hello ladies and gents a quick question

[sluggybug1]

I can program in Linux so setting the development tools looks straight forward enough. I will have to read up on a lot to do this. So i would like to ask someone for some specific information. Now i fix a lot of ps2`s for people here and there and the most common thing I repair is lasers.

I am not asking anyone to do a program for me. I will do that myself. What I want to do is write a program that reads a file from dvd and outputs the throughput of the cdrom drive when your adjusting the laser so the calibration can be less time consuming.

So my question is the above possible and if so can someone point me to documentation for programming the cd/dvd drive and file accessing as well as printing on the screen any help where to start would be appreciated so I can get torn into this project and release something for every Joe blogs that wants to fit his/her laser easier and know its calibrated to its optimum position. It would also be a good tell take sign if a laser needs replaced by the values your getting ect. I know media and such is to be taken into account but I think this would be something really useful for me and hopefully someone else too.

[J.F.]

There are examples of reading the CDVD in the PS2Dev SDK. Take a look at what's in there. I'd recommend making your program read video DVDs - any PS2 will take movie DVDs, and the vob files are a gigabyte so you can really get a handle on throughput. Most people have several movie DVDs handy, and they usually range from 4G to 8G of content giving you a chance to check the laser across the entire width of a disc if it helps any.

[sluggybug1]

Well it helps a lot i know it can be done thats all i really wanted to know. I would hate to start reading up on all this and getting as far as a printf then sighing in fustration cause i couldnt get the data i needed of the data that comes through the machine. Thanks for the reply I wasnt really sure what section i should have posted it in here or the development one. I fitted a dms 4 lite to my ps2 last week to get started on this and see if it comes to light at all.

[J.F.]

Reading things like audio CDs, movie DVDs, PS1 games, and PS2 games are easy since the PS2 actually supports them. What people pull their hair out over are data CDs or DVDs, and video CDs. Those require "tricks" which we won't get into. That's why I recommended using a movie DVD as the test disc. No tricks and easy to find.

[sluggybug1]

what you have said makes a lot of sense I appreciate the input here. I know a (dvd) movie is good in a lot of ways because the vob file will always be there for reading with the same name no need to get file selectors in there. Thats great for dvds reading a file and to calibrate the dvd and adjust pots if needed.

I need to mess about and find what would be easy with cds im sure a music cd could be read in the same way but thats not a really good test becase ist mode 2 if memory serves me well with (no error checking).

Im going to get everything installed and start seeing what i can gt together thanks a lot for the input again. I mneed to get myself a network card adaptor as well or a cdrw cause ill go thru a lot of blank cds if something goes wrong and the local game shop says sony doesnt produce or sell them anymore which is a pretty sad state of affairs.

[J.F.]

Audsrv in the PS2Dev SDK has code showing how you would read the CDDA on an audio CD. You might look at the play track function in it. PS2s can handle CDRs for audio - I've made a number of "mix" CDRs that work fine on my PS2 (30K1 model). Does the PS2 have separate adjustments for CD vs DVD? I've never bothered to try fixing an optical drive considering the price for a new one these days, however, my PS2 would be a different case. I may actually need to adjust it some day, so I really should learn more about it.

[sluggybug1]

I downloaded the sdk I dont see many examles or much documetation in it at all. I will just get the whole development thing installed and have a look then. All the imformation will be there its just a matter of navagiting throught it. I will get started on wed cause i should have a day off work will pass some time by as well. Well the laser head itself has one lense and there is 2 main adjustment screws to set the laser heads hight.

It also has variable resistor for the strength of the laser called pots on the laser motherboard. When the laser goes bad you can make a laser work a little longer by changing the reistance in this head tahts where the values would come in really useful so you dont make the laser die quicker than you need too and mess about calibrating 4 different adjustment all day till you think it is readng as it should hehe.

Another possible solution is to make a mini cd dvd movie that will be ok for cds as well. I pretty much have what I need to get started on this and would like to thank you for the replies you have helped a lot knowing its doable all i need to do is pull my finger out and get started on it :).

[J.F.]

Although there are a few actual examples, what I was referring to was the source for the SDK itself. The SDK is the best example code you could have... just about. :)

[sluggybug1]

ah ok thanks mate I seen a docs section at the site but the link doesnt work is there any info for the functions in the sdk at all or its it a case of be with the force and read the source :D. I managed to compile an example that was there already so the compiler is ok all i need is api docs if they are there im sure any new person would ask this and i did try search the board. I probabyly used the wrong kewords though and i did try the wiki as well.

[sluggybug1]

I cant seem to find the documentation for the sdk anywhere this is driving me nuts I did check the links in the thread there was no actual documentation for the sdk there at all unless im looking in the wrong places all I really need is cd.dvd drive examples or sdk documentation for it.