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"Laser cleaners"

I tend to watch a fair amount of DVDs as well as using PS2 games on my PS2. However, at times there have been various problems. The first was lip-sync, but that was solved using diagnosis mode and the DVD upgrade. However, the second is the fact that some discs skip. Sometimes this is just poor discs, but it happens so often that I have to say I believe it is partly due to the PS2. Its a great player, capable of a fine picture, but sometimes the laser just isn`t up to it, but... its only a few PS2s. Several of my friends have PS2s that handle it all just fine, but mine refuses to get along with every DVD.

The reason for all this is possibly its age. Perhaps the production methods were less good all those centuries ago, or maybe its just become old and grumpy, but whatever it is, the PS2 skips discs occasionally, and often requires the PS2 to be placed horizontally rather than vertically. At home this is not a problem, as its always horizontal, but it can be a pain up at uni. Anyway, I wondered if this could be sorted by cleaning the laser... and if so, are there any cheap, but safe and effective methods of doing so. I`ve seen laser cleaners in the shops, but remember being warned that this can do more harm than good.

So, anybody got any opinions on the best cleaning methods?

Pasta Masta wrote:
> On a bit of a tangent this - but I also have problems when I use my
> ps2 in the vertical position, most noticable in GTA3, where I can get
> to an area in a car before all the details such as trees and the
> textures have loaded.
>
> Its still in warrenty, so what do people think, should I claim a
> repair???

If this only happens with this one games, ring up the publisher (number is in the book that comes with the games), and ask them about it- with GT2, when it came out, there were so many faults that, simply by ringing up and naming 5 faults you'd get a new copy without sending the old one back (in america at least).

If this happens with other games, call sony and get a replacement.

Sonic

Thanks for the advice guys, and also for the encouragement Sonic. I`ll ask around in some shops a little more, and consider the laser cleaner at some point. I`ll get some more opinions first though. If that fails, I`ll try Sony. The problem is, I hardly want to bother them with it as the problem really isn`t that major as its never affected PS2 games, just occasional DVDs.

On a bit of a tangent this - but I also have problems when I use my ps2 in the vertical position, most noticable in GTA3, where I can get to an area in a car before all the details such as trees and the textures have loaded.

Its still in warrenty, so what do people think, should I claim a repair???

This is the lens- all it needs is cleaning with any CD lens cleaner (I got mine from HMV and it has done wonders with my CD player!).

My CD player skipped badly, and wouldn't read some discs... I just popped the cleaner in, and within 30 secs it was back to new.

Sonic

All the bristles do is clean the stuff off the LENS of the laser. The laser itself is solid-state technology and is enormously reliable. Any problems with skipping (assuming that your discs aren't dirty) is likely to do with the degradation of the control mechanisms that position the laser. Unless your lens is scratched, in which case there's nothing you can do about it.

But then again, what do I know? Like the man said, give Sony a call.

The laser cleaner cd's have rows of bristles on them that are supposed to get rid of any dust and dirt on the laser eye. The cheaper cleaners have quite stiff bristles on them, and the PS2 has a low quality laser in it so the bristles end up doing permanent damage.

Well, good luck getting the thing working.

Just ring Sont though because they will know most about what you should do.
:)

Hmmm, I think its well past its warranty - it was a launch machine. I think I`ll see how it goes, and see if any solutions present themselves... I guess its stupid, but I`ve become quite attached to my little PS2, even if it is a little emotional sometimes :D

LOL, well, if I were you id just ring Sony and ask for some advice or even ask for a new PS2.

They may even give you one if your warrenty has run out.

Good luck though.
:)

Thanks yeh, that was the feeling I got too. I don`t know how a CD can clean a laser, unless it somehow reflects things back to burn all the dust off the laser or something, which would obviously have some side effects, e.g. burnt laser, melted casing etc... :D

You know what I mean though, the only way I could see how to clean it was to put a bit of tissue paper in, turn it on, and then see what happens :D