Only way I can get this system to read discs is by putting a little bit of weight above the cover to the optical drive.

As in:

Snap it closed
Put about three n64 cartridges on top of it
Discs can be read.

Any clues on what I need to fix this?

A new PS2!

Come down to Disc Replay, we sell them for $39.99 and all systems are guaranteed for 14 days! Act now and you'll get a free handie behind the store

But cereally,



Got that from here: http://forums.gamewinners.com/forums/sh ... p?t=513070

It's a pretty good guide for diagnosing your PS2... provided you have a fat one. The slimlines are a little more tricky to diagnose but it sounds like the lid switches aren't being tripped properly so maybe play around with them... they could just be stuck depending on the life that PS2 of yours has had, mister "I drop elbows on my systems". Also, are you sure the little spikes on the lid that actually trip the lid switches are intact? If not, easy fix. Just replace the lid if you can find one.

Actually, there are modified lids available that hold those lid switches down permanently for purposes of switching discs of other tomfoolery. Here is a link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PLAYSTATION-2-P ... 439a26a3d7

I've seen a few with these lids and they seem sturdy if installed properly. I personally wouldn't trust them unless I experimented with them a little bit. Just an option but one I personally wouldn't take.

That was the fat one. Slimline I bought used and coddled like a useless LA socialite's chihuahua.

I was going to fix this and my other fat one, sell them to a local shop, and use the money to finance a 270 dollar 60 gb used ps3 system.

Though I heard that the 60gb model has a high failure rate, not 360 levels, but high.

Like Danimal said it sounds like a weak lid switch. Or part of the plastic on the mechanism could be busted. You can always open it up (does GameStop take voided machines?) and check to see if there's an explicit issue.

Also, a really quick fix is to just open and tape or glue the switch down permanently. That would definitely solve the problem as long as the lid currently physically closes, but it has trouble detecting it as closed.

Open the lid of your PS2, see that little hole in the bottom right corner, try gently stuffing a small bit of paper in it.