Super CDROM2 Clicking noise

[famiac]

Hey guys

My SCDROM2 was working just fine before i left the state. Now that i'm back home, i tried loading a backup CD-R, and the game fails to load/takes an incredibly long time. The drive keeps making a clicking sound. I could upload a video if this is an uncommon problem.

I was wondering if anybody has experienced this before and/or knows what is going on.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Vimtoman]

If it hasn't had a recap, recap it and clean the pcb prior to putting the new ones on.

[famiac]

Both of those things have been done

[schweaty]

I'm guessing the clicking is the laser moving.  It probably needs pot adjustment

[BlueBMW]

Has it played CDRs ok in the past?

[Keith Courage]

4 possibilities.

1. the lens needs adjustment.
2. the main drive gear for the cd drive has gone bad. Yes this can happen on super cd rom 2 drives as well.
3. you are possibly using cd-r media that the CD Drive does not like. what brand are they?
4. the image that you made your burn from was bad.

[SegaSonic91]

I would recommend only using high quality Taiyou Yuden brand CD-R's, that is all I use for my back-ups, now.  The PCE family of CD-ROM2 systems are not as picky as my JP MCD1 systems, but I notice no difference between originals and said back-ups, unlike cheap CD-Rs I used in the past.  I had problems getting TDK and Verbatim discs to load on the MCD systems, but TY discs play perfectly.

In regards to the SCD, is it wise to invest in a gear for it?  I have seen them for sale but had no idea if they are a big problem like the CD-ROM2's Middle gear.

[Keith Courage]

Not as common of a problem as the CD-roms2 middle gear but I've still come across some with broken teeth.

[famiac]

I'm using Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs burned at 4x speed with a plexwriter drive.

What's the best way to check for gear damage?

[Keith Courage]

unfortunately you have to open up the system to see if the gear has any teeth missing. however, if you can play regular CD game without any issues then I'm sure the gear itself is still fine.

just for the sake of trying go ahead and burn a disk using some type of more cheap generic media.

I've come across a few PC Engine duo systems now that really dislike expensive cd-r discs. What ends up working on those systems is cheaper Sony, TDK, and verbatim discs. Should be able to purchase these at any Best Buy.

[SegaSonic91]

Heh, that's so weird that you've had DUO's that do not like the good CD-R quality.  Is that only the DUO?  Or R and RX, too?  If only the DUO, is it US and JP models or only one of the two?  Sorry for all the questions, I will keep this in mind once I test out the DUO I have at the moment.

[thesteve]

if its any duo, then its all of them as they use the same drive
i have had some very picky lasers in duo but replacing them solves it

[famiac]

Hm ok. I'll try using a different cd. I'm just using imgburn to burn at 4x speed. Do you recommend a different program?

[Keith Courage]

Imgburn should be fine. Personally I like using Alcohol 120%.

if using a different type of media yields the same results than either you may need a new lens or your current lens might need some potentiometer adjustment.

[lukemccreanor]

My super cd rom does exactly the same thing with cd-r but plays originals fine. mine hasn't been re capped or had a laser swap\pot adjustment as i cant find anyone in the uk who could do either. I did find by accident that if i turn my system upside down it will play any backup burnt on any brand of media i throw at it. it'd be interesting to know if yours works upside down.

[SegaSonic91]

The "upside down" trick makes me think it needs a new laser.  That exactly how my PS2 is with CD-R media now.  It plays originals fine, but needs to be upside down to read CD-Rs.  I do not have to use a CD-R to boot my HDD anymore, thankfully, but I will replace the laser eventually.

[famiac]

huh.. interesting.

Yeah my scdr2 can play audio cds perfectly

if it needs a new laser, won't i have to adjust the pots?

really not keen on doing that, since it's difficult on the super cd rom2

EDIT: LOL it works perfectly when upside down. Would a pot adjustment fix this, or is it time for a new laser?

[schweaty]

that is usually pot adjustment

[famiac]

It does play original games without any problems.

[famiac]

Hey guys. Sorry I've been gone for so long. I was out of the country over the summer.

I replaced the laser today and now discs won't spin at all. How do I go about adjusting the pots? I saw a guide for the other CD units, but I'm not sure if they apply to this one.

EDIT: Some additional information

During the swap, one of the wires on the laser connector broke, but I soldered it back. I don't know if any other wires may have broken

When I put in a disc and hit run, the laser as well as the busy LED turn on, but the motor does not move the laser and the disc does not spin. Additionally, if i open and close the lid, then hit run, the laser stops turning on and so does the busy light.

[thesteve]

Well if nothing's moving check your wiring

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[famiac]

Will do. I don't have a multimeter at my apartment but I will check it tomorrow.

Edit: the motor power cable wasn't fully plugged in. Now the laser will move and attempt to focus, but the disc still doesn't spin.
The motor is direct drive, so it's not a gear problem.
I'm starting to think the motor went bad. I'll have to check the voltage lines first.

Edit 2: I checked the voltage lines on the motor, and they're at 0. Could i have fried something with static charge?

[BlueBMW]

Possible but consider this:

Before the motor will attempt to spin a disc the laser has to basically see a reflection.  The laser should jog to center and activate.  If it sees a reflection (ie a disc) then it will try and spin the disc and then move to read the TOC.  If its not even seeing the disc, it wont run the motor.

[famiac]

oh ok. I'll take a look at your pot adjustment guide

EDIT: No amount of adjusting VR102 or VR104 is getting the CD to spin