Where to get a s/h PS2 or laser?

Hiya, my PS2 has gradually been getting worse at reading discs. I haven't done any cleaning stuff (seen a ebook about it on ebay), but I'm dubious of the success of such measure so I was looking for a laser or even a replacement.

Lasers are for sale on ebay but only for the slimline model, not my aging SCPH 35003. Also there are only broken PS2s on ebay! Gamestation doesn't list any s/h ones on it's website, just the new slimline one.

I'd rather not buy a new slimline one because a) the money would be better spend on Wii and b) I read in another thread that not all PS2 games work on them, is that true!?

Anyone got any advice as I must get my PS2 back :-(

Thanks!

Mine was getting a bit dodgy reading discs... I blew real hard into drive.. a bunch of dust came out and its been fine ever since.

Know how you feel. I sold my PS2 about a year ago and started to regret it a few months back.

The price of a new PS2 will probably come down soon - as soon as they cut the price of the PS3 when all the fools have done paying through the nose for it.

try standing it upwright. Mine won't work at all unless it is standing.

My fiancee's little brothers PS2 (the old type) began to have problems reading blue discs. I took it apart, cleaned the laser with some IPA (Isopropyl alcohol), put it back together and it worked like a charm.

Pop into your local computer shop, pick up a cheap CD/floppy disc cleaning pack, about £2.99 as they come with a little bottle of IPA and give it a go. It's real easy to strip down a PS2, it was the first time I'd ever done it and didn't encounter any springs flying off in different directions :)

Yep try Qube's method, this has worked on 2 PS2's of friends of mine so far.

Other way round mate.

Also, Gamestation definitely have pre-owned standard PS2s but they're still about £70 in my local one (I jus thappened to pop in there an hour ago!) so its not much less expensive than a normal Slimline one.

Anyway, the CD/DVD cleaning kits generally work well, so give em a try first :)

I tried blowing hard into it, but no luck so OK I'll try to clean the lens, thanks for the advice. YEah I don't wanna pay £70 for a s/h one!

Oh and that info about blue CDs is interesting, they may be the problem ones (as some games load and some don't), I'll check it out. Thanks.

So Cyg: are you saying that some PS2 games don't work on old PS2s but DO work on the slimline ones? [edit] jsut read the other ps2 thread.

Similar to what DampeS8N suggested, you could try turning the machine upside down and playing a disc. If it works then the ps2's laser unit is suffering from lens fatigue (where the lens component struggles to lift up because of weak magnets .. or some techy thing like that)

I remember getting a Playstation 1 working again (for a few days) afer reducing the discs spin speed. There was a tiny pot adjuster hidden away in the laser unit.
Not really recommended though!

Oh yeah the side on tip, I forgot about that, cool.

I assume it's my comments in another thread which you're referring to. I'm not mistaken, Sony have a page on their website listing which PS1 and PS2 games will not work on the slimlines.

Yeah it ws your comments. I just saw that list, lucky it's not too big. I wonder what they changed that made it not work...?

Google for PS2 Laser Realignment or something to that effect. That's the problem with using ineffective yet draconian copy protection schemes coupled with low-grade hardware.

In my experience, yes, but the older PS2 is well, older, so there are more likely to be laser issues :)