Hi, I have an Xbox 360 console for 2 months now, and in the last 2 days I've had problems reading game disks. These consist of three symptoms, that don't happen all the time, but over 50% of the time: 1) When I power up the console with a game disk in it, I get a white screen telling me to put it in an Xbox 360 console (recognized as DVD Video, because when I get to the dashboard the DVD tray says 'Play DVD') 2) When I try to start a game (reconized in the dashboard), or while I play the game at random spots and at random times, I get the 'Disc unreadable - please clean it and try again' message (but the game DVDs are *very* clean). 3) When I am actually playing the game, it will freeze at random spots and times and I have to manually shutdown the console. Now, this happens most violently when I power up the console after a long period of inactivity, like overnight, or when I get home from work. Once I get a game to start properly I can usually play it for hours on end without problems, even if some other times it freezes after a brief/long period of time) As I am an IT professional, I'm guessing the Samsung DVD-ROM is the culprit here, and after closer inspection of my game DVDs I noticed a *lot* of tiny random scratches on all of them,which I think the DVD drive is causing, because I handle the DVD with *extreme* care. I have called Xbox support and they are picking up my 360 sometime this week, but I have read so many dreadful stories on the quality of the replacement parts/consoles that I keep wondering it there isn't a homebrew solution to this problem. A whole month without the 360 will be hard... ;-) Do you think I am doing the right thing? Do you have any suggestions? Thank you in advance
Hi there. Well, you got it narrowed down pretty well. The DVD drive is probably failing, either the lens itself, or the sliding posts on it need some greasing (you don't wanna crack it open to grease it yourself if you don't wanna void warranty, tho), or the lens might be just dirty. Hard to tell without actually opening it up and doing a few tests tho. The only thing i could think you could try to clean the lens without opening the console, is to unplug the power cord when the tray is open, and to blow compressed air (canned, or compressor source) into the drive, trying to clean the lens. If it doesn't work, best bet is probably sending to MS still. I don't think you'll end up getting a worst condition console, from the few times i've had refurbs from them the 360's are still fine to this day. Now, on a side note, just remember to avoid overheating, never block the console's air flow (intake and exhaust), that's the 360 #1 killer still. Hope that helps, cheebster.
Posted on Jun 18, 2007
If you open up your dvd drive you will find a model. go to ebay or google it. and buy the correct model dvd drive you need then replace the dvd drive. this issue will be correct when doing so.
this drive will cost you between 40-60 brand new. you might be able to get a used one a little cheaper.
also you said something about having it the 360 on over night. this is a bad idea. the 360 isnt made to be played for 5-8 hours at a time. M.S says that the console should only be played 3-4 hours max at a time and let cooled down for a hour .
leaving or playing it for a long peroid of time will cause the thermal paste to degrade and once that happens cracks or holes in the thermal paste make the GPU get to hot and this causes the 3 red lights of death. so dont leave the console on for long peroids of time
contact [email protected] for help
Posted on May 20, 2008
I dont have a solution, but i have another problem. I have a disk in the tray, and when the dashboard comes up, it says to Open Tray, i close it, then it says reading. In the end, it says Open Tray again.
Posted on Jul 09, 2010
This is actually caused by the sensors on the back of the drive overheating, all you need to do is stop the heat build up and you will be able to get back to gaming.
You need a good repair guide that will show you how to fix this or you need to send it in and get it fixed.
Use a good guide HERE or send it in.
Posted on Jul 22, 2010
Most of the previous and in particular the main post are describing
multiple system failure . First is Attributed to nothing more than
a weak laser 90% or spindel motor 5% and a wormgear outher 5% causing dirty disk error or not reading games at all .NEW LASER
ARE CHEAP 20.00-30.00 and not hard to install with a free tutorial.
Now Freezing /Lock up and or disk damage caused by the laser over focusing . This is a known problem and what has remedied
this and other failures is to attack the problem at the source
the G.P.U. has a extremity hi thermal gradient a ( HOT SPOT )
the P.C. board responds buy expanding in this very small area
witch gives you a long list of problems . Re-flowing this B.G.A chip
set and then clamping it with the right hardware will make most
360 problems a thing of the past . I hope that shed some light
on the subject.
If you have any questions feel free to ask
Rob
Posted on Feb 12, 2010
My xbox is having problems reading disks when I put a disk in it just says to open and close it and doesn't read it.
Posted on Feb 13, 2010
@Rob: An entire new drive costs $30 (look around). A new laser module costs $6. If you pay more you're getting robbed.
Posted on Aug 15, 2010
Microsoft sucks, they dont even help out loyal costumers
Posted on Apr 22, 2008
Send it to SBL Games! They fixed my XBOX fast and with a 90 Day Warranty! You can even pay extra to have your system fixed in 24 or 48 hours. Visit this website or call (951) 224-1536!
Posted on Feb 10, 2010
I dont have a solution to the problem as i am haveing the same problem my self if you tryed cleaning the lens and that did it work ?
Posted on Apr 14, 2008
I just bought an Elite Xbox 360. Within the first couple days of playing a game, i got the "disc unreadable" error. I took out the game disc and noticed "Ring Like" scratches that go around the disc. I read a warning somewhere on the packaging or paperwork that the Xbox is very sensitive and can cause damage if you bump the console while playing games. I ended up having to use a CD repair kit to buff out the disc in order to get the game working again. After thinking about it, i did finally realize that someone did bump the console when this happened...
Posted on Sep 13, 2007
Hows it going great help guys nice tips it worked for my mx vs atv untamed cheers. T.P
Travis Alan Pastrana
Posted on Jul 09, 2008
Hi there,
Save hours of searching online or wasting money on unnecessary repairs by talking to a 6YA Expert who can help you resolve this issue over the phone in a minute or two.
Best thing about this new service is that you are never placed on hold and get to talk to real repairmen in the US.
Here's a link to this great service
Good luck!
Posted on Jan 02, 2017
SOURCE: 360 drive only reads dvds, not xbox 360 games, just says put in an xbox 360 console.
You need to flash the drive with the old drive's key; otherwise the your xbox motherboard will not allow that drive to access the gameplay engine and will not allow you to play games.
Posted on Mar 01, 2008
SOURCE: Xbox not working.. Play DVD instead of Play Game
I have the same problem but since my xbox is out of warentee and I have 0 dollars here is a couple of ways i found that helped my xbox play disks that it didnt wanna play: first putting it on its side will help if it makes large circle scratches on it second if you open and close the disk tray a few times then turn the console on and off it seems to work when the consoles comes back on. I found it helpful if it was being particularly stubborn to play a game if you disconnect the internet it tends to work a little better
Posted on May 03, 2009
i had this problem with my xbox and its due to either the laser or the magnet within the disc drive that holds the disc in place. the magnet may have come loose which mean u can either open the drive up to try and reposition it, or replace the drive all together. my suggestion would be to send the xbox to microsoft if under warranty or send it to a third party company to see if they can fix it. buying a new drive for your xbox involves some very complex firmware flashing which is not advised
Posted on Jun 02, 2009
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xbox360 having problem reading game disc
yes
it doesnt read disks and thinks that it is a DVD player. it goes to the white screen mentioned in the text or it just doesnt read it.
same thing happens to me.
I bought a replacement dvd writer, with same model # and replaced it and it still telling me that the game is a 360 XBOX, play it in a 360 console.
i will put the game disc in and it will say that i have to enter and xbox 360 game or something like that and it is on a white screen and i will try over and over again and it just keeps happening,eventually it will work but within 2-5 mins the game will freeze at the same point
when i turn on my 360 the tray says dvd when its a game.
Yes, I am currently having the same problem. I'm not sure but I dont believe that I'm covered under their warrenty. What should i do to get this fixed without costing me money again. My first X-box 360 failed me and i didnt get refunded for that and now i bought a second one and its acting up and not abled to read games. If this company is making a product and selling it for a good price shouldnt there be free services for a person like myself. Please give me feedback.
hi, my Xbox 360 is doing the same thing but its been doing this for atleast 2 months now and ive had it for about a year. Everytime i start it up it will either say (Play DVD) or (Open Tray) is there something wrong with the lens or is it just the tray and how can i fix this?
Thanks
Steven
we put a game into the xbox only to be told to open the tray, the xbox tries to read the **** but we get the same message open the tray, we do so but it still wont work.
i have the same problem execpt that my disk wont play peroid it always says open tray as if it was not even in there at all and its ********* cause i just got my xbox back from being sent off and i didint get it for 2 months cause they lost it and just gave me a new one and its messing up again so i called xbox and they said my warrany is up so i bitched them out and got a hefty discount of 75% which is 25$
mine always says Open Tray after about 20 seconds of reading the disc.
i had a different problem in the beginning, the only thing that was wrong was the disc drive wouldnt open, i sent it in to microsoft and they sent it back, saying it was fixed when it wasnt, i waited for the microsoft warranty to be up and sent it in to the other warranty company i have it under they sent it back sayig it was fixed and it was worse, now it didnt read the disc, it said to play this game put it in a xbox 360 console, most of the time it says open tray like a game was never in it
exactly the same problem as your no1!! wat can i dooo
I have the same problems with a used one
The biggest problem that i have is my xbox after 4 months of having it is not reading game unless i keep opening and closing the door to it. This is the fifth xbox i have had and its getting old!!!!
its really annoyin now it happends to me all the time and take me like 30mins to get a game goin
I have the same problem, when I first moved into my new apartment I played Ninety-Nine Nights alot and most of the time it would freeze like you have said and it seemed to do this often but at random times. Recently however I noticed that it wouldn't recognize ANY of my games save for "Overlord" but I had played these games on it before with no freezing problems whatsoever it loads to the Dashboard I insert the disc, it spins saying "Reading" then turns back into "Open Tray" for some time it would simply say "This is not an Xbox 360 compatible disc blah blah" after the games would load which then turned into the not reading them at all. I put in an actual DVD movie which I had JUST bought and the movie was choppy and the sound was glitchy etc but when played on a regular DVD player it worked just fine. Currently going through the troubleshooting of this topic on MS' site but so far no luck.
my stupid 360 wont read anything i think i now the problem is if it is vibrating on the top of the xbox it either has a lose bult or the lazer is off.
when i am on the game it keeps on saying the disk is unreadable but i have cleaned the disc with a soft cloth.
Mine is doing this as well but only with one game, Viva Pinata. I have tried different discs of the same game with no luck. Any idea what I can do?
Solution Link . . . www.MicrosoftXbox360Console.com
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