Rank: Master
Rating: 78%, 7 votes
The problem is that PS1's are very old. I've actually had the same problem, and one of the theories is that the laser cannot reach the disc.
Buying a new PS1 system from Ebay isn't expensive if you want to completely fix the problem, as Sony does not support the console anymore.
A short term fix is to use a soft cloth to clean the lens and the disc tray, also, once the cd is loaded in, gently flipp the console upside down and then turn it on. This method causes the laser to be closer to the disc and can help peformance.
Plain and simple, though, you're console it wearing out.