XBox 360 won't read games only DVDs

[Stark]

Looked for a thread on this and didn't see one. Looking online there are a couple of this people are saying for fixing this issue. Anyone have any experience with this? I was going to try opening it up and just using compressed air to try and clean the DVD drive out. Thoughts? Comments? General mockery?

[goombakid]

Well, more information might be needed. Like:

Is your drive modified?
What type of drive is it?
All games are not reading? Retail? Backup?
Did the drive read games prior to the error?

Several factors could solve your problem, but more information is needed.

[Anapan]

My modded system likes the power button held longer than just a tap for "homebrew discs"...

[Stark]

Well, more information might be needed. Like:

Is your drive modified?
What type of drive is it?
All games are not reading? Retail? Backup?
Did the drive read games prior to the error?

Several factors could solve your problem, but more information is needed.

It is a retail system, not modded. I haven't opened the system yet so no telling what type of drive it is. All games I have are retail.

[Bikeage]

Is it still under the RROD warranty? If so don't open it in case you send it back, but give that sumbitch a couple good smacks upside the top to see if you can get it working.

[Stark]

Basically what happened is that I got it off of CraigsList and the dude showed me that it worked by putting a movie in it. I am stupid and didn't realize that there was an issue where a movie would play, but a game wouldn't. I got it home and realized this, but then saw that it was still under the 3-year RROD warranty, so I sent it to Microsoft and they said "this has been tampered with" and sent it back. I should have it back by tonight or tomorrow to open it up and investigate further fixes. I only have $50 into it, so if I can get it working, then I think I am out on top.

EDIT: I didn't open it before sending it to Microsoft, so it must have been the Craigslist dude.

[jinn]

Get your money back. Most likely he failed the drive flashing and will not read Game Disc.
You need the drive key that matches the motherboard. I'm, sorry to say but he ripped you off. There is no way to get it to work now.

EDIT: If you can get the Dirve key from the guy that sold you the 360 and if you want I can try to flash it back to retail. No charge just pay shipping.

[goombakid]

Yup, it sounds like a failed flash to me. If you pop the front faceplate off, either a silver Microsoft sticker or some other sticker with Microsoft's logo on it should be there covering the two halves of the console. That's one way to check.

I'm not sure what drives can be recovered, but I know at least Samsung drives can be recovered by a bad flash if you have access to the DVD key. Sounding like a bad flash, IF the guy you bought it from followed the flashing guide to a T, he may still have the DVD key available.

If not, you MAY be able to recover the DVD key by re-reading the drive, get the current key from it, and using a hex editor, recover the key string that way. I had someone read it when I needed to recover a Samsung drive from a bad flash. I cannot guarantee the same results in this case, pending the type of drive in the 360.

Hope things work out for you, though. Good luck.

[Stark]

Can I replace the DVD drive with another one from an Xbox I know hasn't been modded?

[goombakid]

Unfortunately, no. The key on the DVD drive needs to match what information is on the 360 mainboard itself. If you try to shove any drive in there that doesn't have a matching key, then the drive will act as it does now with your 360.

Again, depending on the drive, the DVD key might be recoverable. Check http://www.360drives.com/howto to see what type of drive you have. Take it from there.