Do I Need to Adjust the Voltage?---

To determine whether or not these repairs are necessary, read the following
carefully...

You may need to adjust the voltage if:
1. Your PS2 reads games on DVDs but will not read games on CDs
2. Your PS2 reads games on CDs but will not read games on DVDs
3. Your PS2 will read no games, you have already cleaned the laser and
you are using undamaged discs

Do not adjust the voltage if:
1. You do not receive the message "Disc Read Error" in the browser screen
when trying to load problem discs
2. You have a Playstation 2 Version 4... This is a PS2 with 8 screw covers
on the bottom rather than 10
3. Your PS2 only gets errors on certain CD or DVD games, not All CD or DVD
games.
4. You hear LOUD clicking noises followed by a Disc Read Error. Quiet
clicking is normal.

please note that fine tuning may be needed if your PS2 reads CD games but
not audio/PS1 CDs (or vice versa)... Or if your PS2 reads DVD games but not
DVD movies (or vice versa)... Personally I don't suggest fine tuning without
a voltage meter.

..................................................................

---Adjusting the Voltage---

Read these instruction all the way through, and make sure you understand
all the steps before doing anything!


1. Remove your warranty sticker, located next to the power cord. Take off
the cover to the expansion bay.

2. Remove the screw covers on the very bottom of your playstation 2. There
are six total. Four of them will be rubberized and two will be plastic. You
may need a flat head screwdriver to remove the plastic ones. Ignore the
extra 4 plastic covers on the raised, upper portion of the underside of your
PS2, these are for removing the top shell.

3. With a phillips-head screwdriver remove the six screws under the covers
you just took off. Four short and two long.

4. Pull up on the bottom portion of the case to remove it.

5. Remove the metal shield covering the circuit board (the shiny one). With
the front of the PS2 facing toward you, it is on the right. There is only
one screw holding it in place, it has an arrow pointing toward it.

6. Remove the expansion bay plate (the dull one with holes). With the front
of the PS2 facing toward you, it will be on your left. Once again there is
only one screw holding it in place with an arrow pointing toward it.

7. Lift out the expansion bay housing. It is attached to the circuit board
by a short ribbon cable. Under this are the laser control screws.

8. The laser control screws are on a small amber circuit board slightly
recessed in the plastic case. You will be adjusting one or both of the two
small silver screws with a black screw inbetween them.
With the front of the PS2 facing you, the silver screw on the LEFT
controls the voltage for the CD reading. The silver screw on the RIGHT
controls the voltage for the DVD reading.
I suggest putting a small dot, with a sharpie pen, in the 12 o'clock
position of each screw to help with the adjusting process...

9. Stand the PS2 on it's side (vertically, memory cards at bottom, power
button at top) at a slight angle. You wont be able to stand it at this angle
unless it is done on carpet floor. Having a friend hold it in position might
be better. Make sure that the expansion bay housing does not come in contact
with the curcuit board, as you will be turning it on, and you dont want the
metal housing to short out the board. Let it hang down, away from the board.

10. With the PS2 plugged in (power and video) turn it on. You are ready to
adjust the voltage for the laser. Only adjust the screw for the type of
disc you are having problems with. If you are having problems with both,
do them one at a time. Remember, now that the unit is on its side the CD
voltage control screw is above the DVD control screw.
If at all posible use a non-metalic screwdriver, as static electicity
can ruin this portion of your PS2 (a + part!)...

11. Turning the screw clockwise increases the voltage, counter-clockwise
decreases the voltage. Because you risk of blowing the laser if you give
it too much voltage, always start by decreasing voltage. In my experience,
you generally have to add voltage, but for safetey, I suggest you reduce
voltage first.
Using a small screw-driver (non-magnetic & non-metallic) turn the
appropriate screw counter-clockwise two degrees. Load in the CD and wait,
if you still get a disc read error move the screw another two degrees.
Repeat the process...
If you still get disc read errors after about 20 degrees of rotation,
put the screw back to the 12 o'clock position and start moving the screw
clockwise two degrees at a time.
It may take a while, but you will most likely find the sweet spot where
your discs begin to read again. I have never had to move the screw more
than 30 degrees, although I have heard as much as 180 degrees are needed
for a modded PS2 to play backup CD-Rs.

12. Try a few different trouble discs before re-assembly to make sure you
dont need more fine adjustment. As well, hold the PS2 elevated in the
horizontal position and make sure it reads while in this position. I have
found that slightly more voltage (2-6 degrees) is needed to run discs in
the horizontal position than the vertical position.

13. Turn off the PS2 and re-assemble it.

REPLACING THE DATA RIBBON CABLES I S THE MOST COMPLICATD TASK. JUST REMEMBER , THE RIBBON CABLES GO FROM UNDERNEATH THE CD ASSEBLY BACK TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PS2, WHERE THEY WILL CONNECT TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD.