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How to Clean the Laser on a PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3 laser disc drive is unique from other video consoles: It is a Blu-ray drive. This makes the PS3 capable of playing high definition video games and movies. However, this also doubles the insertion of discs into the drive, doubling the rate of soiling the lens. The laser of the PS3 is embedded deep inside the console, making compressed air cleaning methods a void cleaning method. The only way to clean the laser on a PlayStation 3 is to remove the Blu-ray drive and clean the laser by hand.

Things You'll Need

Screwdriver
Cotton swab
Lens cleaner

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the Blu-ray drive over and remove the two silver screws and metal parts opposite the Blu-ray drive motherboard. Remove the five black screws around the motherboard.
- 2
  Remove the cable ribbon connections from the motherboard using the screwdriver and your fingers to lift and pull. Lift out the motherboard and turn it over to your right side. Pull the white cable from the motherboard to remove it.
- 3
  Turn the drive over and lift off the upper case. Remove the four screws surrounding the lens. Remove a fifth screw from the north end of the lens casing. Take out the white disc holder in the middle of the lens casing, and turn the black lens casing to your right side.
- 4
  Dampen one side of a cotton swab with lens cleaner. Use circular movements with the damp side of the cotton swab to clean the lens. Turn the cotton swab over and use the dry side to dry the lens.
- 5
  Turn the black lens casing back to the left side and reattach the white disc holder. Screw in the five screws you took out earlier. Reattach the white cable to the Blu-ray drive's motherboard. Turn the motherboard back over to the left side and reattach the cable ribbon connections by plugging them into their insertions. Screw in the remaining seven screws to secure the Blu-ray drive casing.

PlayStation 3