Playstation 2 Magic 2/3 troubleshooting guide...
~MAGIC 2/3 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE~
Basic Functions of the Magic 2/3, works like this:
- It sends the SCEx code through the S wire connection used for booting PS1 games
- It monitors whether you've pressed RESET once or twice through RESET connection
- It sends data to the disk controller through points B through I and timed by A
- It patches the BIOS and manages the PS1 frame rate through points M through V and timed by R
- It recognizes the disk type from the signal supplied by W
Pin Behavior:
- S sends SCEx pulses from 3.3v to 0v twice when a disk has just been put in
- RESET sits at 3.3v and pulses to 0v following the RESET signal
- A strobes on a “sample now” basis for B through I on the CD/DVD Controller
- R strobes on a “sample now” basis for M through V on the BIOS chip
- W goes low on RESET in two steps 3.3v to 1v to 0v (This Informs Magic 2/3 of the disk type)
Tools needed:
To diagnose a incorrect installation, you will need a 8X magnifying glass to identify bridged pins or small solder spots. Solder balls behind the BIOS or CD/DVD Controller legs are a common problem. A multi-meter helps also to check continuity between pin and pad on the Magic 2/3. Sometimes the lacquer hasn't been adequately removed (esp. S SCEx) so a continuity check helps.
Clicking Laser - not booting
The laser apparently cannot see a good eye pattern - it apparently cannot focus on the groove. Assuming that the laser lens is clean and the laser diode is not weak, then it is possible that the CD/DVD Controller is unable to report having seen a good eye pattern. Check connections A through I for bridges.
A sensible check would be to boot the PS2 with no disk inserted. This will bring up the browser. Select "browser" and "no data" displayed. Now insert a disk for example a DVD movie and wait to see if the laser unit recognizes the disk as a Video. If it does, you will see "VIDEO DVD" at the upper right corner of the screen. This demonstrates that the unit can recognize a disk which is a good indicator that the CD/DVD Controller is probably not bridged.
Perform this check:
- With the modchip in and if it doesn't work ...
- Check it with the modchip fully removed
Blank Screen at Power On
If the screen is black, then some wires likely got snagged when you put the PS2 back together and possibly a fuse has blown (one of those little square chips with a number on them). Wires or ribbon cables may have been caught in the screws when re-assembling the PS2.
Assuming the electrons were whirling initially, this is usually a mis-install on the BIOS, often MNOP. But it could also be"A-I" points should be checked & solder balls suspected.
Also it is possible that the Magic 2/3 is grounding on the metal case or the wires are not lying flat on the motherboard; and under compression the stripped wire ends touch (to much stripped wire).
If you have a memory card inserted, try removing it. Some people have had black screen issues when their memory card was inserted (see below).
If the black screen is accompanied by one or both of no sound/disk won't spin, then check that the Magic 2/3 is fully seated on insulating tape.
Check fuses, especially the one located at PS11. Suspect nicked or snagged flat ribbon cables or solder/metal shards.
Blank Screen at Power On - Blue Light Pulsing
Symptoms usually follow this description. RESET button does not switch on but when EJECT is pressed, the green light comes on. On switching on, however, the screen remains blank but the blue light pulses. The tray will not eject and there is no means for shutdown other than the switch on the back.
Blank Screen - no graphics when booting
It is assumed that the whirling electrons appear when the PS2 is switched on. This problem is indicative of an issue with the BIOS which configures the CD/DVD Controller for the right disk bit-stream protocol (it determine the difference between the various types of permitted disk). If the protocol has not been set no display is possible.
Check that nothing is bridged on the BIOS, wires M through V.
Disk Reading on Browser Screen or clicking sounds
The disk is seen (groove is found and focus established) and the PS2 has been able to identify it as a valid disk type (Audio/DVD/PS1/PS2) but cannot do anything more with the disk or takes ages to load.
This could be a laser related issue (clean the lens and/or the disk) or replace the laser itself.
If the drive seems to load sluggishly (like it seems not to have enough power which is not the case), particularly in PS2 mode, check wire S SCEx.
Power cables should be at least 26 awg and GND is advised to be 22 awg as it carries ALL the current. GND should be as short as possible - less than 1.5 inches.
No Data - displayed on Browser Screen and/or Clicking sounds
The disk was NOT seen (groove was not found nor focus established). In this situation nothing will happen with the particular game. This is almost certainly a laser or media related issue that might be resolved by:
Cleaning the lens with a lens cleaning CD
Adjusting Laser Azimuth (see below**)
Recalibrating the laser diode down by 10% to increase power to the laser
Using different media/burn speed. **
The clicking sound is often assumed to be the lens trying to focus. The clicking to which this article refers is akin to a short dull thunk, caused by the laser sled being driven past the micro-switch that should detect this and which should then stop the track motor.
On PS2 pre-v5, the older the PS2, the more likely it would be that there has been laser degradation; clean the lens with a lens cleaning CD.
On v5/v6, hope that the lens needs cleaning or it's a media issue.
**On v7, there is a well reported history of 1 in 5 units being very fussy on the laser, with DVD-R.
The solution in nearly every case has been:
Adjust the laser azimuth, combined with use of Traxdata DVD-R media
The laser azimuth adjustment is about the default height from and parallelism of the lens to the disk surface. If set too low, then, particularly if the rails on which the sled runs aren't parallel with the disk (White Cog Adjustment), the lens can collide with the disk. Laser Azimuth is separately described in the FAQ, but basically:
If the laser unit sled is 'slack' when bearing on the rails, it needs adjusting
You would tighten the azimuth screw that bears on the rails & slacken off when tight. You would boot a Traxdata DVD-R, adjusting till it works
DVD Movies don't boot/or Movies Choppy
Ditto as for PS1 games. If booting an import movie with GS2/AR2 v2, remember to boot GS2/AR2 with the PS1 method above so as to bypass what the chip would otherwise do for PS2 games.
If movies are choppy, then it is most likely that there is DC on the SCEx line which needs to be removed. That DC is misread as a SCEx interrupt, which triggers PS2 code and disk seek activity, seriously interrupting movie play. To overcome this, fit a 1 uF 50V polarized capacitor (Tantalum) between the S/SCEx points on the chip and the S/SCEx points on the PS2 motherboard. Orientation is + towards the chip, - towards the motherboard. This can be done either by cutting the wire and soldering the capacitor in the middle and insulating all bar wire, or putting the capacitor at one end..
No apparent Disk activity
This is an indication that instructions from the BIOS to the disk drive firmware might not have been received.
Suspect in the first instance the ribbon cables going to the disk drive. They have the control signals.
Then suspect your BIOS connections M through V.
Power/GND cables should be at least 26 awg and GND is advised to be 26 awg as it carries ALL the current. GND should be as short as possible less than 1.5 inches.
There is an outside chance that the servo ICs driving the magnetos on the lens have overheated because they have been running for more than 20 minutes without conducting the heat away.
PS1 games don't boot
Assuming the games are known previously to boot, then assure your Boot Method:
All cases: If playing a PS1 game immediately after a PS2 game, switch off to STANDBY mode in order to clear PS2 mode.
1. Magic 2/3 with the disk in the drive, press and hold RESET from STANDBY until the blue EJECT light comes on.
The game will boot if there is nothing else wrong.
If it still doesn't work, check wires S and RESET.
PS1 games boot but not PS2 backups
Assuming the games are known to boot, with the disk in the drive, tap RESET from STANDBY mode twice. The game will boot if there is nothing else wrong.
If it still doesn't work, check wires in this order H and I make sure you haven't switched them, then RESET, W, A through I.
PS2 backups/imports (CD-R/DVD-R) won't boot or Red Screen Displays
Disk was seen (groove found & focused) but PS2 was unable to identify it as valid disk type (Audio/DVD/PS1/PS2). Note that if the groove had not been found, the Browser would have displayed No Data.
If it's all backups that won't boot, first suspect is B C, then try cleaning the laser lens with a cleaning CD. If it's just DVD-Rs that won't boot, suspect wires E, R, W or the DVD laser diode (which may need recalibration). Laser Azimuth might also need adjusting.
Then suspect a loose wire, solder bridges or solder balls. If you can't see bridges/balls, then it's the hard way. If the BIOS wires are attached, detach them from the BIOS & clean up. Boot a backup using AR2/GS2. If it works, A-I are OK; the BIOS was the problem. (You can try this with the BIOS wires still attached but if it doesn¡¦t work, you¡¦ll have to take the BIOS wires off).
When you can boot backups (including DVD-R) with AR2/GS2, carefully re-attach the BIOS wires, MNOP QTUV RW. Note that R and/or W may be located off the BIOS chip on certain PS2 models. Then try direct booting of backups and/or imports.
PS2 won't boot if Memory Card is in
But you can reinsert the memory card after booting. This might be accompanied by a loss of controller vibration. Examine fuse at PS7 marked with the number 57.
Red Screen Displays
The disk is seen (groove is found and focus established) but the PS2 has been unable to identify it as a valid disk type (Audio/DVD/PS1/PS2).
This can either be a laser problem (clean the lens and/or the disk) or, more likely, S or A through I are possibly incorrectly installed, also check wire W a common problem.
It is also possible that your BIOS wires are too long. They should be less than 4 inches.
Likewise your GROUND wire might be too long - it should be less than 1.5 inches.
Also check the installation of BIOS points M N O P.
If all else fails and it still doesn't work ...
Back out of your installation, get the PS2 under control into "normal condition" and begin again.
