Topic: Put Xbox Dvd-rom Drive In Pc? (Read 342 times)

Cyberdude93 · « **on:** June 02, 2004, 04:10:00 AM »

My Xbox came with a Thompson DVD drive and I'm PROBABLY going to replace it with a Samsung one. Now, I was wondering if you could hook this up to a PC, NOT for backing up original games, that would be a bonus if possible. I'd just like to use it as a normal DVD drive (I know it doesn't work well with all media but its better than nothing).

If this has been asked before, sorry, and point me to where it has been asked.

opjose · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2004, 04:39:00 AM »

Sure if you want to write drivers for it.

Cyberdude93 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2004, 04:44:00 AM »

opjose · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2004, 05:00:00 AM »

Hey, I wasn't hard on you about the question though.

But sorry that is indeed the problem. The Xbox drive uses different firmware which you would have to have a driver for.

Cyberdude93 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2004, 05:02:00 AM »

Hmm, could you update the firmware to one made for a PC Thompson drive? (and yes, I know that would remove the ability to read Xbox games, but that's not the reason I want the drive really)

opjose · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2004, 05:45:00 AM »

This MAY be possible if the firmware was indeed for the same electronics (which I highly doubt).

It would be an interesting experiment, if you didn't otherwise care about the drive.

Why do this though?

Cyberdude93 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2004, 06:13:00 AM »

Well if I replace my Thompson drive, it'll just be useless, as I doubt these sell well on eBay.co.uk. My brother has a Windows 2000 machine without a DVD ROM drive, so although it wouldn't be as good as buying a proper one, it would be okay seeing how he'd only use it for DVD movies and not DVD+Rs or anything hard to read.

Pizza Pizz · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2004, 08:16:00 AM »

It might actually work......

based on the principle that a modded 661t/f to 605b will function on both pc and xbox

But a few points to consider:

The xbox drive are slower - well the 605b is as it's limited to a max 4x dvd speed they say.

If the drive works ok on most originals and such like then that should be worth £20+
I got a philips dvd drive that is really on it's last legs - still has the seal over the screw so may tweak the laser but lost 1 already. Anyway this is kept as my spare drive to boot 007 auf when flashing a mobo/hd tsop that I bought off ebay, and for any testing of new dvd-r disc types. (the dye has to be bloody good to get a backup to run on this knackered philips drive)

Anyway - what I am saying is that it might might work but you may as well get a brand new pc dvd for under £20 which you could get that for selling a so-so thomson if it still worked ok-ish on originals, or keep it as aspare xbox drive if things went tits up or to test stuff on

If ya put it in a pc you ain't gonna read cdr's so why bother, or you could pick up an old dvd pc drive for about a fiver but time you add shipping and all that I'd just get a new pc dvd drive in the end

Cyberdude93 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2004, 02:44:00 PM »

I know it would be much better to buy a proper drive, but it isn't a "Buy one or use the old one" situation, it's "Do nothing or utiluse the old on" as neither of us have any plans to buy one anyway. Not saying what you're saying is wrong though.

Pizza Pizz · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2004, 10:05:00 PM »

fair enough - it's your thomson

gonna be a really crap dvd drive to put in a pc though

won't read 99% cdr's - might read the odd cd-rw

Won't read cheap dvd-r's very well - well if it did you probably wouldn't be looking to replace with a samsung

Bloomin' slow drive - if he is gonna watch dvd movies why not use a dvd player or xbox/ps2 etc......
If he has it on a network then stream it in or share a dvd from another pc/xbox

On a plus side of things it should be region free in ya pc as the region is set by dvd remote's dongle but then most drives can be made reg free by firmware or software

personally I would keep as spare or flogg it on ebay for about 20 notes, then if you can add another score or 30 notes top whack that 40/50 quid will get ya a nice 4x even a 8x dvd writer - not bad if you look at it as spending say 25 quid cash and part ex ya thomson for a 4x/8x dual format dvd writer that will read AND BURN cdr/dvdr's in his win 2000 pc
The cash difference can be obtainedby flogging a couple of xbox dvd's after you uhm ergh "tested" the dvd writer out a bit

still- it's up to you like you say - best of luck

nodo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2004, 02:59:00 AM »

If you were able to find other firmware that would work on this drive then more than likely would change the way the drive recognizes media. The fact that the thomson can't read cdr is probably a firmware issue and not necassarily the drive itself. You need to open the drive and see what kind of chipset it uses and then find a pc dvd-rom that uses the same chipset and use that firmware. In theory it should work but who knows.

bleugh · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2004, 05:37:00 AM »

thompsons often fetch 20 quid plus on ebay................
don't forget, theres a market for people who's kids have shoved various foodstuffs in the slot!!!

lordvader129 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2004, 07:36:00 AM »

Author Topic: Put Xbox Dvd-rom Drive In Pc? (Read 342 times)