thanks for the info. All disks were working fine until last weekend when it decided to do this. I do have the stand vertically but I didn't think it would make a difference.

HTFDWHAL,

This problem happened to me also. I always had my PS2 Horizontally. When the problem occured I then stood it up. After about a week, it died vertically also. Read DVD"s (Silver Discs) Just fine, but not the Blue CD-R's. I called Sony and generally they charge 90 bucks to have it fixed. I was very polite but explained to the CS rep that I had it only a year and it had broke. Just stick to your guns and explain your issues. intially they are going to ask you to try and change some settings in order to ensure it is a drive or laser issue. So call from home. Once you've done that just haggle with them and tell them you hadn't expected to pay for shipping and to have this fixed whenit's a problem wih the drive. You didn't drop it or spill soda in it right?.. well.. just keep it cool they;ll talk to a manager and should send it out for free. Just pay the shipping. Small price rather than 90 bucks.

Are there 2 laser in the PS2? One for dvd and one for cd. I have a dvd laser cleaner, do I need a cd laser cleaner too? Mine has the same problem reading cd-roms. I have had mine from launch and don't want to pay to have it fixed.

This is a sign of a PS2 thats not going to last much longer. My third PS2 just died yesterday and its always the same pattern. First CDs and PSone games (or blue disc PS2 games) stop working, then some time later DVDs stop working, and eventually it won't play PS2 games either.

I'm faced with replacing my PS2 for the third time since the launch of the console and frankly I don't think I will. The quality of the PS2 consoles is the worst in the history of console gaming. I know at least five other people who have had to replace their PS2s not to mention the tons of complaints I've read from people online.

I agree calling Sony is the best bet. They have heard about this exact same problem so often (thousands of times I'd bet) they will probably fix it for free.

Its sad a major electronics manufacturer like Sony can't build a quality console like Nintendo and Microsoft.

The PS2 has a single laser, and with the first generation of units that caused problems. My model 1 wouldn't read PS2 CDs but my new model 6 works fine.

I had similar problems with my PS2 last year. There was an old thread in which someone explained the media thickness of the DVD-ROM (silver) and CD-ROM (blue) was different, with the blue discs being the thinner one and tend to "wobble" first.

Someone also offered this technique which worked for me: Put Scotch tape around the center hole where the drive holds and spins the disc. This would apparently provide the additional thickness needed to stablize the media so that the laser can read it correctly.

However, this method might not help if your drive is already experiencing difficulties with other types of media already. In my case, only a few older blue discs had problems, while other blue CD-ROMs read perfectly fine. I tried the Scotch tape method on the ones that did not work previously, and all of them played just fine after I taped up the center.

For reference, I do normally keep the PS2 console on a vertical stand.

PAL

Getting off the subject, but has anyone wondered how accurate the PS2 Console sales numbers are considering there are people buying a new PS2 to replace a defective one?

Obviously, sales are sales, but what would the actual sales numbers be if no one had to replace their PS2?

As darkside said, it is sad Sony didn't make a quality console.

Okay a guy at work says he is experienced with fixing this very common problem.

A friend of his still has a working launch console, but he has had to do the follow procedure a couple of times and its worked on many other PS2s as well.

Open up the PS2 by first taking out the 8 screws on the bottom. Next, take off the top of the console carefully as there is a ribbon cable attached to the power switch you don't want to pull loose. Next, remove the four small screws holding on the top of the DVD rom cover. Remove the cover and you will see the laser unit.

This is the important part. Using a Q-tip with a little distilled water on it carefully clean the laser and then dry it with the other side of the Q-tip. He said not to use alcohol because it can ruin a coating on the laser. Then put everything back together.

I tried this just now and it worked perfectly. Every disc works fine. PSone, CDs, DVDs, and all PS2 games. I could see no dirt on the laser, but apparently something was on it making it hard to read the disc. He said I may have to repeat the process every 4-6 months depending on how much I use the PS2.

Anyway its worth a try if your PS2 stops reading discs.