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How to Adjust the Lens on the Xbox

The Microsoft Xbox gaming console allows you to play hundreds of compatible games on your television screen. Over time, however, the laser lens in the unit might get dirty or even become misaligned. When this happens, the consoled may not be able to read game discs or produce random errors when playing games. Adjusting the lens inside the Xbox is possible if you have basic electronics skills and access to some basic hand tools.

Things You'll Need

Long stick or wood dowel
Flat-head screwdriver
Torx screwdriver
Jeweler's screwdriver set
Mutimeter

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the Xbox, then remove the power cord and other cables. Place the Xbox on a clean, flat work surface.
- 2
  Grip the faceplate of the Xbox using your hands, then gently pry it off.
- 3
  Insert the long dowel or stick into one of the white holes on the right side of the exposed Xbox face. Using the long dowel or stick, press the locking tabs for the right-side cover plate of the Xbox to release them. Pry off the side plate. Do the same for the left-side cover plate.
- 4
  Use the flat-head screwdriver to press the tabs on the inner side plates to release them. Remove the left and right inner side plates.
- 5
  Loosen and remove the retaining screws on the back and sides of the Xbox case.
- 6
  Pull the inner front cover of the Xbox straight out to remove it.
- 7
  Use a jeweler's screwdriver to loosen and remove the captive screws on both sides of the Xbox DVD drive. Unplug the power cord and ribbon cable from the rear of the drive. Remove the DVD drive from the console case.
- 8
  Turn the DVD drive upside down. Remove the circular sticker on the bottom of the DVD drive to expose a small screw. Remove the screw with the jeweler's screwdriver. Remove the Torx screws on either side of the DVD drive. Set all screws aside.
- 9
  Turn the DVD drive right side up, then pull off the casing cover. Disconnect the ribbon connector inside the enclosure, then remove the circuit board from the drive.
- 10
  Set the multimeter to read resistance and change the value to "200 milliamps."
- 11
  Locate the potentiometer on the DVD drive labeled "POT." Touch one of the probes on the multimeter to the screw contact on the left side of the potentiometer, then touch the other probe to the contact on the right side. Review the display on the multimeter.
- 12
  Turn the screw contact on the left side of the potentiometer clockwise a quarter turn. Review the reading from the potentiometer again on the multimeter.
- 13
  Adjust the left screw contact of the potentiometer until the multimeter reads 1100. If you adjust the setting higher than 1100, turn the screw contact counterclockwise to reduce it.
- 14
  Reassemble the Xbox by reversing the steps used to take it apart.

Xbox 360