PS3 not reading discs

Articus

Welp, earlier today I was playing MGO and I had just attempted to join a server. It goes to game loading screen and freezes for a good few minutes (much longer than usual) so I assumed the game had froze like it has before once in a blue moon. I hit the Home button to go to the XMB and quit the game - game screen goes to black and stays there indefinitely with no sign of it going to XMB home. No response for a few minutes so I go to reset the system manually by holding down the power on/off button - no response. I don't usually do this but I figure I have no other options so I flip the power switch in the back of the console to off, then back on.

I get back to XMB and for some reason the PS3 won't read my game disc. I try another disc and it's the same. I try a DVD and again it does not read it. I decide I'm in a pickle. I head to you wonderful folks for assistance.

Should I try a reformat or a system restore? Or is there another workaround that doesn't involve me backing up the 100 gigs of media I have on the hard drive? Have I damaged the disc reading system and I'm going to have to send it in to Sony for repairs?

...I figure I'll back it up now then just in case.

Articus

Alright I think I figured it out. I believe the disc laser contraption is shot and I'll need to send it in for repairs. The only problem is that I've tampered with the system and I've installed a larger hard drive, voiding my warranty. Any chance of Sony still repairing it if I swap the old hard drive back into the PS3 and sending it in, or will they immediately notice this and send it back?

bsjezz

i'm quite sure that replacing the hard drive does not void the warranty. if i recall, sony even provide instructions

edit: see here

Articus

Oh shit really? I was under the impression that tampering with the insides of the console immediately voided my warranty...

Thanks a lot for the info and link.