Another reason to hate Microsoft.

[reno]

This topic could also be put in the Gaming section, but since it has to do with XBox hardware troubleshooting, Techy Bollocks it is!

I don't know how many of you have had this problem, but it started happening about a year ago, not more than 7 monts after purchasing my XBox. At first I thought it was me, but then it happened more frequently.

Your XBox can't recognize this disc. Make sure it's an XBox game, DVD movie, or audio CD. Also check to see if the disc is dirty or damaged. Remove the disc to continue.

I decided to log onto xbox.com to figure out what the hell I could do to fix the problem. What ended up happening was me deleting all the data from my XBox hard drive like the site instructed, and still ending up with the same problems. Annoyed, I try to get into the email support part, only to find out that I have to register a .net passport. After several vigorous attempts at trying to descramble their poorly-implemented warped-text verification (then getting locked out), I decide instead to call their technical support.

Thank you for calling Microsoft Xbox blah blah blah, my name is Patrick, how can I help you?

I won't go through the entire conversation, suffice it to say that there was nothing he could do to help me except suggest that I fork over $80 and send my XBox into the repair center, of which he declined to tell me the shipping address. He did register my XBox though, since I couldn't make out the letters and numbers in that turd of an authentication box.

There are seven other people that I know who have experienced this same problem with the XBox, so in order to make this a discussion instead of a rant:

1) Have any of you had such problems with your XBox?

2) Is it at all possible that I may just need to run a DVD lens cleaner disc through my system, or will it give me a "Your Xbox cannot recognize this disc" error message?

[Tiggs]

You probably have an early version of the xbox with the rather dodgey thompson drives (this (http://www.xbreporter.com/xboxdvddrivecomparison.php) should help you find out what type you have). If you have a hunt around on ebay, you should be able to find a nice cheap samsung xbox drive, and that would hopefully solve your problem

[reno]

Wowzerz! I DO have one of those Thompson drives. Thing is, it says it's touchy with CD-Rs and DVD-Rs, not the XBox games themselves. Still, I'll give it a shot.

I'd plus you, but apparently I need to spread some rep beforehand.

[Lewiji]

I had EXACTLY the same problem. 2 weeks after it was out of warranty. There's a thread in gaming about it.

You know what I did? Sold it as faulty on eBay for £55 (about $110) then bought a second hand one off a mate and made a tenner. :p

Unfortunately the tenner was lost as I bought a new laser, but then proceded to b0rk the hdd. Arse.

[Father Mahoo hoo shaboo]

I bought a Pal X-box on release day - got it home, loaded up Halo and had a great time.

6 hours later, got that same error message.

I got a full refund and didn't buy an X-box until they whacked in new drives (samsung I think).

My advice, cry.

Might as well try the Len cleaner Reno, it will be cheaper than anything else - plus even if the x-box doesnt want to recognize the lens cleaner as a disc, it will still clean the laser as long as it is trying to read it.

[Al2]

And you can use it on your other drives too! It's not like it's an expensive piece of kit. :)

[Twatybollocks]

I bought mine just before Christmas 2002 and have had many a loving moment with it with no problems. This won't stop me dumping it in the bin a moment after the X-box 2 comes out, but still...the sentiment was there.

[Lewiji]

Don't speak too soon TB :p

I made the jewel semi-transparent, drilled a hole with a hole saw just big enough for it to rest in and fitted an LED circuit made out of a few fans with no problems.

It broke because my mum put it on the floor.

:rolleyes: