What to do with mod-chipped systems with broken lasers

[JoeAwesome]

I have a mod-chipped PS2 v12 (don't know what kind of chip) with a broken laser. Can I setup Free McBoot and a USB hard drive to play backups on it? Would I load games onto the hard drive via usb connected to the computer and/or through the PS2's ethernet? If I go that route, should I even replace the laser?

As an aside, I'm trying to get modded PS1, PS2, and Saturn systems. If the laser dies out on those systems, like it has on the PS2 I have, can you simply replace the laser from another system of the same model type? Or would it be easier to do something like unsolder the chip, and put it on a working system? I'm getting duplicates of these systems, and figure if the modded system's laser goes out, I would switch the laser's out.

[jinn]

You can replace the V12 laser should cost around $10

You will need laser protection diode and a laser safety shut-off chip to prevent the laser from burning out again.

If you are good at soldering you can add an IDE/SATA connection and use an external eSata HDD

[Anapan]

I'd suggest buying a brand new laser assembly. Swapping it out is pretty easy. I've purchased a few of them over the years for different fat and slim PS2 revisions from Modchip.ca and never had a problem. They all still work perfectly.
I don't suggest going the USB hard drive route. There are loading and caching issues with many games now matter how many Open PS2 Loader settings you tweak that would cause most people a headache.
As jinn mentioned, you can attach an IDE drive to a slim PS2 - I remember one company even sold a kit for slim PS2s with a new shell and drive bay that sat under the mobo. I doubt they're still around, but I was very tempted to get one when they were easily available so I could have all the games semi-portable with my Joytech screen.

[ice445]

I'd suggest buying a brand new laser assembly. Swapping it out is pretty easy. I've purchased a few of them over the years for different fat and slim PS2 revisions from Modchip.ca and never had a problem. They all still work perfectly.
I don't suggest going the USB hard drive route. There are loading and caching issues with many games now matter how many Open PS2 Loader settings you tweak that would cause most people a headache.
As jinn mentioned, you can attach an IDE drive to a slim PS2 - I remember one company even sold a kit for slim PS2s with a new shell and drive bay that sat under the mobo. I doubt they're still around, but I was very tempted to get one when they were easily available so I could have all the games semi-portable with my Joytech screen.

PS2 laser assemblies are tricky to replace, because a lot of them seem to require soldering before you can install them (some factory protection from ESD if I remember correctly). Not all, but many and given the small amount of suppliers that are selling replacements, you won't always be told if it does or not. It's best to buy a used known working PS2 and take the laser from that.

[SnowKitty]

I'd suggest buying a brand new laser assembly. Swapping it out is pretty easy. I've purchased a few of them over the years for different fat and slim PS2 revisions from Modchip.ca and never had a problem. They all still work perfectly.
I don't suggest going the USB hard drive route. There are loading and caching issues with many games now matter how many Open PS2 Loader settings you tweak that would cause most people a headache.
As jinn mentioned, you can attach an IDE drive to a slim PS2 - I remember one company even sold a kit for slim PS2s with a new shell and drive bay that sat under the mobo. I doubt they're still around, but I was very tempted to get one when they were easily available so I could have all the games semi-portable with my Joytech screen.

PS2 laser assemblies are tricky to replace, because a lot of them seem to require soldering before you can install them (some factory protection from ESD if I remember correctly). Not all, but many and given the small amount of suppliers that are selling replacements, you won't always be told if it does or not. It's best to buy a used known working PS2 and take the laser from that.

this is laser replacement in general, most brand new ones will have an antistatic pad to desolder. it's easy to remove even for a novice though, if you don't have desoldering braid you can just flux the joint and lightly poke it with an iron till the bead of solder separates between the two pads.

[CRTGAMER]

Just get a Fat inexpensive PS2 and go the internal faster IDE hard drive route.
If you want to direct install imports, add a flip top, no Mod Chip needed.

[ice445]

I'd suggest buying a brand new laser assembly. Swapping it out is pretty easy. I've purchased a few of them over the years for different fat and slim PS2 revisions from Modchip.ca and never had a problem. They all still work perfectly.
I don't suggest going the USB hard drive route. There are loading and caching issues with many games now matter how many Open PS2 Loader settings you tweak that would cause most people a headache.
As jinn mentioned, you can attach an IDE drive to a slim PS2 - I remember one company even sold a kit for slim PS2s with a new shell and drive bay that sat under the mobo. I doubt they're still around, but I was very tempted to get one when they were easily available so I could have all the games semi-portable with my Joytech screen.

PS2 laser assemblies are tricky to replace, because a lot of them seem to require soldering before you can install them (some factory protection from ESD if I remember correctly). Not all, but many and given the small amount of suppliers that are selling replacements, you won't always be told if it does or not. It's best to buy a used known working PS2 and take the laser from that.

this is laser replacement in general, most brand new ones will have an antistatic pad to desolder. it's easy to remove even for a novice though, if you don't have desoldering braid you can just flux the joint and lightly poke it with an iron till the bead of solder separates between the two pads.

I don't even own a soldering iron so to me, anything that requires any soldering at all is "too hard".

[AppleQueso]

I don't even own a soldering iron so to me, anything that requires any soldering at all is "too hard".

Never a bad time to learn

it comes in handy a lot more than you might expect

[ice445]

I don't even own a soldering iron so to me, anything that requires any soldering at all is "too hard".

Never a bad time to learn

it comes in handy a lot more than you might expect

Like when? My approach for electronics repair has always been just to swap working for non working. Given the low value of the eletronics I've repaired (PS1/PS2, etc), it's always been cheap n' easy.

[AppleQueso]

I don't even own a soldering iron so to me, anything that requires any soldering at all is "too hard".

Never a bad time to learn

it comes in handy a lot more than you might expect

Like when? My approach for electronics repair has always been just to swap working for non working. Given the low value of the eletronics I've repaired (PS1/PS2, etc), it's always been cheap n' easy.

Absolutely invaluable with cable repairs, needing to make custom cables, etc.

If you're already swapping parts out to repair systems, seems like learning to soldier would be a natural step. I don't think it's a skill you'd regret picking up.