Trying to get my original Xbox to read CDs/DVDs again. Need advice on parts.

Summer of last year, my cousin gave my his original Xbox. It included some games, 2 "S" model controllers, the official component cable, and the power cord. I then received a 3rd controller one of my dad's coworkers. The system works fine but has some big problems. I was only able to get an audio CD to work and it ripped to the HDD successfully. The only games I could test out at the time were Fable 1 and Halo 2. Sadly, Fable 1 didn't work (works fine on the 360) and Halo 2 gave a disc read error during the very first loading screen (the one right after the company logos).

I looked online and found a couple ways to fix it without replacing parts. Method one was to simply clean the lens with a dab of glass cleaner. That improved it by a hair, but not much. The games still didn't load. Method 2 was turn the pot on the laser to get it working again. I turned the pot and it gave mix results, but the games were still not playable. I then turned it too far and blew the diode in the laser. The laser light is no longer beaming up at the disc and the thing doesn't even try to read any disc in the drive. It just gives a disc read error.

I found a replacement laser on eBay for $8.69 but I'm not sure if it will work in my drive. Are lasers in Xbox DVD drives universal or specific to that drive? Should I just replace the whole drive or just the laser? I have a bunch of standard IDE PC drives lying around but they are DVD-RW and not DVD-ROM. I only have 2 DVD-ROM drives in two old computers.

What should I do? I get sad every time I look at it. I would like to use it to play games and not just as a memory card manager and 18 song iPod. Any help would be highly appreciated!

 

I'd replace the whole drive, but the laser you linked to looks used to fuck.

Look for a Hitachi-LG drive for the Xbox, there's not many around but they're the best drives to use. Second would be the Philips V2 drive. Check the Archive link in my signature for information on both.

I don't recommend Samsung drives because the bands in those are horrible. They may read CD-Rs you throw at them, but for better performance Philips V2 is the way to go and more common.

Many will stress Samsung though, I've had my outbursts with them.

 

Thanks for the info and the XBOX Archive link. It appears that my drive is a Samsung Version A when I look at the pictures. I haven't opened it since last summer so I'll have to take a look at it again later today or tomorrow. I would check it now but it's 2:30 am.

My drive didn't read CD-RWs when I tried them. I don't remember if tried CD-Rs though. I found a used Hitachi-LG drive on eBay but it's an auction listing and shipping is $12. Starting bid is $9.99. So if I won unopposed, it would cost about $22 total.

The seller selling that laser I linked said the lasers were never used. Now that you mentioned it, they do look a little rusty, however I'm not sure if it is supposed to look like that normally. I'm having a hard time finding original Xbox drives within the sea of 360 and Xbone drives on eBay.

 

Well that Thompson laser obviously won't work for your drive. You're in the US, so I reckon you could pick up an Xbox for $10 at a thrift shop.