Playstation 2 - won't play PSOne games

[alunrw]

Anyone help please, my daughters PS2 has always previously played PSone games without any problem (as they should) ,but fairly recently it "refused" to read the disc on one or two games but now this seems to apply to all psOne games ? these are all legitimate shop bought discs and no chipping or any modifications to the PS2 ??
Theres no problem at all with PS2 games thoght - any ideas please??

[Mobius1]

This is a common problem with PS2 consoles and often a sign that the disc drive in them is beginning to fail. Strangely, this often manifests itself in the console's refusal to properly play CD-ROM based games. These include some PS2 games (ones with purple/blue coloured data sides) and all PSone games.

Since most PS2 games now ship on DVD-ROM discs, this will probably be the reason that you're only having trouble playing PSone games. It's a strange problem, because you'd think reading a DVD - a more advanced and complex media format than a CD - would be more difficult for a failing drive, but apparently it's not quite as simple as that.

You could try using a DVD or CD lens cleaner, but being somebody who frequents the official PlayStation forums quite a lot, it's definitely a common problem that lots of people have and you'll more than likely have to replace the console or have it repaired.

[alunrw]

Thanks Mobius1, appreciate the response, ive tried the lens cleaning etc. so it's probably "on it's way out".
Thanks anyway, at least I now understand why.

[Mobius1]

No problem. I know how frustrating it is too as it happened to the last PS2 I had a few years ago. Since then I've always used my little PSone to play PlayStation games, just so I don't wear the drive out.

Hopefully the PS3 will be a little more hardy to simple things like being used, but I'm not going to hold my breath! :)

[Mattk]

Its more likely a sign that the laser is failing as this is far more common.

[alunrw]

Thanks again for the replies, it makes a sort of grinding sound on Psone games when you insert them, almost like theyre skidding, but PS2 games and DVDs play with no problem at all - ill see if its worth picking up a cheap ps1 for her somewhere shes only 6 and theyre the disney type games, so no point splashing out just yet on a newer one :-)