Questions to any ps2'ers out thereFollow

Looks like I may need a new PS2. My current Ps2 will not read any discs. Does anyone know if it is possible to transfer all my data onto a new ps2.

Will I need to buy a new Hard Drive?

Can I used the current discs I have now to Install FFXI? Or do I have to buy new ones?

Can I run 2 PS2's on under the same Content ID?

If someone has done this before can you please let me know what steps you took to get FFXI onto a new PS2.

Thanks!!!

There is a disk read error that is common to alot of earlier models of the PS2. The repair is not covered under Sony warranty (go figure). It's $200 CDN, don't know about the states. However there is a DIY fix to the problem.

http://www.g4techtv.com/xplay/features/45797/PlayStation_2_Disc_Read_Error_Fix.html

Try this link here. I have a couple of friends that have done this with great success.

Good Luck!

That does sound like a good idea...But when I start ripping **** apart it never ends up back together. I think I want to go the new PS2 road to play it safe. Does anyone know if I can transfer data to a new PS2?

Jesus christ why is it always the most stupidest answer always the right one??? No offense I like your answer but god damn why didn't I think of that. LOL Only prob I see what happens when a new Update come out like CoP? I wount beable to use it. But I'm sure that not going to be for a while.

Thanks Zylle

I've tweaked the laser pot on a PS2 more than my share of times, and it can often do the trick. However, think of it more as squeezing the last bit of life out of the drive rather than fixing it for good. When the diode starts to burn out you'll need a stronger laser, but that's only going to burn the diode even more. It's quite temporary. It's also a very sensitive adjustment, so I used a digital multimeter when checking the resistence of the potentiometer (not decreasing the resistence more than 10%); I don't know if using a marker and "guesstimating" how much to turn the pot is prudent.

You can always just buy a replacement DVD-ROM drive off of eBay or another place that sells PS2 parts. Identify the version of your PS2 and make sure to get a drive that was pulled from that version. Replacing the PS2 DVD-ROM drive requires no soldering - just removing and replacing a handful of increasingly small screws, so have a precision set handy.

Good luck.

EDIT: Ack, forgot to mention you could replace the PS2 laser lens, too.

This is the BEST way to fix your problem! For $30-$50 you can have your PS2 working as good as new with the LEAST amount of work. THIS is the method I highly recommend. You only have to take the top cover off the PS2, then the lid off the DVD-ROM drive. MINIMAL (DIS)ASSEMBLY REQUIRED.

I order mine from here:
http://www.the-console-corner.com/ps2_replacement_lens.htm

*******Consider this.

Edited, Tue Dec 7 10:33:10 2004 by Dryhus

Edited, Tue Dec 7 10:34:46 2004 by Dryhus

Damn screwy boards...

Edited, Tue Dec 7 11:06:39 2004 by Wintaru

i can answer that one Verd. When you buy the HDD, the plugs are actually attached to the Network adaptor which in turn is attached to the PS2 (from what i remember). There's no running your game anyway without the Network adaptor (duh). Anyway, just unscrew the Network adaptor, remove it, remove the HDD and presto, you can slip it into a new PS2 (but not the slim one :)) and ***** your network adaptor back in.

geez, I don't know why i'm helping you after you black-balled me in the lottery thread :p

Hopefully this will clear the air some.

1. Yes you can move your HDD to another PS2 no problem there, I have done that repeatedly as I take my HDD with me to my brother's house to play this game. (He also has the game as well)

2. DRE or Disk Read Error. One very very little known peice (sp) of information. If you call Sony and inform them that you are now receiving that error on your PS2 they will give you the most common answer. Replace your PS2. Don't give up press the matter they will offer to fix it for you for free, but, and yes there is a but here. You cannot tell them that you were informed that they fix DRE's because publicly they do not. It is not a typical service that they offer. You must not have ever at any point in time have opened your PS2 other than to insert a game disk or HDD into it.

3. Yes you can use your current FFXI disks to install FFXI onto another PS2, but when you go to register the game when you enter in the registration code it may require you to enter a new one. That would be the problem that the POL technical support was referring to.

And just one additional peice of information. Since the game is installed on the HDD you really should not have to re-install the game onto another PS2. All you really should have to do is just pluck the HDD into the PS2 no?

I came across this, after I replaced my old PS2 that had the DRE. (though it was before FFXI, so I dont know anything about that) I dont know if its bs or anything but the guide has been there for quite a while so I doubt it.

http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/playstation2_sony_repair.txt

Wha....? So...he's saying that when you plop the install disk in...the PS2 magically encodes the disc to only work for that PS2? Maybe I'm misunderstanding. But I call bullcrap if that's what they mean.

Do NOT rely on POLs tech crew. They are the most absolutely useless group of tech people (even worse than EB! O_o) that you will ever work with. Their answer to everything is "Throw that away, and buy a new one of these." To everything.

OK. First things first. Get that DVD cleaning kit. It's cheap and for all you know that's the problem. Try that.

No dice? Maybe your PS2's getting a few grey hairs. I'm looking over my HDD and network adapter, and I see no reason why you can't remove it. The only thing you do when you "install" it is slide it in and ***** it in. It doesn't attach to anything at all. So I don't see why you can't put it into another PS2, unless it's a clever marketing ploy (not like they even promote the HDD anyway. Looks like Xenosaga and FFXI may be the only games to ever support it).

If you want to run an experiment, and have a friend with a PS2 (hopefully not with the first model, those things cause all sorts of problems apparently), see if you can transfer the HDD over and run FFXI or not.

Oh, and as far as registration codes go, they are tied to the account, nothing else. So, when FFXI is first installed onto the computer/PS2, all you have to do is set up your account and you're good to go. If anyone tries to tell you that PC and PS2 codes aren't interchangeable or won't work on the other platform if created on another, you tell them you know someone (me) that runs his account that he created with his PC codes on BOTH PC and PS2 with absolutely no problems whatsoever. ...not to mention it even says in the manual that they are interchangeable.

I'm looking for my HDD manual, I don't remember where I put it. I don't see any reason why you can't take it out and put in into another PS2. I mean, all I did was slide it, ***** it, and restart the PS2. ANd it was ready to go. Not like it was complicated...

Edited, Tue Dec 7 15:01:54 2004 by seraphimhunter

Why worry about whether you can use the HDD in a new PS2? That's a $150.00 expense when replacing the laser costs around $40.00. Let POL think they're right and leave the current HDD in the current PS2.

I read the original problem, and just from personal experiences I decided to reply. Sorry I didn't check through each individual post. However, I did see most of this mentioned.

1. I have used my HDD on another PS2 so I know for a fact that it works. No problem there.

2. When my PS2 had the disk read error problem I took it over a friends house, he had been suffering the same problem. He opened
the PS2 from the bottom, and cleaned the lense with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol I believe. The PS2 worked perfectly.

*Caution* Taking your PS2 apart violates their whole agreement. And the Sony will no longer fix your PS2 becuase it has been opened.

The only way occording to POL is to redo install if moving HDD to another PS2. It shouldnt work otherwise. If it does, you lucky:) Also a little tip, read the manual for FFXI it kinda mentions the whole thing lol redoing the whole format makes you only lose like old messages and your macros, and a couple other small things that most dont worry about. And You canot put FFXI on another HDD due to very specific format that the HDD is under, and each PS2 has their own unique ID number. (which I think is BS, its my game i should be able to use it anywhere lol )
Hope i help a little