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How to Help the Cause of a Problem With a Freezing Laser in a PS3

If your PlayStation 3 suddenly stops reading game discs, you likely have a problem with the unit's laser lens. If the laser lens is experiencing intermittent issues, it likely isn't permanently broken. The laser lens could be freezing for a few reasons that include things like dust or even the placement of your PS3 on a shelf. All of the causes can be repaired so long as you have the right equipment.

Things You'll Need

Blu-ray Laser Cleaner

Instructions

- 1
  Place your hand on the top surface of your PlayStation 3. If the console feels warm to the touch it may be overheating, causing the laser to freeze. Turn off your console and let it cool down. Continue to touch the top of the console every so often until it is cool to the touch. Pull the console away from the wall and make sure nothing is touching it while it is in use. Both of these things can contribute to a freezing laser.
- 2
  Turn off your PlayStation 3 every three hours or so to give the unit a chance to cool down. Leaving your console on for eight or more consecutive hours in a day greatly increases the chance of the unit overheating. This doesn't mean the unit is damaged, it just means it's overworked. Regularly turning off the console for a 30 to 60 minutes will prevent the laser from freezing and can help avoid long-term damage to the system.
- 3
  Purchase a Blu-ray laser cleaner from an electronics store and use it to clean your PlayStation 3. Buy a cleaner that is advertised to work with Blu-ray lenses, as the PS3 has a Blu-ray lens built into its case. These cleaners typically come in the form of discs you insert into the mouth of the console that clean automatically. This will help rid the system of any dust that is causing the laser to freeze.

PlayStation 3