Replacing an Xbox 360 DVD ROM drive

Hey guuuuyysss its me with another question which will hopefully lead to another enlightening thread...

This one is about Xbox 360s DVD drives.

Anyone replaced one? It seems I may have that task ahead of me and I'd like to be fully clued up on the specifics in order to be fully prepared.

I realise there are some resources on the web but I'd rather make it a community thing and learn from you guys' knowledge than risk using mis-information or stuff something up because an editor cut something key to the process out.

The dialemma is that I have a friend who will be shortly giving me a broken 360. Now he said last time it worked, it worked fine but wasnt reading discs, shortly after (a month or so) its PSU died and he bought one of the new models instead of having it fixed. Now the idiot binned the PSU and was about to chuck the 360 when I told him I'd take it for spares.

From what I've hard of the symptoms I'm guessing the DVD drive simply bit the dust, and I already have a post on here asking for a 360 PSU (needs to be a 203Watt model).

Now about this DVD drive...
I understand they need to be married via firmware somehow, or they will not work. I will be looking to get a replacement for it shortly and need advice on how the proceedure goes, whats involved, ways around the issues etc.

I can't risk having this banned from LIVE if I can manage to fix it. As I intend to use it for myself :D.

Wont anyone help a techie by lending some knowledge? :unsure:

Thanks again guys! :thumbsup:

I wont go into dumping and flashing firmware. But, on most 360's its the laser that goes. If you get the exact same drive you can just change over the PCB so it will keep the original firmware/key. You can try tweaking the pot or getting a new laser. Very rare for the 360 drives to have a PCB go imo.

Cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimbo1979

I wont go into dumping and flashing firmware. But, on most 360's its the laser that goes. If you get the exact same drive you can just change over the PCB so it will keep the original firmware/key. You can try tweaking the pot or getting a new laser. Very rare for the 360 drives to have a PCB go imo.

Cheers

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Unless its the motherboard eh?

ROFL

Okay then so I guess I need to get the system infront of me and see what model of DVD drive it has before I can proceed.

Thanks Jimbo! :thumbsup:

@AmiNeo

Yes, is possible of course. :)

Few days a go I repaired one "Fat" XBox360 with an new & original DVD-Drive (with empty firmware & Key).

- Old Drive: Lite-on DG16D2S 9450c
- New drive: Lite-on DG16D2S 74850c

XBox360 revived & working 100%

But, as Jimbo1979 saids, you need special tools & soft to extract the firmware & Key. Then you need to "spoof" FW & Key in the new drive.

Be carefull, with the new Dashboard update the firmware of you DVD will be rewrited and firmware "names" are changed.

Best wishes

If you need to go to the hassle of getting the key, it's pretty simple on "certain" models, ie. All except Lite-On drives. I use a piece of equipment called a CK3 which makes the whole process a little easier - you'll be able to get that from http://www.ck3.co.uk/

You can "spoof" the key on to different makes of drive, but apparently LIVE can spot that and ban you, so ensure you get the exact model of drive you take out.

To extract the key and inject into another drive, I use the latest version of "JungleFlasher" which allows you to do it all from Windows - you may prefer the dos-based route .

Once injected into a stock bios, you're good to go....


There is an excellent PDF supplied with jungleflasher that has worked 100% for me on each drive I've worked on. However, the later "Lite-On" drives need extra hardwar, but I assume yours is an early Xbox so hopefully you'll have a Samsung or Benq drive...

Sorry to ramble and good luck (!)

Okay need more detail... Firmware names are changed... How does this affect the console? How are they changed? Would it be an issue if I was to do it Jimbos way? (I'm guessing not)...

Thanks... :thumbsup:

If you change the PCB you wont have to do anything. As long as its the same make of drive. I have never seen a PCB go on a 360 so my guess is just laser. Also the PCB is just a clip fit, only wire is the laser ribbon which is also push fit, actually I think they have two ribbons which are push fit in total.

If you are hell bent on buying a new drive, it has to be the same make if you want to stay on live. Spoofing to another model is not a great idea imo. Anyway if you are going to buy a new drive, doing the PCB swap would be the first thing you would do, it may just work and save you a lot of hassle.

Now if that drive really is dead, you are going to struggle dumping the firmware from the dead drive.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by z3spacial

If you need to go to the hassle of getting the key, it's pretty simple on "certain" models, ie. All except Lite-On drives. I use a piece of equipment called a CK3 which makes the whole process a little easier - you'll be able to get that from http://www.ck3.co.uk/

You can "spoof" the key on to different makes of drive, but apparently LIVE can spot that and ban you, so ensure you get the exact model of drive you take out.

To extract the key and inject into another drive, I use the latest version of "JungleFlasher" which allows you to do it all from Windows - you may prefer the dos-based route .

Once injected into a stock bios, you're good to go....


There is an excellent PDF supplied with jungleflasher that has worked 100% for me on each drive I've worked on. However, the later "Lite-On" drives need extra hardwar, but I assume yours is an early Xbox so hopefully you'll have a Samsung or Benq drive...

Sorry to ramble and good luck (!)

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Rambling is good, especially when one isnt just looking for a solution, but also knowledge ;)

Thanks for your input :thumbsup:

Hi again,

Maybe I'm wrong, but you go banned if you use a modified firmware. But if you use stock firmware you can go online without problems (I'm playing online without issues, and is the third drive I changed -I have three consoles-). I'm not sure, but I think Is the same method used in offcial repairing services.

About "new names" I can send you more info this evening/night when I come back at home.

Best wishes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimbo1979

If you change the PCB you wont have to do anything. As long as its the same make of drive. I have never seen a PCB go on a 360 so my guess is just laser. Also the PCB is just a clip fit, only wire is the laser ribbon which is also push fit, actually I think they have two ribbons which are push fit in total.

If you are hell bent on buying a new drive, it has to be the same make if you want to stay on live. Spoofing to another model is not a great idea imo. Anyway if you are going to buy a new drive, doing the PCB swap would be the first thing you would do, it may just work and save you a lot of hassle.

Now if that drive really is dead, you are going to struggle dumping the firmware from the dead drive.

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Well I'm going to need a 203W PSU before I can try any of this, but from what I've heard from my friend I'd be willing to bet its just the laser too.

Do 360s give error codes if they dont detect the DVD drive whatsoever?