ok, so, both of my playstation2s have stopped reading certain discs. there are some games that my fat old ps2 wont even start reading. i put it in the tray and it treats it like its empty. i tried signing up for the sony forums and stuff like that hoping i could find somewhere to email for help, but the form to do so had nothing in the drop menus for topic discripition and i couldn't type anything in the comments field. i could not find an 800 number or anything to call and i don't know what to do. i just re-found my copy of champions of norath and neither of my ps2s will play it. please help.

Alright, it sounds like your laser is misaligned which leaves you with a few options. Number one is you can buy one of those CD lens cleaning discs and run that. Your laser lens might just be smudged up or have some dust on it. Might try blasting it with a can of compressed air as well.

If that doesn't work here is your next course of action:

Tools you will need:
1. Phillips screwdriver
2. Very small Phillips screwdriver (same as above)
3. Exacto knife

First, unplug all of the PS2's cables, and take the back expansion bay cover off of your PS2 and flip your console upside-down. Take all of the screw covers off of the bottom of your machine. If you're having trouble getting some of the screw covers off, use a flathead screwdriver to pry them off. Now, take the screws out. Not all of the screws are the same sizes as each other, so try to remember where they originally went. Now, you'll notice that you cannot take the system apart because of a large sticker on the backside of the machine. DO NOT TAKE THIS STICKER OFF! If you do, it will leave "Void" marks all over your machine where the sticker once was. Use your exacto knife to cut the grooves in this sticker so that the system can come apart. Now, remove the bottom part of the PS2 (the smaller part) from the top part. Be very careful when doing this, as there's a ribbon wire connecting the two pieces together that will ruin the machine if it is ripped or torn. Now, there are two screws that hold a metal cover and the expansion bay down. Remove the screws and the metal cover and expansion bay. The expansion bay cannot be removed entirely because of another ribbon wire. Now, here's the hard part. While you are still holding the expansion bay, you have to adjust the two silver screws. They are recessed inside a cover but you can see them and get to them with the screwdriver. One of them and adjusts the CD voltage and one of them adjusts the DVD voltage. How do you tell them apart? If the front of the PS2 is facing you, the left screw is the CD screw. Turn the screw you want about two degrees clockwise, then plug everything back in, load the problem disc and turn the PS2's power on. If the game still doesn't work, power everything down, unplug everything, and turn the screw and additional two degrees to the right and try the problem disc again. Keep repeating this method until you find the right spot. When your games work, put everything back together and enjoy!

If this doesn't work you can take it to a professional repair shop and they may be able to tweak the alignment and voltage with an oscilloscope. After that you may as well get a different PS2 because drives are hard to come by and not terribly easy to replace. Easier just to buy a used one.

yea i went to gamestop and got an old model ps2 for $40

LOL, so you ask for advice and while I am typing the advice in you run out and get a new console! You tech bum, the first thing you should always do is tear it apart! ALL HAIL THE FRANKENBOX!

you of all people kraft should understand the stress of school. i just don't have time to tear it apart at the moment, so as a temporary solution i got a new one. i still plan on trying to fix the old ones and probably give one to a friend who just had his sixth red ring of death and has given up on video games. i picked up a copy of digital devil saga for the ps2 and i'm going to force him to play it...or it could be i'm very lazy. kind of a combo of the two...i'll fix them eventually.

Yeah Kraft, Junkii I had the same problem with my PS2, i may nto have the warranty anymore because of it, but the manual adjustment plan worked real well.

And I did the same thing (sorta) for my Game Boy when I was younger.
I had lost it and after 5 months I gave up and bought a new one. One month later, I fpund the old oen in the couch. Epic fail...