Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 10:06 pm Post subject: How to check DVD Drive condition?
Hi!
Is there app or any different way to test Xbox's DVD-Drive?
I have many Xbox consoles and I want to sell some of them...
But first I want to choose best DVD Drives and place them in consoles which stay with me.
Thanks in advance.
Amiga1200 V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Jun 19, 2012 Posts: 461
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 10:20 pm Post subject:
i'm not sure if there is a "specific" drive integrity app but you could look up "drive benchmark" tools? doubt they'd be any on the xbox...or any console come to think of it?!
.............
i can't say for which is the "best" drives through personal experience but of the ones i have used, they've all worked just as well as another! (destroyed/unusable drives non-withstanding)
a good way to test the drive reading stability is get a decent sized RETAIL game like "ninja gaiden" or "metal gear solid II" and dump that disk to the internal hdd....dvd2XBOX or UNLEASHX dash frontend will let you install the game IF you have the hdd capacity to back it...the two mentioned games are DVD-9 (dual layer) disks and will be a PERFECT test for the drive!
another way is to write a backup disk and dump that to the hdd....i don't create "backup disks" myself (SPPV mods non-withstanding) and i don't know about writing backup DVD-9's..never done it or needed to but if you can fill the disk (the backup should still be an XISO, un-viewable by normal means but will still work in the console it was written for..IMGBURN is a good xbox backup disk maker) then that would be great!
good luck!
(somebody please chip-in here!) _________________ to all my friends... farewell and all the best to future prosperity... and remember, be excellent to each other!
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 10:42 pm Post subject:
Just as a general rule, Samsung drives are usually the best and Thompson drives are the worst. Philips drives are in the middle of the two. _________________
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 12:18 pm Post subject:
If you want to test a drive grab any Emu Installer and burn it at 8x to a shit disc. NOT RITE-K, use some no-namer Walmart brand crap disc, then try to install everything 1 by 1. If it kicks you an error that drive neads to be tweaked. If it just cuts through everything no issue thats a good drive.
As a rule all V1 drives are lame, that goes for Thomson, Samsung and Philips. They all had issues reading burned media. The V2 drives were quite nice. I swear by V2 Philips and the HL drives as they read everything and are the newest drives so in theory should have the most life left in em.
Issue you you may/will see with Sammy drives is refusing to open, it was a very common issue with both models.
^^ that is HEAVY shit! some peoples DON'T deserve to have tech if that's how they treat it!
i suppose one could see it as a testament to the drive quality..it withstood idiocy first hand! wouldn't rate a second chance of survival at all but if i see anybody do that IRL, i wrap a length of 3x3" around their skulls!
(the stupidity of some never ceases to amaze and yet disgust me at the same time) _________________ to all my friends... farewell and all the best to future prosperity... and remember, be excellent to each other!
Mudzyn Xbox-HQ Newbie Xbox Version: ??? Modded: ???
Joined: Mar 29, 2013 Posts: 3
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:41 pm Post subject:
Thanks for your interest.
All of drives I have are Samsungs (V1 and V2).
I will try with DVD9 or Emuinstaller.
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:05 pm Post subject:
Be careful using DVD9 they need to be burned special (layer break) or you just get a coaster
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:28 pm Post subject:
The samsungs do stick a lot when opening. IF you just smack the console above the DVD drive, they will open with no problem. _________________
MrMajst3r Xbox-HQ User Xbox Version: 1.0+1.1+1.6 Modded: TSOP+softmod+chip
Joined: Oct 21, 2012 Posts: 18
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:54 pm Post subject:
I have no problems with opening Samsung drives.
These drives just need to be clean (especially belt) and tray lubricated.
Prehistoricman Moderator Xbox Version: 1.6 crystal Modded: Xecuter 3
Joined: Oct 09, 2011 Posts: 406
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 10:36 am Post subject:
SPPV wrote:
Issue you you may/will see with Sammy drives is refusing to open, it was a very common issue with both models.
Loved my solution to this, although the problem now is that is opens too easily and gets stuck at the end :(
I have a Samsung V2 (I think) but it struggles to read discs first time now that the magnet is rather weak. Need to find a way to strengthen it...
The Hitachi replacement drives are pretty awesome. Never had one unfortunately, but some people say they are rather awesome. _________________
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:38 pm Post subject:
Ive had 2 1.6c XBOXs that had the HL drives and I found them to be quite nice. Just theyre so rare I usualy dont even recomend/mention them. But if you can get your hands on 1 grab it. Ive got games that came with XBOXs Ive bought online that were beat to shit and the HL drives ripped em to HDD no issue.
Mudzyn Xbox-HQ Newbie Xbox Version: V1.6b Modded: Babylon3 GS
Joined: Mar 29, 2013 Posts: 3
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 7:24 pm Post subject:
What is 1.6c Xbox? I've heard only about 1.6a and 1.6b.
Although, I have one LG 8050L drive and it's very good, but I think it's also noisier than Samsung or Philips.
I test all my drives with Emuinstaller, and all except one passed through full installation without error.
This faulty one is Samsung V2. It doesn't read any disc. I think it isn't lens problem, because in UnleashX I'm getting "unknown" instead of "empty" (typical dead lens symptom). Any ideas?
ATA and power cable is OK.
Amiga1200 V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Jun 19, 2012 Posts: 461
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 7:50 pm Post subject:
^^ the faulty drive may require a POT calibration for it's lens assembly?
if you've MANUALLY cleaned the lens assembly by hand and the symptoms persist, the drive is fucked! (bar the possibility of a lens adjustment restoring functionality?)
give the knackered drive a DAMN good cleaning and if the issue remains, try for a POT calibration for the lens! (potentiameter adjusted/aligned) if you find the drive is worth the trouble?
it IS a professional endeavor so know that before you get ugly with it!
youtube can help with POT calibrations, perhaps the tutorial section here?
(POT alignments is NOT something i've done so i wouldn't know where to begin aside youtube and the resident tutorial section on the site i was at!)
did find THIS as the last/latest entry in regards to a POT calibration...
just search for "POT" onsite (no tab quotes) and you'll get a few hits!
of course, that's if the drive can be recovered and it's worth your time? (give the drive unit a good clean before you consider getting all techy with it)
all the best! _________________ to all my friends... farewell and all the best to future prosperity... and remember, be excellent to each other!
Prehistoricman Moderator Xbox Version: 1.6 crystal Modded: Xecuter 3
Joined: Oct 09, 2011 Posts: 406
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:51 pm Post subject:
'give the knackered drive a DAMN good cleaning'
This reminds me of a few days ago. I was staying at a friend's house and he has a 360 with a DVD drive that was in an awful condition. The way to make it read discs was to smack the 360 just as the disc went in the drive. One night, the console would just not read it at all and this guy smashed the top of the Xbox so many times and it just kept on doing nothing or saying the disc was unreadable.
So we cracked it open, dusted the whole thing with a hairdryer (lol) and then gave the drive some cleaning. Put it back together and read everything like a dream.
Fixing stuff yourself is just so much better. _________________
SPPV V.I.P. Lifetime
Joined: Sep 13, 2010 Posts: 2644 Location: Kamloops BC Canada
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 2:08 am Post subject:
Mudzyn wrote:
What is 1.6c Xbox? I've heard only about 1.6a and 1.6b.
Although, I have one LG 8050L drive and it's very good, but I think it's also noisier than Samsung or Philips.
1.6c is the same as the 1.6b but has the HL drive instead of a Philips. !.6a has a philips but different RAM from a 1.6b
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