I have soft modded my PS2fat SCPH-3000X via sending my genuine Sony memcard to someone on PSX-Scene.com, where it was modded. It works on my PS2.
I have a Jak X iso. On several compatibility lists, it is 100% compatible with ESR. I have burnt it using the software they suggest at the speed they suggest.
When I put the disc in and boot up FMCB and ESR, the options given are Launch CDVD, Launch APP, and Launch OSDSYS, with three buttons underneath saying Disable ESR after first IOP Reset, Use Synchronous Mode, and Spoof Media Type. The Status at the bottom of the screen says "UNKNOWN MEDIA IN DRIVE..." after a long period of "Detecting..."
I usually do not select anything but Launch CDVD, with gives me a black screen with the disc spinning, but nothing even after 30 minutes. Just a blank black screen.
I burnt my Jak X iso twice, both with ImgBurn, at 8x speed. I use memorex dvd+r.
I've also attempted to burn Ape Escape 2, also compatible with ESR, to the same media at 8x with Alcohol 120%. Same status result, same blank black screen.
maybe a few things. It could be your laser going out or maybe its dirty it could also be the low quality media like JST said. I suggest opening the ps2 (without ripping the reset/power switch ribbon) and use a cotton swab with 70-90% rubbing alcohol to clean the ps2's laser lens. heres a video on how to take apart and clean the ps2 if you need it.
So I went and bought Verbatim 16x DVD-R from my local bestbuy, and I burnt Ape Escape 2 on it, and my ESR still spends a lot of time detecting the disk so I went ahead and started without it detecting. Still a blank black screen. Could it be something wrong with the mem card? It doesn't run FMCB automatically, I have to hold R1 down when booting up to get into it if that's an issue.
Edit: I don't think it's a laser problem. I can run any other of the twenty games I bought officially perfectly fine.
Update: I have fixed my FMCB issue, and my ESR now detects that I am using a PS2DVD when burnt at 16x on verbatimDVD-R media. However, upon selecting to run the media my screen flashes three seperate colors twice in a pattern, then goes black and the disc stops spinning. I'm now stuck.