[Angermanaged]

I recently bought a used Fat PS3 80gb. When I received it the firmware was out of date and the system was running extremely hot almost immediately after turning it on. Both ps2 and ps3 games loaded properly originally.

I proceeded to open it up and start cleaning out all the dust that the previous owner neglected to do himself. After taking the system completely apart and cleaning everything I then replaced the Thermal compound on the cpu and gpu. After this I completely put it back together and plugged it into my tv.

Since I did not really have an interest in modding it immediately I then quick formatted the ps3 and updated it to the latest firmware (3.72). After this I started to test out the games again to make sure if they worked.

PS2 discs are recognized and have the ability to play perfectly fine. PS3 on the other hand are not even recognized.

Once I discovered this I started to take it back apart and check the ribbon cables to make sure they were firmly seated. After putting it back together again nothing changed.

Next I attempted to do another system format. This did not correct it either.

After that I took it apart yet again and began to dissect the Disk drive to see if some dust had gotten into it. Yes, there was some dust in there and I cleaned it out but there didn't seem to be any on the lens itself. After replacing everything nothing has helped.

So my question is:
Is there anything that I can still try before I start to look at replacement parts?
If not what part would be broken? i.e. lens module, drive mobo...
Where could I get this part? A reliable source


Thank you all in advance for any help you may offer.

(I am a very experienced technician with computers and other consoles. I am fairly certain I didn't do any direct harm to the system and am confused as to why this is happening. Please ask anything if you think it may help us get to a solution)

[kljash]

i would turn on your ps3 while the drive is open and see if the laser is bright purple or red. and if it is purple how bright is it. if it is bright i would do three in the recovery menu

[Angermanaged]

I did as you said and opened the disk drive up. Then I put it back in and turned the system on. I put a white piece of printer paper over the lens so I could see the light comng out easier. In a dark room the light was bright blue. I would say it was a little less bright then the blue light on the front of the console.

I am slightly confused by what you mean by option three of the recovery menu.

[kljash]

hmm. if its not red that means it should read ps3 games.
try this. while the ps3 is in standby mode (system on with the red power light) hold the power down til you hear thee beeps the system should turn it's self off then hold it down again for three beeps only this time on the last beep it will beep twice then the screed should go to the ps3's recovery menu try option three it won't delete anything.

i had some success with it when i used to repair ps3's

other than that you can try just taking the metal case off of the drive and see if it tries to read the game ( you can see it spinning and the laser sounds like it's moving) if it is and just eventually gives up it usually means the laser is dying. in my experience at least
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and always make sure its not your games

[Angermanaged]

I tried option three of the recovery mode. Unfortunately this did not work.

Also I can hear that when I put in a disk that the disk initially spins and the laser moves slightly but then all sounds stop.

I suppose that the laser could be dieing and that is what the issue is. Do you have any suggestions on how to find out what laser I need specifically and from where I should get one.

[kljash]

you should need a kes 400A, although some of the 80gs had 410's in them. just look at the picture and see which laser you have. ebay is a good place to find them
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do you have a blu ray you can try

[Angermanaged]

So before I go and look for a new lens I would like to ask just one last question.

Is there anything that you think I could have done to the motherboard to make this issue happen? or maybe some cable that I failed to reconnect properly.

Thank you for all your help kljash you have been a huge savior. I don't mean to doubt your knowledge or anything I would just like to be 100% certain that this is the last thing it could be before I go out and buy the part.

[kljash]

if something is not in right the drive won't accept the game and the laser wont power on so i'm pretty sure you have everything plugged in right another confirmation of this is to put a game in the drive and look at the top right corner in the xmb the thing will be spinning if everything is plugged in right

[Angermanaged]

Okay, I will check the corner for spinning now. I just attempted to run a regular blu-ray and nothing past the usual happened.

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The spinning does ensue and it actually never stops once I put in a game. I am certain these games are good since I have opened them new and never played them before.

[kljash]

does it just keep spinning?