do ps2's have upgradeable firmware?

killabyte · Post by **killabyte** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:09 pm

about 2 or 3 years ago i bought some software called qcast for accessing mp3's, pictures and divx/mpeg movies off your computer. last year i tried that software for the first time and it worked fine, but just now (little over a year later) i tried it again and my ps2 acts like there is a copied or pirated disc in it. says please insert a playstation or playstation 2 disc.

this isn't a copied disc and it did work fine, in fact my game shark no longer works anymore either, i get the same message. i know that back in the day sony seemed to keep upgrading their psx's so that for each new version psx you had to have a newer version gameshark cause they blocked it, i assume the same thing is happening here but how?

the only games i have ever played on it was driv3r, san andreas, battlefront, i beta tested some socom game and some other fps shooter game that i can't remember the name of, and i have played the star wars episode 3 game and gran turismo 4. i haven't really kept up with the ps2/console scene cause i never really played it as you can tell. it has never been modded or opened up until tonight when i tried to swap discs while it was running (futile attempt i know but what the heck i was bored).

what's happened to my ps2 guys? i've been googling but i haven't turned up much info, and the people who make the software dont seem to have functioning forums but i have emailed them.

J.F. · Post by **J.F.** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:33 pm

PS2's don't have flashrom. It's much more likely that the laser is getting out of focus or alignment and it's no longer reading the discs properly. You might search for pages on taking care of laser problems.

killabyte · Post by **killabyte** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:06 am

thanks, i'll look into that. i was reading around on here last night and that idea did cross my mind, but heck i have played it so little. i may have spent a total of 10 hrs on everything but san andreas and the episode 3 game. probably played san andreas for 40ish hours and ep3 around 4.

but good idea i will read into it

weltall · Post by **weltall** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:22 am

gta has killed so much ps2 lens...

J.F. · Post by **J.F.** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 3:08 pm

Some models also had really lousy mechanisms. You might check for a new laser assembly on parts sites. They're pretty common, especially for older and "problem" models where the laser assembly needs replacing.

Arwin · Post by **Arwin** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:53 pm

J.F. wrote:Some models also had really lousy mechanisms. You might check for a new laser assembly on parts sites. They're pretty common, especially for older and "problem" models where the laser assembly needs replacing.

Most problems are solved by either:

1. cleaning and regreasing the rails of lense-platform
2. cleaning the lense
3. recalibrating the lense angle (a tiny, fragile little screw on the platform allows you to adjust this)

The first is pretty easy to do and really, really solves most problems. I got a PS2 in the first week of the European launch, and donated that one to my half-brother when the iLink port gave out (which I needed for Gran Turismo 3 iLink competitions). When it started to have reading problems, I told my dad to do 1. and after that the console runs any game and as if new. I've given the tip to several other people since and for all but one it solved their problems.

J.F. · Post by **J.F.** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:19 am

Right you are. Sorry if I gave the impression that you HAD to replace the mechanism. There are other things to try before doing so, as you listed. Replacement is the LAST thing to do.