Dead Thomson drive in used Xbox -- repair or replace?

[Dave Farquhar]

Sorry if this is a repeat but I couldn't find a similar topic here. You see, I got this used Xbox for $20 because the DVD drive is shot. I bought it figuring I could fix it and end up spending less than the cost of a good Xbox. So I get it home, hit eject to open the drive, and wouldn't you know it... The infamous Thomson drive inside. Crud. (Yes, I'm referring to my luck and the drive.)

So a replacement laser assembly will run me $17 on eBay. If I replace that, am I looking at it lasting me a couple of years and then needing to be replaced again? The Thomson drive is reviled both for lack of reliability and inability to read writable/rewritable CD and DVD discs, right? Inability to read writable discs is something I can live with, but I really want this thing to be reliable. I'm not interested in collecting for Xbox, but when I come across Xbox games I want to be able to check them out to make sure they're working so I can trade them with confidence for something I want.

With that in mind, am I better off fixing the Thomson drive, on the theory that if a game works in my Thomson it'll work on anyone else's, or am I better off spending 50 bucks to get a Samsung drive?

Thanks for your help. I know next to nothing about the Xbox, though I have a feeling I'm about to learn a whole lot more than I ever wanted to know...

[gepeto]

Get a samsung if you can the xbox drives are easy to replace.

[Cobra Commander]

Can you use any DVD-ROM in there or do you need a certain type?

[izarate]

You need an Xbox specific drive, but there are two or three Samsung regular DVD drives that can be modified for using with the Xbox.

[megasdkirby]

Or just replace the lens on the Thomson. It's easy and cheap.

[Cobra Commander]

Well my problem isn't the laser. It reads discs fine, it's that the drive won't even open. I push the button, it makes some noise, then nothing.

[ProgrammingAce]

Replace the drive, it's not worth the trouble.

[megasdkirby]

Well my problem isn't the laser. It reads discs fine, it's that the drive won't even open. I push the button, it makes some noise, then nothing.

Lubrication perhaps. Something is "out of whack". Happened to me on my Samsung drive.

Opened it, reseated everything, did some mild lubrication to gears, and everything was back to normal.

[Videogamerdaryll]

Lubrication perhaps. Something is "out of whack". Happened to me on my Samsung drive.

Opened it, reseated everything, did some mild lubrication to gears, and everything was back to normal.

Yea I have the same thing happen to DVD players..
I actually need to fix one that's not opening..

Another DVD player is starting to do it..It's like the lubrication dries out..

I've also found that if the circle thing that lifts the disc doesn't let the disc go it prevents the door fro opening..I had this happen with sticky label blockbuster disc.

..........................
I've found it pretty easy to replace the Drives in the Xbox..I've done it twice,but after time both drives started to act up again..Sold the one Xbox,got pissed off at the second and would up buying my Son a new xbox..I had 4 xboxes,now three..two read fine and the third with the replacement drives doesn't read everything..
.I'm not sure but isn't the Xbox closed up with security bits under the rubber feet parts..I'd have to look again..