PS3 optical drive on the fritz.

[Parkway91]

Hi guys, been a while but I have a quite peeving issue with my fat PS3. It is the very first model to come out, the 20GB version. The optical drive has decided to stop working, yesterday I opened it up and attempted to clean the lens, with no avail. Everything else on the PS3 works fine. I was wondering if people had any other options I could try before seeking out replacement parts.

It still eats and ejects disks normally, but when a disk is loaded in the blue light flashes about 3 times and then nothing. Doesn't even sound like the drive kicks in.

Any help would be great.

 

[SnowyGamester]

Unfortunately there is no other option. Find out the exact model of your PS3 and track down a replacement laser assembly on eBay or the like (it has to be the same one since they aren't all identical even within the same form factor if I recall correctly). Get one that has the required screwdrivers included if possible since the outside screws aren't standard phillips head (or they weren't on the one I opened up). The installation procedure is pretty straight forward and there are plenty of demonstration videos on YouTube showing how to do it though the process will vary slightly depending on the exact model. I did it once without any trouble though to be fair I know my way around the inside of a computer which probably made it easier.