PS2 Slim won't access browser or system config

Just recently got a PS2 Slim off market place to go down nostalgia lane with the og NFS Most Wanted. Guy had it since he was a kid & still had the original controller, & cables as well as 2 memory cards. He even showed me it working. When I boot it up without a disc it goes to the browser/system configuration screen but the dots on boot up group together & don't spray out & spin in a circle as I remember them doing & then I can't access either selection. I've booted it with & without the memory cards installed & it does the same thing. You can still hear the audio actively going for the boot screen so it's not freezing up on the screen. I've put a movie disc in & it goes right to it no problem. Subsequently the controller is sending auto inputs when I did that with the movie so is it possibly the controller won't let me access them & a minor disc drive issue at the same time? Or just an issue with the controller?