Hacking Advice on modding 360 + DVD Drive replacement

[Gamemaster1379]

Hello everyone, I am looking for some information and advice on how to approach modding an old xbox 360 that I've come across. I am not familiar with Xbox 360 modding at all, and also seem to have run into a bit of a situation with the DVD drive as well, causing a double whammy, here.

To start, I have an Xbox 360 arcade unit, which appears to be identified as a Jasper according to the Xbox 360 motherboard identification (Power Socket). The current Dashboard is 2.0.15574.0

The Xbox does have a disc drive, however the disc drive not the one that came with the unit. The disc drive in this 360 came from a black first generation Xbox 360 Elite [that RRoD'd]. However, this disc drive has not been properly flashed to work with this arcade 360, and will only play DVDs. I do not have the original disc drive for the arcade to get the information from. The disc drive that came from the Elite is a Hitachi (Ver 0079FL).


So, given the above information, I am not sure what to do with the Xbox 360 unit and could use assistance on what I could do with it. I have a few questions that hopefully can be answered.

-Can I flash this optical drive to work with the arcade 360 unit (without the original disc drive? )
-Would I be able to flash the Xbox itself to play backups from optical drives or external HDDs?
-If I'm unable to do the above or the above two would be too expensive, should I sell the unit for parts, or is it even worth selling? If it is worth selling, where is my best bet?

 

[Devin]

Since you're unable to get the original drive keys you have 4 options.

RJTAG it and get the drive keys. Flash it back to stock and flash a new disc drive with the keys. This allows you to go online and gives you the option to install a ODDE. Which allows you to USB load game.

RJTAG it and not go online but you get stuff like homebrew, USB loading, etc.

Send it to someone to RJTAG it and just retrieve the keys. (Most people charge like $20~ for this service.) Then continue at the middle of the first option I gave you.

Sell it.

 

[DinohScene]

I'd opt for R-JTAGing it like Devin said.

If you don't mind XBLive anymore.

 

[Gamemaster1379]

Since you're unable to get the original drive keys you have 4 options.

RJTAG it and get the drive keys. Flash it back to stock and flash a new disc drive with the keys. This allows you to go online and gives you the option to install a ODDE. Which allows you to USB load game.

RJTAG it and not go online but you get stuff like homebrew, USB loading, etc.

Send it to someone to RJTAG it and just retrieve the keys. (Most people charge like $20~ for this service.) Then continue at the middle of the first option I gave you.

Sell it.

I have zero interest in getting on Xbox Live. I never cared for it much when I had it, I don't want to bother paying for the membership, and currently have no way to get online anyhow without doing an ad-hoc from my computer because my only source of internet is 3G internet from a cell phone's wireless hotspot.

 

[DinohScene]

Then get it R-JTAGged.
Or if you can solder, R-JTAG it yourself ;p

Since you don't care about XBLive anyway.
You can get XBLA, XBLindie, DLC etc as well.
Along with storing games on the internal HDD ;]

 

[Gamemaster1379]

I have zero interest in getting on Xbox Live. I never cared for it much when I had it, I don't want to bother paying for the membership, and currently have no way to get online anyhow without doing an ad-hoc from my computer because my only source of internet is 3G internet from a cell phone's wireless hotspot.

That sounds great, and no, I can't solder. So I'll probably have it Jtagged elsewhere.

I appreciate the feedback. Wasn't sure what I could do with this thing. Good to know.

EDIT: If it isn't against forum policy to ask, do you have any recommendations on who/where I could get this R-JTagged at?

 

[DinohScene]

Aye.
Humm.
I have no idea if Devin still does RGH/JTAG/R-JTAG...
I certainly do but you'll have to ship it to Europe, so it's a no go xd

You could try someone from the Team Xecuter forums?

 

[Gamemaster1379]

Aye.
Humm.
I have no idea if Devin still does RGH/JTAG/R-JTAG...
I certainly do but you'll have to ship it to Europe, so it's a no go xd

You could try someone from the Team Xecuter forums?

I wonder if international shipping would even make it worth the money. And yeah, I looked into team Xecutor forums a bit, but I can't seem to get into the services board there. It keeps redirecting me to a page that tells me I need to read a topic, and there doesn't seem to be any way to have it marked as read--so I've no way to post there.

 

[DinohScene]

Shipping that much would likely be 20 quid.
So it's 40 quid in shipping alone.

Humm, read the entire thread.
if not PM a USA user on there.

 

[Thanatos Telos]

Aye.
Humm.
I have no idea if Devin still does RGH/JTAG/R-JTAG...
I certainly do but you'll have to ship it to Europe, so it's a no go xd

You could try someone from the Team Xecuter forums?

Well, one way to test that.
Devin, well, do you? Or is it just drive flashing?

 

[Gamemaster1379]

Shipping that much would likely be 20 quid.
So it's 40 quid in shipping alone.

Humm, read the entire thread.
if not PM a USA user on there.

Different browser seemed to fix it.

 

[DinohScene]

Aye sweet.
What browser was you using if I may ask?

 

[Devil May Cry]

Not trying to threadjack, but my situation is very close to the OP's.

I too have a Jasper 360 with a disc drive issue. However, my issue is that the disk drive will not read discs. 360 games, DVDs, nothing. Like the OP, I don't mind not having LIVE. Would R-JTAG fit my needs too? I would like to USB/HDD load if possible.

 

[Sicklyboy]

Not trying to threadjack, but my situation is very close to the OP's.

I too have a Jasper 360 with a disc drive issue. However, my issue is that the disk drive will not read discs. 360 games, DVDs, nothing. Like the OP, I don't mind not having LIVE. Would R-JTAG fit my needs too? I would like to USB/HDD load if possible.

Is it a pre-owned console that was opened prior to your obtaining it, and it's had this problem since you got it?

Honestly it just sounds like your laser is dead, that's a $9 fix. If this is a new development, meaning it had previously worked, then your laser is definitely just dead.

 

[Devil May Cry]

I picked it up like this. If that really is the case, that'd be awesome! I'll try that first then.

 

[Sicklyboy]

I picked it up like this. If that really is the case, that'd be awesome! I'll try that first then.

My question still stands about whether it's been opened or not. You'd see a broken warranty seal on the front of the console behind the faceplate.

If not I'd wager to say your laser is bad. Use this guide to find out what drive you have - http://www.360drives.com/howto get comfortable using a T10 screwdriver and a few other tools to open your case (scissors - watch your fingers, or small flathead screwdrivers) if you don't get an opening tool. Buy the appropriate laser off of ebay.

Edit - I bought an 360 for $8 that wouldn't read disks. One $8 laser later and it works flawlessly - it hadn't been opened.

 

[Devil May Cry]

Uhhh...I'm not quite sure. The sticker looks like some tried picking at it, but the seal isn't actually broken. It doesn't look like someone tried to re-apply the sticker either. The part that is intact is stuck firmly.

 

[DinohScene]

Easy fix is indeed the replacement of the laser.

If you're interested in Hombrew/emulatores/XBLA/Xbox 1/DLC etc, then an R-JTAG will fit your needs (but you'll need to spend more to do that ;])

 

[Devil May Cry]

Alright, I've disassembled the 360 to the drive. This has DEFINITELY been opened previously, this thing has so many broken clips I was surprised it was even holding itself together. Seems I have a Lite-On drive. Hopefully its just the laser. I've noticed people mentioning POT tweaks in regards to lasers. Is the swap as simple as replacing one laser with another or do I have to tweak it in a certain way afterwards?

 

[Sicklyboy]

As easy as popping the old laser out and putting the new one in. IIRC Lite-On drives (or maybe it was Hitachi) were the easiest to replace the lasers in. The others are still easy but need a few extra steps.