I agree with mercedes slr as i did the same thing. Sony improved the lens on newer versions of the PS2 so if you have bought one within the last year you should be fine. Also, on my 1st PS2, i did the laser clean thing and all that...success. BUT...3 weeks later AAARGH. If your PS2 goes lousy, buy a new one, it's the only way.
GT4 wont load with old PS2s? Possible common problem?
- Thread starter Larson0
- 330 comments
- 111,936 views
- 14
Xenosaga, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, GT4, and Champions of Norrath are among the few DVD9 PS2 games available.ecartdc
Try these sites before you give up and buy a new PS2. I have a PS2 from 2001, and at first, I kept getting disc rear error when inserting the game. I've had the disc read error problem for over a year on a lot of games, but most of the time, the laser lens just requires cleaning (I live in a dusty rural sort of area).
I've read this guide before, and it matches the process I used to fix my PS2 years ago.
http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/45797/PlayStation_2_Disc_Read_Error_Fix.html
This other one I have not read, but it may be useful anyway.
http://faqs.ign.com/articles/390/390535p1.html
I had to readjust the lens angle/position to get GT4 to read on my PS2. I know it's frustrating to see that, but don't be afraid to tinker with your PS2. It's a very easy process, and you don't have to have any sort of electrical know-how. The only thing I can caution you about when taking apart you PS2 is to do it on a flat surface so the silver ribbon attached to the base and the top does not get stretched or pulled. It's a pain in the ass to get that ribbon back into the base (I've done it three times), so be careful.
The factory warranty seal is worthless, so don't worry about breaking it. Your warranty expired 90 days ( I think it's either 30 or 90 ) after your PS2 was built, so most of you are well past that date. Oh, and when cleaning your lens, use alcohol or windex on something like a q-tip, but be very gentle. You just want to remove surface dirt and not scratch the lens. It's not worth taking your PS2 to a repair shop if you can do it yourself in 30 minutes or less. Anyway, hope that helps along with a lot of other people's tips in here.
I've read this guide before, and it matches the process I used to fix my PS2 years ago.
http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/45797/PlayStation_2_Disc_Read_Error_Fix.html
This other one I have not read, but it may be useful anyway.
http://faqs.ign.com/articles/390/390535p1.html
I had to readjust the lens angle/position to get GT4 to read on my PS2. I know it's frustrating to see that, but don't be afraid to tinker with your PS2. It's a very easy process, and you don't have to have any sort of electrical know-how. The only thing I can caution you about when taking apart you PS2 is to do it on a flat surface so the silver ribbon attached to the base and the top does not get stretched or pulled. It's a pain in the ass to get that ribbon back into the base (I've done it three times), so be careful.
The factory warranty seal is worthless, so don't worry about breaking it. Your warranty expired 90 days ( I think it's either 30 or 90 ) after your PS2 was built, so most of you are well past that date. Oh, and when cleaning your lens, use alcohol or windex on something like a q-tip, but be very gentle. You just want to remove surface dirt and not scratch the lens. It's not worth taking your PS2 to a repair shop if you can do it yourself in 30 minutes or less. Anyway, hope that helps along with a lot of other people's tips in here.
- 72
- Pegasusrjf
- Pegasusrjf
DevilGTx
I am not sure if it is the TV or not, as my xBox (I know this is a PS2 game) has no issues with any games in any of the HDTV modes. Also the TV switches for each one without issue.
I am going to try connecting with different cables to different inputs to see if that may be the cause. I will also look at the TV, although there are many options without going into service mode (not sure if I want to do that).
Thanks.
- 38
- Irving/Texas/U.
I think i might have the same problem also. I got my Ps2 just because of gran turismo 3, around december, i got it for x-mas. I borrowed NFSU 2 monday and tried to play it but i kept getting the DRE. I put one of those disc type lens cleaner, it worked well with my other games, like gt3, and tokyo extreme racer 3. But i had no luck with NFSU 2, i dont have GT4 yet, hopefully i'll get it this weekend. But I'll probably have the same problem with gt4. I think i'll try the lens cleaning by hand, or buy a new ps2, like sony wants me to....
My older PS2 started getting Disc Read Errors a few months ago, even after I tried cleaning it. I did some searching and found out this was a common problem, and you could call Sony up and they would have you send it in, and as long as it hasn't been modified or abused and the warranty seal isn't broken (even if the warranty period is long since past) they will fix it and send it back for free. I haven't tried it with GT4 yet (can't afford to buy it, and Blockbuster doesn't seem to have it to rent yet) but everything else I've tried is working perfectly again.
Here's my update: Two copies of GT4 were not playing on my new slim ps2 (which still plays my other games just fine), so I took one of the Gt4 copies back to Fry's, and tried to play it on their demo machines.
The disc played on one fat ps2, but not the other fat ps2. So, it looks like its not necessarily a disc problem, but a laser problem.
The disc played on one fat ps2, but not the other fat ps2. So, it looks like its not necessarily a disc problem, but a laser problem.
- 3,315
I know this sounds funny but I had the same problems with some other disc (other games) with my anciant PS2, my ps2 usualy is flat on the ground, when I put it up on its side the games worked fine someone try it and see if that works. I dont have my GT4 yet but im hoping i dont have any probs with it.
- 38
Hi fans,
I wrote this email to scee (sony europe):
Hello sony,
In America some people have problems with gran turismo 4.
Please tell the european makers of GT4 about these problems. (We've got time until 9 March.)
In this link you'll find some of the problems that occur:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55927
I wrote this email to scee (sony europe):
Hello sony,
In America some people have problems with gran turismo 4.
Please tell the european makers of GT4 about these problems. (We've got time until 9 March.)
In this link you'll find some of the problems that occur:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55927
- 324
Call 1-800-345-7669 and have your PS2 handy. Tell them you are getting Disc Read Errors. Give them an Email address when they ask for it. They will email you the SR# and then UPS it to them, takes 10 days and PS2 works like a champ. if they happen to ask you about which games have problems, just tell them the older ones and GT4 wont play, they will most likely upgrade your unit for free. It is a VERY common problem. Here is a copy of the confirmation email.
- 530
shoanb
I tried that, it worked the first time. Then it stopped working and got stuck at a loading screen for 10 minutes (the clock loading thing was red, instead of white, so I assumed from that too that the disc wasnt reading)
So I think i have to open up my PS2 (which I did), but I need a "jewelry" phillips screwdriver. Unfortunately, i don't have a size that small. Do you guys know of any household alternatives for this? There won't be a car at the house for a good 8 hours.
- 324
Hopefully cleaning it will "work fine". Mine wouldn't play blue backed discs, CD-ROMs, PSONE discs and some DVDs.
I've performed:
1. the cleaning,
2. scotch brite on the white disc grabber,
3. magnet on the top of the disc holder,
4. cleaning the laser with a swab and alcohol,
5. readjusting the laser height with the white gear and a sharpie (twice), and
6. adjusting laser voltage.
None worked. Sent to Sony while I was at Mardi Gras and presto! Works like a champ.
I've performed:
1. the cleaning,
2. scotch brite on the white disc grabber,
3. magnet on the top of the disc holder,
4. cleaning the laser with a swab and alcohol,
5. readjusting the laser height with the white gear and a sharpie (twice), and
6. adjusting laser voltage.
None worked. Sent to Sony while I was at Mardi Gras and presto! Works like a champ.
well, hhhmmm. i planned on trying to GT4, but know i dont know. i have one of the older PS2. i bought it and GT3 and the same time. GT3 had been out for awhile though, i dont know if its the greatest hits version or not. off the top of my head, i think its not. i used to play DVD's all the time on it without any problems, but now i have a DVD player. how do i check it to see if it will play dual-layer DVD's? can you tell from looking at the back of the DVD case, or are they a different color or something?
whats the difference between the PS2 and the PStwo? i've never heard of that before today, when i read this thread.
whats the difference between the PS2 and the PStwo? i've never heard of that before today, when i read this thread.
- 1,218
Ok, most DVD's will say on the back of the case if they are dual layered. There's usually an information box on the back telling you about extra features, languages, what sound systems it's compatiable on etc. Nestled in there somewhere it will usually say "dual layer" or in one case "DVD9 X 2" (two disc set). A DVD9 will probably be a sure fire way to test because it's the same type of DVD as GT4, so if you have one bung it in and see what happens.Homer J
The PS2 is the old fat Playstation 2, usually black although some people here have the nice silver one. The PSTwo is the new thin PLaystation 2. The only way to tell the difference without a picture is how their names are spelt. The old Playstation is abbreviated as "PS2" and the new thin one as "PSTwo". They're pretty easy to distinguish in real life, the slim one's like the PS2's baby brother.
Here's a pic to compare the two:
I have a model 1 launch edition PS2. It's plays GT4 just fine. I used to work for EB, repairing PS2's and I can tell you that 90% of the time a game loading problem is caused by dirty lenses on the lasers. There is a laser for CD and one for DVD but they share the same lens cover. For those 10% that cant be helped by cleaning, 90% of those just need some laser tweaking. The rest are best thrown in the scrap heap because you are better off buying a new ps2 than trying your luck with a new laser unit.
- 1,515
Hiya! 
Meow! (='.'=)
Wow...I didnt think there are going to be as many people having problems with GT4. This might hurt Polyphony Digital greatly if the number of problems is too great. I finally got mines to work by buying the slim PS2. But still, using up 149.99 to get the game to work is quite a waste. Too bad I haven't tried other people's method of getting it to work, but I like the slim PS2. I hope everyone who have a problem with GT4 get things right so we all can enjoy it together!
Meow! (='.'=)Wow...I didnt think there are going to be as many people having problems with GT4. This might hurt Polyphony Digital greatly if the number of problems is too great. I finally got mines to work by buying the slim PS2.
But still, using up 149.99 to get the game to work is quite a waste. Too bad I haven't tried other people's method of getting it to work, but I like the slim PS2. I hope everyone who have a problem with GT4 get things right so we all can enjoy it together! 
- 1,077
Hohohoho !! They seem to have multiple problems from lots of people! I have heard this a lot and was kind of worried when I imported my copy ! My Japanese PS2 is an SCPH-10000 model and my American PS2 is also an SCPH-10000 and GT4 works fine on both of them 
! I mean PERFECTLY fine ^.^! I have a copy for my Japanese PS2 and I played that one fine,then yesterday,my friend brought over his copy to show me some changes that they made and it loaded fine on my American PS2 as well,sooo..even if I ever get enough money to buy another model PS2,I wouldn't ! Ah,well..just figured I'd let people know it's not completely hopeless! Don't give up !
AE86Driver
~Ja ne~
P.S. By the way Angel,I just saw read your signature and I'm playing Xenosaga: Episode II as well! I rented it from Blockbuster Friday and have it for 2 more days I believe. Hahaha,but I am waiting for Tekken 5 to come out as well,buuuut..sorry for going off-topic there,I just noticed we were playing the same game ! Once again,
for going off-topic o.o;! *runs off*
!! They seem to have multiple problems from lots of people! I have heard this a lot and was kind of worried when I imported my copy ! My Japanese PS2 is an SCPH-10000 model and my American PS2 is also an SCPH-10000 and GT4 works fine on both of them ! I mean PERFECTLY fine ^.^! I have a copy for my Japanese PS2 and I played that one fine,then yesterday,my friend brought over his copy to show me some changes that they made and it loaded fine on my American PS2 as well,sooo..even if I ever get enough money to buy another model PS2,I wouldn't ! Ah,well..just figured I'd let people know it's not completely hopeless! Don't give up !AE86Driver
~Ja ne~
P.S. By the way Angel,I just saw read your signature and I'm playing Xenosaga: Episode II as well
! I rented it from Blockbuster Friday and have it for 2 more days I believe. Hahaha,but I am waiting for Tekken 5 to come out as well,buuuut..sorry for going off-topic there,I just noticed we were playing the same game ! Once again, for going off-topic o.o;! *runs off*
- 47
My PSone won't play my copy of GT4!!!111!!!!1one11!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO?!?!?!?!?!?!?! 
I was just kidding - I'm going to get GT4 tonight and hopefully I won't have any problems.
I was just kidding - I'm going to get GT4 tonight and hopefully I won't have any problems.
