So my PS3 might be killing my DVDs

[UnclePhil]

I've owned a PS3 Super Slim for about 3-4 years now.

Recently I put a DVD in there, clean, mint out of the package. It literally went straight from the case into the machine, nowhere else. I was playing it this morning and started hearing that telltale reading noise, with the machine struggling harder and harder to read the disc. Eventually playback came to a halt. There was no reviving it.

Pulled out the disc, looked at the recording surface. It was covered in scratches and abrasions. I put in another never-before-read, mint disc. Heard an awful grinding sound at boot up. As the new disc played, I heard more bouts of grinding and struggling. I took it out and sure enough, there were scratches and abrasions forming on this brand new, virgin disc.

My first instinct was to go to the Internet for help, whereupon reading through threads started by OPs with the same issue, discovered that Sony Ponys, may, in fact, be even more insufferable than Apple cultists. "PS3s don't scratch discs, stupid!" "Hur hur, sounds like we got a Nintendo or Microsoft fanboy spreading LIES."

So I guess my question is - well first of all, do I even have a warranty left on this thing? Does Sony even manufacture PS3s anymore? If not, are there places I can take the machine to get it taken apart and diagnosed?

:powerlevel:, TLDR, all that, but I like you guys better than other forums plagued by assholes.

 

[Vorhtbame]

I have been seeing a lot of discs in general coming out of my machine, but I thought it was my kids being careless. I may have to try to test it with a new disc, since you bring up the possibility.

I don't think the warranties would still be valid.

Geek Squad might handle repairs if you want, but it looks like Sony will also handle it.

 

[Chaos Theorist]

Sounds like the disc mechanism is falling apart, I saw happen alot with PS2s.

 

[UnclePhil]

Yeah, I was wondering if this might be an issue exclusive to DVDs or if it also extends to Blu-ray discs and PS3 software. I understand Blu-rays are a lot more durable with the coating they have. So maybe I ought to keep DVDs out of the machine since it's literally eating them like an old VCR would chew tapes.

If it's the disc mechanism I'll need to find someone to rebuild or replace it. I went to the Sony repair site and they want my original date of purchase from the receipt before they start processing a ticket...which is like asking to show them my placenta.

 

[Red Hood]

Ironically I think it was DVDs that did in the laser on my first PS2 slim.

 

[DeadwastePrime]

have you tried blowing into the cartridge?

 

[Maggots on a Train v2]

Are the scratches going in a circle? Several of my portable CD players slowly died, and started smashing part of the head into into the disc as it played.

 

[Doc Cassidy]

Dude that's bullshit. Playstations don't scratch disks so you're either lying or an idiot that doesn't know how to insert a disk properly. Are you sure that you didn't put it in an XBone? Don't blame your own incompetence on a quality product. How much did Microsoft pay you to slander Sony???

 

[Vilnus Asuncion]

F

 

[Maggots on a Train v2]

You can probably get a secondhand "refurbished" drive off ebay for a few bucks. But I admit I don't know if there would be DRM/serial number fuckery.

 

[The Fool]

maybe buy a real DVD player

or a LaserDisc

 

[Trasha Pay That A$$]

DVDs are so last century. Your PS3 is really doing you a favor here.

 

[UnclePhil]

Are the scratches going in a circle? Several of my portable CD players slowly died, and started smashing part of the head into into the disc as it played.

Yeah, the damage is going in a circle, starting from the outer edges and moving toward the center. There is at least one tiny odd-shaped mark (like a horse shoe) that isn't deep enough to be felt when touched but looks like it would be a dealbreaker.

 

[DC 740]

Got a DVD drive? Have a minute to set up Plex? How big is your hard drive(s)?

Point I'm making is maybe look in to setting up a local server to play back videos. PS3 has Plex so your console wouldn't go completely to waste. Plus it's fun! If your brain is like mine anyway.

 

[Nazi vegeta]

people who modded their ps3 dont have this problem, since they play stff from the hdd.

It's always the best thing to do if you want your consoles with optical drives to last long.

 

[Piss Clam]

Take your dvd's to a local video shop. They will have a buffer that will clear the scratches. If they charge you more than five bucks then find another place.

I had this problem myself with an xbox360 that I moved while the dvd was spinning and it scratched the dvd with circular lines. Trust me the buffer will fix your dvd's.


As far as the ps3. They are so cheap now, just buy another one, but my main point is you can fix your dvd's.

 

[Nick Gars]

Shoot that fucker, it violated the NAP.

 

[UnclePhil]

Well, I ended up collecting together a bunch of stuff, my Wii, GameCube, my entire software library for those as well as all my PS3 games. Took them to GameStop for a massive trade-in and put the store credit toward getting a PS4.

So really, the machine starting to die turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It gave me an excuse to clean out my hoard pile and put it toward something new. I guess if I want those PS3 titles again I can always get the HD remaster versions later on.

Too bad there isn't a PS4 upgrade of Lollipop Chainsaw, though. Or Red Dead Redemption. Sucks, but the good ended up outweighing the bad in this case.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

Did you check what your games went for on eBay or something? Sometimes the most unexpected thing is worth quite a lot of money or at least more than what Gamestop offers(making bundles on eBay or something, put in 3 good titles, 2 not so good, put a reasonable price on that 5 game bundle and people are likely to pick it up).

 

[Sigma]

Never buy Super Slims. They suck and can't even be hacked properly.