PS3 Any way to save the Blu-Ray disc drive once the PS3 cannot access apps?

[Anton11]

I first wish to apologize, as I unfortunately made a post about this before in "General Discussion" without realizing the existence of a specific Help & Support section in the forums.

My CECH-2001A PS3 gets stuck on a black screen when trying to leave the XMB menu, such as when accessing the PSN, any digital game, etc. The cause is definitely the Blu-Ray disc drive but before I resort to buying a replacement drive, I came across a forum post from 5 years ago where someone had the same issue but managed to solve it by opening up the console and manually set the drive on "empty mode". Sadly the post didn't elaborate further than that.

I'm seeking clarifications on what it actually means to physically set the drive on "empty mode" so I can try this myself. I tried asking the user directly but he/she can't remember the details because of how long ago it was.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[GuilloteTesla]

Check this video:

At least, it's using the same BD drive as yours.

 

[Anton11]

Check this video:

At least, it's using the same BD drive as yours.

Followed the video as close as I could, but still have the same result. All apps lead to a black screen and disc drive still won't pull in physical discs when placed in front of it.

If I'm not mistaken, the video is for fixing drives that simply have discs stuck inside them, while mine is experiencing the black screen thing. The uploader didn't talk about "empty mode" but I'm starting to think that's not the proper name of the procedure I read about on reddit.

 

[Coro]

check to be sure that power and data cable to disc drive are properly connected. otherwise the drive may be bad (new drive would need to be remarried).

if it is bad, you can try to install nobd firmware. nobd is limited, but psn games should work.

also, if the drive is bad, you will have bootloop if you try to install an non-nobd firmware.

 

[Anton11]

check to be sure that power and data cable to disc drive are properly connected. otherwise the drive may be bad (new drive would need to be remarried).

Which data cable would that be? Is it the one on the outside on top of the drive's metal casing?

If my console turns on by itself when merely placing a disc in close proximity to the drive's entrance, I assume that means its power cable is ok?

 

[Coro]

Is it the one on the outside on top of the drive's metal casing?

i'm not sure. sometimes they appear to be well connectd but are not. both cables must be connected or the ps3 will think that is broken even if iti s not.

If my console turns on by itself when merely placing a disc in close proximity to the drive's entrance, I assume that means its power cable is ok?

yes...and i assume probably a sign that the data cable is working too.

 

[GuilloteTesla]

Followed the video as close as I could, but still have the same result. All apps lead to a black screen and disc drive still won't pull in physical discs when placed in front of it.

If you've followed the video step by step, then you should have your drive ready to take new discs in.

It's not just to remove stuck discs, but to reconfigure the drive to be in "no disc" position.

 

[Anton11]

If you've followed the video step by step, then you should have your drive ready to take new discs in.

It's not just to remove stuck discs, but to reconfigure the drive to be in "no disc" position.

I recently got ahold of two slim Blu ray drives, and after switching my original's bottom pcb to one of the others, I still got the same result. PS3 turns on when discs are placed in front of the drive, but doesn't suck in the discs on its own (I would need to push it in) and all apps trigger a black screen. I'm gonna switch the board to the other Blu Ray drive I got ahold of and see if the same thing happens. If that's the case, then either all three drives are bad, or my original's pcb is dead.

 

[Coro]

I recently got ahold of two slim Blu ray drives, and after switching my original's bottom pcb to one of the others, I still got the same result. PS3 turns on when discs are placed in front of the drive, but doesn't suck in the discs on its own (I would need to push it in) and all apps trigger a black screen. I'm gonna switch the board to the other Blu Ray drive I got ahold of and see if the same thing happens. If that's the case, then either all three drives are bad, or my original's pcb is dead.

you need to remarry after changing the drive/board or else it will still blackscreen.

 

[Anton11]

you need to remarry after changing the drive/board or else it will still blackscreen.

If I understood correctly the guide on how to remarry (it's on reddit but can't link it here for some reason), it requires CFW when using an entirely new motherboard. I'm still using my original motherboard and switching it to other drives, which is supposed to be a process of merely making sure all the ribbon cables and stuff are properly attached no?

The guide also mentions that if the PS3 sucks in the disc and nothing pops up on screen, that's a confirmation of a dead motherboard. So far I haven't been able to make either drives pull in discs.

 

[Anton11]

After switching around three motherboards back and forth between two Blu-ray drives, one of them suddenly began to pull in discs. This drive does not have my console's original BR motherboard unfortunately, but I'm just glad something different happened for once.

All other attempts were not pulling in discs even when the white piece of plastic was not in the way (the thing that usually prevents discs from going in or out). Not sure if I simply did something different or if the other two boards (my PS3's original one included) are dead. Will need to verify this before I install CFW to remarry the one that works.