UMD drive error, but don't think the drive itself is the problem

[basskicker]

Hi there. I'm trying to repair someone's PSP, and I'm encountering a problem I've never experienced before. Basically, as soon as the PSP tries reading a disc I get a disc cannot be read error.

I've repaired several UMD drives before where the problem was due to the lubricant drying into the white paste. In those cases, the PSP would actually try reading the disc for a little while before giving an error... that's not the case with this one. When I said earlier "as soon as the PSP tries reading a disc," I mean it! I put a game in, close the UMD drive, and immediately I get the error.

I've tried replacing the UMD drive, and same thing... so I believe the problem does not lie with the UMD drive itself, but possibly the motherboard?

As far as the owner know's, he didn't do anything wrong. The only thing he could he could say was, in response to my question "did you drop it", was that he carrys the PSP in his bag, and one day he pulled it out of the bag, and it was acting like this, so it might've been knocked (but he didn't think so).

What I'm going to try doing it reassembling it, check the firmware, and if possible upgrade/downgrade it to see if flashing will help. Besides that, can anyone else provide any input plz? Thanks.


Edit: After mucking around with it, I've narrowed the problem down a bit... basically the error pops up as soon as I press the switch on the back of the motherboard which get's pressed in when you close the UMD drive door.

Edit 2: Ok, so here's the results I got from flashing. It was originally a 2.6. I upgraded to to a 2.71 (had a momentary heart failure when it froze at 99%), and it gave me same problem. Then I downgraded to 1.5, and while here, when I'd put in a disc, it didn't automatically give me the error, but wasn't reading the disc (it would try and not go anywhere). At this point I tried swapping UMD drives, because I was using the original one at that point, and thought the replacement would work, but it didn't. Just upgraded 3.02 OE, and now I'm back to the original problem again. Going to try downgrading back to 1.5 just to see if I can reproduce same results as earlier.

Edit 3: Downgraded to 1.5. Results reproduced. No immediate error. Tries reading for about 30-60 seconds and then gives disc cannot be read error

[shortboy]

Holy crappin' wow. I'm so glad you posted this. My friend's PSP is having the EXACT same problem as your friend's PSP is having. This also includes upgrading to a higher firmware with it freezing at 99%. My friend's PSP was originally at 2.50 and worked fine. The PSP started to not read UMDs. Upgraded to 2.60. No good. Upgraded to 2.70/2.71. No good. Upgraded to 2.80. No good (keep in mind that all these upgrades froze at 99%). Downgraded to 1.50 (thank you, Dark_Alex ;)). No good. Even devhook wasn't much help. Finally decided to buy a replacement laser for the PSP. Replaced the laser and still no good. Upgraded to 2.00 just to see if anything happened. Still no good. Turned off the PSP, turned it back without the UMD and just waited. Went online with the PSP just for the hell of it just to see if that even worked. Exited out. Put the UMD in. No good. I even went as far as to open and close the UMD drive and the error message kept popping up each time. I just turned off the PSP. I immediately turned it back on with the UMD in and it miraculously autobooted. Do I know how? No I don't. But my friend and I are not jumping to conclusions yet. He's currently happily playing his game. We don't want to exit out or turn the PSP in fear that it might not work again but so far, the game's working :).

edit: Okay so the PSP just shut itself off and now it's not reading again...WTF.

EDIT 2: WTF! It's working again...I guess it's in and out.

edit 3:....meh...the psp's stupid...it reads the umds whenever it wants to.

[M37R01D]

any updates on this,
i have one that does this
as soon as i turn it on with the umd door open the laser is on and moving, then when i hit the button in the back i get the can not read error.
on 1.5 now and still same error :(

[Kugar]

I made a post about this, because mine is having the EXACT SAME symptoms. As soon as the PSP gets turned on, the laser goes from left to right making some strange noises (as if its struggling), it won't read UMD's and whenever I press in the little button at the back, it comes up with "The Disc Cannot be read" error.

I wonder what the problem is? Apart from the UMD Drive not working, everything else seems fine.

Oh by the way, thank god I read these posts. Was about to buy a replacement UMD door and laser off ebay. <3

[jolyrojr]

Hola,

I have 2 of these psp's on my workbench atm. One of them was doing it when it was brought in to me. The second one started doing it after I replaced the lens. It booted the game once, I shut it off, put the door back on, and when I auto-booted into the umd, it said the disk could not be read, and now it says that the second the switch gets pushed.

I know this is not a drive error, for a fact.

I am pretty sure it is a fuse issue.

Most likely the results you are getting by changing the firmware is just the different firmware reporting the fuse in different ways.

I would really like to see a better listing of specific psp fuses besides the 3 that are commonly listed on most sites.

Its too bad my customers cant get by with ms functionality instead, cause I know if i were to just work around it, they would be nothing but trouble for a long long time. I want a solid fix!

Edit: Here is a link to a picture of where I bet the problem is coming from. I do not at this time have a known good board to compare with, so I have no idea what kind of readings I am supposed to be getting though.... NM I have not posted enough times, so no link for you.

[bimmerhp]

Issue: PSP will not read games. Laser fires up bright red everytime!

Took apart the PSP, cleaned it and booted it up without the top case on, works fine, put in a UMD let it run for 15 mins, works fine.
Put everything back together, boot up the PSP, grinding noise from UMD and not reading the games.

Second Time: Took the top case off, boot up the machine and reads the games fine. Put the top case back on, will not read games. I can see the UMD spinning fine, laser firing up fine too.

Third Time: Took the top case off, boot up the machine and reads UMD's fine. I let the machine run for about an hour, no problems.
Installed brand new PSP top case, boot up the machine, will not read games.

Fourth Time: Replaced UMD Drive. Boot up machine without top case one and works fine. Put the top case on and grind, grind, grind will not read games.

Took a look at everything, nothing sticking out, or nothing out of place. Gears moving fine, nothing putting pressure on the UMD drive.

Cannot figure out what is wrong with the machine.

Help

[jolyrojr]

Issue: PSP will not read games. Laser fires up bright red everytime!

Well, unless the psp gives you an error the second the door switch is hit, then it is not really a similar issue. sounds like the psp will play as long as the faceplate is off? is that right? I have seen that before actually. If I remember correctly, at least one of the ones we fixed like that was fixed by putting in the faceplate screws in a different order! Seriously, its like for some psp's that putting in the screws in a certain order will put tension on the system that tweaks the drive or something.

if you run it with no faceplate, then it doesnt work with it on, and you take it off and it works again, i would think it would logically be soemthing to do with the faceplate. As you have tried a different one, I would also think that HOW you are putting it on could be the common factor there.

Good luck!

[renejr902]

someone found the solution.

i have 3 psp with the same problems.


this is the only problem my father was unable to repair since many years

he is a electronic technician.


always said: read can be read, even if he change the umd drive. even if you change firmware or use pandora battery

thansk for help

[Osbor]

someone found the solution.

i have 3 psp with the same problems.


this is the only problem my father was unable to repair since many years

he is a electronic technician.


always said: read can be read, even if he change the umd drive. even if you change firmware or use pandora battery

thansk for help


what?

anyway, i have the same problem, it's local to the motherboard, and i'm sure people would be VERY happy is someone could find a fix.

as some others have pointed out, it's most likely either a fuse or a broken lead of some type, i'm leaning more towards fuse because my mobo is in pristine physical condition while it still has this problem.

god i wish we had a psp phat mobo schematic...

[jolyrojr]

someone found the solution.

i have 3 psp with the same problems.


this is the only problem my father was unable to repair since many years

he is a electronic technician.


always said: read can be read, even if he change the umd drive. even if you change firmware or use pandora battery

thansk for help

Ok, so someone found the solution, but you dont say who or what it is. Very useful thanks.

read can be read? I dont understand what you are trying to say.

I think it is important to note that is is one obvious time when it is completely legal to bypass copyright protection. You have the right to hack that psp as it is REQUIRED to return useful function to the unit. Sony works so hard to fight this stupid war against modders, but its a goood thing we have the tools we need to FIX so many of the psp's faults that Sony won't do anything about anyway.

I am not saying this situation gices you the right to piracy, but it does give you the right to play legal backups of games legally purchased.

[renejr902]

sorry guys.

i wanted to know if someone has find a solution.

i didnt found the solution. really sorry.

the psp always said: DISC CANT BE READ.


LOL

i was in a hurry when i posted the other time

[spartan-343]

Problem with mine. It attempts to read it, then gives up.
Mine is the PSP Slim, so you cant really access the laser when you pop off the front cover and screen. Help?/

[Osbor]

Problem with mine. It attempts to read it, then gives up.
Mine is the PSP Slim, so you cant really access the laser when you pop off the front cover and screen. Help?/

that sounds like a bad laser/dirty laser.

lasers are easy to get replacements of, off ebay or just plain old online psp parts sellers. Replacing them is tricky as you have to disassemble most of the psp to get at it.

don't be too afraid to open your psp up, they're quite mod friendly to tell the truth, just be sure to handle everything gingerly, touch a metal surface (to get rid of static electricity) before grabbing any electronic components with your hands, and keep a moderately sterile environment (wash your hands beforehand, maybe wear a hat so any excess dandruff doesn't get inside) and you will NEVER have problems.

[spartan-343]

Thanks!

I went ahead and ordered a new UMD drive, and it should be here sometime soon lol. Thanks for the advice/tips!:)