My PS2 would not read CD's DVD'S. It just kept coming up with the infamous "DISC READ ERROR". However I successfully fixed the problem in just over ten minutes just by adjusting the laser.
How to fix it
Turn it upside down, with the expansion bay close to you. Pop off all
the rubber and plastic plugs, remove the screws beneath (there's 10).
Remove the top cover (careful, there's a wire set that goes from the
top cover to the unit, leave it in place), then the bottom cover (this
is where you break the warranty seal, so if your's is less than 90
days old, I don't recommend this).
Now replace the top cover (so it's easier to work with) and place the
unit upside down, again with the expansion bay facing you. Remove 2
screws, one holds the metal shield in place, the other holds the
expansion bay together. There is a ribbon cable between the bay and
the unit. Have a friend hold the bay upright, exposing a hole that
exposes some of the DVD drive workings.
Here it is, the laser adjusting screws. They are 2 silver screw
looking
things, with a black screw between them. The right silver thing
controls the CD, the left controls the DVD. I turned mine 1/8
clockwise turn each.
The thing I read said to adjust 1/16 to 1/8 turn and try.
I partially re-assembled mine after just 1/8 turn and
EUREKA!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cleaned it out a bit and did the final assembly,
and now my PS2 works every time. I even put in a CD that was
previously a coaster it was so scratched and it read it first try.
Doesn't always work buddy. If your dvd coils gets worse again, you are done! All coils will burn out as a function of time. When you use them too much, they got weaken (job security fo Sony).
I have enjoyed many hours of gameplay since fixing it and it's still running perfectly and hasn't failed to read a single disc yet. However, thanks for the knowledge fatfatso.
