Xbox 360 E CD Drive Replacement

Written By: George

Comments: 19

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

5 minutes

Introduction

Following this guide involves opening the Xbox 360 E and is somewhat more involved than replacing other parts of the Xbox.

Tools

Spudger

Step 1

Push the Spudger into the crevice between the grated top panel of the Xbox and the bottom body with the rubber feet.
Pull back on the spudger like a lever, keeping it pressed firmly into the crevice.

Step 2

Slide the spudger along the separation you have created between the grated panel and the bottom body of the Xbox.
Periodically pull back on the spudger like a lever, keeping it pressed firmly into the crevice.

Step 3

Continue sliding the spudger along the perimeter of the left grated face of the Xbox.
Pull the top panel off.

Step 4

Remove the 11 mm screw left of the green wifi-card using the T9 Torx screw bit.

In my case it was a T10 Screw, not T9

Limer o - 08/08/17

Step 5

Firmly grip the green Wi-Fi card and pull it out of the Xbox.

On that wifi card there is a little port that you can plug and old router antena into. Any idea what its called?

Tyler Goyette - 01/05/17

Step 6

Push the spudger into the crevice between the right grated face and the top body of the Xbox. It's easier to begin away from the vent.
Pull up on the spudger like a lever, keeping it pressed firmly into the crevice.

Step 7

Slide the spudger along the crevice to separate the grated face and the top body.

Step 8

Wiggle the spudger in the crevice as you slide the spudger to loosen the bottom plate.
Slide the spudger along the crevice, going completely about the perimeter of the bottom panel.
Pull the bottom panel off.

Step 9

Remove the five long black 55 mm screws labeled C2-5 and C7 with a T9 Torx screwdriver.
Carefully flip the device and pull off the body by lifting from the metal section that is attached to the plastic exterior.

C1 - C5 screws

Jeff Gray - 14/06/15

And not T9 - the're T10 screws

Limer o - 08/08/17

Missing some steps here…. Where are the clips holding the sides together? To go straight from “Remove bottom cover” to “Device is apart” is a bit… lacking.

Aksel Barnes - 13/10/19

Yes, Aksel Barnes is correct. There are missing pictures and steps showing the removal of the plastic exterior from the metal section.

yovel binjamin -

Step 10

Orient the Xbox so the bottom body is facing upwards. Make sure you see the rubber feet to know you have the correct side of the device.
Lift the bottom body slightly away from the core at a 45 degree angle.

Step 11

Rotate the Xbox so you are now looking at the back of the device.
This step of disassembly requires the removal of the warranty sticker. This will void your warranty. Check the main page for a link to warranty information from Microsoft.
Remove the sticker from the back of the Xbox.
The sticker is not needed for reassembly.

Step 12

Turn the Xbox to the left to locate the clip holding the body together.
With a spudger, press up on the clip like a latch. Move to the far end to undo the other clip the same way.

Step 13

Push the spudger into the crevice. Slide the spudger along the vertical crevice to detach the last clip. The bottom body should slide off after this.

Step 14

Use your fingers to unplug the blue ribbon cable from the CD drive.

Note: The ribbon cable connected to the CD drive can be in the color red (as it was on my board). Just make sure the other end is connected to the motherboard to be sure.

yovel binjamin -

Step 15

Use tweezers to unplug the blue and pink wires.

Step 16

Lift the front end of the CD drive and take it out.

Just note that you will have to swap the PCB inside the disc drive. If you do not go through with this the game will not start.

You do also require some soldering skills as the wires for the motor and sensor for the disc tray are soldered to the PSB.

Michael Mouton -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

11 comments

i wish the bottom cover magically came off like in step 9

sandjo - 25/03/16

screws are actually C1- C5 one is incorrectly labelled - C7 = C1 also in step 8.5 there are 3 clips holding back edge of bottom cover to top one. one on each end and one just to right of I/O area. can get 2 of them with a spudger (ends) and the middle one with a isesamo.

Andrew Boyd - 19/05/16

Several steps missing between 8 and 9

Freddie Parsons - 31/01/17

Like remove wifi adaptor.

william capewell - 01/08/19

There is some consistency errors in this guide. Step 9 seems to blast ahead beyond where we should be at this point of the guide.

Joe G. - 28/08/18

Yeah, most definitely it jumps from removing the side grills to have completely disassembled the entire console case...

MagoSaronno -

All the videos I watch tell me to take the drive apart and use the old motherboard on the new drive, so it's the same old motherboard. But mine is broke so can I just use the same motherboard from the new drive?

Gregory Lansberry - 29/05/19

No must change the board over or it will not work.Gregory Lansberry.

william capewell - 01/08/19

Did you not mention the fact that the drives won’t work unless programmed?

Jack Smith -

I have had the need to replace the cd assembly on a few 360 e-models. The problem I run into occasionally is the new cd assembly will sometimes only play music discs. I'm not sure if there is a software lock on the assembly or not as installing a 2nd new drive fixes the problem. Are some 360 drive assemblies not compatible with certain mobo revisions? Also, once you get the sides off, a very long screwdriver does the trick on the clips to get it open.

Willam T. Purnell -

Didn't mention you have to remove the original dvd mainboard and put into the new drive for it to be recognised

tim hoath -