PS2 Help please

So I've seen quite a few posts lately regarding PS2 owners and their PS2's not reading discs. I thought I would just open this up for a starting point for you all. Now, first off I'm not an expert in this field, just love technology and code for a living (currently anyways). But I have yet to have any issues with my PS2 (KNOCK ON WOOD!!!)

First thing you should ask yourself is, how old is my system? I know it seems when we drop a couple hundred dollars that these systems should last as long as our older Nintendo's and Super NES's. The fact of the matter is that with lasers and everything else that goes into these systems, they just don't last as long. We see it in computer parts more and more now a days. Hardware is being pushed to the max (e.g. 52x CD-ROMs and shattering CD Discs at those speeds).

The laser is the most important piece of these new systems, and either one of three things is happening (again just from my own experiences).

1. The laser lens is dirty. This is an easy fix, just go down to a wal-mart, best buy, or other similar store and pick up a laser lens cleaner (either DVD or CD type). In actuality all devices using lasers (DVD Players, Roms, Car stereos, ect.) should be cleaned on a regular basis (can't remember specifically something like every 40 hours of use).

2. The disc is dirty or scratched. Try cleaning it with some disc cleaner. Remember to wipe from center out to edge and NOT in a cirlce!

3. The last thing is the tough one... the laser is just dead. Going back to the above paragraph this just tends to happen now a days. It shouldn't but it does.

One thing that I have noticed, that I ended up reading before I bought my first and only PS2 (Fall 02) is to stand the PS2 on it's side Virtically, instead of it's bottom Horizontally. This seems to have prolonged the life of my PS2 (again KNOCK on wood). I don't know if it takes stress off of the laser and mechanical devices inside, but I have yet to have a disc read error. And as you can tell my PS2 is pushing 3 years young! I have heard of many PS2's dying but the user 95% time had the PS2 on it's bottom Horizontal.

Take what I've written here with a grain of salt. Again, I'm no expert, just thought I would post one thread for a good starting point. Hope this helps anyone with this or similar problems.

Good luck!

techsupportforum is on the right track! I think that when you were wiping, the wires could have gotton old and maby you knocked one out on accident! Go inside and check that all wires are plugged in correctly! I could set up a live chat seesion and if i can't fix it....it free!