PS1 / PSone not reading discs (lens cleaning, sled wear and laser adjustment)
A PlayStation that won't read games, or drops to the CD player screen, usually has a dirty lens or a worn laser sled, especially on early consoles with plastic laser housings. Clean and check the mechanism first; adjust the laser only as a last resort, and replace the drive or pickup when it is worn.
Written by the CircuitScope research team in our own words, from the sources listed at the end, and checked by our moderators.
A PlayStation that won't read games, or drops to the CD player screen, usually has a dirty lens or a worn laser sled, especially on early consoles with plastic laser housings. Clean and check the mechanism first; adjust the laser only as a last resort, and replace the drive or pickup when it is worn.
Difficulty: Moderate · Time: about 60 minutes
Related codes / lights: Boots to the memory card / CD player screen with a game disc inserted
Symptoms
- Console goes to the memory card / CD player screen instead of starting the game
- Games load slowly, skip during cutscenes or music, or freeze while loading
- Disc spins but isn't detected, or the drive makes loud seeking noises
- Some discs work and others don't
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