How to Fix a XBox 360 That Won't Read a Disc

Adesign defect in the DVD drive used in the Xbox 360 can cause it to cease recognizing that a Xbox game disc has been inserted because too great a space exists between the laser reading the game disc and the disc itself. You can fix this problem with the DVD drive with just a few tools and without having to have any electronic skills, although opening the Xbox 360 will void the warranty. Not having to take the game console into an authorized service center will let you save money and get back to gaming fast.

Open the Xbox 360

Put a bath towel down on a table. Remove all of the cables from the Xbox 360. Put the Xbox 360 down on the bath towel with the hard drive compartment facing up.

Grab the left top corner of the faceplate with your left hand and squeeze. Put two fingers of your right hand into the USB door in the lower right corner of the faceplate and pull up. Wiggle the faceplate loose. Remove the faceplate.

Put the Xbox 360 down horizontally on the bath towel with the power button facing you. Insert the tip of the flat-edged screwdriver into one of the ventilation holes at the top right side of the Xbox 360. Wiggle the tip of the flat-edged screwdriver to loosen the four clips inside at the top edge.

Press the power button on the front of the Xbox 360. Repeat the procedure with the flat-edged screwdriver on the left side of the Xbox 360.

Turn the Xbox 360 face down on the bath towel. Lift up on the bottom shelf. Remove the 14 screws that are revealed underneath using the Torx screwdriver. Return the Xbox 360 to its face-up position on the bath towel.

Lift up on the outer case of the Xbox 360 by pulling at both sides with your hands. Remove the screws from the back plate with the Torx screwdriver. Pull the back plate off.

Pull the plastic inserts at the left and right side of the console up and off.

Remove the screws from around the DVD drive using the Phillips jeweler’s screwdriver. Lift the DVD drive up with your left hand. Pull the two plugs out of the back of the DVD drive with your right hand.

Fix the DVD Drive

Put the DVD drive face down on the bath towel. Remove the screws from the side of the DVD drive with the Phillips jeweler’s screwdriver. Pull the disc tray out of the DVD drive about halfway. Lift the case off of the DVD drive.

Remove the small magnet that is stuck to the inside of the case. Apply bonding glue to one side of the small magnet.

Place the side of the small magnet that has the bonding glue into the spindle hole in the center of the DVD drive. Press the small magnet down to engage the glue. Wait at least six hours.

Put the case back onto the DVD drive. Reattach the cables to the back of the DVD drive. Reassemble the DVD drive to the Xbox 360.

Reassemble the Xbox 360 by reversing the steps that you took to disassemble it. Reattach the cables to the Xbox 360.