My PS2 wouldn't read discs when I bought it from someone but after adjusting the laser it now only reads select games. It will play Medal of Honor without problems but Socom 2 will noly load for a second and most games it gives the D.R.E. message. Another thing is it makes a weird grinding sound when the tray comes out and when it's reading a disc. Does this meanI'll need a new laser or is it a possible fix?

This is the most common problem with the PS2 (if it is not a slim version). Your laser should be fine, depending on the specifics you just need to either A: Clean laser eye/disk pad ring B: Grease the laser tracks C: Strenthen the magnet D: Ajust the voltage. All Smple except for the last option. First try to see if the bottom of the game it will play is a different color than the game it will not play. Next try a dvd and cd. If if will play one and not the other than the problem is your magnet. If it is completly random what disks it will play either the disks are in extremly bad codition (which you can fix witha cloth and toothpaste) or the system needs cleaning and greasing. The folowing is a step by step on how to do this: (These steps will also make the system faster and or more powerful).

A: Cleaning Laser Eye / Disk pad ring. First remove the top of the housing compartment then on the right side will be the disk drive. Depending on your version there will be anywhere from 2-8 screws holding it on and 1 or 2 plastic peices you might need to play around with. Once the disk drive cover is removed you should find the laser eye. Get a Q-tip and some rubbing alcohol (do not use windex!). Turn the rubbing alcohol unside down and then turn it back over and remove the cap. There should be enough rubbing alcohol and the inside of the cap for what needs to be done. Rub the q-tip around the inside of the cap and then gently clean the laser eye.(it goes much easier if you have a magnifying glass so you can see what you are doing). Then withanother q-tip ( a dry one) rub clean the rubber disk pad ring that the disk sits on (this is easy to find). As long as you got this far try step B too.

B: Greaseing the laser's tracks. The laser rides a two metal bars. These need to be well lubricated inorder to load the games properly. First check to see it there is already grease in place. If so skip this step. If there is not or it is dusty and dirty or very litte wipe the rails clean witha dry q-tip. Then get a very small amount of white litium grease (vaseline will work but it attraks dust which means it will need to be replaced every year or two) on a q-tip and rub it on the rails (there should be enough to where you can see it).

C: Strengthening the Magnet. Even if this is not the problem it will make the games load much faster. When building the PS2s some of the older ones had extremly weak magnets (it is what holds the disk steady while it is spinning). The magney can be found on top of the disk tray cover. It is the gray part in the middle of the large white circle. Find an old thin refrigerator magnet (like the ones bussinesses give out) and cut out a peice big enough to fit inside it. It is that simple. No glue or tape.

I would not reccomend a non-professional to ajust the voltage or ajust the disk angle.
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