[busyinny]

Ok, so just bought a CECHA01 PS3 off ebay that will not read discs.

I knew the risk getting it, so if anyone explains to me that I am totally screwed, I will not like it, but I will accept that I took the risk....

The PS3 is on OFW 1.9. It will boot up fine, but it appears to have been totally reset, has nothing installed. I do not want to update it beyond 3.55 for obvious reasons, but thought I would diagnose the disc failure before I start jailbreaking, based on what I understood the recommendations to be from this board.

When I insert any disc, PS3, PS2, DVD, audio CD, it will give me the rotating icon on the screen. The blue light on the outside will come on fine. It also spins the disc a little bit at least, the label is in a different place that when I start when I eject the disc. Inserting and ejecting the disc seems totally normal.

So I think, maybe dead laser. I open up the PS3 last night. Important to note that the warranty sticker was intact. So it does not look like someone tried to repair it and botched it even more...Take metal casing off drive, take white magnetic cap off, put in a DVD, CD, and a PS2 game.

I see the blue light inside the drive light up (blue ray laser right?), then it a red light comes up.(I guess expected given that it is a DVD).

Does the fact that any light comes up internally mean my laser works correctly?

With red light going, it spins the disc a little bit, then stops. It spins it a little more, then stops. I also hear a little bit of what could be the laser trying to focus (do not know what else it could be)? During this time the rotating icon on the screen is going on. At some point it stops spinning the disc, the rotating icon on the screen stops, but nothing comes onto the screen that the disc is recognized at all.

So my thought is that the lens may be dirty, and just need cleaning. I am about ready to head out and get some isopropyl alcohol and then I will open up the plastic case and try it, but thought I would ask for opinions here as well....

If that does not work, I guess I will try to reset any firmware and upgrade up to 3.15 if I can to see whether that helps....

Do not know what else it could be? Could it be the spinning mechanism if it spins it for a little bit and then stops?

Again, reminder that the warranty sticker was intact before I opened it, I was careful about opening the drive, and the PS3 appears to be in rather good condition, so it does not seem to be an 'abused' system, or a botched repair job. I really thought it would have just been a dead laser, but the light coming up inside is confusing me.....

[Mr.Dutch]

Originally Posted by busyinny Again, reminder that the warranty sticker was intact before I opened it, I was careful about opening the drive, and the PS3 appears to be in rather good condition, so it does not seem to be an 'abused' system, or a botched repair job. I really thought it would have just been a dead laser, but the light coming up inside is confusing me.....

it almost sound if the drive is not married, but then again i don't know anything about lasers, and your ps3 has never been opened also....

[busyinny]

Ok, posting so that maybe it will be helpful to somebody else.

Turns out, just a cleaning of the lens did the trick, at least for the time being. It recognized the discs right away afterwards.

Have still kept the PS3 open, I think given I am part way there, will take out the rest of the components and give the case a good cleaning. Maybe look into applying some arctic 5.

On another note, I touched the Power Supply while I had it open. Cannot believe how hot it gets. I also did not hear a fan pretty much at all, although I will admit that I have not kept it running for long, but is that at all normal for a CECHA01, or is it possible my fan is dead?

I know the fan is supposed to be variable speed, but given the accounts of how loud the fat models are, I would think I would hear it right away.

[Mr.Dutch]

Originally Posted by busyinny On another note, I touched the Power Supply while I had it open. Cannot believe how hot it gets. I also did not hear a fan pretty much at all, although I will admit that I have not kept it running for long, but is that at all normal for a CECHA01, or is it possible my fan is dead?

if your fan was dead it would not be spinning at all.
it is known that the fan kicks in while the ps3 is allready probably too hot?

some people replaced the original psu with a newer model that would run cooler.
and there's also the fan mod to control the speed of the fan yourself.

[svenmullet]

First, congrats on getting a CECHA that works good and hasn't been futzed with They are my favorite PS3 because of the full hardware B/C and cardreaders. My advice to you would be to find an APS-231 power supply (check ebay) from a CECHG. They consume much less power and only get like 1/4 as hot as the original PSU.

[busyinny]

Originally Posted by svenmullet First, congrats on getting a CECHA that works good and hasn't been futzed with They are my favorite PS3 because of the full hardware B/C and cardreaders. My advice to you would be to find an APS-231 power supply from a CECHG. They consume much less power and only get like 1/4 as hot as the original PSU.

Svenmullet, thanks for the recommendation. Had never heard that one can use a CECHG Power Supply on a CECHA. Will probably look into that.

Yesterday I took the PS3 apart totally, cleaned it (although I must say there was not a lot of dust for a 6 year old system), and applied arctic silver 5 on the heatsink and procs.

Can I assume no "mods" required to install this power supply? Really just a switch job?

Quit smoking on November 1st too....

[Bigbones87]

You can also rig up a mod to remove the power supply to the outside of the console. Ask @Mr.Dutch about it. He has a ghetto rigged ps3 that he put the power supply on stilts. That or completely removing it frm the console where it sits away from the console like an Xbox would be cool and very helpful to keeping the console cool. Truely don't know why Sony decided to put the most power consuming, heat producing item of the console INSIDE the console. Truely makes no sense.

[Mr.Dutch]

Originally Posted by busyinny Can I assume no "mods" required to install this power supply? Really just a switch job?

according to ps3deviki the APS-231 should fit in your console.

@Bigbones87 , i still use that console only for short moments, too affraid it will ylod again.