Problem with the PS3 I have just bought - Help

[anonymous-user]

Hi all,

I have never had a console since owning a PS2 about 10 years ago, and recently I decided to buy a PS3 after playing Gran Tourismo 5 and Medal of Honour at a friends house... Bit late to the party on this one!

So I was after a used PS3, and my friend mentioned I could buy his which I think is the last model of the 'big' PS3's before the Slim versions. It is 80GB.
It is mint condition as he bought it brand new and has probably used it about 20 times max before getting bored with it and just leaving it in it's box after moving house, so I thought it would be a good one to buy.

So I install it in my living room, buy GT5 and Medal of Honour for it, and it gets used about 4 times by me over the past couple of weeks with absolutely no issues, and now it won't work!

It turns on and boots up perfect, but when you put a disc in, nothing happens. I have tried game discs and also DVD's, and neither work. It pulls the disc in fine and the 'spinning clock' appears in the top right hand corner but no mention of the disc appears in the menu.

I don't know much about known PS3 problems, but I haven't got that yellow light problem or any of the other problems that show on the LED lights.

Any suggestions??

[CJ1987]

your blu-ray drive is probably knackered, was a known issue that sony fixed but if its barely been used doubt your friend ever sent it back to sony for it

[The Nur]

CJ1987 said:

your blu-ray drive is probably knackered, was a known issue that sony fixed but if its barely been used doubt your friend ever sent it back to sony for it

This. It is an easy fix but you need to be extremely careful as there are some extremely fragile wires internally that need to be moved about and could fk the ps3 right up if they are broken, which it is hard not to do. Ask me how I know

[Egg Chaser]

I had this problem, and it was the laser at fault. Cost me about 25 quid, and I replaced it myself. It's actually a lot easier than you would think it is.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the help chaps.

I think you are indeed correct, sounds like it is a laser fault as per the early models.

I'll investigate a replacement!

[The Nur]

Egg Chaser said:

I had this problem, and it was the laser at fault. Cost me about 25 quid, and I replaced it myself. It's actually a lot easier than you would think it is.

Whilst I agree with this I must reitterate that it is easy to get wrong. Please be careful as I borked my fat ps3 trying to fix it and had to buy a slim on the day gt5 was released. £300 I was not expecting spend. It is easy but the utmost of care must be taken. If you are anywhere near south wales I have the required toolkit and will happily lend it to you if you do decide to have a crack yourself

[Egg Chaser]

NinjaPower said:

Thanks for the help chaps.

I think you are indeed correct, sounds like it is a laser fault as per the early models.

I'll investigate a replacement!

Make sure you order the correct laser for it, though. There are 2 types for the old 'fat' PS3, a single laser and a double laser. I ordered the wrong one the first time round...

The Nur said:

Whilst I agree with this I must reitterate that it is easy to get wrong. Please be careful as I borked my fat ps3 trying to fix it and had to buy a slim on the day gt5 was released. £300 I was not expecting spend. It is easy but the utmost of care must be taken.

There are some very small fragile wires in there which are easily broken, you just have to take your time when disassembling it.

[Egg Chaser]

Forgot to add, you'll also need a security torx screwdriver to open your PS3, T10 size if I remember correctly. Make sure it's security torx, because they have a small hole in the end.

[anonymous-user]

I have worked out the correct laser required from my serial number, purchased a brand new one complete with deck mechanism for £17.99 including postage... and will hand it over to a local electronics chap who says he's "done hundreds of the bloody things" and has said he will charge £20.

So hopefully my PS3 will be back in action in a couple of days for the sum of £37.99....

I don't feel too bad, I only paid £75 for it, complete with 6 games!