It has become my weekend morning routine to watch your newest video while enjoying my caffeinated drink of choice. This one was particularly therapeutic to watch end to end. Keep it up!
For screw management I like to use cardboard and place the screws in the specific locations. Just found your channel and glad it was suggested content to watch. Great work and content.
@@BorderlineOCD Started from Atari 2600, then moved to Nes-SNES, then Playstation 1 and 2. Now i buy them all. I even bought old Sega consoles i missed. When it comes to this things i think we were lucky enough to live threw the best. Older generations didn't have gaming and newer generation will never know how it was watching gaming evolve and getting that new console and reading those magazines etc. Not to mention the huuge jumps in tech that become harder and harder to make now. We went from color sprites to 2d Animation looking games to 3D polygon counting to almost movie like realism. In the future everything will just be a service. Hell new consoles kind of are since Sony and Microsoft can ban you and disable your console.
Watched this before trying to fix a PS2 for the first time and then when the controller port 2 wasnt working and port 1 is being intermittent, i stumbled back onto this and low and behold both my controller ports look like this. Will try to fix in the morning and check back in. thanks!
I restore these all the time! I recommend fully taking them apart and removing as much if not all dust as possible, if your laser goes out you can order a brand new one and replace them rather easily! Hope that solution works out for you!
This system (and I bet this is true for a LOT of other people) was also my 1st ever DVD player. It maintained that distinction until the PS3 came out. Lol. I LOVED this system so much and I still play it to this day. DVDs AND games. Lol. Thanks for posting.
Great restoration. The SCPH-5000X model is my favorite of the fat series. The reason the fan is so quiet is because Sony made it quieter with that model. It’s actually the last fat model made. It lost the unused iLink (FireWire 400) port, but it gained a progressive scan DVD player, and it even has a little infrared receiver between the power/reset button and eject button. I have the remote that lets you power on the system using the infrared port. Let me know if you want any suggestions on software modding your system. I made an unlisted video on TH-cam demonstrating one of my SCPH-50001 using FMCB and OPL.
I knew you'd be the expert on this system judging by your comments on the PS2 Slim video :) I was wondering where that IR sensor was that I kept reading about but it slipped my mind to look it up once I started the project. Very cool. Didn't know about the improvements to the DVD player. Is that just firmware or upgraded hardware? About modding, and would love your thoughts on this... I'm interested in hard-modding the unit. I haven't researched it heavily yet but I don't mind the process of soldering the chip which I think would be a fun challenge, and read a bit about on-the-fly patching with a modchip vs. requiring to patch ISOs before burning them with FMCB. What do you think? Does it make a difference if running games from the hard drive? Would love to see that video in the event I go the softmod route. If you'd like to share via email, my address is on my "About" page.
@@BorderlineOCD Based off the physical changes to the DVD player and that all slim models later included it, I believe it is a hardware change and firmware change. Progressive scan DVD playback has to be enabled, and the setting gets saved to the memory card. There is no need for hardware modding if you use OPL, because you can play games from any region. Playing games from an internal drive is definitely the way to go. The games load so fast compared to DVDs. I did perform an upgrade to my network adapter to convert it to using SATA drives instead of PATA, so you don’t have to bother with old hard disk drives. A mod chip is fine if you want to play burnt games without any other changes. But if you are going to load them from USB, Ethernet (via FTP), DVD (burnt of legit), or internal HDD/SSD, FMCB and OPL are the best way. I’ll link you the video.
@@DecibelAlex The conversion kits are far more reliable and moderately easy to install. The hardest bit it keeping everything in its place while putting the metal shielding back on, but no soldering is required.
my gold ps2 5000x eventually stopped reading discs altogether, it started with a loud grinding noise that evolved into what sounded like pennies being dropped onto a table(?) then dvd capability died altogether. I had it taken apart for many months, totally lost on what could be wrong, everything looked to be in great shape. Now its just running OPL HDD/Ethernet games.. Sad situation.
You had me at restoring an old console. I actually like the fact that you do narration as opposed to other channel where there is a complete silence during the whole restoration.
@@LARGEMANNN All you have to do is plug in a freemcboot memory card and a usb stick/drive, super easy. Internal drive is better but you don't NEED to do that.
I still have my fat PS2. I thought I'd lost my FFXII disc but I checked it one day and it was inside the console, I'd left it in there like 18 years ago and forgot about it. It still looks brand new and the console itself still works perfectly.
that last part is so true it hurts. I see so many crappy technicians leave these older systems filthy, and assume that dust and dirt only affect the console visually
Miss seeing new content from you buddy, you do such a great job fixing these consoles. Hope all is well with you and that we'll see some more videos in the future.
mate of mine had two of them 3 pin blocks broken off an just had exposed tubes an the controller still worked, that console was and still is a BEAST! i still have mine from 2003, the disc drive is a little funky on ps2 games but a few resets its golden :)
A lot of people don't realize how important those clips are. It's not just holding the connector in place, it's applying slight pressure to stabilize the connection within the connector. You see that failure most frequently in standard USB phone chargers. The connector springs get weak and the connection becomes unstable and quits. Good eye in spotting it. I only saw it because you had the camera pointed right at it, had I had it in my hand it would have taken a while longer.
Nice find, would love to find things like that. If you ever decide to dive into repair as a hobby you could hang on to it until your skills improve and you feel confident diagnosing it in the future.
@@BorderlineOCD I've had it for years. I'm not sure what would be required. Unfortunately, I believe it was broken by my faulty wiring in my JAMMA cab which I have at home. It worked on the Supergun I have perfectly but after I connected it to the cab, I got the Z80 error. I bought it many years ago when retro gaming wasn't as popular. There was a time when you could get Neo Geo MVS carts like Samurai Shodown for about $20. Some things like Neo Geo AES games have tripled in value.
It's so satisfying seeing someone giving a repair the attention to detail it deserves. This is the reason I'd definitely try to find a person who refurbishes things rather than going for an overpriced business. If you find a seller that takes that kind of care you can pretty certain they do that in most things, they're usually not motivated by the financial aspect of it either which means you there's usually more time spent on the consols in general. I have a tip for restoring some surfaces like the really shiny exterior part of a PS4. Find some automotive polishing compound. I've tried it and it really gives it an insane shine as well as getting rid of much of the micro scratches. As an added bonus it makes the surface slick which makes dust come off much easier in the future. I'm sure it would work well on a PS2 as well but it might get too reflective :p (as a funny aside I did try to apply it to a dull spot on my bathroom floor so now I slip everytime I have to go to the bathroom in a hurry XD so maybe don't do that).
Just found this channel and glad I did. I have an old PS2 39001 fatty that has been sitting in it's old Game Stop box for many years. Now I can take it apart and do a thorough cleaning and maintenance on it. I plan on doing the mods to it and installing a HDD and transfer games over to it. I can't believe how much some games are worth nowadays! Wish I wouldn't have sold so many back in the day smh. I regret selling my PS3 too! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Great video as always! On the PS2 fat, there is a second lens(?) just under the laser head. You have to take off the plastic (use IPA to loosen up the glue because it is glued in place then unlatch the plastic tabs with a screwdriver) then even so slightly (and carefully) lift the head up just enough so you can clean the underlying lens(?) with a Q-tip. This might resolve issue like the PS2 not reading some of the disc types (PS1 CD, PS2 DVD, PS2 CD) and you might be able to improve your start time even more :)
Thank you. Someone left a similar comment about the lens mirror underneath there? Good to know it can be taken apart for the next PS2, especially if its having drive issues as well.
I had the exact same problem with my old fat PS2 and I was easily able to fix it doing just what you did. I could use a multitap on the player 2 slot for some games but Tony Hawk wouldnt recogize 2 player, etc. Thanks for the upload!
I've had my ps2 slim for 20ish yrs now. I love that people still like repairing them. You should leave a link for people that want you to repair them. Not many people advertise they can these days.
It's a fun hobby. I'm on the fence about taking repair jobs at the moment. I think it would take the fun out of it. May consider it in future as the channel grows as long as it makes for interesting content.
@@BorderlineOCD for me I had the most experience modding the 360, case mods, adding fans, flashing the firmware of dvd drives, buying rrod job lots of machines on eBay, such good times
I bought a dusty and crusty old fat ps2 from my local thrift store for 15 bucks and it worked flawlessly without ever having to open the system. It even came with a bunch of memory cards and the network adapter disc!
1st time viewer, well done, very impressed, no waisted time, clear videoing and narration. I subscribed and looking forward to more , thank you. Time well spent.
When my clock battery went dead it really surprised me the system needed a full teardown to change that battery. At least it gave me the opportunity to give the system a thorough clean out
Stellar job & U got another follower here ... The PS2 Fat is one of my fav consoles and one of the sturdier ones, ever made, period ... The only objection is the CMOS Battery placement, which is a pain to change - same as with PS3 & PS4, more or less, i guess Sony didn't learn on that department ... At least these suckers can last sometimes 10 - or even more - years, without changing ... Hell of a deal U got, and a great refurb vid ... Looking forward to watching mods on this, as mentioned ... Cheers
My first PS2 I bought on ebay and had the same issue. I checked on the PlayStation site and it was still under warranty so I sent it off for repair and worked great afterwards!
That Fat PS2 you have is an SCPH-50000 series PS2. They have an IR port on the front between the power and eject buttons. They also have a much quieter fan compared to the SCPH-30000 series PS2s, They also load games just about as fast as a Slim PS2 as well when working properly. They are pretty much the best fat PS2 models you can get.
Damnit I feel really bad for you since the PS2 Orb even after replacing the clock battery still didn't spin around in the main menu. I never knew that can be a sign of an issue especially after all that it's personally one of my worst nightmares. Can't imagine having to use another PS2 Fat just because of a simple part refusing to function as it once has. Also big props for you for taking the time to obtain these and fix them you're a motivation for me!
My daughter and I spent so much time on our "fat" PS2. I had bought our first console, a PS1, 3 months earlier. Lightning then struck my house and fried the PS1. With the insurance check I upgraded us to a PS2. SSX Tricky was the game we played the most. Really miss those days.
I'm nowhere near professional yet, but I love fixing things. Best thing I've learned to push me forward is to just go for it. On junker electronics you have nothing to lose if something goes wrong! My moment of triumph was reviving an OG PS4 by deep clean and new thermal paste. Still has a BLOD I'm trying to work out, but when I get it to run it runs quieter and cooler than mine!
You can do it bro it's not as hard as you think. We well at least I, just dove in an started bought the tools I needed and got to it, been at it for years . I got started doing this stuff cause I couldn't afford to buy it new, as time goes on u learn more an get better, I think everyone looks up this when they have issues to save time an see if they can find out what someone else did so u have an idea where to start. Everyone starts somewhere
Absolutely Fantastic repair and restore, wish I watched this before cleaning my ps2 and controller. Fortunately was successful but just cleaned the fan and dust inside it and the dust in the drive, but didn’t clean laser disc drive or wash the casing in soapy water. Feel like taking it apart again now lol, also my ps2 reads the disc in 17 seconds that quite good? Scratched up disc as well
I think thats reasonable. Some folks here suggested that the laser can be further taken apart for an even deeper cleaning but I don't have a strong desire to mess with the optical block. If you are worried about boot times thats something you can look further into.
Great video man, big fan of your content so far. Quick question the brush you use for the cleaning/dusting doesnt look like those anti static ones, im just wondering if that matters when doing jobs like this?
Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying the content! Good question, its a makeup brush and its not anti-static. Most anti-static brushes have plastic bristles. Any soft bristle brush will produce some static. Technically the safest way to clean circuit boards is with compressed air. I have a small compressor that I use sometimes but its obnoxiously loud so I can't use if I'm working late at night. I don't usually buy compressed air cans but this is an option. In this project you'll notice that I didn't use the brush on the motherboard or around any sensitive components. I mainly used it on the DVD tray and housing, inside the ports, and on the fan. To answer your question though, yes ESD considerations are important so it does matter, especially if I am working on a device that belongs to someone else. Having said that, when I'm working on my own stuff I don't always religiously avoid using a brush on a PCB. But, in this case I would suggest: do as I say and not as I do :) The appropriate recommendation is to be mindful of ESD when working with electronics.
This saved me, was gonna try to have my PS2 repaired or even try replacing the port/ribbon myself, the prong was bent on both ports so I thought that it was supposed to be that way but was able to bend it back and it is working, not sure what cause the prong to bend on both sides, controller 1 at least works, need a second controller to test port 2, thanks!
It amazes me to see the amounts of dust & dirt in these systems. I got a used PS2 from EBay when my controller port stopped working on my original PS2. I did in fact later learn controller port not working was an easy fix, so I now have my original PS2 in immaculate shape and an extra old haggard one that looked like it was drug around the street lol. I still believe PS2 AI had different behavior one system to another. The only problem doing these fixes is most of the strips are dry rotted so when trying to fix one others often fall out or break off, like what happened when I went to adjust my laser eye, the controller port popped out and the strip cracked then when putting it back together I knocked the ribbon strip for power off. Getting a old strip reconnected or a new one is one of the more difficult things I've done. There's very little access to the plugs and they need to be put in at weird angles.
Please, if you can, do a repair video on the later slim revision, the SCPH-90000 series. I attempted a clean on my unit and it was all sorts of disasterous... one of the screw covers literally disappear out of existence, whoever installed the modchip on this years ago stripped the console of all but 2 screws, one for the PSU and one for the fan, and when I opened it up, the disc drive's flex cable got stuck and snapped a bit... were it not for OPL, this console would be dead now. The only good thing is I managed to change the dead CMOS battery... Also I couldn't manage to properly sit the console in its shell. I'm asking you because I see NO ONE repairing this model and it's different enough from the 70000 series. Your work is great and I wish more people would take the care and love you do.
I remember these disc drives were kind of a problem area for the console. I remember mine would only read DVD format discs for the later half of my ownership of it.
I remember taking my fat ps2 apart nmerous times after installing a modchip becase it stopped playing DVD movies. Unknown to me at the time was that this was a bug of that particular modchip, so many hours wasted desoldering and resoldering to try and troubleshoot :D P.s - Not sorry to comment on a 2yr old video, I'm going through a lot of your old content :)
I usually do this as a collector, I buy many retro consoles and refurbish them. I've done plenty of ps2 consoles and they are a tank, I've rarely seen them fail unless seriously abused
Thats cool. It's a nice way to build a collection on the cheap. It starts adding up quick though! I will say, I play all my systems. I don't yet own a system that I wouldn't hook up and spend an evening gaming on. Especially when I feel comfortable fixing it myself, I'm not afraid to just use it and enjoy it.
@@BorderlineOCD It certainly does add up! You can always go for a raspberry pi4 and emulate all your games on there while you store your prized fixes for collection ;)
I got a slim that said powers in and reads discs. But was sold as faulty. Only issue was power button is squashy rather than clicks and very dusty inside but gave it a clean
I often come across PS2's that haven't been turned on in a long time which seem like they have a dead battery but once I set the clock it seems to work again. I'm not sure what causes this as the battery should keep the clock going in real time whether the system is plugged in or not.
Thanks for this beautiful content! I was inspired by your video in buying some broken console to be repaired. This weekend I will try to repair the optical drive which is reading disk half of the times and the other half is doing a strange sound. Can I ask you how I can refurbish the belt of the optical drive with the warm water?
If it's just dusty rinse it with some water and let it dry. If it has an awkward bend and the shape has permanently deformed into an egg or oval shape, submerge it in hot (not boiling) water for 60-90 seconds and then ice cold water for 60-90 seconds. It should return to its original circular shape.
Great video.. very well done and informative.. I have same ps2.. I had in storage for years.. I hooked it up the other day.. controllers have issues with buttons.. plus I have reel fishing game.. it's blue on the reading side.. my unit can't read it.. makes lots of noise.. but if I can do like you did..maybe I can fix it..
I have the same issue on a broken PS2. The bendes latch is a switch. A Solderpoint on the PCB is the Senseline for a Plug in Controller. The other two Latches are just springs but the left one is a switch. This can easy measured by a Ohmmeter. No Controller is plugged in a Solderjoint is open, when plugged in he's closed.
Great video! You've earned a subscriber. Also, here is a question: I have a PS2 fat, model 30001 R, that reads both CDs and DVDs fine in the horizontal position, but takes like 1-2 minutes to read DVDs in the vertical position (it reads regular CDs just fine in both positions). Anything you think I should try? I've tried adjusting the white gear in the back of the mechanism but it doesn't change anything. Also, the disc tray won't stay open, it closes automatically.
Good job. My "3 cents": 1)Never plug/unplug joypads or memory cards when console is powered on. If you are lucky you will only blew a fuse between joypad and I/O controller Hub. If fuse was "repaired" with a piece of a wire, then I/O Controller Hub will burn. 2)You could add some grease to a fan 3)You could use compressed air on a mirror and laser emiter in the laser head. Sometimes mirror is dirty and give disc read errors.
@Mr Guru You are wrong! PSX or PS2 controllers are not designed to plug them when the console is on! Sometimes GND from connector or shield (3 metal tabs) has no connection. In that case power goes thru data and clock pins. In best case 50 Ohm resistors will burn in worst case I/O chip. If fan has problems with spining you need to clean it and add grease or fan will cause blowing the fuse (dirty fan will be like a short to a circuit). PS. I repaired consoles for many years.
A lot of people would probably look past it seeing it’s broken but If your handy you can save money lots of money buying a non working system. I spent 57 dollars total opened up and tested the system and came to the realization that it just needed a new power supply. 20 bucks later for my power supply put it in and it worked again cleaned up the system re greased the disc drive so now the try opens smoothly tweaked and cleaned the laser dusted out the fan cleaned up the shells bottom and top. Dug up some old parts I had replaced the controller and memory card module. And now I have a good working system for only roughly 70 some bucks not bad to be honest
The important thing is that you enjoyed the process! Sometimes you save money, other times not so much. I trust a unit I refurbished more than a working second hard unit. At least you can clean the fans, replace the battery, grease the drive etc. so even if it would have been the same to buy a second hand unit, your repaired unit is probably in better shape.
Borderline OCD I really enjoy your videos. Would you consider maybe refurbishing a PS2 that I own? I don’t mean to put you on the spot but it’s just that you’re the best man for the job!
Like those videos! And reminds me that my SCPH-50001 with GH-026 motherboard after whatever I have done can not read any DVD! I bought 2 KHS-400C lenses and tried it with no result! I bought a second PS2 SCPH-50001 and try the new lenses and worked reading CD and DVD games. I also replace the entire drive so I eliminate any other sensor and this doesn't fix the problem!
New viewer here. You should do a 2DS or 3DS console that doesn't charge anymore. Often with those, the charging port gets too stretched out, and the plug can't charge the unit properly. That was very common, and it's worse if you play the console while charging. Oh, yeah, and you can tell I'm speaking from experience. 🤣
Awesome vid you should try get hold of one of those Japanese scph 10000/15000/18000 launch models these ps2s are built differently then most fats and use pcie m cards too connect the Hdd if I remember correctly
I personally was able to buy one for only 10 euros (with 3 euros shipping so 13 euros) the seller said the console isn't powering on, i'll have to test the issue, i also was able to get a ps2 slim for 5 euros (with 5 euros shipping so 10 euros) with broken disc dive
I have a really difficult PS2 that I put away back in 2006 when I restored PS2s. It's one of those you just know you'd rather not. This one was killed by lightning. I knew it would be a terrible job. My mom found it at her place and I mannaged to get back into it and took it apart and pulled out the multimeter :D. I looked over the board for three hours no traces look messed up. Everything looks fine highly up close. But there's a lot of micro soldering to do.. If you want something really difficult this is 'the' board.. If not I will be slowly replacing the fuses and everything that's dead on the board until the display works. *No display *Only the blue led works, no green for eject but the eject will turn it on *Controller ribbon, controller port, power button, power ribbon, power supply, power switch, I think it's possible the usb port might be dead, disc drive has zero action. There's a lot, Might of missed something. I know all of the other ribbons were dead. I tested all but the disc drive in another ps2 I bought if off the customer back then as in 2006 20 dollars for a broken PS2 seemed okay, But I told him I'm positive the PS2 is a lost cause on labor. It's not the only thing that died at his place from the storm. This PS2 is not okay lol.. Ehh all of the shell screws are lost in my tools at my moms place, or I'd have to buy all of that all over again. But if you're interested this is the 'difficult' one :D If I don't hear back I'll be working on the board in maybe a month. I'd rather not buy all new equipment just to do this all over again
Bravo!!! I my self have 2 fat ones. both needs internal cleaning. out of the 2 I have one with a fan that is quiet the disk drive comes out perfect and quiet but sadly no tv signal. my second one i do have tv signal lol fan is louder like if its trying to work it self to death and the disk tray struggles to come out. sometimes I have to give it a little bit of force to safely get it out. I will with the help and guide of your vid try to recreate the same clean up process. TY sir.
Thank you! I like to kick it old school and hard mod my systems :) The soldering is a fun challenge so I'll most likely be doing a modchip installation.
the battery in my PS2 that I've had since 2004 died sometime a couple years ago, and I never realized just how much I actually had to do to get to it 😅 well, it's not gonna fix itself!
It has become my weekend morning routine to watch your newest video while enjoying my caffeinated drink of choice. This one was particularly therapeutic to watch end to end. Keep it up!
Glad you look forward to hearing my voice in the morning :)
I wanna kiss you
I watch it while I smoke crack
@@ugliedumbcunt2298 that's creepy
@@godslayer1415 still smoking that crack?
I too am conflicted about that controller port fix. On one hand, that was very easy and you're very lucky. On the other, no soldering porn today. 😭
My thoughts exactly.
it was moist likely shorting something in the back. the function of the pin (or lack thereof) was no matter :)
For screw management I like to use cardboard and place the screws in the specific locations. Just found your channel and glad it was suggested content to watch. Great work and content.
Nice tip especially for a complicated teardown. Glad you're enjoying the content.
"When you took it out of the box 20 years ago"
No, stop. I don't wanna feel old.
I still remember hooking up my Sega Master System for the first time. Time has caught up with all of us my friend.
@@BorderlineOCD
Started from Atari 2600, then moved to Nes-SNES, then Playstation 1 and 2. Now i buy them all. I even bought old Sega consoles i missed.
When it comes to this things i think we were lucky enough to live threw the best. Older generations didn't have gaming and newer generation will never know how it was watching gaming evolve and getting that new console and reading those magazines etc.
Not to mention the huuge jumps in tech that become harder and harder to make now.
We went from color sprites to 2d Animation looking games to 3D polygon counting to almost movie like realism.
In the future everything will just be a service. Hell new consoles kind of are since Sony and Microsoft can ban you and disable your console.
Well it was a bit scrapped though. But good enough.
you ain't even close to old
@@Iv40 Never said I was old. I said I FEEL old
Watched this before trying to fix a PS2 for the first time and then when the controller port 2 wasnt working and port 1 is being intermittent, i stumbled back onto this and low and behold both my controller ports look like this. Will try to fix in the morning and check back in. thanks!
I restore these all the time! I recommend fully taking them apart and removing as much if not all dust as possible, if your laser goes out you can order a brand new one and replace them rather easily! Hope that solution works out for you!
This system (and I bet this is true for a LOT of other people) was also my 1st ever DVD player. It maintained that distinction until the PS3 came out. Lol. I LOVED this system so much and I still play it to this day. DVDs AND games. Lol. Thanks for posting.
Great restoration man, keep it up! PS2 is still my favourite console of all, i really enjoy your videos.
👋👋 From Argentina
Thank you, and greetings to Argentina.
awesome! always bringing novelty to the retro modding and repair scene
Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it.
dude thank you I was having the same issue with the controller port
now I can enjoy gt4, gta sa and Ratchet and clank 2
Glad I could help.
Ahhhh, my first love affair, thank you for bringing back the memories along with the system 💕
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great restoration. The SCPH-5000X model is my favorite of the fat series. The reason the fan is so quiet is because Sony made it quieter with that model. It’s actually the last fat model made. It lost the unused iLink (FireWire 400) port, but it gained a progressive scan DVD player, and it even has a little infrared receiver between the power/reset button and eject button. I have the remote that lets you power on the system using the infrared port. Let me know if you want any suggestions on software modding your system. I made an unlisted video on TH-cam demonstrating one of my SCPH-50001 using FMCB and OPL.
I knew you'd be the expert on this system judging by your comments on the PS2 Slim video :) I was wondering where that IR sensor was that I kept reading about but it slipped my mind to look it up once I started the project. Very cool. Didn't know about the improvements to the DVD player. Is that just firmware or upgraded hardware? About modding, and would love your thoughts on this... I'm interested in hard-modding the unit. I haven't researched it heavily yet but I don't mind the process of soldering the chip which I think would be a fun challenge, and read a bit about on-the-fly patching with a modchip vs. requiring to patch ISOs before burning them with FMCB. What do you think? Does it make a difference if running games from the hard drive? Would love to see that video in the event I go the softmod route. If you'd like to share via email, my address is on my "About" page.
@@BorderlineOCD Based off the physical changes to the DVD player and that all slim models later included it, I believe it is a hardware change and firmware change. Progressive scan DVD playback has to be enabled, and the setting gets saved to the memory card.
There is no need for hardware modding if you use OPL, because you can play games from any region. Playing games from an internal drive is definitely the way to go. The games load so fast compared to DVDs. I did perform an upgrade to my network adapter to convert it to using SATA drives instead of PATA, so you don’t have to bother with old hard disk drives.
A mod chip is fine if you want to play burnt games without any other changes. But if you are going to load them from USB, Ethernet (via FTP), DVD (burnt of legit), or internal HDD/SSD, FMCB and OPL are the best way. I’ll link you the video.
one can also get a Gamestar third party adapter which has sata. the downside is that there's no network port
@@DecibelAlex The conversion kits are far more reliable and moderately easy to install. The hardest bit it keeping everything in its place while putting the metal shielding back on, but no soldering is required.
my gold ps2 5000x eventually stopped reading discs altogether, it started with a loud grinding noise that evolved into what sounded like pennies being dropped onto a table(?) then dvd capability died altogether. I had it taken apart for many months, totally lost on what could be wrong, everything looked to be in great shape. Now its just running OPL HDD/Ethernet games.. Sad situation.
You had me at restoring an old console. I actually like the fact that you do narration as opposed to other channel where there is a complete silence during the whole restoration.
I just got my hands on a fat Ps2 a couple of days ago myself such a beautiful piece of hardware... great video 👌
Thank you! Any modding plans for your PS2 or justing enjoying it as-is?
@@BorderlineOCD As of now enjoying it in it’s raw form would love to soft mod at some point...
@@LARGEMANNN All you have to do is plug in a freemcboot memory card and a usb stick/drive, super easy. Internal drive is better but you don't NEED to do that.
I still have my fat PS2. I thought I'd lost my FFXII disc but I checked it one day and it was inside the console, I'd left it in there like 18 years ago and forgot about it. It still looks brand new and the console itself still works perfectly.
that last part is so true it hurts. I see so many crappy technicians leave these older systems filthy, and assume that dust and dirt only affect the console visually
Miss seeing new content from you buddy, you do such a great job fixing these consoles. Hope all is well with you and that we'll see some more videos in the future.
mate of mine had two of them 3 pin blocks broken off an just had exposed tubes an the controller still worked, that console was and still is a BEAST! i still have mine from 2003, the disc drive is a little funky on ps2 games but a few resets its golden :)
5 days in and not a single downvote such a wholesome community
My boys (and girls) are very supportive. Each downvote is a stab in my heart. Don't do it.
Yeah,some people are just toxic shrews and wouldn't know a great learning experience such as your video brother. I'm a insta fan.Great work homie
@@BorderlineOCD Hope my upvote somehow brought RGB butterflies in your heart.
who gave mr. reddit access to youtube 😭😭
A lot of people don't realize how important those clips are. It's not just holding the connector in place, it's applying slight pressure to stabilize the connection within the connector. You see that failure most frequently in standard USB phone chargers. The connector springs get weak and the connection becomes unstable and quits. Good eye in spotting it. I only saw it because you had the camera pointed right at it, had I had it in my hand it would have taken a while longer.
I'd like to have your skills. I have a Neo MVS 6-slot which shows a Z80 error when I switch it on. These systems are very valuable now.
Nice find, would love to find things like that. If you ever decide to dive into repair as a hobby you could hang on to it until your skills improve and you feel confident diagnosing it in the future.
@@BorderlineOCD
I've had it for years. I'm not sure what would be required. Unfortunately, I believe it was broken by my faulty wiring in my JAMMA cab which I have at home. It worked on the Supergun I have perfectly but after I connected it to the cab, I got the Z80 error. I bought it many years ago when retro gaming wasn't as popular. There was a time when you could get Neo Geo MVS carts like Samurai Shodown for about $20. Some things like Neo Geo AES games have tripled in value.
It's so satisfying seeing someone giving a repair the attention to detail it deserves. This is the reason I'd definitely try to find a person who refurbishes things rather than going for an overpriced business. If you find a seller that takes that kind of care you can pretty certain they do that in most things, they're usually not motivated by the financial aspect of it either which means you there's usually more time spent on the consols in general.
I have a tip for restoring some surfaces like the really shiny exterior part of a PS4. Find some automotive polishing compound. I've tried it and it really gives it an insane shine as well as getting rid of much of the micro scratches. As an added bonus it makes the surface slick which makes dust come off much easier in the future. I'm sure it would work well on a PS2 as well but it might get too reflective :p
(as a funny aside I did try to apply it to a dull spot on my bathroom floor so now I slip everytime I have to go to the bathroom in a hurry XD so maybe don't do that).
Just found this channel and glad I did. I have an old PS2 39001 fatty that has been sitting in it's old Game Stop box for many years. Now I can take it apart and do a thorough cleaning and maintenance on it. I plan on doing the mods to it and installing a HDD and transfer games over to it. I can't believe how much some games are worth nowadays! Wish I wouldn't have sold so many back in the day smh. I regret selling my PS3 too! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Great video as always!
On the PS2 fat, there is a second lens(?) just under the laser head. You have to take off the plastic (use IPA to loosen up the glue because it is glued in place then unlatch the plastic tabs with a screwdriver) then even so slightly (and carefully) lift the head up just enough so you can clean the underlying lens(?) with a Q-tip.
This might resolve issue like the PS2 not reading some of the disc types (PS1 CD, PS2 DVD, PS2 CD) and you might be able to improve your start time even more :)
Thank you. Someone left a similar comment about the lens mirror underneath there? Good to know it can be taken apart for the next PS2, especially if its having drive issues as well.
I had the exact same problem with my old fat PS2 and I was easily able to fix it doing just what you did. I could use a multitap on the player 2 slot for some games but Tony Hawk wouldnt recogize 2 player, etc. Thanks for the upload!
I've had my ps2 slim for 20ish yrs now. I love that people still like repairing them. You should leave a link for people that want you to repair them. Not many people advertise they can these days.
It's a fun hobby. I'm on the fence about taking repair jobs at the moment. I think it would take the fun out of it. May consider it in future as the channel grows as long as it makes for interesting content.
great job! I did pretty job refurbishing PS3 but I'm not skilled enough to mess the the optical drive but it's hacked system so I rarely use it
I love content like this, i used to be really into console repair when i was younger!
Glad you're enjoying it bud. I think I almost enjoy the repairs more than the consoles themselves at this point.
@@BorderlineOCD for me I had the most experience modding the 360, case mods, adding fans, flashing the firmware of dvd drives, buying rrod job lots of machines on eBay, such good times
I bought a dusty and crusty old fat ps2 from my local thrift store for 15 bucks and it worked flawlessly without ever having to open the system. It even came with a bunch of memory cards and the network adapter disc!
I respct you for fixing the disc drive and not just attaching a HDD like like most people would do.
1st time viewer, well done, very impressed, no waisted time, clear videoing and narration. I subscribed and looking forward to more , thank you. Time well spent.
When my clock battery went dead it really surprised me the system needed a full teardown to change that battery. At least it gave me the opportunity to give the system a thorough clean out
Nice repair with bent connector and cleaning of disc drive!
I'm happy for you that you got a system that only need a little bit of maintenance
Thank you.
Stellar job & U got another follower here ... The PS2 Fat is one of my fav consoles and one of the sturdier ones, ever made, period ... The only objection is the CMOS Battery placement, which is a pain to change - same as with PS3 & PS4, more or less, i guess Sony didn't learn on that department ... At least these suckers can last sometimes 10 - or even more - years, without changing ... Hell of a deal U got, and a great refurb vid ... Looking forward to watching mods on this, as mentioned ... Cheers
Thanks for the sub!
My first PS2 I bought on ebay and had the same issue. I checked on the PlayStation site and it was still under warranty so I sent it off for repair and worked great afterwards!
When was this? I imagine most PS2 warranties are long over now lol
That Fat PS2 you have is an SCPH-50000 series PS2. They have an IR port on the front between the power and eject buttons. They also have a much quieter fan compared to the SCPH-30000 series PS2s, They also load games just about as fast as a Slim PS2 as well when working properly. They are pretty much the best fat PS2 models you can get.
So I hear. Had no idea when I bought the unit so its a welcome revelation.
@@BorderlineOCD And you definitely heard correctly. There are so many revisions of the fat PS2. It's insane. :)
Just found your channel, i plan on watching more of your videos
Damnit I feel really bad for you since the PS2 Orb even after replacing the clock battery still didn't spin around in the main menu. I never knew that can be a sign of an issue especially after all that it's personally one of my worst nightmares. Can't imagine having to use another PS2 Fat just because of a simple part refusing to function as it once has. Also big props for you for taking the time to obtain these and fix them you're a motivation for me!
It won’t spin until you set the system time
@@BorderlineOCD Not seeing the orbs spinning after you changed the clock battery was giving me... borderline OCD (not kidding!)
My daughter and I spent so much time on our "fat" PS2. I had bought our first console, a PS1, 3 months earlier. Lightning then struck my house and fried the PS1. With the insurance check I upgraded us to a PS2. SSX Tricky was the game we played the most. Really miss those days.
I love how every video I watch has no dislikes. Makes me so happy.
Each dislike is a stab in my heart. Don't do it.
I wish I could learn how to do these jobs as u do bro! Fixing things makes me feel so good! :)
Glad you're enjoying the videos hope they help you take the first step in repairing your own stuff 😊
I'm nowhere near professional yet, but I love fixing things. Best thing I've learned to push me forward is to just go for it. On junker electronics you have nothing to lose if something goes wrong!
My moment of triumph was reviving an OG PS4 by deep clean and new thermal paste. Still has a BLOD I'm trying to work out, but when I get it to run it runs quieter and cooler than mine!
You can do it bro it's not as hard as you think. We well at least I, just dove in an started bought the tools I needed and got to it, been at it for years . I got started doing this stuff cause I couldn't afford to buy it new, as time goes on u learn more an get better, I think everyone looks up this when they have issues to save time an see if they can find out what someone else did so u have an idea where to start. Everyone starts somewhere
Have been a long time ps2 fan and this is seriously the first time ive seen in one opened great video have a new subscriber :) cheers from Australia
Thanks for the sub!
Cleaning is so satisfying to watch.
I totally agree!
Absolutely Fantastic repair and restore, wish I watched this before cleaning my ps2 and controller. Fortunately was successful but just cleaned the fan and dust inside it and the dust in the drive, but didn’t clean laser disc drive or wash the casing in soapy water. Feel like taking it apart again now lol, also my ps2 reads the disc in 17 seconds that quite good? Scratched up disc as well
I think thats reasonable. Some folks here suggested that the laser can be further taken apart for an even deeper cleaning but I don't have a strong desire to mess with the optical block. If you are worried about boot times thats something you can look further into.
Great video man, big fan of your content so far. Quick question the brush you use for the cleaning/dusting doesnt look like those anti static ones, im just wondering if that matters when doing jobs like this?
Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying the content! Good question, its a makeup brush and its not anti-static. Most anti-static brushes have plastic bristles. Any soft bristle brush will produce some static. Technically the safest way to clean circuit boards is with compressed air. I have a small compressor that I use sometimes but its obnoxiously loud so I can't use if I'm working late at night. I don't usually buy compressed air cans but this is an option. In this project you'll notice that I didn't use the brush on the motherboard or around any sensitive components. I mainly used it on the DVD tray and housing, inside the ports, and on the fan. To answer your question though, yes ESD considerations are important so it does matter, especially if I am working on a device that belongs to someone else. Having said that, when I'm working on my own stuff I don't always religiously avoid using a brush on a PCB. But, in this case I would suggest: do as I say and not as I do :) The appropriate recommendation is to be mindful of ESD when working with electronics.
Do the plastic restorer sponges make the PS2 feel sticky?
This saved me, was gonna try to have my PS2 repaired or even try replacing the port/ribbon myself, the prong was bent on both ports so I thought that it was supposed to be that way but was able to bend it back and it is working, not sure what cause the prong to bend on both sides, controller 1 at least works, need a second controller to test port 2, thanks!
Like one of those The Dodo videos, this is so satisfying
It amazes me to see the amounts of dust & dirt in these systems. I got a used PS2 from EBay when my controller port stopped working on my original PS2. I did in fact later learn controller port not working was an easy fix, so I now have my original PS2 in immaculate shape and an extra old haggard one that looked like it was drug around the street lol. I still believe PS2 AI had different behavior one system to another. The only problem doing these fixes is most of the strips are dry rotted so when trying to fix one others often fall out or break off, like what happened when I went to adjust my laser eye, the controller port popped out and the strip cracked then when putting it back together I knocked the ribbon strip for power off. Getting a old strip reconnected or a new one is one of the more difficult things I've done. There's very little access to the plugs and they need to be put in at weird angles.
Yeah it is a very hard area to access. I wasn't sure how I would disassemble it further (or if it was possible) so glad i didn't have to.
An awesome very detailed & thorough
tutorial & video, my dude! 😁👍👍
Cheers to you, my man! 🥃🥃
Repairing the optical blocks on these beauties is a nightmare but great machine.
beautiful work sir very nice 👍🍻
Thank you!
Please, if you can, do a repair video on the later slim revision, the SCPH-90000 series. I attempted a clean on my unit and it was all sorts of disasterous... one of the screw covers literally disappear out of existence, whoever installed the modchip on this years ago stripped the console of all but 2 screws, one for the PSU and one for the fan, and when I opened it up, the disc drive's flex cable got stuck and snapped a bit... were it not for OPL, this console would be dead now. The only good thing is I managed to change the dead CMOS battery... Also I couldn't manage to properly sit the console in its shell.
I'm asking you because I see NO ONE repairing this model and it's different enough from the 70000 series. Your work is great and I wish more people would take the care and love you do.
I remember these disc drives were kind of a problem area for the console. I remember mine would only read DVD format discs for the later half of my ownership of it.
I remember taking my fat ps2 apart nmerous times after installing a modchip becase it stopped playing DVD movies. Unknown to me at the time was that this was a bug of that particular modchip, so many hours wasted desoldering and resoldering to try and troubleshoot :D
P.s - Not sorry to comment on a 2yr old video, I'm going through a lot of your old content :)
I usually do this as a collector, I buy many retro consoles and refurbish them. I've done plenty of ps2 consoles and they are a tank, I've rarely seen them fail unless seriously abused
Thats cool. It's a nice way to build a collection on the cheap. It starts adding up quick though! I will say, I play all my systems. I don't yet own a system that I wouldn't hook up and spend an evening gaming on. Especially when I feel comfortable fixing it myself, I'm not afraid to just use it and enjoy it.
@@BorderlineOCD It certainly does add up! You can always go for a raspberry pi4 and emulate all your games on there while you store your prized fixes for collection ;)
Nice restoration and a nice and relaxing video!
Thank you very much!
I got a slim that said powers in and reads discs. But was sold as faulty. Only issue was power button is squashy rather than clicks and very dusty inside but gave it a clean
I found a fat Ps2 on the side walk a few weeks ago 😎👌🏽
I often come across PS2's that haven't been turned on in a long time which seem like they have a dead battery but once I set the clock it seems to work again. I'm not sure what causes this as the battery should keep the clock going in real time whether the system is plugged in or not.
Interesting to know. This one measured such shy of 2.8V when I tested it so a little on the lower side for my comfort.
Some people put new lubricant in old fan bearings to refurbish them. It would be great to hear your take on this.
Thanks for this beautiful content! I was inspired by your video in buying some broken console to be repaired. This weekend I will try to repair the optical drive which is reading disk half of the times and the other half is doing a strange sound. Can I ask you how I can refurbish the belt of the optical drive with the warm water?
If it's just dusty rinse it with some water and let it dry. If it has an awkward bend and the shape has permanently deformed into an egg or oval shape, submerge it in hot (not boiling) water for 60-90 seconds and then ice cold water for 60-90 seconds. It should return to its original circular shape.
Great video.. very well done and informative.. I have same ps2.. I had in storage for years.. I hooked it up the other day.. controllers have issues with buttons.. plus I have reel fishing game.. it's blue on the reading side.. my unit can't read it.. makes lots of noise.. but if I can do like you did..maybe I can fix it..
What do you use in the end to restore the plastics? Great work, btw!
I have the same issue on a broken PS2. The bendes latch is a switch. A Solderpoint on the PCB is the Senseline for a Plug in Controller. The other two Latches are just springs but the left one is a switch. This can easy measured by a Ohmmeter. No Controller is plugged in a Solderjoint is open, when plugged in he's closed.
I didn't think to check with a multimeter. This makes sense and would explain why moving it around never established a connection.
@@BorderlineOCD i openend the Can and reflow the solderpoints i checked also the connectionpoints and found the hidden switch :-)
3:00 also warranty seals have been illegal in the US (or at least, breaking them doesn't void the warranty) since 1975 anyway
One of my favorite console.
You can actually throw the fan unit in a dishwasher and it will still work quite well.
Exact same issue for the controller was there for me thanks man
Very nice work i like all ur vids👍keep it up
Thank you very much.
6:30 I think the pin that got bent was shorting out something electrically making the controller port inoperable
new sub here dude, love the videos 10/10
Thank you very much, appreciate the sub.
Great video! You've earned a subscriber.
Also, here is a question: I have a PS2 fat, model 30001 R, that reads both CDs and DVDs fine in the horizontal position, but takes like 1-2 minutes to read DVDs in the vertical position (it reads regular CDs just fine in both positions). Anything you think I should try? I've tried adjusting the white gear in the back of the mechanism but it doesn't change anything. Also, the disc tray won't stay open, it closes automatically.
You could set the disc speed to fast by pressing trangle and clicking it again
Good job. My "3 cents":
1)Never plug/unplug joypads or memory cards when console is powered on. If you are lucky you will only blew a fuse between joypad and I/O controller Hub. If fuse was "repaired" with a piece of a wire, then I/O Controller Hub will burn.
2)You could add some grease to a fan
3)You could use compressed air on a mirror and laser emiter in the laser head. Sometimes mirror is dirty and give disc read errors.
@Mr Guru You are wrong! PSX or PS2 controllers are not designed to plug them when the console is on! Sometimes GND from connector or shield (3 metal tabs) has no connection. In that case power goes thru data and clock pins. In best case 50 Ohm resistors will burn in worst case I/O chip. If fan has problems with spining you need to clean it and add grease or fan will cause blowing the fuse (dirty fan will be like a short to a circuit).
PS. I repaired consoles for many years.
I replaced my battery e few days ago. It's a lot of disassembly just to replace a cr2032.
Indeed. Clearly not designed to be self-serviceable, but its one of those things that makes me itch when the system battery doesn't keep correct time!
Love your videos what console are you gonna fix next maybe do some game cartridges and game pads too maybe?
A lot of people would probably look past it seeing it’s broken but If your handy you can save money lots of money buying a non working system. I spent 57 dollars total opened up and tested the system and came to the realization that it just needed a new power supply. 20 bucks later for my power supply put it in and it worked again cleaned up the system re greased the disc drive so now the try opens smoothly tweaked and cleaned the laser dusted out the fan cleaned up the shells bottom and top. Dug up some old parts I had replaced the controller and memory card module. And now I have a good working system for only roughly 70 some bucks not bad to be honest
The important thing is that you enjoyed the process! Sometimes you save money, other times not so much. I trust a unit I refurbished more than a working second hard unit. At least you can clean the fans, replace the battery, grease the drive etc. so even if it would have been the same to buy a second hand unit, your repaired unit is probably in better shape.
Very satisfying to watch!
Glad to hear it!
Dang I timed my ps2 and it took 38 seconds I didn’t even know it could be that fast
Borderline OCD I really enjoy your videos. Would you consider maybe refurbishing a PS2 that I own? I don’t mean to put you on the spot but it’s just that you’re the best man for the job!
Thanks bud. I don't really take repair jobs but I encourage you to consider taking a crack at it yourself.
@@BorderlineOCD I’d like to but I don’t know anything about how to work on the console
Great video as always! Could you tell us which plastic restorer you've used in this video? Thanks :)
I have a link in the description for your reference but it seems to currently be out of stock.
@@BorderlineOCD That helps a lot, thanks again
I wonder if anyone from eBay who sold their device to this channel watched the refurbish in action and kicked themselves afterwards.
Fantastic job! 😍 Can I pay to send my 2 PS2s off to you for repair and clean? 😂
Like those videos! And reminds me that my SCPH-50001 with GH-026 motherboard after whatever I have done can not read any DVD! I bought 2 KHS-400C lenses and tried it with no result! I bought a second PS2 SCPH-50001 and try the new lenses and worked reading CD and DVD games. I also replace the entire drive so I eliminate any other sensor and this doesn't fix the problem!
Did you run lenschanger program on your ps2?
@@Szczauqa No I didn't know about it. Can I install it like all others, OPL HDD Player etc.?
@@Szczauqa 2 identical consoles and 4 lenses KHS-400C. All 4 lenses work fine on one console, none of them reads DVD games or movies on the other!
Wasn't there a model of the fat PS2 that had the clock battery on the inside of the unit, but on the side? I vividly remember something like that.
yes early 3000x models had them on the side of the disc drive
New viewer here. You should do a 2DS or 3DS console that doesn't charge anymore. Often with those, the charging port gets too stretched out, and the plug can't charge the unit properly. That was very common, and it's worse if you play the console while charging. Oh, yeah, and you can tell I'm speaking from experience. 🤣
Awesome vid you should try get hold of one of those Japanese scph 10000/15000/18000 launch models these ps2s are built differently then most fats and use pcie m cards too connect the Hdd if I remember correctly
Hey man great channel. What kind of grease and plastic restore did you use?
I personally was able to buy one for only 10 euros (with 3 euros shipping so 13 euros)
the seller said the console isn't powering on, i'll have to test the issue, i also was able to get a ps2 slim for 5 euros (with 5 euros shipping so 10 euros) with broken disc dive
Best console made IMO
i actually have the same model ps2 and i was looking for help thank you for helping me
I have a really difficult PS2 that I put away back in 2006 when I restored PS2s. It's one of those you just know you'd rather not. This one was killed by lightning. I knew it would be a terrible job. My mom found it at her place and I mannaged to get back into it and took it apart and pulled out the multimeter :D. I looked over the board for three hours no traces look messed up. Everything looks fine highly up close. But there's a lot of micro soldering to do.. If you want something really difficult this is 'the' board.. If not I will be slowly replacing the fuses and everything that's dead on the board until the display works.
*No display
*Only the blue led works, no green for eject but the eject will turn it on
*Controller ribbon, controller port, power button, power ribbon, power supply, power switch, I think it's possible the usb port might be dead, disc drive has zero action.
There's a lot, Might of missed something. I know all of the other ribbons were dead. I tested all but the disc drive in another ps2
I bought if off the customer back then as in 2006 20 dollars for a broken PS2 seemed okay, But I told him I'm positive the PS2 is a lost cause on labor. It's not the only thing that died at his place from the storm. This PS2 is not okay lol.. Ehh all of the shell screws are lost in my tools at my moms place, or I'd have to buy all of that all over again. But if you're interested this is the 'difficult' one :D
If I don't hear back I'll be working on the board in maybe a month. I'd rather not buy all new equipment just to do this all over again
the pin was probably keeping the connector from ging in all the way
If we knew what we know now back then…💯🙏🏽🔥
I got a fat PS2 free when i asked for broken electronics in a thrift store and i only needed to replace a fuse in it.
Those are the best repairs, broken to working in 10 minutes.
Bravo!!! I my self have 2 fat ones. both needs internal cleaning. out of the 2 I have one with a fan that is quiet the disk drive comes out perfect and quiet but sadly no tv signal. my second one i do have tv signal lol fan is louder like if its trying to work it self to death and the disk tray struggles to come out. sometimes I have to give it a little bit of force to safely get it out. I will with the help and guide of your vid try to recreate the same clean up process. TY sir.
You were so lucky with this one
Indeed turned out to be an easy fix.
you should get some small "refurb by Borderline OCD" stickers and put one inside your work. all great artists should sign there work.
Neat idea, I love it :)
Great restoration! I look forward to seeing what you do with it. Perhaps Free McBoot? :)
Thank you! I like to kick it old school and hard mod my systems :) The soldering is a fun challenge so I'll most likely be doing a modchip installation.
the battery in my PS2 that I've had since 2004 died sometime a couple years ago, and I never realized just how much I actually had to do to get to it 😅 well, it's not gonna fix itself!