Xbox DVD drive (1 Viewer)

[Adrian P]

I have been having problems with my Xbox (Thompson) drive not being able to read discs. This is especially annoying since I just bought Ninja Gaiden and I get an error within minutes of playing...

My options are:

1) Send it in to get repaired for $100.00.

2) Tell Microsoft I know it is a defective Thompson drive and see if they will fix it for free (I have read sometimes they do even if warranty is expired which it is).

3) Go to EB, get store credit and buy a new one with the Samsung drive.

BTW, I do not want try to buy a drive off ebay...

My Question is what is my best option?

I think I might try 3.

Has anyone tried option 2?

 

[ZoranM]

Some people over at xbox-scene.com have had success using the thomson drive Pot Tweak to fix the DDE (dirty disk error).

Originally this was done to get the xbox to read burnt disks, but then people tried it for the DDE and it worked for that as well. This is what you need to do in case your curious (taken from xbox-scene):


--------------------------------(start quote)
1. Take drive out of xbox (if you installed a mod, you know how to do this)

2. unclip plastic bracket - the 2 plastic clips are to the rear of the drive.

3. pull off metal grounding piece - just slips off

4. remove 2 screws in the lid of the drive (there are only 2)

5. push in plastic clips to allow the lid to come off

6. take out the 2 torx screws at the back of the drive (T10)

7. Ease off the bottom of the drive being careful not to damage the connectors at the back.

8. Undo the screws in the drive PCB.

9. Unclip the 2 ribbon cables, done by sliding part of the connector away from the cct board. (It may be easier for the laser emitter end to be done.

10. Move the circuit board out of the way, it will still be connected by 2 small wires but dont worry about that, you just need the room

11. looking from underneath, on the laser unit itself, you will see a pot on the bottom left of the pcb.

12. Scratch the resin off CAREFULLY, the pot can be easily damaged.

13. Measure between the TOP LEFT and the screw of the pot.

14. Turn the pot anticlockwise until the meter measures 1800ohms.

15. re assemble

16. test

17. If the drive is still not perfect, decrease the ohm value in 25 ohm steps until it is. I would suggest that you do not go much further than 850 ohms as I noticed the drive becoming noisy after this.
--------------------------------(end quote)

for a more detailed version you can look under hardware tutorials at xbox-scene and you'll find a PDF (I believe it even has pictures).

Anyway hope that helps.

cheers,

Zoran

 

[Adrian P]

Thanks for the tips Zoran.

I may give it a shot if Microsoft won't fix it for free...

 

[ZoranM]

here is the correct link to the actual pdf with images:

****://dwl.xbox-scene.net/~xbox/xbox-scene/tutorials/Xbox-Thompson-DVD-drive-laser-adjustment-procedure.pdf

just replace **** with http

cheers,

Zoran

 

[Lee L]

A while back, someone posted this link about fixing or replacing XBox hardDVD drives. http://www.llamma.com/xbox/



Yep, I'm a dummy.

 

[Dean Martin]

The problem is with his disc drive, not hard drive but still useful info.

Edit, Ah, I see you just typed HD instead of DVD. You're not a dummy. Easy thing to mix up.

 

[BrianB]

Dean, that Llama link is about replacement disc drives, not HD.

 

[Gary Seven]

I just did option two so it cost me 80 bucks, with two free games and updated H/W.

 

[ZoranM]

When you say option 2 do you mean:



If so what hoops did you need to jump through and what was required from you?

I have a friend with a first gen xbox with a DDE thompson drive, and they don't want to try the pot tweak fix or a mod to change the drive.

Also what 2 games did you get and what was the updated H/W if you don't mind me asking.

cheers,

Zoran

 

[Adrian P]

I think he meant option 3:

3) Go to EB, get store credit and buy a new one with the Samsung drive

which would give you the 2 games the Xbox comes with...

 

[Dean Martin]

When my drive went bad I went with option 3.