Xbox Disc Drive Replacement

Written By: rmarstel

Comments: 20

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

15 - 20 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the disk drive in a Microsoft Xbox.

Tools

Step 1

Make sure your Xbox is safely unplugged and is laying on a flat, stable surface.

Step 2

Turn the Xbox over to reveal the four rubber feet.
Use a metal spudger to pry off the four rubber feet.

The screw is in the outside corner. If you pry up only the half of the foot on that side, you can easily remove the (very long) screw, and the foot will stay attached.

Ian Butler -

Ah I always used to damage the feet.

Andrew Veiga -

Step 3

There are 2 more screws hidden under the two labels on the bottom of the case.
You can either remove the labels or simply feel for the screw holes through the labels and then cut or punch a hole through them.

It is also easy to feel for the screw hole with your finger and then cut a hole, or punch it out with the tip of the Torx driver to reveal the screw.

Ian Butler -

Step 4

Remove the six T20 Torx screws securing the top cover to the bottom cover.

Step 5

Once the bottom and top shells are no longer attached, carefully turn the Xbox right-side-up, lift and remove the top cover.

Step 6

Remove the three 3 mm T10 screws securing the hard drive to the Xbox.
There is one screw on the rear left side of the hard drive that is only visible when the IDE ribbon cable is lifted up. The other two are at the front right and left sides of the hard drive.
The screw on the lower left corner of the disk drive is not in the hole that it appears to be in, but rather just closer to the corner.

The other two are at the front right and left sides of the DVD DRIVE.

p0p3 -

Step 7

Free the hard drive power cable from the carrier for sufficient slack to lift the hard drive out.
Lift the plastic hard drive carrier out of the Xbox case.

Step 8

Remove the four 3.4 mm T15 Torx screws from the plastic hard drive carrier (two screws per side).
Carefully remove the hard drive from the plastic carrier. Gentle rocking will see the hard drive come out quite easily.

Step 9

Pull both the hard drive data ribbon cable and the power cable straight up from the hard drive.
They may be firmly seated, so be careful trying to remove them. DO NOT pull the wires as you may damage the cable assembly.

Remember that the new drive will only work if it has been properly prepared, and the Xbox has been modified.

Ian Butler -

there is NO way to legally replace the xbox hard drive. it is LOCKED to the motherboard and the xbox will not boot to the OS or make it past the BIOS if the HDD is not the one that came with it from the factory. you MUST use a mod chip and “home brew” to do a HDD swap and expect it to work

James Vawter - 02/02/20

Could you point me to a good tutorial on using a modding an original Xbox? All I want to do is swap an HDD in original Xbox with another original Xbox HDD because I want my saved game data. Any way to figure this out? Seems like modding is a !&&* of a burden.

michaelaugustin2000 - 25/11/20

Can i replace the original hard drive with new one

Andrew Veiga -

Step 10

Remove the disk drive. It should come right out.
Unplug the ribbon cable and yellow cables from back of disk drive.

I dont got the tools and i dont know how to do ut

jacob lowery - 07/09/15

Step 11

Pry back the black plastic tabs around the disk drive in order to remove it from its housing. Once removed, set the drive aside.
If you are removing the disk drive in order to gain access to the motherboard underneath, you do not need to remove the plastic housing.

It is ok to remove the drive if it isn't dead. If repairs are required to the drive it needs to be removed from the drive's housing.

Navy Vet 2015 - 12/06/16

Surely this needs to be removed to access the motherboard?

Jonathan Cousins -

Yes, it does.

Zerobuss -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

rmarstel

Member since: 29/10/09

5755 Reputation

8 comments

http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-To-Determine...

Utilize the information on this website to determine what Xbox version you have so you know what replacement parts to look for.

Navy Vet 2015 - 12/06/16

The final comment mentions “only remove if dead.” What about a disc drive that closes and opens immediately….in other words, won’t stay closed. Is this a sign of a defective disc drive too?

Miguel - 14/08/19

I am having the same issue, Miguel.

Did you buy a new drive or figure out a better fix?

Thanks

Ben C. - 02/02/21

I learned that you need to change out the drive belt in the disc drive. Over time it wears out and either won't open, stays open, or will open/close continuously. I changed my drive belt and it started working fine.

Turtlelaw -

Can anyone help..My Xbox can't read games..I took it apart and cleaned it, still can't read games

mr.mistermitchell@yahoo.com - 11/05/21

if your having the same problems as me this laser inside could be done for and need a replacement. you could also figure out how to use a multi-meter and read the ohms to see if the laser is getting enough power. but i don't know how todo that and nothing on youtube help. there are so many different drive and most people choose the easier drives/better drives to repair. I would suggest finding what drive you have then after that looking up the drives model and see is there's anything about replacing or adjusting the laser. another solution is you can either buy a whole new xbox that isn't working and take the drive out and see if that works but it or you could just buy a new drive of ebay or any site that may have it. a nice thing about the og xbox is that that disc drive and the motherboard aren't married so you don't need to take that key out and match it with the motherboard.

Kayd Anderson -

I have the Xbox original..

mr.mistermitchell@yahoo.com - 11/05/21

I’m having the same problems too ??‍♂️

Pablo Pablo -