hdd for 360 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

hsd · 2007-12-06, 03:32 PM

I have been getting a lot of "unreadable disc" messages while playing games and after a few tests and experiments, I have figured out that my hdd is the problem.

I figured this out because I can play games perfectly (no error messages come up) when the hdd is not attached, or when I borrow my friends hdd and use his. So I know it's not the 360 machine itself.

I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem and what were the steps to replace it?

Is it similar to replacing a dead xbox where they send you an empty box and you ship the hdd out for replacing?

I was looking online at FS and BB and the 20gb goes for about $129 which is way more than I want to spend.

Eluder · 2007-12-06, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hsd

I have been getting a lot of "unreadable disc" messages while playing games and after a few tests and experiments, I have figured out that my hdd is the problem.

I figured this out because I can play games perfectly (no error messages come up) when the hdd is not attached, or when I borrow my friends hdd and use his. So I know it's not the 360 machine itself.

I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem and what were the steps to replace it?

Is it similar to replacing a dead xbox where they send you an empty box and you ship the hdd out for replacing?

I was looking online at FS and BB and the 20gb goes for about $129 which is way more than I want to spend.

I have a feeling for the hdd you'll have to fit the bill of shipping it to them, but return is on them. If you're going to go that route, I would say try maybe formatting the hdd if you don't care about losing your saves, but if you do, then just consider upgrading to the 120GB HDD and transfer your data (if you can), then send away for the repaired hdd, and resell it when you get it back. You could also maybe trying clearing your cache, that may solve your issue.

hsd · 2007-12-06, 05:09 PM

interesting, I have already tried clearing the cache....I guess I'll try formating it, got nothing to lose.

Good thing I haven't been able to get very far with into Halo 3 or COD4 because of the errors or else I'd have second thoughts about deleting the saved games. I have made some trades in my NHL 08 dynasty that I would like to have a second chance at

Eluder · 2007-12-07, 08:28 AM

Well you could always pickup a memory card and move the saves there if anything.

Let us know how it turns out.

Dioneo · 2007-12-07, 02:55 PM

That's interesting. I never heard that the HDD could be the problem. I get that problem occasionally too.

hsd · 2007-12-08, 10:41 PM

Well, it MUST be something STRUCTURALLY? wrong with the hdd

I formatted the hdd, but the "unreadable disc" problem still occurs, so it can't be any "bad saves" or something in the cache.

Here are two specific examples:

1) Playing Halo 3, I setup a custom game to face my brother (so it's just me vs him). Everything sets up fine and it counts down to the start of the game, and right before the game begins, the "unreadable disc" message comes up.

I reset, remove the hdd, do everything again with the same settings BUT this time the game actually works and I can face my brother.

The funny thing is, the solo campaign works perfectly fine

2) Playing Assassin's Creed, I can get through the beginning tutorial/intro to the game and when it starts to auto-save the game before I advance, the "unreadable disc" message comes up.

I reset, remove the hdd and everything works smooth BUT now I can advance to the next stage.

It's weird that my other games work perfectly (NHL 08, FIFA World Cup 2002, Fight Night rd3, PGR3...), could it be something with these newer games (problems occur with Halo 3, AC, COD4)?

Eluder · 2007-12-10, 08:05 AM

I doubt it, cause if so, you'd see a lot more issues with these games posted everywhere. You probably have a bad HDD, and those games just happen to trigger the sector(s) that are causing this issue.

Petee_C · 2007-12-10, 11:40 AM

My guess is it's the DVD drive, not the HDD.

My experience is that your 'fixes' are just coincidental, and over time (6-12 months) your 360 will become next to unusable as it is harder for it to read game discs.

I posted some threads about my experiences with my 360 and the DDE

Good luck,
Peter

- running great (knock on wood) with the old hdd on a new 360

bouche · 2007-12-11, 11:03 AM

I've been having problems with downloadable content ever since I had to return my new Elite due to RROD. I had made progress in bioshock so I wanted to keep my saved games so we swapped the drives of the replacement Elite.

I believe since then, I have not been able to download demos. I receive an error partway through downloads. With the release of videos in the marketplace, I receive a message saying "Cannot find storage device". My drive is fine though for saving and playing games.

Is there information on the drive that ties it to my original Elite?

Eluder · 2007-12-11, 11:08 AM

That's a strange issue bouche. I had my original hdd on 7 different 360s in the past 2 years and never had any issue such as you're describing. Maybe borrow a friend's hdd and see if you still have the same issue on your console.

2007-12-06, 03:32 PM	#1
hsd Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 66	hdd for 360 I have been getting a lot of "unreadable disc" messages while playing games and after a few tests and experiments, I have figured out that my hdd is the problem. I figured this out because I can play games perfectly (no error messages come up) when the hdd is not attached, or when I borrow my friends hdd and use his. So I know it's not the 360 machine itself. I was just wondering if anyone has had a similar problem and what were the steps to replace it? Is it similar to replacing a dead xbox where they send you an empty box and you ship the hdd out for replacing? I was looking online at FS and BB and the 20gb goes for about $129 which is way more than I want to spend.

2007-12-07, 02:55 PM	#5
Dioneo Veteran Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: GTA IV Posts: 1,768	That's interesting. I never heard that the HDD could be the problem. I get that problem occasionally too. __________________ Long live the console war! Buy 'em all! Just don't give Sony any of your Personal info!

2007-12-10, 11:40 AM	#8
Petee_C Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Heidelberg,ON Posts: 1,236	My guess is it's the DVD drive, not the HDD. My experience is that your 'fixes' are just coincidental, and over time (6-12 months) your 360 will become next to unusable as it is harder for it to read game discs. I posted some threads about my experiences with my 360 and the DDE Good luck, Peter - running great (knock on wood) with the old hdd on a new 360 __________________ Panny 47wx52, DMR-e80*C DSR500x2, XBOX 360, Toshiba 26hf84, LG 37LC2D

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2007-12-06, 05:09 PM	#3
hsd Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 66	interesting, I have already tried clearing the cache....I guess I'll try formating it, got nothing to lose. Good thing I haven't been able to get very far with into Halo 3 or COD4 because of the errors or else I'd have second thoughts about deleting the saved games. I have made some trades in my NHL 08 dynasty that I would like to have a second chance at

2007-12-07, 08:28 AM	#4
Eluder Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,446	Well you could always pickup a memory card and move the saves there if anything. Let us know how it turns out.

2007-12-08, 10:41 PM	#6
hsd Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 66	Well, it MUST be something STRUCTURALLY? wrong with the hdd I formatted the hdd, but the "unreadable disc" problem still occurs, so it can't be any "bad saves" or something in the cache. Here are two specific examples: 1) Playing Halo 3, I setup a custom game to face my brother (so it's just me vs him). Everything sets up fine and it counts down to the start of the game, and right before the game begins, the "unreadable disc" message comes up. I reset, remove the hdd, do everything again with the same settings BUT this time the game actually works and I can face my brother. The funny thing is, the solo campaign works perfectly fine 2) Playing Assassin's Creed, I can get through the beginning tutorial/intro to the game and when it starts to auto-save the game before I advance, the "unreadable disc" message comes up. I reset, remove the hdd and everything works smooth BUT now I can advance to the next stage. It's weird that my other games work perfectly (NHL 08, FIFA World Cup 2002, Fight Night rd3, PGR3...), could it be something with these newer games (problems occur with Halo 3, AC, COD4)?

2007-12-10, 08:05 AM	#7
Eluder Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,446	I doubt it, cause if so, you'd see a lot more issues with these games posted everywhere. You probably have a bad HDD, and those games just happen to trigger the sector(s) that are causing this issue.

2007-12-11, 11:03 AM	#9
bouche Join Date: May 2005 Location: Gatineau Posts: 160	I've been having problems with downloadable content ever since I had to return my new Elite due to RROD. I had made progress in bioshock so I wanted to keep my saved games so we swapped the drives of the replacement Elite. I believe since then, I have not been able to download demos. I receive an error partway through downloads. With the release of videos in the marketplace, I receive a message saying "Cannot find storage device". My drive is fine though for saving and playing games. Is there information on the drive that ties it to my original Elite?

2007-12-11, 11:08 AM	#10
Eluder Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,446	That's a strange issue bouche. I had my original hdd on 7 different 360s in the past 2 years and never had any issue such as you're describing. Maybe borrow a friend's hdd and see if you still have the same issue on your console.