PS2 problem. Format Disc?

Answer: There could be something wrong with the disc or the console.

Details:

I understand your confusion; the way I read it, you took it to mean that you might need to format (verb) something on the PS2. What this error is telling you is that it needs either a disc formatted to be used on the PS1 or one formatted for the PS2. It doesn't expect you to actually format anything, but just to insert the correct type of disc.

This is the kind of message you might see if you were to insert a disc that is a game disc for an Xbox, a PC, or something else that the PlayStation 2 doesn't know what to do with. It's saying that you need to insert a PS1 or PS2 disc to play a game and that it doesn't recognize the current disc as one of these.

Now, unless someone switched the disc for a different one since your son played the game earlier, it's probably that the game disc IS either a PS1 game or a PS2 game, but that the system isn't able to properly read the disc. This could be due to a problem with the disc OR the console.

The first thing to do would be to make sure that the disc is in the system correctly. The label side of the disc should be visible when the disc is resting in the disc tray in the system. If that's not the issue, remove the disc and examine the non-label side. This is the side that the PS2 reads and it should be shiny and free of scratches. If you see scratches (especially deep ones that run around the disc), the disc may be damaged such that the PS2 can't read it. You may want to try playing a different game in the PS2 to see if the disc is at fault. If you don't have another PS2 game available, you can also try an audio CD or a DVD; the PS2 can play these formats, as well.

If the PS2 won't play any of these, there's likely something wrong with the PS2's optical reader. This could be serious, or it could just mean that it needs to be cleaned. You could attempt to clean the optical reader by using a DVD cleaner disc or CD cleaner. There were cleaners made specifically for the PS2, but I don't see any currently available.

As PS2s get old, the lens units sometimes need slight adjustment. This can make them a bit temperamental. If you think this might be the case for your PS2, I would suggest trying simple things such as turning off the system, changing the orientation (from tower/vertical to flat/horizontal or back) and turning it back on, as sometimes a unit may work better in one orientation than the other. Also, when I had this issue, I found that some discs that wouldn't work initially could be played if I loaded up a different game that worked well and then restarted the machine and loaded the problematic disc. There is a slight auto-adjusting feature to the optic reader and I think that was why this would work for me.

Update:

Seeing that you've tried four other discs and they seem to work fine, I'm inclined to believe something's wrong with that disc. The disc could get scratched if the console is moved while the disc is in it - especially if the console is turned on and the disc is actively being read.

If the disc is a new purchase or Christmas gift, you might be able to trade it out for a new one at the store it came from (if known) or a store that sells it, at any rate. If it was purchased used, it may have been "iffy" when you got it. If you have a receipt, check for the return policy; often used game purchases have a DOA policy that may cover your case, since it worked a couple of times and then didn't.

Another possibility would be to "fix" the disc. There are devices which, essentially, polish the disc back into a good enough condition so that they can be read. However, while some people swear by these devices and some places that rent or sell used games keep them on hand to keep their games working, I have seen way too many discs that didn't get fixed by it. I would try other solutions before attempting to repair the disc, itself.

Hope this helps,

Robert Perkins,

Director of Creative Development,

http://www.psillustrated.com/

Ps2 Disc Format