DTL-H1102 Optical Drive Replacement

[SpaceCoyote]

Hi,

So I got a DTL-H1102 today but I have a feeling that the optical drive is dying, I've only been able to test 2 OFFICIAL games (Resident Evil: Directors Cut and the Resident Evil 2 Preview). RE1 is absolutely fine but RE2 has long times between camera angles (5-10 seconds) and has frozen completely and failed to boot a few times.

Every burn I've made also freezes at random times on every speed I've written with. It is one of the older models with the trash optical drive so I think it could be that. I am thinking of replacing it with a drive from a 7502.

Also to note is that the external power supply is 12v - 2a instead of 12v - 1.5a.

Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[nocash]

CDROM repair/replacement should be same as for retail consoles with same mainboard... but you would have to open the console, and check what mainboard you have.

As by now there isn't much known about DTL-H110x models. For the mainboard one could only guess that it might be an PU-8, 1-658-467-11 board (?), the kernel is said to be dumped, the cdrom firmware isn't dumped, and chip names for kernel and firmware are both unknown.

If you are opening the console, it would be nice if you could check/solve some of the above unknow details!

[SpaceCoyote]

So you're saying that it HAS to be the same mainboard?

Also, I can confirm the board being a PU-8, 1-658-467-11. As for the chips, I'll check and take pictures when/if I replace the disc drive.

[nocash]

No, the mainboard version doesn't matter too much. Except, there are different cdrom drives (with ribbon cables in different lengths), if you want to replace the drive, use one with matching cables for your console.

I just meant that few peoples have replaced drives in DTL-H1201 consoles, but the same PU-8, 1-658-467-11 is also used in normal SCPH retail consoles, and there's lots of info about how to replace cdrom drives for them. Note: I've never purchased a replacement drive myself; there are other people and webpages knowing more about that stuff than I do.

If you could check/confirm the chip numbers would be cool!

The kernel is probably same as in retail consoles, as listed here http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=1065

The cdrom firmware should be some 80pin chip at PCB bottom side, with I don't what part number... apart from the part number, someday dumping the actual firmware could be also interesting, but it requires some soldering & software: http://www.psxdev.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=557

Apart from that cdrom firmware, everything on the DTL-H1102 mainboard should be same as in retail consoles.

[rama3]

When you start looking for repair / swap instructions, you'll find people either recommend using a PSOne (white slim model) drive and replace the top cover, or buying a "new" replacement on Ebay. Both methods will work for your console. I recommend using a PSOne drive. Don't touch the adjustment potentiometers on the PU-8 board. It will work just fine with the replacement drive.

And +1 on nocash's request. This information would be very valuable for preservation.

[SpaceCoyote]

Cheers for the help, I've ordered a replacement drive which will be here in a few days, when it arrives I'll take down info and pictures of the chips. When it comes to the CD-Rom firmware, I'm a little inexperienced when it comes to that sort of thing but I may give it it try at some point.

[SpaceCoyote]

Apologies for the delay. I haven't seen the BIOS uploaded anywhere since. Is dumping the BIOS via memory card sufficient?

EDIT: Just realized you were referring to the CD-Drive firmware, will look into that. However I'll take some pictures of the board

Board Images:

[nocash]

Thanks for the images. I don't know how to browse high resolution images on imgur, but these links with manually edited maxwidth settings seem to work...
https://i.imgur.io/mFRcgMZ_d.webp?maxwidth=3000 front, with 40pin kernel "Sony, M534032C-05, 6112307-A"
https://i.imgur.io/izRBiEN_d.webp?maxwidth=3000 back, with 80pin mechacon "Sony E35D, 424694 185, SSAA9710A"
Mainboard "PU-8, 1-658-467-13"
EDIT: These links seem to be directly linking to the full-resolution images: https://i.imgur.io/mFRcgMZ.jpg and https://i.imgur.io/izRBiEN.jpg

The kernel is probably the standard v2.1e version, as in M534032C-05 JAPAN, 5402314-A chips, with slightly different date code on the chip package.

The mechacon firmware is still undumped, and that 424694 185 chip part number wasn't even known to exist yet.

Also, I can confirm the board being a PU-8, 1-658-467-11.

Not if you look at your photos, it's -13, not -11. I don't know if that's a debugging-specific revision, or just a generic (but rare) newer revision.

What happened to you cdrom drive, did you got it fixed?
And perhaps too obvious: Clean the lens before getting into things like repairs and replacements.

[Administrator]

The blue plastic case (and the title of the post DTL-H1102) indicates it's a debugging station with the unlocked HC05, but I'm not sure if -11 or -13 indicates it is a debugger PCB revision. The debugging stations tend to use the 80-pin mechacon too, probably because Sony made quite a few of them specifically with the unlocked license for the PU-8 board which supported the footprint.

[SpaceCoyote]

I did indeed replace the drive with one from a PSOne as rama3 suggested (a few years ago now). It's been working great ever since.

Apologies for the lens