How to Fix PS2 Games That Won't Load

While playing your Sony PlayStation 2, occasionally the inserted disc may not play. The inside of the disc drive may be dirty, or the disc could have a scratch. You may be able to fix either issue, though if a scratch is too deep, you might need to purchase a new game.

Eject the game from your Sony PlayStation 2. Examine the bottom of the disc for dirt, dust, fingerprints or scratches. If the disc is clean, the issue likely is with the PS2.

Spray a few shots of compressed air into the opening of the PlayStation2. This removes any dust that may be clinging to the lens of the machine. When dust builds up on the lens, it prevents the system from reading the game properly and causes it not to load.

Wipe a damp cloth across the disc, starting from the center hole in the disc to the outside layer. This removes the dust, dirt and fingerprints from the game. Do not rotate around the disc with the cloth, because you can force grime into small holes of the disc, further damaging it. Allow the game to dry before reinserting it to the system.

Place the game in a CD/DVD disc repair kit if the disc has a small scratch on it. The repair kit "sands" down the disc to buff out the scratch. This does not harm the game, though it does alter the look of the bottom of the disc (you can see where the game has been sanded once you remove it). Turn the small crank handle on the side of the repair kit to turn the game across the sander. Remove the game and insert it to the PS2. It now loads and plays properly.