Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Remove Outer Case
Disconnect all peripheral devices and cable connectors. This includes memory cards, controllers, power supply and A/V cables.
Remove the faceplate. Use one hand to hold the USB port cover open while squeezing the top and bottom of the faceplate and prying it off with the other hand.
Remove the base plate. Lay the Xbox right side up with the front facing you. Look through the ventilation holes on the right side (the side with the base plate and rubber feet) to locate the tabs holding the gray base plate in place. Use a precision screw driver to push each of the three tabs down while prying the gray base plate off. Turn the Xbox over and repeat the process to finish removing the base plate.
Remove the hard drive. Push the hard drive release button and remove the drive.
Remove the remaining gray ventilation cover. Lay the Xbox right side up with the front facing you. Repeat the process used to remove the base plate. Release each of the three tabs on both sides while prying the cover off.
Remove the warranty sticker on the front of the unit to expose the four tabs that hold the top part of the case to the bottom.
Use a flat-head precision screwdriver to release the four tabs.
Place the Xbox upside down and turn the console around so that the backside is facing you. Release the seven tabs holding the back half of the top part of the case in place and remove the top part of the outer case. Use a small, flat-head precision screwdriver to easily release the tabs.
Remove the black screws not associated with the heat-sink to grant access to the DVD player. The heat-sink is identified by two "Xs" in the center of the console and it has a screw at each tip for a total of eight. Do not remove these screws or the silver screws around the outer edge of the console.
Turn the console right side up and place it so that the front is facing you. Pull the "Eject" button straight out to remove it and remove the remaining part of the outer cover.
Replace the DVD Player
Lift up gently on the DVD player to expose the connecting cables.
Unplug the SATA connector cable and the power cable from the DVD drive and remove it.
Release the two tabs holding the "Xbox" drive plate on the original DVD drive to remove it. Use a precision screwdriver if necessary.
Remove the screws holding the DVD drives metal casing in place. Remove the metal casing to expose the drive's circuit board.
Release the tabs holding the circuit board in place and carefully unplug the ribbon cables holding the circuit board in place.
Repeat the previous steps to remove the circuit board from the new DVD drive.
Insert the circuit board from the old DVD player into the replacement drive, plug the ribbon cables in and secure the circuit board in place.
Enclose the replacement drive in its metal casing, screw it into place and attach the "Xbox" drive plate.
Insert the replacement drive in the console, then connect the SATA connector and power cable. Reinsert the "Eject" button.
Attach the top of the outer casing to the console.
Turn the Xbox over and replace the black screws that hold the DVD player in place.
Plug the Xbox console in and connect it to the TV with the A/V cables. Insert a game disc and verify that the new drive reads the disc without problems. Turn off the console and remove the power and A/V cables to finish the assembly process.
Assemble the rest of the console by reversing the steps used to take it apart.