PC Engine CD-ROM2 IFU issue (new owner)

[Blackshear]

Hello all,

Registered hoping to get some advice, new pce owner here - I recently came across an pce briefcase setup at a gaming convention..  I have been wanting one forever so snatched it up excitedly.

Short version -
I'm able to get my pce briefcase system to intermittently work as a cd player only with the power off.

Long version -
I get the unit home last Sunday, power it on, press run and the CD never spins.  I've tried a couple burned games (burned at 1x speed) and some music cds and would get nothing but an intermittent clicking noise.

A couple days later I check the unit out again, I noticed in the middle of the cd lid inside, the part I would best describe as an upper spindle (since I lack the actual term) seems very loose.. I'm not sure if this is normal - I moved it around gently and aligned the center of it with the bottom spindle the best I could, closed the lid very slowly and I was able to get the unit to play as a cd player with the power off only, but it takes holding the play button down for 2-3 seconds.. if I power the unit on and press run - the cd will never spin.  It usually takes fiddling with the top spindle part more than once before getting a disk to play just as a music cd upon swapping a disk.

I was also able to replicate the CD player function on a burned game disk (with the power off).. I can hear the game sound but when I turn the system on and press run it never spins.

I have an official game disk on order that should arrive saturday I will test out.

I was told by the seller the system has been recapped and refurbished.   The seller has also told me he will take care of it, but I wanted to check here first to see if anyone had any easy suggestions that might get the system going to avoid me shipping it and waiting.

any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!

[crans]

when you get your cd to play can you play all tracks or just 1-2?

[Keith Courage]

The middle part on the top inside of the drive is supposed to be loose. That is the magnet that holds CDs down when spinning.

Check that your contacts are not dirty. Meaning clean the contacts on the CD system card and also the contacts on the rear of the CD drive itself. Use an old tooth brush and some rubbing alcohol.

Either or can cause your issue. A problem with the IFU or CD drive can also have the same symptoms but usually its dirty contacts.

[thesteve]

a quick test is to press run (to start disc) with the lid open on the CD
it should tell you to close cover (if not its having a communication issue)

[Blackshear]

thanks for the replies -

-it does say to close the disc tray with the lid open on the cd tray

-when used as a cd player in off mode (have to hold the play button down a couple 2-3 seconds it seems) all tracks on a music cd can be played

-I just tried cleaning the contacts on the 3.0 card and on the back of the cd drive.. no luck..

the drive just clicks intermittently

[thesteve]

sounds like a gear issue

[ishiyakazuo]

What power supply are you using to power it?  As I recall, it needs at least 1.5A (maybe 1450mA?)

[Blackshear]

The power supply is 1.5a

I just tried cleaning the hucard and cd drive contacts on the back of the drive again and all I get now is a pure yellow screen... no "pres run screen"

[Keith Courage]

Do regular Hu card games work fine?

Sounds like a Hu card contact issue or a bad CD system card. I'd clean out the hu card slot by applying som rubbing alcohol to a hu card and insert it in the system over and over for a bit. Hopefully that gets the card working again.

Unfortunately the problem could be an internal issue but try the easier stuff first.

[Blackshear]

Ok cleaning the card again and slot got it back like it was with the run screen appearing at least - thanks.

I'm gonna go ahead and ship the unit back to the seller to repair since could never get a game to work in the cd drive - I had an official game disk come in and had the same problem.

thanks for the responses

Do regular Hu card games work fine?

Sounds like a Hu card contact issue or a bad CD system card. I'd clean out the hu card slot by applying som rubbing alcohol to a hu card and insert it in the system over and over for a bit. Hopefully that gets the card working again.

Unfortunately the problem could be an internal issue but try the easier stuff first.