Fat PS2: Actually unreliable, or just a myth?

[Ziggy]

So is the most common issue with the phat PS2 is the dirty lens, not that the laser is dead? I'll have to try to fix the one I have which has a "dead" laser. The other one works fine.

Yeah, from what I've read, usually you just have to clean the lens. Just be careful with any ribbon cables when you open the console up. That's the thing that people seem to break most often.

[Xelyx]

I've had my PS2 since 2003 and it's still going strong. It has stopped reading CD's several times. Each time I've just opened up the system, cleaned out all the dust, cleaned the laser eye, and put new white lithium grease on the guide rails for the eye. I do this about once every year or two, and it works just like the day I opened the box.

[Sideroller]

Had my old PS2 fat since launch and it's worked like charm ever since.

[flojocabron]

Bought my fat ps2 new in 2001

finally died on 2009.

In the last two years i kept getting disc read errors.

I've taken it apart and repositioned the lazer and cleaned it many times.

But it slowly kept having trouble eventually with all the types of discs.

I used my ps2 heavily as a DVD player and this may have led to its early demise.

Its also fallen a few times and has been tripped on before.

I'm tempted to buy another one from the fleamarket. But i have to be careful, since these guys may be in a crappy condition.

[d123456]

Any links for repairs. A friend's brothers repaired my friends ps2 or tried and apparantlz fuxured it up. Any cleaning repairing links, I might take a second look.
I haven't owned my fat ps2 long enough to comment on reliablility, but so far so good. And they're not that expensive, so if the laser dies it's no huge hassle

[Godot102]

It really depends on how you use your Ps2. I've had my fat since 2001 and the laser is weaker than before. I can only play DVD ps2 games(no Blue-disc). If your the type of person who keeps swapping between ps1 and ps2 games then the laser could eventually give out. I now own a silver Slim and it works great

[BurningDoom]

If your the type of person who keeps swapping between ps1 and ps2 games then the laser could eventually give out.

This is what I believed for a long time. But then I heard from others that the difference between PS1 & PS2 games aren't a big deal and it's more about the lens getting damaged or dirty.

Anyone know for sure if switching between PS1 & PS2 games actually wears out the PS2 faster or is it just an old wives's tale?

[Godot102]

If your the type of person who keeps swapping between ps1 and ps2 games then the laser could eventually give out.

This is what I believed for a long time. But then I heard from others that the difference between PS1 & PS2 games aren't a big deal and it's more about the lens getting damaged or dirty.

Anyone know for sure if switching between PS1 & PS2 games actually wears out the PS2 faster or is it just an old wives's tale?

I've always believed it especially since I WAS and STILL am the type of guy who goes back and forth between ps1 and ps2 games. I could be wrong and maybe my laser was simply too dirty.

[CRTGAMER]

If your the type of person who keeps swapping between ps1 and ps2 games then the laser could eventually give out.

This is what I believed for a long time. But then I heard from others that the difference between PS1 & PS2 games aren't a big deal and it's more about the lens getting damaged or dirty.

Anyone know for sure if switching between PS1 & PS2 games actually wears out the PS2 faster or is it just an old wives's tale?

I've always believed it especially since I WAS and STILL am the type of guy who goes back and forth between ps1 and ps2 games. I could be wrong and maybe my laser was simply too dirty.

The PS1 games are CDs vs most PS2 games in DVD. There have been circumstances where a PS2 quit reading Blue PS2 CDs. Maybe there is an issue of faster wear due to the Laser Eye having to compensate between the different sized tracks. I would rather not take the chance, just leave the PS1 games running in a PS1. The older PS1 has a nice capability of instant loading of the Game Shark from the cart port.

[eSPy]

my old one struggles a bit sometimes, but I think a good greasing of the lens tracks would fix things.