Repairing an Xbox's DVD Drive

For the last four years, I've been using a chipped XBOX as my media centre. Running XBMC, it has managed to play everything I've thrown at it. Recently, though, it has had a real problem playing standard DVDs. Aside from percussive maintenance, the only way that I know to fix something is to crack it open and have a fiddle!

I've opened my Xboxes several times before - if you're new to it, you'll need a TORX screwdriver set (Size 10 & 7 are the only two bits you actually need) and a regular cross-head screwdriver. And nerves of steel, obviously. There are lots of guides to taking apart the Xbox - there's a particularly good one on repairing DVD drives.

As it turns out, my DVD drive was suffering from a 4 year accumulation of dust. Eurgh! Clicking each of the pictures will show you the horror in 5 MegaPixel detail.

Dusty Lens

Dust on the lens

Dust Around the Casing

Dust In The Unit

Dust on the Mechanism (Click for bigger)

Luckily, dust is one of the easiest problems to solve. You just put your lips together and blow...

Actually, a can of compressed air and a lint free cloth is generally better!
A quick reassembly and the DVD drive is as good as new.