Getting an X-Box 360 is certainly a viable option, and a more hassle-free one. However, the new X-Boxes won't play the original X-Box games. That's probably their only fault in my book.
I've been having this exact same problem, and I haven't quite gotten around it yet. I have made it better, though. Here are a few things you can do:
- Replace the 40-conductor IDE cable with an 80-conductor.
- Clean out all the dust from inside your X-Box
- Open up the DVD drive and clean the dust out of that carefully.
- Clean the DVD lense with an alcohol covered Q-Tip.
- Put Silver Epoxy between the X-Box's processor and heatsink so as to aid in cooling.
I've done all of the above. It hasn't eliminated the disk read errors, but it has made the X-Box work more often (and faster thanks to the new IDE cable).
If you want to replace the DVD drive, you'll most likely have to get a new X-Box drive because of its unique power connector. I've never seen an X-Box with a regulat DVD drive in it, but if you can figure out how to do it, drop me a PM.
X-Box Problem
Actually, they won't play ALL of the Xbox library. I think there's something like 200 games or so (might be closer to 60; might be 200 total including EU and Japan) that the 360 will accept right now, and I think they can add to that later through updates to the 360 Dashboard or whatever they're calling it these days.Griven wrote:However, the new X-Boxes won't play the original X-Box games.
Full list of US backwards compatable Xbox titles for the 360
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- SWG Tales Founder
My buddy's runnin' an old samsung drive that I gave him. He doesn't use the xbox power and eject buttons for the dvd drive, he just presses the buttons on the drive itself. ...plus, as everything inside is just PC hardware, why couldn't one splice the Xbox connections into the dvd rom's current buttons? Might require some rewiring, but that's easy work.Lok'i Vidaar wrote:Any XBOX DVD Drive wil work, but must be specifically made for the XBOX...
their is a different kind of connector for the power and eject on thte drive, Plus the drive has the firmware to read the fatx format on the xbox games...
But like I said you can pick up drives cheap on ebay, If you're gonna just trash it though, trash it in my direction, I'll pay for shipping :P
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- Colonel
Iago, how's your friend getting around the firmware requirements? Is he using a mod-chip?
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- Staff Corporal
Yeah, we both installed mod-chips when we started toying with our boxes. The only issue would be if you play on Live.Griven wrote:Iago, how's your friend getting around the firmware requirements? Is he using a mod-chip?
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- Colonel
See I play live and a mod chip so of right now is a no go unless I get a 360 some time soon. I have a year subscription right now and dont want to lose that.
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- Surface Marshal
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He must not play any original discs... (I don't so it wouldn't matter to me)IagoBoom wrote:My buddy's runnin' an old samsung drive that I gave him. He doesn't use the xbox power and eject buttons for the dvd drive, he just presses the buttons on the drive itself. ...plus, as everything inside is just PC hardware, why couldn't one splice the Xbox connections into the dvd rom's current buttons? Might require some rewiring, but that's easy work.Lok'i Vidaar wrote:Any XBOX DVD Drive wil work, but must be specifically made for the XBOX...
their is a different kind of connector for the power and eject on thte drive, Plus the drive has the firmware to read the fatx format on the xbox games...
But like I said you can pick up drives cheap on ebay, If you're gonna just trash it though, trash it in my direction, I'll pay for shipping :P
But any original xbox games won't work in that drive...
But like you say, any drive will work if you're playing with +or-R Media, or watching movies with it, or just playing games off the HDD... (Like me

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- SWG Tales Founder
I haven't seen his box for a while. Last I did, it was a packing crate with holes cut in to for the rotary fan and controllers to slip out of. The top was made of two flaps that he can open and close. I'm pretty sure if you shake it, it won't work again without a few hours of work.
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- Colonel
lol!IagoBoom wrote:I haven't seen his box for a while. Last I did, it was a packing crate with holes cut in to for the rotary fan and controllers to slip out of. The top was made of two flaps that he can open and close. I'm pretty sure if you shake it, it won't work again without a few hours of work.
That's awesome though...
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- SWG Tales Founder
LOL reminds me of my walkman from Junior High I had the thing rigged to pop open when so pressure was aplied to a certain area. Did it cause the thing fell apart so mant times I had to be able to fiddle with it on a whim.IagoBoom wrote:I haven't seen his box for a while. Last I did, it was a packing crate with holes cut in to for the rotary fan and controllers to slip out of. The top was made of two flaps that he can open and close. I'm pretty sure if you shake it, it won't work again without a few hours of work.
btw the link for the backwards capatible games doesn't work can some one copy and paste it for me?
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- Surface Marshal
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On the bottom, there are screws that use a star shaped bit hidden below the stickers. If you run your fingers over them, you'll fine the holes.
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- Staff Corporal
You have to peel off the 4 black rubber 'grips' on bottom and peel off a few stickers to get to the screws. They use an Allen wrench-type screw. More of a star I would say. Hard to get off but it is doable. Or... there is Skor's Idea. 

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- The Kika'Vati Order