Topic: Lens Or Dvd Drive Replacement? (cracked & Scratched Games) (Read 58 times)

adriana · « **on:** November 05, 2007, 02:44:00 AM »

I have the Samsung MS28 DVD drive on my 360.

Two of my games have been cracked in the last three months and I also get a lot of dirty disc errors. I have tried cleaning the lens and games to no help. I figure it's time to change either the lens of the entire DVD ROM drive.

My question is, given my problem with cracked discs and dirty disc errors. Should I replace only the lens or the entire DVD ROM drive?

Paying $40 for a drive replacement is not a problem at all. I just don't want to go through switching the logic boards or messing with FW keys if I don't have to. But I think if the drive is cracking my discs than I should replace the entire drive right? What do you guys think?

Also what drive should I get that will work best? (I don't mind if it's a little extra mod work) MS25 or MS28?

TIA

RDC · « **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2007, 04:01:00 AM »

If you're sure the drive is what's cracking the games then it needs to be repaired or replaced for sure, but I've yet to see a drive that did that kind of damage on it's own though and that kinda thing can most times be traced back to how the discs are handled.

As for the DDE, a POT tweak then laser replacement are the recommended steps to solving that and in most cases will resolve the issue.

The ms25 and ms28 are pretty much identical, just the FW versions are different, so if ya go from one to the other all ya have to do is dump your drives FW and flash it right to the new one, no having to screw with the key or anything like that, since you're moving the entire FW over to the new drive. That can only be done with the Samsung drives also and is really pointless since swapping the Logic boards between like drives is much faster and gets ya the same results, plus will let ya see if the issue is on the board or not since if it is the problem will go right along with it to the new drive.

adriana · « **Reply #2 on:** November 05, 2007, 06:28:00 AM »

Thanks for the reply RDC.

I don't know for sure if it's the DVD ROM drive that's cracking my discs. All I know is that I only play one game and it's always in the 360 when I turn it off. I don't move the 360 but when I have those few times, I have always made sure no games are inside the console.

Both times I was playing the game just fine then I got a dirty disc error. So I turned off the 360 and tried again. Unlike other rare times that I have gotten this dirty disc error, this time a restart of the console wouldn't fix it. So I looked at the disc and sure enough there now was a crack towards the inside of the disc.

My point is I don't handle the disc badly. Unless leaving it in the console for months does something to it. I play maybe two hours a day.

So anyway I will do as you suggest and get the same replacement drive. I'm understanding that it's ok if I get either the MS25 or MS28 when I currently have the MS28. I should replace the new replacement drive's logic board with my original one. Doing so will give me the same drive identity and I won't have to mess with FW Keys.

Thank you RDC!

RDC · « **Reply #3 on:** November 05, 2007, 07:20:00 AM »

I'd try the POT tweak on it first and see what that did, all it most likely needs is a new laser at the most.

While ya had it apart doing that I'd clean off the spindle where the disc sits, it's possible some piece of something has gotten on there and is causing some unnecessary stress on the disc when it's in place, but no matter how well ya take care of some discs sometimes they just crack and the center is usually the first place they do from the stress of removing/inserting them in cases, since they get bent pretty good sometimes, especially on removal, and that's where the stress is placed on them in those instances.

Swapping the logic board from your ms28 to another ms25/ms28 pretty much turns that 'new' drive into your drive, the key and any issues that are present on that board will go right along with it, it's pretty much the same as replacing the laser though, unless the spindle is in some way causing the disc cracking issue, which I still seriously doubt and would blame crap luck, bad discs or still how they're handled on that one and not the drive, unless ya see something on the spindle that's not letting the disc sit nice an level.

adriana · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2007, 07:14:00 PM »

Thank yo so much again RDC (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I went ahead tried to do the POT trick. I damaged the ribbon that connects to the lens. Nobody mentioned that the gold plating on the ribbon connectors were so easy to scratch away.

I spent like 4 hours on this LOL. Now I have a multimeter I'll never use again yay!

At least now my answer has been easily given to me. I need to buy a replacement drive after all. No more tweaking for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Thank you for all your help though. Now I know more about what was probably causing problems.

PS Anyone know where I can purchase those ribbons? The ones that connect from the DVD lens to the DVD logic board?

RDC · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2007, 08:22:00 PM »

Look or post in the 360 B/S/T for the flex cable, more than likely a few in there somewhere. If ya read the laser replacement tutorial then ya woulda known that cable is fragile and shoulda anyway, it is thinner than paper. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

adriana · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2007, 10:50:00 PM »

Thanks for the suggestion on 360 B/S/T !!

Would you happen to know if all DVD ROM drives for the 360 have the same type of Flex cable?
Remember I need the ribbon cable that connects the laser to the logic board.

Grim187 says he has a Hitachi one. Would that be ok?

Author Topic: Lens Or Dvd Drive Replacement? (cracked & Scratched Games) (Read 58 times)