DIY Xbox Series X Optical Drive Replacement Guide
Duration: 45 minutes
Steps: 23 Steps
First things first, make sure to power down and unplug all those pesky cables!
Next up, you’ll need to channel your inner technician and gently de-solder and solder those two wires. You’ve got this!
Ready to fix that pesky optical drive in your Xbox Series X? Let’s roll! First things first, power down your console and unplug all those cables. Safety first, right? Make sure to keep those general electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety procedures in mind while you’re at it. Now, here’s the scoop: the board tucked inside the optical drive is all buddy-buddy with the console’s motherboard. You’ll need to move that board over to your new optical drive to get everything back to working order. This will involve a bit of de-soldering and soldering of two wires, so don your safety goggles, work in a ventilated spot, and remember to wash your hands with soap and water after you’re done. If you need help, you can always schedule a repair.
Step 1
Hey there! Before diving in, make sure to power down your console completely and unplug all those pesky cables. Safety first, and happy repairing!
– Grab a trusty pair of tweezers and gently peel away the sticker that’s keeping the first screw on the back panel under wraps, right near the base. You’ve got this!
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Step 2
To make removal a breeze, warm up the sticker with an iOpener or a hair dryer.
Just peel the sticker enough to reveal that sneaky hidden screw—no need to rip it off completely!
Sure, these are tamper-evident stickers, but don’t stress—Microsoft can’t void your warranty as long as you keep everything intact. Enjoy the process!
– Grab a pair of blunt tweezers and gently lift that big sticker off the back panel to uncover the elusive second screw. It’s like a little treasure hunt, but way less messy!
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Step 3
As you dive into this repair adventure, keep a close eye on those little screws! Make sure each one finds its way back home to avoid any mishaps with your device.
– Grab your trusty T8 Torx driver and give those two 7.4 mm-long screws a little twist to loosen them up. They’ll help you free the back panel, so you can get to the fun stuff inside!
Step 4
– Gently slide the flat edge of your trusty spudger into the little space between the back panel and the shell, just to the left side of the base. You’re doing great!
– Now, give that back panel a little nudge to pop it free from those sneaky locking clips. You’ve got this!
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Step 5
– Gently slide the flat end of a spudger into the little gap between the back panel and the shell, right by the base on the right side.
– Carefully pry up the back panel to pop it free from those pesky locking clips.
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Step 6
– Grab the back panel from the spot you just opened up and gently pull it up and away from the shell to unclip those long edges like a pro!
– When putting it all back together, give the edges of the back panel a firm press to snap it back into place, just like fitting the last piece of a puzzle!
Step 7
The back panel fits snugly into a groove at the top of the shell.
– Gently lift the back panel upwards and wiggle it away from the top edge of the shell to pop it free from the groove.
– Carefully take off the back panel.
Step 8
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently pry up on the locking tab that’s keeping the base snug against the shell. You’ve got this!
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Step 9
Keep that locking tab open while you kick off the base—it’s a little dance move you need to nail!
Once everything’s locked in, that ‘Hello from Seattle’ line will be perfectly parallel to the sides of your device. Smooth sailing ahead!
– Grab the base and give it a gentle counterclockwise twist to set it free from the shell.
– Lift off the base with ease.
– When it’s time to put everything back together, just drop those base tabs into their cozy little holes on the shell and twist clockwise until you hear that satisfying snap into the interior locking tab.
Step 10
– Grab your trusty T8 Torx driver and let’s tackle those two 8.8 mm screws that are holding the optical drive’s vibration isolator to the shell. You’ll find one screw at the base and the other sitting pretty on the top of the isolator. Let’s get to work!
Step 11
The vibration isolator hugs the sides of the optical drive with its comfy silicone pads, so you might find it helpful to gently “walk” the isolator off the drive to slide it away from each side.
– Gently lift the optical drive’s vibration isolator to take it out. It’s like giving it a little hug goodbye!
– When putting everything back together, make sure to tuck that vibration isolator down and around both edges of the optical drive. It should sit nice and snug, like it belongs there with the rest of the center chassis.
Step 12
Always grab those cables by their connectors, not the wires! Keep it classy and avoid any accidental damage.
– Grab a pair of blunt tweezers and gently hold the edges of the optical drive power connector. With a little upward tug, you’ll disconnect it from the optical drive like a pro!
– Now, use your fingers to lift up and detach the data cable from the optical drive. Easy peasy!
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Step 13
If the drive isn’t lined up just right, the top vibration isolator won’t fit like a glove, and the disc reader might end up a bit off-kilter with the front of the console. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back!
– Grab the top edge of the optical drive and gently pull it out of its cozy slot in the shell. You’re doing great!
– When it’s time to put things back together, make sure the pegs on the bottom of the optical drive snugly fit into the guide holes in the shell. You’ve got this!
Step 14
– Grab your trusty Phillips screwdriver and take on those four 3.6 mm screws holding the optical drive cover in place. You’ve got this!
Step 15
– Gently lift the optical drive cover straight up to pop it off. You’ve got this!
Step 16
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently use its pointed end to lift the hinged locking tab on the big ribbon cable’s ZIF connector. You’re doing great!
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Step 17
– Grab your trusty spudger and gently use its pointed end to lift up the little locking tab on that small ribbon cable’s ZIF connector. You’ve got this!
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Step 18
– Grab your trusty spudger and use its pointed end to gently lift the hinged locking tab on the small ribbon cable’s ZIF connector, which is hanging out near the corner of the optical drive. You’ve got this!
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Step 19
When you’re disconnecting ribbon cables, make sure to pull them straight out from their connectors—just like you would gently tug on a friendly pet’s leash! Keep it smooth and in line with the cable. You’ve got this!
– Grab a pair of blunt tweezers and gently lift each of the three ribbon cables out of their connectors. You’re almost there!
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Step 20
Remember to keep it safe while you solder! Rock those safety goggles, find a cozy spot with good air flow, and give your hands a wash with soap and water after you’re done.
Watch out for the heat! Too much can fry your components. Keep the soldering iron moving and don’t let it linger on the board for too long.
– Grab your trusty soldering iron and gently desolder that spunky red wire hanging out in the corner of the optical drive board.
– Next up, it’s time to wave goodbye to the neighboring black wire! Use a pair of blunt tweezers to delicately hold and pull those wires away from the board.
– When you’re ready to pop the original board back into the new optical drive, make sure to solder the red wire onto the pad marked R. And don’t forget to give a warm welcome to the black wire by soldering it to the pad labeled B.
Tools Used
Step 21
– Grab your trusty Phillips screwdriver and gently unscrew the three 3.3 mm-long screws that are holding down the optical drive board. You’ve got this!
Step 22
– Gently lift the edge of the board near those plastic gears and slide it towards the edge to free it from the clip by the barcode. Easy peasy!
– When putting it all back together, just slide the board back under its clip and use those handy alignment pegs next to the screws to get everything lined up just right.
Step 23
– First things first, let’s take out that optical drive board!
– Next up, follow the same steps from here to pop out the optical drive board from your new replacement unit.
– Don’t forget, you’ll want to move your original optical drive board over to the new drive. You’ve got this!
