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View Full Version : UMD never loads: Freezes, and hangs. Bottom right loading icon. :-(

pspftw
02-11-2007, 06:00 PM
Hello. I'm hoping someone has had the same issue as me. It's really starting to get on my nerves. :) I'll be as detailed as possible:

I have a PSP here, firmware version 3.10 OE-A'. It was originally 2.6, upgraded to 2.71, down to 1.5, then to 3.10 OE-A. Not a firmware related problem since the issue occurred in all firmwares. Now the problem:

When I insert a UMD, all I get is the circle loading icon in the bottom right corner. I can briefly hear the disc spin up for about 2 seconds, then stop. Laser is putting out, but the lens never moves from side to side. After the disc stops, I'm still stuck at the loading icon. UMD is never recognized, and never loads. Loading Icon just stays there unless I eject the disc to go into the XMB. I'm leaning toward a bad worm drive motor, but I don't know...

Here is what I've tried so far:

I've cleaned the lens properly, tried multiple different UMDs with the same result, tried a total of 3 (supposedly bad, but I adjusted the laser a little) UMD drives with the same result. Maybe all 3 worm drive motors are bad? :( I've also tried manually moving the lens on all 3 UMD drives from side to side, and no luck. Is there a motherboard issue which causes this problem? It's a TA-081. Truly the PSP from hell!

So, I'm just wondering if anyone's found a solution to the same issue as me. I'm really hoping for a do it yourself solution, since the system was purchased used / broken. Not looking for "Send it to Sony", or anything like that. Thanks ahead of time for any replies, and sorry for the long post!
mame-man
02-11-2007, 06:37 PM
I have 3 motherboards with rougly the same issue. either the laser does not illuminate (Red) or it fails to move the laser from side to side. In all cases the units have been stripped and rebuilt with known good UMD drives.

I have come to the conclusion that it's an issue with the board and some part of the onboard controller for the UMD drive. upgrading and downgrading has no effect on it either.

Currently I run various homebrew apps on these around the house and keep the firmware at 2.71 SE-C due to it's better no UMD support.

I am in the process of setting up an unbricking rigging with a UP chip and will try one of those boards just to see what happens, but I am pretty sure it's a failed component on the board and in fact they are screwed :(
pspftw
02-11-2007, 07:05 PM
Darn, that's bad news. :( Anyone else with the same issue? Thanks for the reply by the way, I'm interested in hearing your results.

Would like to hear from anyone familiar with this problem.
pspftw
02-13-2007, 01:52 PM
No one knows?
sshaw1982
02-16-2007, 11:08 AM
same or siimilar issue here, been given a broken psp to mess around with = its very battered but now working to a point. UMD drive does recognise disks just doesn't load them, I was wondering if its possibly a misaligment of the laser? The disc works well enough to have 3.10 OE and run Umd mode disabled but won't actually load from the disc.
Several screws are missing in and around the board - my initial thought is that this has taken the laser out of sync.
mame-man
02-16-2007, 12:01 PM
same or siimilar issue here, been given a broken psp to mess around with = its very battered but now working to a point. UMD drive does recognise disks just doesn't load them, I was wondering if its possibly a misaligment of the laser? The disc works well enough to have 3.10 OE and run Umd mode disabled but won't actually load from the disc.
Several screws are missing in and around the board - my initial thought is that this has taken the laser out of sync.

none of the outside screws would effect the laser alignment, but there is a tracking screw you could try adjusting on the laser.
sshaw1982
02-16-2007, 03:27 PM
none of the outside screws would effect the laser alignment, but there is a tracking screw you could try adjusting on the laser.
whereabous do i find the tracking screw? as soon as i posted here the UMD drive stopped working completely again, icon in bottom corner until I get a disk read error.
Laser is still coming on but there is definately a misalignment somewhere
mame-man
02-16-2007, 04:48 PM
whereabous do i find the tracking screw? as soon as i posted here the UMD drive stopped working completely again, icon in bottom corner until I get a disk read error.
Laser is still coming on but there is definately a misalignment somewhere

LAser could be gone also, just because it comes on red, dose not mean for sure it's working. also you need to make sure the servo drive motor is moving the laser from left to right. I have found no end of psp's that have given disc read errors due to a small bit of $hit stuck in of of the gear teeth.

to adjust the tracking you need to take the screen and the metal frame out. the screw is a small phillips looking screw on the laser sorta top left corner of it. you should only need to move it a slight amount either direction (less than a 1/4 of a turn). you can do all this with the psp turned back on once the screen and frame are out. you made need to eject the movie or game a few times so it can try and read the disc before it gives up while your doing it. you'll know if you have success as you should hear the preview video etc that plays for games and movies.
sshaw1982
02-16-2007, 05:15 PM
if i can get it to read slightly i'll be happy as i can give the PSP to my girl, it could well be crap on the motor as the discs were being read partially until earlier on.
The guy who gave me the PSP had sent it away for a laser repair but it had still come back buggered :mad:
As i said earlier, the PSP is quite battered, might invest in a bumper pack of screws, new umd drive and a new faceplate....:rolleyes:
ah well, its not like its cost me anything thus far