Dirty Xbox? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

pigmann · 07-14-2003, 05:09 AM

My Xbox is increasingly having trouble reading disks. I get the make sure it's an Xbox, DVD, or CD or try to clean the disk message. I clean my games, but it only works for a little bit. Has anybody else had this problem?

grayman · 07-14-2003, 08:17 AM

The only time I have gotten this message was when I had rented a game and it was all scratched up. I hope you get it fixed.

TerresqueÜ · 07-14-2003, 09:28 AM

I don't know why, but I find it funny that product from Microsoft failing to do something it should do INCREDIBLY funny!

Sorry can't help ya.

mrquackers · 07-14-2003, 10:08 AM

Is it a new Xbox? Or have you had it since launch? Sounds like an error with the CD-ROm to me - and if you can return it under warranty, then I'd hurry and do so while there's still time.

ratbastid · 07-14-2003, 12:03 PM

Mine does that occasionally. Usually if I eject it and put it back in, it reads okay.

y2ktenchi · 07-14-2003, 12:08 PM

It may just be that the lens needs cleaning. I'd suggest buying a CD/CDROM/etc. etc. lens cleaning disk. Preferably a "dry" one.

pigmann · 07-14-2003, 12:40 PM

I've had since last December and it only started doing this a couple weeks ago but in the last 3 or 4 days it has gotten really bad. I'll try your idea y2ktenchi.

guthmund · 07-14-2003, 02:52 PM

When I bought my first X-box (they had just been released) I had problems like this.

I tried the dry cleaner; I tried the wet cleaner; I tried cleaning the games and "polishing" them and nothing seemed to work.

I took mine back to the store and traded it for another and I haven't had the problem since.

I've read where they did have problems with the initial batch of CD-ROMs in the consoles. Maybe you snagged one of the holdovers. If the cleaning doesn't work and the store won't take it back, I'm sure tech support can take care of it. I've had a couple of run-ins with them and it was actually pretty pleasant.

Chamberdweller · 07-15-2003, 11:50 PM

As far as i know it can also be the game, especially Morrowind , will get dirty disc errors even when the system and game are clean, although people have complained microsoft has as far as i know realeased no official statment.Anyway hope you figure out how to fix the problem.

Peace <(^_^)>

stazen · 07-16-2003, 09:42 AM

sounds like a dirty laser lens... Are you a smoker?

pigmann · 07-16-2003, 10:19 AM

geeky · 07-18-2003, 08:57 PM

I have a 1st-gen xbox.
Been getting nasty errors like the one shown above as well as the dirty-disc error. I get the "unexpected problems" error most on Ghost Recon and I get it almost every session.
The dirty-disc error occurs on every other game. Brand new games, old games, clean games, it doesnt seem to matter.

I've already checked the possibility of faulty discs, dirty discs, dirty lens, heat, corrupted saves, and an assload more. It's none of those.
Turns out that early xbox's are shipped with a Thompson DVD drive. Apparently a batch of these drives are faulty and will error on games. Sometimes it takes a while for them to act up. If you look on http://forums.xbox.com you'll notice that this isnt an issue that Microsoft can ignore. Although they havent recalled any or made any sort of announcement, if you call 1-800-4myxbox and tell the rep the errors you get and how you get them, they might offer a free repair. I mentioned that I did some homework and found all this info online and knew that they were doing free repairs due to this matter (even if the xbox's warranty has expired like in my case). I had to call 2 times to get the auth for a repair, but I got it, and no, I didnt have to act angry. I think I was being rather polite, actually.

This is how the return works. Once authorized, they will send you a box that should show up within 4 working days. You put your xbox in it (sans controller, cables, game, etc). Pack it up just like the included instructions tell you to. Call the number thats on the instruction sheet (its Airborne Express.) A courier will come pick up the box for you. No need to go to a mail center unless you cant be there to give the box to the rep and you dont want to leave it on your porch.
Apparently the repair takes only a day or two then they ship it back. I actually am expecting mine back any day now. I called the xbox hotline wondering the status on my xbox repair and they tolr me its on its way back to me and gave me the tracking number so I can see for myself. Sure enough, it should be back on the 21st.
Hopefully it'll work when I get it back.

Hope this helps, too.
If you call, good luck.

grayman · 07-18-2003, 09:46 PM

I was at the Shopko store here in my town and they had a lens cleaner made specifically for X-box, you might want to check it out.

geeky · 07-21-2003, 08:16 PM

Ok. I called 1.800.4.MYXBOX last Friday to see if they knew about the status opn my xbox.
At the time, the rep said that her system was down and was unable to access my account. She was nice enough to get her lead to check it for me. Turns out that it was already en route back to me and I should expect it Monday or Tuesday.
Well its Monday now. Airborne attempted to drop off at my apartment but nobody was home to sign for it. I called Airborne when I was at work and was able to pick it up at the Airborne office after work.
Got home. Unpacked the box. Plugged it in. Checked the drive. New DVD ROM installed.
I had branded the side of the disc tray with the end of a hot paperclip. No marks so its definately a new drive. I check the saves... No saves. The HDD had been cleared. Not sure if they replaced that, too. Its a good thing I backed up the important stuff on my Memory Unit.
Anyhow. I want to get a few hours of gameplay before I say that its all good. But so far I see that there has been work done on it. Stuff has been replaced so hopefully the issue is clear.

I will update later after some gameplay has been done.

Just remember, if you happen to return your Xbox for repair. BACK YOUR SAVES BEFORE RETURNING THE UNIT.

rmac8 · 07-21-2003, 09:05 PM

this is good in Thanks

rmac8 · 07-21-2003, 09:07 PM

sorry "this is good info"

geeky · 07-22-2003, 02:09 AM

heh. no prob.

FitzerValve · 07-22-2003, 09:40 PM

5 guys at work had the same disk problem with thier 1st gen xboxes MS replaced them all

Jdermit101 · 07-22-2003, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pigmann
My Xbox is increasingly having trouble reading disks. I get the make sure it's an Xbox, DVD, or CD or try to clean the disk message. I clean my games, but it only works for a little bit. Has anybody else had this problem?

try selling it and buying a different console

sorry, couldnt resist

pigmann · 07-23-2003, 11:42 AM

I've actually considered that if by "different console" you mean another Xbox

Same Guy · 07-26-2003, 06:20 AM

that really stinks that they killed your harddrive with saves and everything with no warning, lucky you backed up...
i don't know how much you play, but if they killed my harddrive
i would lose at least a hundred hours of games in progress.....

geeky · 07-26-2003, 08:30 AM

Yeah, I had to lose a few but I managed to back up all the ones I cared for except SplinterCell. My roommate had some saves but he didnt care about them.

Anyhow, it looks like the repair was good. Put in a few hours of gameplay in with no issues (or strange noises). The loss of a few of my saves is definately worth it.

Crappy thing is that I allowed myself to buy StarWars Galaxies. WHY. One thing I despise is the fact that companies think its ok to charge full price for a game coupled with a monthly service charge. Fuckers. That being said, its a pretty damn cool game. I dont think I'm THAT sucked in yet, but somehow I have the feeling that I might eventually be better off with a mild heroin habit instead. *dissapointed in self* BAH!

soapysonic · 07-28-2003, 05:30 PM

Its so big you can't fit it in your ass

Dibbler · 07-29-2003, 06:59 PM

Geeky, I'm wondering... I bet if you check the serial number that you'll discover that the reason the saves are gone is because you have either a new or refurbished xbox and not the one you sent in. This is usually how they do it. It would be too expensive to have a guy open your package, take out the xbox, disassemble it and repair it, put it back together and repackage. I'm pretty sure they opened the package, threw the thing in a pile and sent a new one back.

spiderman · 02-09-2004, 07:42 PM

if geeky 'branded' the dvd-rom, he probably 'branded' the XBOX too. Geeky?

geeky · 02-09-2004, 09:48 PM

I sure did, spiderman.
I made sure I branded the case itself as well as the DVD drive in inconspicous areas. The case is definately the one I sent them. The drive is definately not.
Now that the xbox is working, I've gone and chipped it. The greatest thing since sliced bread. The case isnt all too hard to pop open once youre familiar with it.

omega2K4 · 02-09-2004, 10:05 PM

geeky, did you have a launch edition Xbox? And did they charge you anything for the repairs? My Xbox has been having trouble reading some games (Launch Xbox), and I'm thinking about sending it in for repairs, replacing the DVD drive myself, or getting a new Xbox all together.

nanofever · 02-09-2004, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by geeky
[IMG]
Turns out that early xbox's are shipped with a Thompson DVD drive. Apparently a batch of these drives are faulty and will error on games.

You beat me to what I was going to suggest the problem was, the Thompson Drive .

Dibbler · 02-10-2004, 05:47 AM

Go to this site to see how to fix the problem. My old one started to die so I went out and bought a new one. I will probably try to fix the old one by buying a new drive. My old one has a thomson drive too. Thing that worries me is, my new one has the same drive.

Anyway, go here: http://www.llamma.com/xbox/

07-14-2003, 05:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
pigmann Upright Location: Michigan	Dirty Xbox? My Xbox is increasingly having trouble reading disks. I get the make sure it's an Xbox, DVD, or CD or try to clean the disk message. I clean my games, but it only works for a little bit. Has anybody else had this problem? __________________ I once loved a girl, a child I'm told, I gave her my heart and she gave me a cold.

07-14-2003, 08:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
grayman you can't see me Location: Illinois	The only time I have gotten this message was when I had rented a game and it was all scratched up. I hope you get it fixed. __________________ That's right - I'm a guy in a suit eating a Blizzard. F U.

07-14-2003, 09:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
TerresqueÜ Hiding Out	I don't know why, but I find it funny that product from Microsoft failing to do something it should do INCREDIBLY funny! Sorry can't help ya. __________________ Say yes to the 'Tilted Roleplaying' Forum http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1932&highlight=petition

07-14-2003, 10:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
mrquackers Exhausted Location: Northeastern US - please send help!	Is it a new Xbox? Or have you had it since launch? Sounds like an error with the CD-ROm to me - and if you can return it under warranty, then I'd hurry and do so while there's still time. __________________ "If you're walking on thin ice, you may as well go ahead and dance."

07-14-2003, 12:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
y2ktenchi Tilted	It may just be that the lens needs cleaning. I'd suggest buying a CD/CDROM/etc. etc. lens cleaning disk. Preferably a "dry" one. __________________ "I wrote this rhyme with a dislocated bling finger." - MF Doom

07-14-2003, 12:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Mine does that occasionally. Usually if I eject it and put it back in, it reads okay.

07-14-2003, 12:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
pigmann Upright Location: Michigan	I've had since last December and it only started doing this a couple weeks ago but in the last 3 or 4 days it has gotten really bad. I'll try your idea y2ktenchi. __________________ I once loved a girl, a child I'm told, I gave her my heart and she gave me a cold.

07-14-2003, 02:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	When I bought my first X-box (they had just been released) I had problems like this. I tried the dry cleaner; I tried the wet cleaner; I tried cleaning the games and "polishing" them and nothing seemed to work. I took mine back to the store and traded it for another and I haven't had the problem since. I've read where they did have problems with the initial batch of CD-ROMs in the consoles. Maybe you snagged one of the holdovers. If the cleaning doesn't work and the store won't take it back, I'm sure tech support can take care of it. I've had a couple of run-ins with them and it was actually pretty pleasant. __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

07-15-2003, 11:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
Chamberdweller Upright Location: Crofton,Maryland	As far as i know it can also be the game, especially Morrowind , will get dirty disc errors even when the system and game are clean, although people have complained microsoft has as far as i know realeased no official statment.Anyway hope you figure out how to fix the problem. Peace <(^_^)> __________________ "The only thing with more brains than Kirk Cobain is the wall behind him."-Said by my best friend Ryan I come and stand at every door. But no one hears my silent tread. I knock and yet remain unseen. For I am dead, for I am dead.I'm only seven although I died. In Hiroshima long ago. I'm seven now as I was then. When children die they do not grow.My hair was scorched by swirling flame. My eyes grew dim, my eyes grew blind. Death came and turned my bones to dust. And that was scattered by the wind.I need no fruit, I need no rice. I need no sweet, nor even bread. I ask for nothing for myself. For I am dead, for I am dead.All that I ask is that for peace. You fight today, you fight today. So that the children of this world. May live and grow and laugh and play. -- Nazim Hikmet

07-16-2003, 09:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
stazen Addict Location: SoCal	sounds like a dirty laser lens... Are you a smoker?

07-16-2003, 10:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
pigmann Upright Location: Michigan	Nope __________________ I once loved a girl, a child I'm told, I gave her my heart and she gave me a cold.

07-18-2003, 08:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
geeky Upright	I have a 1st-gen xbox. Been getting nasty errors like the one shown above as well as the dirty-disc error. I get the "unexpected problems" error most on Ghost Recon and I get it almost every session. The dirty-disc error occurs on every other game. Brand new games, old games, clean games, it doesnt seem to matter. I've already checked the possibility of faulty discs, dirty discs, dirty lens, heat, corrupted saves, and an assload more. It's none of those. Turns out that early xbox's are shipped with a Thompson DVD drive. Apparently a batch of these drives are faulty and will error on games. Sometimes it takes a while for them to act up. If you look on http://forums.xbox.com you'll notice that this isnt an issue that Microsoft can ignore. Although they havent recalled any or made any sort of announcement, if you call 1-800-4myxbox and tell the rep the errors you get and how you get them, they might offer a free repair. I mentioned that I did some homework and found all this info online and knew that they were doing free repairs due to this matter (even if the xbox's warranty has expired like in my case). I had to call 2 times to get the auth for a repair, but I got it, and no, I didnt have to act angry. I think I was being rather polite, actually. This is how the return works. Once authorized, they will send you a box that should show up within 4 working days. You put your xbox in it (sans controller, cables, game, etc). Pack it up just like the included instructions tell you to. Call the number thats on the instruction sheet (its Airborne Express.) A courier will come pick up the box for you. No need to go to a mail center unless you cant be there to give the box to the rep and you dont want to leave it on your porch. Apparently the repair takes only a day or two then they ship it back. I actually am expecting mine back any day now. I called the xbox hotline wondering the status on my xbox repair and they tolr me its on its way back to me and gave me the tracking number so I can see for myself. Sure enough, it should be back on the 21st. Hopefully it'll work when I get it back. Hope this helps, too. If you call, good luck.

07-18-2003, 09:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
grayman you can't see me Location: Illinois	I was at the Shopko store here in my town and they had a lens cleaner made specifically for X-box, you might want to check it out. __________________ That's right - I'm a guy in a suit eating a Blizzard. F U.

07-21-2003, 08:16 PM	#14 (permalink)
geeky Upright	Ok. I called 1.800.4.MYXBOX last Friday to see if they knew about the status opn my xbox. At the time, the rep said that her system was down and was unable to access my account. She was nice enough to get her lead to check it for me. Turns out that it was already en route back to me and I should expect it Monday or Tuesday. Well its Monday now. Airborne attempted to drop off at my apartment but nobody was home to sign for it. I called Airborne when I was at work and was able to pick it up at the Airborne office after work. Got home. Unpacked the box. Plugged it in. Checked the drive. New DVD ROM installed. I had branded the side of the disc tray with the end of a hot paperclip. No marks so its definately a new drive. I check the saves... No saves. The HDD had been cleared. Not sure if they replaced that, too. Its a good thing I backed up the important stuff on my Memory Unit. Anyhow. I want to get a few hours of gameplay before I say that its all good. But so far I see that there has been work done on it. Stuff has been replaced so hopefully the issue is clear. I will update later after some gameplay has been done. Just remember, if you happen to return your Xbox for repair. BACK YOUR SAVES BEFORE RETURNING THE UNIT.

07-21-2003, 09:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
rmac8 Upright	this is good in Thanks

02-09-2004, 07:42 PM	#25 (permalink)
spiderman Rebourne - God, I love life, so, thanks! Location: Up your nose with a rubber hose	if geeky 'branded' the dvd-rom, he probably 'branded' the XBOX too. Geeky? __________________ Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.

07-21-2003, 09:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
rmac8 Upright	sorry "this is good info"

07-22-2003, 02:09 AM	#17 (permalink)
geeky Upright	heh. no prob.

07-22-2003, 09:40 PM	#18 (permalink)
FitzerValve Banned	5 guys at work had the same disk problem with thier 1st gen xboxes MS replaced them all

07-23-2003, 11:42 AM	#20 (permalink)
pigmann Upright Location: Michigan	I've actually considered that if by "different console" you mean another Xbox __________________ I once loved a girl, a child I'm told, I gave her my heart and she gave me a cold.

07-26-2003, 06:20 AM	#21 (permalink)
Same Guy Crazy Location: Hawaii	that really stinks that they killed your harddrive with saves and everything with no warning, lucky you backed up... i don't know how much you play, but if they killed my harddrive i would lose at least a hundred hours of games in progress..... __________________ Thank you, come again.

07-26-2003, 08:30 AM	#22 (permalink)
geeky Upright	Yeah, I had to lose a few but I managed to back up all the ones I cared for except SplinterCell. My roommate had some saves but he didnt care about them. Anyhow, it looks like the repair was good. Put in a few hours of gameplay in with no issues (or strange noises). The loss of a few of my saves is definately worth it. Crappy thing is that I allowed myself to buy StarWars Galaxies. WHY. One thing I despise is the fact that companies think its ok to charge full price for a game coupled with a monthly service charge. Fuckers. That being said, its a pretty damn cool game. I dont think I'm THAT sucked in yet, but somehow I have the feeling that I might eventually be better off with a mild heroin habit instead. dissapointed in self BAH!

07-28-2003, 05:30 PM	#23 (permalink)
soapysonic Tilted	Its so big you can't fit it in your ass

07-29-2003, 06:59 PM	#24 (permalink)
Dibbler Psycho Location: Initech, Iowa	Geeky, I'm wondering... I bet if you check the serial number that you'll discover that the reason the saves are gone is because you have either a new or refurbished xbox and not the one you sent in. This is usually how they do it. It would be too expensive to have a guy open your package, take out the xbox, disassemble it and repair it, put it back together and repackage. I'm pretty sure they opened the package, threw the thing in a pile and sent a new one back.

02-09-2004, 09:48 PM	#26 (permalink)
geeky Upright	I sure did, spiderman. I made sure I branded the case itself as well as the DVD drive in inconspicous areas. The case is definately the one I sent them. The drive is definately not. Now that the xbox is working, I've gone and chipped it. The greatest thing since sliced bread. The case isnt all too hard to pop open once youre familiar with it.

02-09-2004, 10:05 PM	#27 (permalink)
omega2K4 Natalie Portman is sexy. Location: The Outer Rim	geeky, did you have a launch edition Xbox? And did they charge you anything for the repairs? My Xbox has been having trouble reading some games (Launch Xbox), and I'm thinking about sending it in for repairs, replacing the DVD drive myself, or getting a new Xbox all together. __________________ "While the State exists there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State." - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin "Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form."- Karl Marx

02-10-2004, 05:47 AM	#29 (permalink)
Dibbler Psycho Location: Initech, Iowa	Go to this site to see how to fix the problem. My old one started to die so I went out and bought a new one. I will probably try to fix the old one by buying a new drive. My old one has a thomson drive too. Thing that worries me is, my new one has the same drive. Anyway, go here: http://www.llamma.com/xbox/