PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?

[nam9]

Hi!

Picked up a briefcase with CD-ROM2 unit in great condition recently. Unit boots with my Core 2 unit (PC displayed), but nothing else happens. The unit is silent, the laser is positioned at the rear of the track and doesn't move, the CD doesn't spin...

I have yet to open it up, so... any thoughts?

If it was an issue with the middle gear - would I not expect to hear something?

Any suggestions on EU based members who may offer repairs?
I have seen wolfman recommended under other topics...

Thanks in advance! Neil

[wildfruit]

Welcome! If you are in France try otakus store. If not, they say they don't do mod work but if you ask nicely they might do. I got my briefcase from them rgb modded and recapped / regeared. Works decent.
Edit : http://www.otakus-store.net/en/

[nam9]

Thanks for the heads-up. I've seen their store before. Were prices reasonable?

[wildfruit]

Prices are ok if you're paying with £ because rate is good. A little expensive in € but if you take into account the shipping and possible customs from outside EU if you bought from US or JP not too bad. I got my briefcase for under £200

[nam9]

Well, i opened it up - nothing looks out of the ordinary.
2nd cog is yellowed as expected, but looks fully intact.
I slid the laser across into the centre, but still nothing when all put back together...

[Ergot_Cholera]

Same as most of these, capacitor replacement.

[nam9]

Ok, cheers for the info. A full re-cap may be beyond my current soldering skills.. Any recommendation of members here offering such services?

[wilykat]

Would help to know what country you live in.  Shipping internationally can get pricey and custom taxes may get applied both ways.

[pnauts]

cleaning and put new grease perhaps.
The Flat Ribbon is not inverted if the console was ever unmounted ?

[Valkyrie]

I had the same issue with mine a while back.  The gear looked fine (though discolored), but it wouldn't move the laser.  But the weird thing was, if I would load it up and let it sit at the 'just a moment' screen for something like 30 minutes, it would suddenly start to work and load the game normally.
But alas, it didn't work for very long.  A week later, it stopped working when the gear finally broke entirely.  I got it replaced, and it's been running great ever since.

[nam9]

Would help to know what country you live in.  Shipping internationally can get pricey and custom taxes may get applied both ways.

Norway myself - Europe is usually expensive enough for shipping, and state-side kills...

[Bloufo]

Open up your system.
Very carefully nudge that middle gear until you've got it to move.
Close her up and test your unit.

[nam9]

Nope. I've slid the laser from the centre to the outer edge so nothing has seized up. The unit doesn't sound like its even trying. I've checked the ribbon cables too and they look to be in the correct orientation...?

[Bloufo]

There's a ground strip on one of the ribbon cables.
If it's loose and makes contact to any part of the motherboard then that can cause the CD player to not spin up.
Check that.

[thesteve]

did the laser move back to center?
if not its the stuck gear