GameCube disc read error (laser cleaning and power adjustment)
A GameCube that spins a disc and then shows the 'An error has occurred' screen usually has a dirty or ageing laser. Clean the lens first; if that fails, a tiny anticlockwise turn of the laser power potentiometer on the drive board usually restores reading, with drive replacement as the last step.
Written by the CircuitScope research team in our own words, from the sources listed at the end, and checked by our moderators.
A GameCube that spins a disc and then shows the 'An error has occurred' screen usually has a dirty or ageing laser. Clean the lens first; if that fails, a tiny anticlockwise turn of the laser power potentiometer on the drive board usually restores reading, with drive replacement as the last step.
Difficulty: Moderate · Time: about 60 minutes
Related codes / lights: 'An error has occurred. Turn the power off and refer to the Nintendo GameCube Instruction Booklet for further instructions.' (disc read error)
Symptoms
- Disc spins, then stops and the console shows 'An error has occurred. Turn the power off and refer to the Nintendo GameCube Instruction Booklet for further instructions.'
- Console reports no disc or an unreadable disc
- Some games load and others don't, or games freeze during loading
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