Hardware Replacing the Wii DVD drive

[sjones900]

So I have a Wii that cannot read discs and I obviously want to fix that, however how I go about doing that is the question. I could replace the whole drive assembly with one of the cheap D23 or whatever they are ( the ones that can't read DVD's), and that would fix the problem for sure, but I'd like to be able to play burned backups of gamecube games. Or should I just replace the laser on the drive I have now? Or get the dvd incapable drive and swap the boards? I'm not sure...
If anyone has any advice or suggestions, they would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

My suggestion? Use an external hard drive instead. Games load so much faster with it and you can keep your discs in good quality. Plus it's so much cheaper to use an external than to waste money on discs.

EDIT: Didn't see the gamecube disc part, in order to play back gamecube discs you need a certain DVD drive (can't remember the model number, someone will post it eventually though).

 

[sjones900]

Maybe I should just get a wode or wiikey fusion.

 

[Lucif3r]

Wode is too expensive, imo.
If you have a d3-2 dvd you can easily swap the board to an older model (DMS, D2). However, since your DVD isnt working I guess your laser is busted, so you would need to replace that too.

Alternatively you could buy a whole new DVD cage with board and lens from an older model and just swap it out, this is usually a bit more expensive than just switching the board and laser, but still A LOT less than a wode.

 

[sjones900]

After doing some research I found out the busted drive in this Wii is a D2 what I'm looking to get is a D3 drive assembly and just swap the boards. Although that requires some minor soldering and I've never held a soldering iron in my life... or maybe I should just get the D3 and deal with it.

 

[sjones900]

Sorry to double post, but if I replaced the laser in my DVD drive that should fix my problem. The only thing I'm concerned about is that there is an anti-static solder dot that needs to be removed from new lasers ribbon cable before installing. If I were to do this, would I just warm up the solder a bit and suck it up with a pump? Or is there more to it than that?

 

[Lucif3r]

Do whatever to make sure they are not bridged anymore. The easiest is to warm it up and suck it (har har).

 

[Sicklyboy]

Do whatever to make sure they are not bridged anymore. The easiest is to warm it up and suck it (har har).

No idea how the pumps work (I need to get one), but once you figure out how to use it solder wick works wonders too.

 

[Lucif3r]

Do whatever to make sure they are not bridged anymore. The easiest is to warm it up and suck it (har har).

No idea how the pumps work (I need to get one)

Basically melt the solder, aim the pump, press button and boom! solder gone... Well, thats whats supposed to happen anyway.. My pump sucks so it does whatever it wants to lol