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How to Replace XBox Disc Drives

If you experience your Xbox drive slowing down, or if the screen freezes during a game, then you may have problems with your Xbox disc drive. You can change the drive with a regular DVD drive of your choice. Choosing your own drive will also allow you to play games in different formats, like DVD-R and CD-R games, as well as original Xbox games.

Things You'll Need

Screwdriver set
New DVD drive

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the Xbox on the table with the back facing up. Unscrew the screws holding the back of the box and put them in a safe place until later.
- 2
  Look on the left-hand side and find a rectangular box. That is your disc drive. Remove the chrome plate from the old drive. It is on the front of the drive and has little teeth. Gently pull up the two small tabs holding it in place and it will pop right out.
- 3
  Unscrew the four screws holding the bottom of the old drive in place and put them away for later. Push away the little black tab on the right-hand side of the bottom.
- 4
  Move the cable ribbon holding the green circuit board of the drive in place, and take out the board. Detach any other cables that are holding the circuit board. If it does not come straight out see if the cable under it is stuck; if so, just move it to the side and take out the circuit board.
- 5
  Remove the circuit board in the new drive the same way you removed it from the old drive. Place the old circuit board into the new drive and attach any cables that you detached from the old drive.
- 6
  Push the cable ribbon in place over the circuit board. Place the four screws back in place with the bottom. Tighten them firmly. Snap the chrome plate onto the new drive, and put the new drive back into your Xbox. Put the bottom cover back on.

Xbox 360