exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

alexh wrote: 02 Mar 2026 09:49 Another thing to remember is that blank (and written) CD-R discs have a shelf life.

In the day the best CD-R (800mb) dye was Taiyo Yuden. They were readable on practically any drive (and discs burned in the 90s still work today). I used them for most of the PS1 era but very late on I switched to printable Ritek black (they looked just like original PS1 discs) they looked and played great back then but all are unreadable today.

My disks are probably only a couple of years old and do seem to work as I've used them for other things with no issues. I'll try one last time with my 2012 Macbook Pro and see how it goes and I'll report back.

elterwater wrote: 02 Mar 2026 09:14 My modded PSOne was VERY picky about CDR brands back in the day. It had expensive tastes and was fine with stuff like Verbatim but would regularly spit a dummy out at integral and no-name branded silvers.

Exact same issue, always used to use verbatim as they were the only ones that would work. Have you tried tweaking the laser power output, that's often needed to get a ps1 to read cdr, regardless of whether it reads originals OK.

JD

Hellraiseruk wrote: 02 Mar 2026 09:59

elterwater wrote: 02 Mar 2026 09:14 My modded PSOne was VERY picky about CDR brands back in the day. It had expensive tastes and was fine with stuff like Verbatim but would regularly spit a dummy out at integral and no-name branded silvers.

Exact same issue, always used to use verbatim as they were the only ones that would work. Have you tried tweaking the laser power output, that's often needed to get a ps1 to read cdr, regardless of whether it reads originals OK.

JD

Not had a chance to try that yet, but using my other CD burner was a bust. I have lots of test discs now so if I can get details of how to increase the laser power I can try that.

My PSIO is on a flight out of China now so I expect it'll be here in a week or so.

This seems quite comprehensive:-

https://www.retrosix.wiki/laser-tuning-ps1

JD

Hellraiseruk wrote: 02 Mar 2026 15:37 This seems quite comprehensive:-

https://www.retrosix.wiki/laser-tuning-ps1

JD

Cool thanks.

Well, this arrived yesterday:


It is very nice with a metal case, it is very well made for sure.

Not sure why but they sent me 2 switch boards to install in the PS1, but the instructions are super clear and it shouldn't take long to install - if I can find time as I have to work this evening...

Where did you get it from @rubber_jonnie

PhilC wrote: 05 Mar 2026 09:27 Where did you get it from @rubber_jonnie

Ali Express :)

Well I'm not a happy bunny...

I installed the PSIO switch module:

I used the specific doc for my mainboard and all the connection points line up fine and buzz out. All the vias buzz out from bottom to top but the PS1 freezes at the end of the Sony Splash screen...

Looks like I may need to temporarily revert and see iff it returns to normal, but on a positive note I was sent two of the switch boards so it may be that.

To add insult to injury the laser I ordered from Ali Express for the PS2 is the wrong one 🤬

Bah Humbug.

rubber_jonnie wrote: 05 Mar 2026 19:39 To add insult to injury the laser I ordered from Ali Express for the PS2 is the wrong one 🤬

That kind of things happen time to time...