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How to Change the Lens on a Toshiba XBox 360 DVD Drive

The Xbox 360 video game console has a DVD drive designed for playing DVD games. The lens that the laser focuses through can become dislodged from the vibrations of the drive and crack or develop a fracture that renders it unusable. You can change the lens on the console's DVD drive, which in many cases will have been made by Toshiba, providing you are willing to void the warranty. You will need a replacement DVD lens from a laser supply shop, and a few tools commonly found in most households. No electrical skills are needed and the procedure is similar to that for a stand-alone DVD player.

Things You'll Need

Bath towel
Flat-edged screwdriver
Torx screwdriver
Phillips jeweler's screwdriver
Tweezers
White glove
Replacement lens
Compressed air

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the Xbox 360's power cord and remove any cables, game controllers and USB flash drives connected to it. Place a bath towel on a table. Place the console vertically on the towel with the faceplate facing up.
- 2
  Grip the left top side of the faceplate and the bottom right side. Pull the left side of the faceplate to the left and the bottom right side up to remove it from the console.
- 3
  Rotate the console so that the vent-like holes are on either side. Insert the tip of a flat-edged screwdriver into each of the holes and lift up to release the inner clips.
- 4
  Place the console face down on the towel. Raise the shelf on the bottom to reveal the screws beneath it. Remove these screws with the Torx screwdriver. Return the console to an upright, horizontal position on the towel. Grip the sides of the console and pull the outer case off.
- 5
  Remove the screws at the back panel with the Torx screwdriver. Pull the back panel off the console. Pull the plastic inserts on either side of the console off. Remove the screws from the metal shield on the top of the console with the Torx screwdriver. Pull the metal shield off.
- 6
  Locate the DVD drive that is on the console. The DVD drive is a rectangular metal box with a warning sticker on the top. Remove the screws from around the drive with a Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Lift the drive up and pull the two cables out of its back.
- 7
  Place the DVD drive on the towel face down. Remove the screws from the sides of the drive with the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver. Slide the case off the drive.
- 8
  Turn the drive over. Locate the lens assembly at the center of the drive. Remove the screws from the clip placed on the drive that is next to the spindle at the center of the lens assembly with the Phillips jeweler's screwdriver.
- 9
  Remove the clip. Grip the lens that is under the clip with a tweezers. Remove the lens from the lens assembly and dispose of it in the trash.
- 10
  Put on a white glove. Pick up an edge of the replacement lens with the hand that is wearing the white glove. Place the lens in the depression that was formerly occupied by the original lens. Rotate the lens to seat it in the depression. Place the clip back on and reattach the screws. Blow off the lens and laser assembly with a burst of compressed air.
- 11
  Turn the drive over. Slide the case back on and reattach the screws. Turn the drive over. Insert the two plugs back into their appropriate connections on the back of the drive. Place the drive back into its original position and reattach the screws.
- 12
  Blow off the inside of the console with bursts of compressed air. Place the metal shield back on and reattach the screws. Place the back panel on, reattach the screws and return the plastic inserts to their original positions on the console. Place the outer case back on. Turn the console over and reattach the screws to the bottom. Return the console to its original location, reattach the cables, game controllers and USB flash drives to their original positions. Plug the power cord back into a wall outlet.

Xbox 360