PC Engine Duo won't play discs

[Dazz]

Someone is selling a Duo System that plays HuCARDs just fine, but mysteriously stopped giving an option to play CD ROMs. Is this an easy fix or should i just stay clear.

[Necromancer]

What do you mean by "stopped giving an option to play CD ROMs"?  If you mean that the system card screen never appears and it always tries to boot a HuCard, then the switch that detects HuCards might be wonky (at least I think there's a switch in there); either the switch needs fixing or you can bypass the Duo's internal card by inserting a system card.  If you mean that the system card screen appears but it can't read discs and keeps telling you to 'Reset Disc', then it's hard to tell what's wrong.  The laser might be out too far and just needs to be manually pushed back; the laser might be out of adjustment and needs a little pot fiddling; the laser might be shot; etc.  Most likely it's a relatively easy fix, so if it's cheap enough and you're willing (and able) to fix 'er up, then I say go for it.

[Dazz]

With a disc in the system, the screen never prompts to load it.

[agt_dale_cooper]

I bought this, actually, and it's case is a little weird.  I'd appreciate any comments from the experienced field.
Here's what I've done:
1)  Plugged in, tested.  Screen says "Please wait a moment..." after hitting "Run".  Disc does NOT move on spindle.  Nothing happens, just hangs at "Please wait a moment..."
2)  Came with laser pickup.  Installed laser pickup into other PCE Duo I'm working on that has low/no audio.  Pickup worked fine after proper tuning (with grey screw on pickup), but Duo still has no audio.  [This rules out the laser pickup being the culprit for me...]
3)  Removed this entire now-tuned assembly to the unit that doesn't play at all.  In theory, these lasers should be directly interchangeable.  NOTHING happens (screen says "Please wait a moment..." after hitting "Run".  Disc does NOT move on spindle.), just as happened before.
4)  Removed assembly from non-playing unit, put into no-audio unit.  Assembly/pickup combination work fine after tuning.  Replaced in original unit, still no worky.

Soooo, there appears to be something amiss on the board.  Questions:
1)  Anybody ever experience a unit with similar problem?
2)  What was solution?  Is cap replacement going to come into play here?
3)  Anybody got a cap-specific short cut if so?  [This would enable me to test before complete cap replacement.....I bought this board hoping to help me with other no-audio board, but it hasn't happened...RRRR!]
4)  Is this just a laser tuning issue?  Does each board have it's own specific read spot?  Shall I continue trying to tune the pickup to the new motherboard?  I inspected the three pickups I have, and they're all in roughly the same spot, so I'm inclined to think it's something on the board (can't be either pickup/assembly combo because they both work fine with the no-audio unit).
5)  Nat, you've mentioned messing with the pots on the mobo.  Have any insight here?  Are these pertinent/can they be of assistance?

Thanks for any help....I'll keep pecking at both of these in the meantime....
[this is relaxing after dealing with chipping a Wii and trying to get "Bleach Versus Crusade" to work on it today.....still no luck with that &^%^%$ title, I do NOT want to have to resort to the softmod method!  I didn't chip the thing to use a softmod on top of it!]

[nat]

I already tried fixing this deck, and I ran out of time, so I sent it back to the original owner, no charge.

I was unable to determine the issue, aside from ascertaining it's a logic issue. The optical unit is not getting power, although I was unable to figure out where the "holdup" is. I'm not familiar enough with the function of all the chips on the board to know what everything does. I was planning on simply testing every single component but my work schedule at the time made that avenue of attack a lengthy one and the owner got impatient in waiting for me, so I never finished. The CD door switch is not the problem, I tested that. I also tested a good number of components I knew to be in sequence with the optical unit with no luck (they all tested OK).

The pots on the board are fine-tuning for the laser unit (sensitivity, gain, focus, etc) and won't affect whether or not it gets power. (The pot on the optical unit itself adjusts how much juice the laser itself is getting.)

It's possible a cap is to blame; I didn't test all of them (very few, actually), since that would be a first in the history of Duo repair.

[agt_dale_cooper]

Crap, I spent $122.50 on this, he said he got it from a flea.....gonna bust him HARD with this info....thanks.
Happen to record it's serial number while doing the work?
TIRED of getting jacked on Duo stuff on eBay....people aren't giving out the straight dope.

[chicorunsfunny]

I was the owner who had sent this Duo to nat. I sold it a few months after having him take a chance at repairing it to a guy named Hobie, at GTZ.

I'm pretty upset that Hobie flipped it around on Ebay like this. He seemed to do it rather quickly, to boot. I'm not sure what the auction stated or how well you were informed, but it seems that he wasn't entirely open with you.

His actions are reflecting on me, in a direct yet roundabout way. Sorry this happened to you, and I hope nat can aid you in the repair.

[nat]

Ouch, that sucks. I didn't realize there was someone else involved. Yeah, chico was the one that had me take a look at it.

Sorry agt_dale, I didn't get the serial number.

[agt_dale_cooper]

Curiously, I discovered what "GTZ" was by reviewing the post history of whomever started this topic, which listed "www.gametz.com" as a reference point...[his GA data doesn't correspond to TX return address on box, though...]

Chico, thanks for the intel.  Your AL data doesn't correspond to TX return address on box, either.  Either of you (Nat..) happen to ship this thing around in a Flat Rate Priority box with a woman's name listed as contact/return?  [Box I received was reused, had earlier PayPal slip attached to it...nothing like covering your tracks (NOT!)]  HA!

I've definitely been smoked on this deal....time to stop/drop/roll on the curtains to see if I can set the house on fire....

[chicorunsfunny]

I found the auction for the Duo. Seems he misled you by construing the actually ailments of the system. He stated:
“This is possibly a laser eye problem but I have no idea. I do not have the knowledge or time to work on this.”

And then went on to state:
“This auction will include an extra laser eye part. This could be a possible easy fix for the winning bidder!

He basically gave false hope to whoever the buyer might have been my describing it as a laser issue and making the claim of having an all in one fix by including the laser assembly. At the same time, he tried to distance himself from any sort of responsibility.

I remember telling the guy, to whom I traded the Duo, about the capacitators being the likely issue. I was going off of information I received in this thread as well:
http://gametz.com/forum/USER%253A78922/topic/321120.html#new

I’ll pm you the link his GTZ user page.

[nat]

Capacitors surely aren't to be ruled completely out, I just have never seen a case where they caused a laser failure. I agree with the poster in that other thread that suggested a complete 55 cap replacement is in order before further diagnosis.

[agt_dale_cooper]

Got the PM, thanks....

Appreciate the extra intel as well, PayPal is handling this now...seller escalated to Claim right out of the gate, seems indignant about the whole thing.  There's even conflicting information in his two posts, and PayPal tends to err on the side of the buyer (as the buyer can cancel/refuse the credit card transaction at the credit card processor level, leaving PAYPAL holding the bag for the seller's error-in-judgement sale), so I ain't worried.  I offered him $40 for the parts (which I thought was totally reasonable), but he refused.  His bad, I guess...we'll see what hammer-fisted PayPal has to say.   

I'ma try and repair the thing just the same, will start today by comparing/testing resistors on both boards....if I come out with some useful intel, posting it here will benefit everyone....

Is that Red Ghost over there on that gametz post?  [Has same avatar...]
Humorously enough, has "hate/refuse" as part of posting text....heh.  These things are indeed a pain, I remember working on TG16CD units back in the day and getting disgusted....hee.

[Dazz]

I bought this, actually, and it's case is a little weird.  I'd appreciate any comments from the experienced field.
Here's what I've done:
1)  Plugged in, tested.  Screen says "Please wait a moment..." after hitting "Run".  Disc does NOT move on spindle.  Nothing happens, just hangs at "Please wait a moment..."
2)  Came with laser pickup.  Installed laser pickup into other PCE Duo I'm working on that has low/no audio.  Pickup worked fine after proper tuning (with grey screw on pickup), but Duo still has no audio.  [This rules out the laser pickup being the culprit for me...]
3)  Removed this entire now-tuned assembly to the unit that doesn't play at all.  In theory, these lasers should be directly interchangeable.  NOTHING happens (screen says "Please wait a moment..." after hitting "Run".  Disc does NOT move on spindle.), just as happened before.
4)  Removed assembly from non-playing unit, put into no-audio unit.  Assembly/pickup combination work fine after tuning.  Replaced in original unit, still no worky.

Soooo, there appears to be something amiss on the board.  Questions:
1)  Anybody ever experience a unit with similar problem?
2)  What was solution?  Is cap replacement going to come into play here?
3)  Anybody got a cap-specific short cut if so?  [This would enable me to test before complete cap replacement.....I bought this board hoping to help me with other no-audio board, but it hasn't happened...RRRR!]
4)  Is this just a laser tuning issue?  Does each board have it's own specific read spot?  Shall I continue trying to tune the pickup to the new motherboard?  I inspected the three pickups I have, and they're all in roughly the same spot, so I'm inclined to think it's something on the board (can't be either pickup/assembly combo because they both work fine with the no-audio unit).
5)  Nat, you've mentioned messing with the pots on the mobo.  Have any insight here?  Are these pertinent/can they be of assistance?

Thanks for any help....I'll keep pecking at both of these in the meantime....
[this is relaxing after dealing with chipping a Wii and trying to get "Bleach Versus Crusade" to work on it today.....still no luck with that &^%^%$ title, I do NOT want to have to resort to the softmod method!  I didn't chip the thing to use a softmod on top of it!]

The Duo i was looking at wasn't on ebay but on a website called cheapassgamer. The user is based in Japan.

[agt_dale_cooper]

This PC Engine Duo is officially blacklisted.....won the PayPal case, am returning this unit to eBay seller "kiwi_eater" within 7 days for full PayPal refund (net of shipping, anyway...)

Serial number on case = 28001884B
Serial number (possible part number) on mobo = L31-4-2817AV
Serial number on laser = 02(unreadable)20830

If you're buying or trading a unit off eBay or other sites, hope this info is useful to somebody....you should be able to inquire about serial data with seller/trader without incident...

 :-"

[agt_dale_cooper]

Gripped the refund today, life is better.
[Haven't made SHIT for progress on the quiet-audio issue my other JAP Duo has, though....RRRRRRRRRR.  REALLY considering moving it, with switch, as a JAP/USA HuCard player.....
must....resist....
solve....problem....
[agt_dale pulls his best Kirk imitation, falls to floor, brain hurting with how-to-fix-CD-issue and how-next-to-*******-Janice-Rand....heh]  ]