PS3 disc read error

[Optimus_Prime]

Okay, so I figured my PS3 might be next, but I wasn't counting on it, lol. So, anyone else had this problem? CDs and DVDs (including PS2 and PS1 games) work fine in my 60GB launch unit. Blu-ray movies will work for a couple of minutes (maybe) and PS3 games will work for about 10 minutes if I load them after the PS3 has been off for a bit. Everything that's harddrive-based (like PSN games) is fine. I've been to the following forum and I believe the blu-ray laser is starting to go: http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=70948.

So I've got a few options:

1. Buy a replacement laser and fix it myself.
PROS: Cheapest solution at about $70; don't have to send my PS3 anywhere and wait
CONS: People sometimes have to go through multiple lasers to find one that works (the old model has a fairly high failure rate apparently; either that or many sellers are unscrupulously sending people ones they know don't work); gotta replace it myself and make sure everything works (no guarantee); most sellers only have a replacement guarantee for 30 days; if the laser craps out again after 30 days, there's no guarantee Sony will fix it (though it's likely they would for the ~$170)

2. Send the PS3 to Sony to fix it.
PROS: Will fix it or send me a refurbished unit without me having to crack the thing open and hope I can get it working; has a 90 day warranty
CONS: costly at $149 plus tax (if any); will be without PS3 for likely at least two weeks; no guarantee they will send me back a 60GB model (I do play PS2 games on it, and I like that it upscales them)

3. Sell my PS3 "as is" and buy a new one.
PROS: Since it's the 60GB model and I have all of the original packaging and can offer a Dualshock3 controller and a couple of cheap games, I should be able to get at least $100, maybe close to $200 for it on ebay. Which means I'd roughly spend about the same to buy a new PS3 after selling mine as getting mine fixed.
CONS: If I get a new PS3, I'd prefer to wait until they announce a price cut (I have the games in the bundles they're selling now); if I wait for a price cut to sell my PS3, I won't get as much for it; I'd prefer the rumored "PS3 Slim", but that's vaporware at this point. No PS2 BC on newer models.

I want to make a decision very soon. After reading the thread that I linked above, my wife and I have decided to likely forgo option 1. But I wanted to put that on the table for those interested in the discussion. What do you all think?


By the way, on a funny side note HSG actually works fine since it only reads the disc at startup. One of the few times that I'm really glad to have used so much HDD space installing a game. :p So until the laser completely craps out, I can play HSG. :D

[The PS]

That sucks OP
That's the way it started by mine ps3
First play games like 10 min and finally no play at all
I'm still waiting for my new ps3 i hope tomorrow

[yasdad]

Another major bummer :( Sorry to hear you have problems.

Personally, I'd go for the cheap repair and keep my fingers crossed. But that's because if and when (as seems likely) my 60GB bites the dust, the funds won't be there to replace or repair it. I'd be reasonably confident of doing the repair work myself, it's just the good/bad parts lottery that's a little scary.

Hope you getting it sorted without too much wallet pain :)

[gypsyball]

I hope mine ain't next. But I got extra cooling fans on it so I could keep on being lucky.

[PizzaGuy8042]

Tough call! Those 60 gig models sell for more than new around here. I sent mine to Sony when the Blueray failed and got back my same unit with new drive in it, but like u said, they might send u back a whole new system and if they are out of the 60 gig units it may be a newer model. The $150 includes shipping, I think, but there is tax. I guess I would send mine to Sony as it is most likely they will just replace the drive and return it to you. Make sure and do a full back up before sending it to them. Best of luck!

[gypsyball]

Well $150 is still cheaper than getting a new PS3, and what ever Sony sends you, hopefully it will work for a long while.

[Optimus_Prime]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I've decided to go with option #2 and pay the out of warranty service fee. It was straight up $149; I didn't have any taxes. So it's now a 1-2 week wait for the coffin. I can play HSG until then, but then I'll be offline (in OOB) for 2-3 weeks after that. Guess I'll be putting some time back into OT2.

By the way, for those interested: I tried using the "secret" recovery menu* to restore the file system, rebuild the database, and even do a full system restore. I also tried (supposedly) aligning the laser. You can do this by holding the eject button (with no disc loaded) for around 10 seconds or so until you hear the drive do something. Nothing permanently helped. The file system restore did help with the system initially recognizing blu-ray discs. If the system was on for little awhile, it wouldn't even detect BDs. Now it'll detect them just about every time, but it'll stop playing movies almost immediately and say "invalid disc" after ejecting it. Games still stop working after about 10 minutes.

The only thing about getting it serviced (other than $149 freakin dollars) is that it's just about guaranteed I won't get mine back, so even though I did a full backup I don't think it'll restore to the "new" PS3. Is that correct? [I separately saved most of my game saves just in case, but it's going to be a pain to re-rip the 40GB or so of music that I have on there, as well as re-download all the PSN stuff.]


*Accessing the secret PS3 Recovery Menu

1. Put your PS3 in standby mode (off with red light).
2. Press and hold down the power button. It will turn on and beep three separate times before immediately shutting back down (the first beep is the usual one when you turn it on; the second is the one that resets your display settings--unfortunately, necessary here; the third beep when shutting down). Be sure to keep your finger on the power button the whole time until it powers back down.
3. Press and hold down the power button again. This time it will beep, then give you two rapid beeps. After the two-beep sequence, release the power button.
4. The screen should ask you to attach a controller via USB cable and press its PS button.
5. Choose an option. Some of the options are the same as what's available under System Settings. But others can prove useful. Restore File System will fix any corrupted files (and not mess with anything else) while Rebuild Database may help with other stuff but it will erase PSN messages, playlists, info changes done on media files, etc. Be sure to do a backup via System Settings before doing a full system restore (it will erase everything).

[Kbongg]

I guess i am to late to the party to help, but...

I had the laser fail, fixed it myself by replacing. been working for the 6mos or whatever it has been.

I used a guide on youtube (heckuva lot better than the thread you were looking at) and it was a cinch.

Good luck OP.

[Optimus_Prime]

Thanks, KB. I did some research and even though I would've saved around $80 fixing it myself, it's a crapshoot on whether the new lasers work. Sometimes you just get a bad laser and have to exchange it, and sometimes no new lasers work and it turns out to be a chip on the board that's bad (the IC controller, I think). I'm glad to hear yours is working well. Hopefully, whatever refurb I get won't be a lemon, lol.