Xbox 360 Unplayable Disk error - please help :(

[Daragon]

Just turned on my console this morning to find that the current disk in the drive is unplayable according to the dashboard. "No big deal I'll just take the disk out and put it back in" I thought, tried that a few times and nothing.

Ok, so maybe there's a problem with the disk, but I was using it with no problems last night. Tried another, turns out that seemingly overnight my console has decided it no longer wants to read ANY of my game disks, deeming them all unplayable

Anyone know what I can do in this situation? I am of course unwilling to send it off to MS as they will charge me a king's ransom to get it back, not to mention a delay of several weeks to allow their workers some arse scratching time.

[RuBiQ]

mines been doing this recently too, ill be taking it back to GS soon to swap under the 12 month warrenty

[tom-nook]

Sounds like the drive's knackered.

You can buy replacement drives from ebay reasonably cheaply (£35 ish or more for a Sammy or Tosh). However, it's not all that easy to open a 360 and I think you'd need to flash the new drive with a key from your 360 so that the drive is recognised. Not just plug n' play unfortunately.

Alternatively these guys are supposed to be good for repairs:

http://www.gtelectronics.co.uk/xbox360.htm

They'll fit a new drive for £60 but by the time you've covered p&p it probably works out as expensive as sending it to MS (think they charge £80). I guess the main benefit is that you're not going to be sent a mangy refurbed unit & they offer a 3-5 day turnaround.

[Daragon]

I wonder if they'd fit it with one of the better model drives? Would be worth doing that way - doesn't sound like a bad deal either, plus its same day service. Only problem is that I'd have to send it via standard parcels so that those vultures at the post office don't break my balls over the postage so it would probably still work out 3-5 days wait

I'm really gutted that this has happened. I don't know what would have done it.

My only concern is that this company only provide a 6 month guarantee. I really don't want this problem repeating itself after a year or so.

[tom-nook]

They've got an enquiry form on their website so it'd be worth dropping them a line. Can't imagine they'd have a problem fitting a better drive for you though.

The 6 month guarantee isn't ideal but better than nothing I guess. Not sure how long MS cover their repairs for?

Normally extended warranties are a complete waste of time but in hindsight the extra 2 years cover MS offer on new consoles is probably worth every penny....if only knwew then what we know now about reliability!!

[Daragon]

Well if it ****s up again I'm getting shot of it, Microsoft can suck my balls.