If you're playing discs with blue bottoms it's a sign that it's wearing out. Which feels like it might be that either way. That's always what I've heard anything but I've seen them 'wear out' for ages, blue bottom disks tend to be the first thing to stop reading though.

The PS2 uses 2 potatothings (don't recall the good name) to read CDs (PS1 games) and DVDs (PS2 games).

So first step would be cleaning your lens, like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FCES1I-oNo

If it still doesn't work there still are ways to possibly fix it, there was a way to augment the voltage of the laser thing for the DVD reader that could fix this problem in some cases, but it could also reduce its lifetime. I just don't remember how to do this, even if I had to perform it on similar hardware once. I recommend googling it.


Else ... you can buy another PS2 ... these things are cheap now.

Well I've already googled it but it still doesn't make sense to me. Why would the lens need cleaning if it reads everything else properly? Urg. Besides that I did put a lens cleaner disc through several times. Then again my own is quite old. Might try borrowing my dad's.

As for buying one that's not an option right now. Poor Liger is Poor.

I still recommend cleaning it as displayed in the video, as you may be able to clean some parts that you couldn't access with a disc.
As for why the lens could be the problem, and that it wouldn't read DVDs but only CDs, there could be some random reasons like, I don't know, a part of the lens being covered by dirty stuff that be a problem for some kinds of lasers and not for some others ...

I'm almost sure the lens ins't the problem, and that it comes from the potentio-tator-thingy (still can't recall the name) but the thing is, when you gotta deal with hardware problems, just just can't do directly the most risky stuff or assume something is broken and has to be replaced when you can do easier stuff that is safe and could possibly work (even if there's a small chance of it working) in the first place. Trying to do complicated hardware repairs or replacements always come as a last option.

If it still doesn't work, look for the potential-itor-whatever thing on google. It's nothing impossible, I fixed it on some hardware already, it always changes a bit depending on the console, disc reader or whatever but in the end it can still be done.

I've seen other cleaning vids on youtube already. That one you sent is for the old model. I have the newer slimer PS2. And I'm saying that it WILL play everything I put in EXCEPT PS2 games. Everything else plays just fine.

As for the Potato thing your talking about it's not useful without a name. Even still I'm very hesitant to open up the damn thing to begin with.

At an rate thanks for trying to chime in with something I just wish others would chime in as well that was frustrating diging out my old PS 2 games last night and now finding out that I can't actually play any of them.

Ok I stand corrected. It won't seem to play DVDs either. I thought it would as when I popped in Underworld Evolution earlier to test it did seem to boot that one up. Though it asked for parental settings to be changed which I'd never set.

I'd really, really check the lens after opening the console if I were you - as for the slim version, it pretty much works in the same way - the disc reader didn't really change. Over the years, it's easy to make components of an equivalent power smaller than before without having them overheating, which is what mostly changes in slim consoles, but disc readers aren't concerned.

As for the right component, I found it, it has the barbaric name of potentiometer - however if now you tell me that it doesn't read PS1 discs either, I don't think it's the problem: PS2 has two potentiometers, one for CDs and one for DVDs... But I don't think both could have just stopped working like that. If the console fails at reading both, it's probably the lens ... or maybe possibly another component in the disc reader. In most cases it's the lens though. That said, it can also be replaced I think.

No No. It's still Reading CDs and PS1 So I'll have to get around later and take it apart. Here's hoping I don't screw anything up.

Just go on forums and ask what you'll have to take care about. There are some sensible parts to avoid - for the disc reader, It would be the wires, mostly (if I recall well there are yellow/orange wires going to the lens or something)

I wish I even a ps2. my copy of rachet and clank is just ghatering dust. poor game.

How's quality is dvds in ps2?

Non existent. I tried another DVD in it since then so I assume it's the inner lens that's dirty now. So I'll have to take it apart very carefully and clean it. More likely I'll just leave it be and replace the PS2 whenever I get the money.