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PS3 Disc Drive making clicking noises?

Zabuza

Banned
Picked up The Last of Us the other day and played for awhile, the next day I start up the console and I hear the disc drive making some odd noises and then clicking. And it wouldn't read the disc.

I ejected the disc and cleaned it, popped it back in and it clicked more but it eventually read the disc. I didn't play because I thought it would freeze. On other attempts it took even longer to read the disc.

It's a 2010 120gb Slim and I haven't fiddled with it at all. DL games still play fine. I'm guessing it's the laser or something but I don't know anything about how to fix it.

Anyone else had this issue or knows the solution? Any help is appreciated.
 

JeffGrubb

Member
I'm sorry, but a dinosaur has ingested your PS3 and has taken its form to lull you into a false sense of security. When you are least expecting it, it will unfurl its intimidating neck ruffles and spit a blinding venom into your eyes.
 

Zabuza

Banned
I'm sorry, but a dinosaur has ingested your PS3 and has taken its form to lull you into a false sense of security. When you are least expecting it, it will unfurl its intimidating neck ruffles and spit a blinding venom into your eyes.

Figured as much.
 

coolasj19

Why are you reading my tag instead of the title of my post?
Let's put it this way. Be thankful next-gen is right around the corner.
 

Fusebox

Banned
Mine does the same thing lately. I had to take GTAV out and put it back in twice for it to read the disc properly.
 

cafemomo

Member
I'm also getting clicky noises whenever I play SOCOM or 50 Cent blood on the sand. But it reads the disc fine. No issues whatsoever just the clicky noises
 

Cels

Member
make sure you have a shiv, then sneak up to it and stab it in the neck.

don't end up like this:

original.jpg
 

qko

Member
Forget the PS3 generation ever happened, sell all your PS3 games, all your possessions and embrace the cult of PS4. Live it. Breathe it and enjoy it.
 

Anko

Member
Came in expecting to see TLoU.
Yup.

Killed my ps3 phat 60gb too. Well, at least I think it did.
It shut down suddenly with a double beep and flashing red light, at the dead clicker stuck to the door. It wouldn't read discs well, kept clicking, etc. after that so I stopped trying in case it swallowed my disc permanently. It might still work digitally. I think other discs might still work but I'm not trying since I have a spare ps3. I read that it's probably the dual layered games that have problems.
 
M

Macapala

Unconfirmed Member
My PS3 slim is making clicking noises as well and its started to freeze on me more frequently. I still have a working Sega Master System II and its 20+ years old but my PS3 is dying only after 4 years?? Pathetic...
 

Zabuza

Banned
Damn. I'll try other discs tomorrow. I had heard about TLoU killing PS3s but I didn't expect the disc to muck up my Slim. If it's just TLoU I'll just beat it and hop the problem stops.
 
Damn. I'll try other discs tomorrow. I had heard about TLoU killing PS3s but I didn't expect the disc to muck up my Slim. If it's just TLoU I'll just beat it and hop the problem stops.

Just to clarify (someone stop me if I'm wrong) the clicking is probably your HDD failing, not the actual discs. The "disk" is your hard disk drive.
 

Reallink

Member
It may still have a little life left. Try turning it on and letting it warm up a half hour or so before attempting to load a disc. Additionally, lifting one side to create a ~45 degree tilt while you insert/load the disc will sometimes do it as well. These prematurely failing BRD's are as wide spread as RROD.

Just to clarify (someone stop me if I'm wrong) the clicking is probably your HDD failing, not the actual discs. The "disk" is your hard disk drive.

He's talking about the Bluray Drive. When they start to die they make a clicking sound when you insert a disc, followed by an ejecting sound, and fail to load. It's a very very common problem.
 
Try it again. If it won't read a disc, eject the disc, then hold the front end of your PS3 up on a 40-45 degree angle and insert the disc while doing so. Wait until it loads and the disc icon pops up on the XMB.

Trust me on this. (You can set your PS3 down gently once the disc is loaded)
 

Kuro

Member
Damn. I'll try other discs tomorrow. I had heard about TLoU killing PS3s but I didn't expect the disc to muck up my Slim. If it's just TLoU I'll just beat it and hop the problem stops.

Replacing the blu-ray drive won't cost too much money and its very simple to do. Voids warranty of course though.
 

Zabuza

Banned
Just to clarify (someone stop me if I'm wrong) the clicking is probably your HDD failing, not the actual discs. The "disk" is your hard disk drive.

It is probably the HDD? I thought it was just the laser or another problem with the disc slot.

I've only had it for 3 years, kinda bullshit that I still have a working PS1, Saturn, Dreamcast, SNES, Gamecube, PS2, etc. but the 3 year old "newer" console might quit on me.
 
It may still have a little life left. Trying turning it on and letting it warm up a half hour or so before attempting to load a disc. Additionally, lifting one side to create an ~45 degree tilt while you insert/load the disc will sometimes do it as well. These prematurely failing BRD's are as wide spread as RROD.



He's talking about the Bluray Drive. When they start to die they make a clicking sound when you insert a disc, followed by an ejecting sound, and fail to load. It's a very very common problem.

Is that what the primary TLOU issue was, or was that HDD related? I --thankfully-- haven't had any such issues.
 

lantus

Member
I had this exact same issue when I picked up the last of us. I can't tell you how to fix it though, as it eventually went away by itself. :/
 

NameGenerated

Who paid you to grab Dr. Pavel?
This literally just happened to me today. Launch 60gig.

GTA5 got stuck and it wouldn't read it or show on the XMB. Had the loud clicking sounds when I tried to eject.

Searched youtube and did a fan activation trick by holding the eject button when I flicked on the back power switch and it came right out. Popped the disc back in (after testing another lesser game, didn't want GTA stuck forever) and it read it just fine and played a few hours. I'm still kind of apprehensive about it. Definitely eyeing that 500gig GTA bundle now.

FWIW I played through all of TLoU just fine. I froze once in MP but that's it.

Edit: There's two noises I mainly hear. The reading noises that sound like it's shifting around, which are pretty common, and the physical clicks that sound mechanical and legit broken that I heard for the first time today. I'm talking about the latter.
 

Zabuza

Banned
Hmm. If the BD drive does die on me, I'll probably just replace it or get a new PS3. I'll probably be back for help with that too haha.
 

Reallink

Member
Is that what the primary TLOU issue was, or was that HDD related? I --thankfully-- haven't had any such issues.

I'm not familiar with any TLOU specific issues. My guess would be that TLOU is just a coincidence or that particular game disc is so data packed it's especially unfriendly to weak and dieing lasers.
 
My ps3 was making clicks too while playing TLOU, didn't have any disc problems.

I believe it's just the drive reading and seeking which makes clicking sounds, or the HDD. I get a similar sound when playing GTAV, but it's more of a beeping sound (sounds like the beep you get when you turn on your ps3)
 
Good call! What's the best way to go about that other than PS Plus Cloud?

I know flash drives work just fine but I'm not sure how they'll behave with switching the data to a different PS3. I haven't had any experience with it but I'm sure someone else will be more helpful.

I also think there's an actual "back up data" option under the settings tab somewhere.
 

Zabuza

Banned
I know flash drives work just fine but I'm not sure how they'll behave with switching the data to a different PS3. I haven't had any experience with it but I'm sure someone else will be more helpful.

I also think there's an actual "back up data" option under the settings tab somewhere.

Alright I'll check it out, cheers.
 

Soriku

Junior Member
Unless it's really loud or very constant I wouldn't worry too much. My PS3 is only a couple months old and makes a few clicks sometimes. My PS2 also made clicking noises (more frequently) but it was able to read discs fine.
 

coolasj19

Why are you reading my tag instead of the title of my post?
When you pick up the DS4 after not having a console for less than 2 months it'll feel like magic. Don't worry, your PS3 will fade out elegantly. The moment the last TLoU cutscene ends. It'll add more to the experience.
 
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