Restoring an Xbox 360 launch team console

I recently picked up a bare Xbox 360 launch team console. Overall the outside is in good shape but it has some issues that I'd like to resolve. I'm new to restoring consoles so I'd appreciate some input on how to do things correctly.

Firstly it suffers from the RROD (E18 "digital backbone failure"). As far as I can tell I have two options: reballing the existing motherboard or replacing it entirely with another model. I'm aware that reballing isn't a completely permanent fix but it would allow the console to remain as whole as possible. Alternatively I could replace the motherboard (and bottom plastics) with a Jasper model. Ideally I'd like to do this in order to give the console the longest lifetime, but it would no longer be complete.

Secondly it's missing the metal hard drive identification plate. Whoever owned this console before appears to have removed it, probably because it had his/her gamertag engraved onto it. I'm unlikely to come across a loose launch team hard drive so my options are probably limited. Not sure the best way to replace this without resorting to expensive custom metal work. I could fit a regular "HDD" identification plate on it.

I'm also missing the controller, but that's not a huge concern right now.

 

Looks really nice! curious as to how you managed to come across such a console?

 

Replacing the mobo is going to be the best way to extend the life, but like you said it isn't all original parts. You also run the risk of damaging the shell when opening it up (which applies to both options)

I can't say I know any better options for the HDD metal strip. Quite frankly I don't even know what an original looks like.

 

I found this one on ebay a little while back. They show up from time to time but are unfortunately often quite expensive.

That's a good point on the shell. I'll need to be extra careful if I do open it.


The metal strip on the HDD would look like this: http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/special-editions/360e2.jpg. They were engraved with the launch date or customized with the owner's gamertag.

 

Here's what I would do in all honesty. I open the console, as carefully as humanly possible to open a Xbox, as if you were opening a tomb of an ancient casket. Don't open it with a screw driver or a wall pin, use the xecuter tool. I would follow this overly detailed guide step by step. http://team-xecuter.com/360unlock/

After that, I would take the mobo out and replace it with a Jasper Kronos board (which is the best fat Xbox 360 mobo made). Nobody wants an Xbox that they can't use. And the hardware that is inside of it now is destined to fail, even if you get it reballed, or fixed, it still is destined to fail. I would save your self the money and trouble and just replace the mobo and the bottom shell of the Xbox 360 so you can use the HDMI. To me it would still be complete, even if the original mobo is gone and the shell. The way I see it, the hardware that is in it was designed completely flawed, and the console would be better without it. If you figure you don't like it like that, you can always go back and replace it with the failed hardware.

Kind of like restoring an old car with a better engine of the day.

As for the HDD bezel, I think it would be pretty cool to find an early Xbox 360 HDD with the thick metal that they had on them, rather than the shitty plastic they use in the later ones, and take it off, go to a metal shop or somewhere that does metal engraving, get your name or gamertag engraved into it, and either snap the thing onto your Launch Xbox or glue it place.

 

I can't see metal engraving to be too expensive, just find some small time metal shop and get it done there. They often do a just as nice job as other places but charge much less.
There's a handful I know that are local to me that do stuff for really cheap prices, I just need to wander though the sketchy part of town to get to it.

 

It's probably best to leave it as is. I know you want to restore it but, if you damage the case by accident you'll be swearing for a while lol.
Just take care with it bro.

 

Just buy a couple cheap tools and open it carefully , it only takes a couple minutes and you can add a new bottom and new Mobo easy.

 

Thanks for all of the input everyone. I'll acquire the proper opening tools and see if I can carefully open the unit. If I run into any concerns while doing that I'll bail and keep it as is.

I'll also shop around for laser engravers. There appear to be a few in town. I do have an old hard drive with the full metal identification plate that I can pop off and use for this. I'll find the best method to remove "HDD" engraving and create a template based on existing launch team images for laser engraving.

 

If you need any help opening it and switching the bottom and adding a new mobo I would do it for you if you are from the US and you cover shipping.

 

Since you are doing this yourself engrave your own gamertag (if any). That way it will really belong to you, and seems more original.

 

Personally I'd stick with having a plate engraved to look as close to the original as possible. The point of restoring a car, for example, is to keep as much of the original as possible and fabricate new parts for that which is too far gone to allow the car to function/work/appear factory fresh. Granted a lot of people choose to paint their Model T some color that wasn't even chemically possible back in the day but paints can be swapped on a piece of sheet metal without ruining the original steel.

When you go about opening it I'd suggest trying to use something made of plastic rather than metal. At the very least this will prevent you from scratching the hell out of the case if something goes wrong. Assuming the case hasn't been dropped or other unfortunate incidents it should pop open without much trouble.

 

I appreciate the offer, but if anything were to accidentally happen to the console I'd rather blame myself than someone else. I've read over the opening procedure and it seems pretty straight forward. The donor jasper console will get opened first to ensure I've got the process down.

I'll be doing a mixture of both of these. I plan on having two identification plates made, one with the standard "22 November 2005" text and another with my gamertag. I feel a little strange putting my gamertag on it since I had nothing to do with the design of the xbox, but it might be something nice to have in the future.

 

It's just something that they did with their XBOX to personalize it. It would be cool to get it and personalize it for yourself, I sure know I would.

Plus if you ever want to tell someone that you were apart of the XBOX 360 Launch team, then you got some pretty good evidence, haha.

Make sure you post pics of it when you are done as well, I would like to see the finished product.

 

if you really wanted to give it a good work over, pick up a old jasper motherboard + a opus, remove the av connector from the opus and attach it to the jasper, so unkillably 360 that still looks like a xenon but if you want to sell it (waves)

 

Definately, I'll keep the thread updated with my progress.

That's a really neat idea. I've always wanted an excuse to pick up a hot air rework station. It's probably a longer term adventure though. I'll monitor eBay for cheap opus motherboards to act as donors.

 

You won't be putting anything there besides an original Xenon motherboard (or the corresponding "Falcon" based drone aka "Opus") since the position of the AVIP port is different (due to the HDMI connection).

I'd say have the original console repaired (reballed) and keep it as a collector's item (don't play it often).

 

I can place a jasper bottom onto the xenon top, but I have decided to go a different direction to ensure the console is as complete as possible. Right now I'm investigating placing an opus video port onto a jasper motherboard. I was able to locate a cheap opus system on ebay a little while ago and it should be here soon. If they're not electrically compatible I'll be having an opus motherboard reballed.

 

Opus is just a Falcon motherboard with a different SMC program (so it behaves like a Xenon) therefore it doesn't have an active HDMI port.

Microsoft used the exact same design on the output connectors from Zephyr through Jasper so you won't have problems fitting a Opus output port on a Jasper motherboard. But still, it's a shame having the system deprived of it's originality. I think you should still reball the original board and keep it safe in case you want to restore it to it's original state.

 

The original board will be quite safe. I can have it reballed at some point in the future. My primary goal is having a unit that will run occasionally without red ringing but still be as authentic as possible. I'd hate to reball the original board and have it fail again.