Help

Revision to PlayStation 3 Troubleshooting

Brett Hartt

« Back to History Index

== PS3 Doesn't Read Optical Media ==
If your PlayStation 3 is not reading discs, or is reading discs inconsistently, then follow this flow chart to fully diagnose the problems with your Blu-Ray Drive.
++ '''Step''Step 1. Insert a disk into the PlayStation 3 Blu-ray DriveDrive''''' ++
++ '''Step''Step 1. Insert a disk into the PlayStation 3 Blu-ray DriveDrive''''' ++
* '''Q1. Does the PlayStation accept the disk?'''
** Yes - Go to "Step 2" 2"
** Yes - Go to "Step 2" 2"
** No - Go to "Is the Blu-Ray Drive Blocked?"
* '''Q2. Is the Blu-Ray Drive Blocked?'''
''ThereBlocked?'''-''There is a physical barrier preventing your PS3 from drawing in disks''
* '''Q2. Is the Blu-Ray Drive Blocked?'''
''ThereBlocked?'''-''There is a physical barrier preventing your PS3 from drawing in disks''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Gear Alignment Reset"
** No - Go to "Does the disk eventually get accepted?"
* '''Q3. Does the disk eventually get drawn into the console?'''
 -'' You push the disk in ~3/4 of the the way, and the mechanism draws the disk into the console ''
* '''Q3. Does the disk eventually get drawn into the console?'''
 -'' You push the disk in ~3/4 of the the way, and the mechanism draws the disk into the console ''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Broken sensor board."
** No - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Control Board" Double check this
** No - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Control Board" Double check this
++ '''Step''Step 2. Clean the DiskDisk''''' ++
''Using - ''Using a cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth, clean the disc.''
++ '''Step''Step 2. Clean the DiskDisk''''' ++
''Using - ''Using a cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth, clean the disc.''
* '''Q4. Does the PlayStation read both Blu-ray disks and DVDs?'''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Your done!
** No - Go to "Step 3"
Step++ '''''Step 3. Eject the disk
Q5disk''''' ++
* '''Q5. Did the disk come out in the same orientation that it was inserted?
Yesinserted?'''
** Yes - Go to "Step 5"
No
** No - Go to "Step 4"
Step++ '''''Step 3. Eject the disk
Q5disk''''' ++
* '''Q5. Did the disk come out in the same orientation that it was inserted?
Yesinserted?'''
** Yes - Go to "Step 5"
No
** No - Go to "Step 4"
Step++ '''''Step 4. Re-insert the disk into the PlayStation 3
Q63''''' ++
* '''Q6. Is the loading wheel present on the XMB?
YesXMB?'''
** Yes - Go to "Step 5"
No
** No - Go to "Faulty Control Board"
Step++ '''''Step 4. Re-insert the disk into the PlayStation 3
Q63''''' ++
* '''Q6. Is the loading wheel present on the XMB?
YesXMB?'''
** Yes - Go to "Step 5"
No
** No - Go to "Faulty Control Board"
Step++ '''''Step 5. Clean the Lens
Q7Lens''''' ++
* '''Q7. Does the PlayStation read both Blu-ray disks and DVDs?
YesDVDs?'''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Your done!
No
** No, it reads one media type, but not the other - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Lens"
No
** No - Go to "Step 6"
Step++ '''''Step 5. Clean the Lens
Q7Lens''''' ++
* '''Q7. Does the PlayStation read both Blu-ray disks and DVDs?
YesDVDs?'''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Your done!
No
** No, it reads one media type, but not the other - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Lens"
No
** No - Go to "Step 6"
Step++ '''''Step 6. Eject the disk
Q8disk''''' ++
* '''Q8. Did the disk come out in the same orientation that it was inserted?
Yesinserted?'''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Lens"
No
** No - Go to "Step 7"
Step++ '''''Step 6. Eject the disk
Q8disk''''' ++
* '''Q8. Did the disk come out in the same orientation that it was inserted?
Yesinserted?'''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Lens"
No
** No - Go to "Step 7"
Step++ '''''Step 7. Re-insert the disk into the PlayStation 3
Q93''''' ++
* '''Q9. Is the loading wheel present on the XMB?
YesXMB?'''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Lens"
No
** No - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Control Board"
Step++ '''''Step 7. Re-insert the disk into the PlayStation 3
Q93''''' ++
* '''Q9. Is the loading wheel present on the XMB?
YesXMB?'''
** Yes - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Lens"
No
** No - Go to "SOLUTION: Faulty Control Board"


Solution++ '''''Solution: Gear Alignment ResetReset'''''++


Solution++ '''''Solution: Gear Alignment ResetReset'''''++
Realigning the gears in the blu-ray drive is fairly simple. Depending on the type of Blu-ray drive you have, you will need to either follow this guide or this guide.
Solution++'''''Solution: Broken Sensor BoardBoard'''''++
Only the KEM-400 optical drives have IR sensors for discerning when discs are inserted into the Blu-ray drive. If your IR Sensor is no longer working, you can attempt to replace it, however, it will in no way affect the performance of your Blu-ray drive.
Solution++'''''Solution: Broken Sensor BoardBoard'''''++
Only the KEM-400 optical drives have IR sensors for discerning when discs are inserted into the Blu-ray drive. If your IR Sensor is no longer working, you can attempt to replace it, however, it will in no way affect the performance of your Blu-ray drive.
Solution++'''''Solution: Faulty Control Board.Board'''''++
Solution++'''''Solution: Faulty Control Board.Board'''''++
If you have judged that the Control Board is no longer functioning properly, then you will likely need to send your PlayStation to Sony. The Control Board is paired to the Motherboard and will only work with its original partner board.
Solution++'''''Solution: Your done! done!'''''++
Solution++'''''Solution: Your done! done!'''''++
If everything is working great, then you no longer need this troubleshooting guide. Congratulations!
Solution++'''''Solution: Faulty LensLens'''''++
Solution++'''''Solution: Faulty LensLens'''''++
Being a very fragile piece of technology, it is easy for the lens to break. Both types of Blu-ray drives have a specific lens that will only work with that type of drive. Depending on which type of drive you have, follow this guide (KEM-400) or this guide (KEM-410)d to replace the laser
== PS3 Freezes ==

To undo the changes made by this version, click 'Revert Changes' to edit the previous version, then save the old text.

Revert Changes