CD-R Laser problems. 'Insert Disc' my arse.

[Fazered]

I just bought a load of new CD-R and DVD-R games which came on Data Safe Media. All of the DVD-R and most of the CDR games work fine no problem but some are giving me real shit. They don't give me the 'Red screen of Death' but come up with a black screen with "Insert Disc". If I keep trying I can get all of the games to work and haven't suffered any problems once they have. I have a UK v5 with an original Messiah. My mate can play all the games with no problems with his UK v7 with Magic chip (clone?) Oh and my old CD-R games still work fine.

My laser has always made a lot of noise and it sometimes sounds like a helicopter taking off. Could it be the laser?

Fazered

[fabio21uk]

I have the same problem with a lot of my games that are on CD-R.
My PS2 runs DVD-R's perfectly (a part from BulkPaq). I find that a lot of the CD-R games that wouldn't boot before do boot if I stand my PS2 up (on it's side)... I think it might be due to the fact the Sony use crappy lasers in their consoles. The best bet is to just purchase a new laser and have it fitted. (I know it's a pain in the ass..)

I have a V5 PS2 fitted with an original Messiah Mod.

P.S - I recently purchased an XBOX Pre-Modded with the Xecuter 2, since buying this nifty piece of equipment, I've not played on my PS2... nor intend to untill Sony pull there finger out and start releasing their consoles with Hard Drives built in and online ready...

[charlie_ps2]

Ifd you really mean it sounds like a helicopter taking off then do you think your spindle might not be engaging the disk properly? is there a label on the disk that causes imbalance?

When a game plays on one PS2 but not the other it's usually the combination of media and laser; the laser aspect (as I've explained in other threads that you may not have seen) may be mechanics like the white cog adjustment or laser azimuth; or a downright worn out laser diode or even just a dirty lens.

Given that the media plays on a v7 (which doesn't have a better laser than a v5 IMHO) do think on the mechanical or laser aspects. The mechanical ones first.

Hope this has helped.

[Fazered]

Guys. Thanks for the replies. I am much happier trying the mechanical stuff first as I just can't justify to spend all that money on a new laser so I don't have to press reset a few times.

By the way perhaps a helicopter is not the best analogy (in fact it was entirely missleading) It sounds quite smooth but it is very loud and makes a lot of Vrrrrrr Vrrrrr noises especialy of course when it is going faster.

Thanks for the help.
Fazered


PS. I did search for lots and looked at lots of posts but non of them mentioned the 'insert disk' screen so I wanted to confirm.

[charlie_ps2]

Ah Vrrrr Vrrr. Are the ones that give you a hard time rips of DVD games by any chance? You know what's coming next if they are....

[Fazered]

Originally posted by charlie_ps2
Ah Vrrrr Vrrr. Are the ones that give you a hard time rips of DVD games by any chance? You know what's coming next if they are....

Charlie what are you trying to do to me? "You know whats coming next" Do you know the pressure that put e under when I didn't know? Now I had to work out what you meant without having to ask and end up looking like an idiot. So I had to try and work it out. Here was my outcome (with working shown for extra credit)

Could it be a bad rip?
They work first time on my mates and they also work after lots of tries on mine.
Result - Ruled out

Could it be a new laser was coming next?
The shear horror of this thought my eye hurt so I stopped thinking about it.
Result - I *%$king hope not

Could it be the media?
Again they work on my mates but it still could be my lasers fault. The problem games are on two different types of media (although from the same manufacturer)
Result - Perhaps

Could it be the chip?
If they are DVD rips does the chip have to give the PS2 a different code? However I have other DVD rips that work fine.
Result - Don't think so.

Could it be god?
Well he can f*ck off.
Result - nah

Can I find the answer by searching the forums?
Despite not doing any work this afternoon I couldn't find anything which gave me the answer.
Result - no help

---------------

Final result - 67.45

Yup you guessed it don't know.

Fazered

[charlie_ps2]

Nice reply! It's having the Messiah installed that slightly throws me. It eventually boots - so that's something. Rips unless scientifically constructed don't pay attention to the order in which data should be streamed. Therefore the disk head can go all over the place which on some chips upsets timings. I have a GT3 Rip here that WON'T BOOT with Magic 3 but WILL boot with Messiah 2 and Apple.

So when you combine the physical block order with media issues and interaction with the laser, you get a 3D problem!

Being in the UK you can always send me the offending rip to try against the various modchips I plug in and out of my US v7.

On a point of clarification, I assume that the offending disk is the one that works in your mate's v7.

I still reckon it's a media issue as my recently posted thread on laser calibration developes the argument.

[Fazered]

Originally posted by charlie_ps2
Nice reply! It's having the Messiah installed that slightly throws me. It eventually boots - so that's something. Rips unless scientifically constructed don't pay attention to the order in which data should be streamed. Therefore the disk head can go all over the place which on some chips upsets timings. I have a GT3 Rip here that WON'T BOOT with Magic 3 but WILL boot with Messiah 2 and Apple.

I will try the games on my mates v5 which was chipped at the same time to perhaps eliminate the chip. The lucky shit bag is in Australia for a couple more weeks though.

So when you combine the physical block order with media issues and interaction with the laser, you get a 3D problem!

Thats just what I need '3DDD - 3rd Dimensional Disk Disruption' !!

Being in the UK you can always send me the offending rip to try against the various modchips I plug in and out of my US v7.

That is not a bad idea. Thanks for the offer. But how can I be sure you won't want to steal my game if I send you 'Shrek Super Party' or 'Mary and Kate - Licence to drive'? I just don't think you could stop yourself from stealing them for one of your famous pyjama parties! I will PM you. (no, not for an invite)

On a point of clarification, I assume that the offending disk is the one that works in your mate's v7.

There are about 9 disks (perhaps more) and they all work fine on his.

I still reckon it's a media issue as my recently posted thread on laser calibration developes the argument.

Is there any point in me copying the games to better media?

Thanks for the help again Charlie. Your a star.

Fazered

PS. I just rememebered something about one of the problem games which is a bit weird. The Weakest Link is a real bastard to load and when it does you only get the first letter of the answers! Sometimes it will give you 2 or 3 letters but mainly it is just one! It works fine with full answers on my mates. I have still managed to get into the final round though!

[Fazered]

It is taking this slightly off topic but it might explain a few things. I had the chip installed professionally and was promised that is was an original Messiah chip. There have been a few things that don't make sense though;

I used to have to tap reset a different number of times for different games but have found that I just tap it 3 times for all PS2 games (CD/DVD) which doesn't match the Messiah usage instructions online.

It plays multi-region DVD's (original and silvers) without Region-X and it plays NTSC disks in colour on my PAL ps2.

I don't get the 'red screen of death' unless I only press reset twice (which I use for DVD movies) when a game fails to load. It get a back screen with 'Insert Disk' in white at the top of the screen in the centre.

I got the chip installed about 4 months ago before the new generation of chips arrived.

Should I take a picture of the chip for identification?


Fazered

[charlie_ps2]

Originally posted by Fazered
............

Should I take a picture of the chip for identification?


Fazered

Absolutely. Does it boot import originals?