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NEC TG-16/TE/TurboDuo => TG/PCE Repair/Mod Discussion => Topic started by: nam9 on August 11, 2015, 12:06:00 AM

Title: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: nam9 on August 11, 2015, 12:06:00 AM
Hi!

Picked up a briefcase with CD-ROM2 unit in great condition recently. Unit boots with my Core 2 unit (PC displayed), but nothing else happens. The unit is silent, the laser is positioned at the rear of the track and doesn't move, the CD doesn't spin...

I have yet to open it up, so... any thoughts?

If it was an issue with the middle gear - would I not expect to hear something?

Any suggestions on EU based members who may offer repairs?
I have seen wolfman recommended under other topics...

Thanks in advance! Neil
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: wildfruit on August 11, 2015, 12:30:47 AM
Welcome! If you are in France try otakus store. If not, they say they don't do mod work but if you ask nicely they might do. I got my briefcase from them rgb modded and recapped / regeared. Works decent.
Edit : http://www.otakus-store.net/en/
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: nam9 on August 11, 2015, 12:40:06 AM
Thanks for the heads-up. I've seen their store before. Were prices reasonable?
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: wildfruit on August 11, 2015, 03:04:22 AM
Prices are ok if you're paying with £ because rate is good. A little expensive in € but if you take into account the shipping and possible customs from outside EU if you bought from US or JP not too bad. I got my briefcase for under £200
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: nam9 on August 11, 2015, 07:25:56 AM
Well, i opened it up - nothing looks out of the ordinary.
2nd cog is yellowed as expected, but looks fully intact.
I slid the laser across into the centre, but still nothing when all put back together...
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: Ergot_Cholera on August 11, 2015, 09:57:08 PM
Same as most of these, capacitor replacement.
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: nam9 on August 12, 2015, 12:10:15 AM
Ok, cheers for the info. A full re-cap may be beyond my current soldering skills.. Any recommendation of members here offering such services?
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: wilykat on August 12, 2015, 01:13:13 AM
Would help to know what country you live in.  Shipping internationally can get pricey and custom taxes may get applied both ways.
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: pnauts on August 12, 2015, 05:10:34 AM
cleaning and put new grease perhaps.
The Flat Ribbon is not inverted if the console was ever unmounted ?
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: Valkyrie on August 12, 2015, 09:35:11 AM
I had the same issue with mine a while back.  The gear looked fine (though discolored), but it wouldn't move the laser.  But the weird thing was, if I would load it up and let it sit at the 'just a moment' screen for something like 30 minutes, it would suddenly start to work and load the game normally.
But alas, it didn't work for very long.  A week later, it stopped working when the gear finally broke entirely.  I got it replaced, and it's been running great ever since.

Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: nam9 on August 26, 2015, 12:53:43 AM
Would help to know what country you live in.  Shipping internationally can get pricey and custom taxes may get applied both ways.

Norway myself - Europe is usually expensive enough for shipping, and state-side kills...
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: Bloufo on August 26, 2015, 01:58:21 AM
Open up your system.
Very carefully nudge that middle gear until you've got it to move.
Close her up and test your unit.
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: nam9 on September 06, 2015, 05:56:19 AM
Nope. I've slid the laser from the centre to the outer edge so nothing has seized up. The unit doesn't sound like its even trying. I've checked the ribbon cables too and they look to be in the correct orientation...?
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: Bloufo on September 06, 2015, 06:14:04 AM
There's a ground strip on one of the ribbon cables.
If it's loose and makes contact to any part of the motherboard then that can cause the CD player to not spin up.
Check that.
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: thesteve on September 06, 2015, 09:26:31 AM
did the laser move back to center?
if not its the stuck gear
Title: Re: PCE CD-ROM2 - Where to start?
Post by: 780racer on September 08, 2015, 07:38:20 AM
If its spinning at all, it could be the laser is bad.... or the pots are royally messed up.

These are both outside the usual like "Check for connections/grounds" but worth noting. If the laser does not sense a disc, it will not spin up. Lasers should be cheap and easy to replace like a DUO.  But those are just my recommendations and do not reflect the best choice as I'm still a noob.