Xbox Disc Read Error
It would seem like a really simple problem, but appearances are often deceiving. An Xbox disc read error can stop you in your tracks. Here’s how it goes:
You pop your favorite game into your Xbox 360. It’s early in the morning, nearly noon, and it’s time to kick some zombie ass. But when you put the disc in, your Xbox, in all its wisdom, tells you that there’s nothing there, or that there was some sort of “disc read error.” What is this? You must have clocked over thirty hours on that game, and now it decides to crap out?
When you get an Xbox disc read error, it is typically due to dirt getting inside the drive. This dirt eventually might get onto the optical components of the drive, and stop them from working properly. With all these microscopic bits of debris on its lens, the drive’s vision gets all foggy and it can no longer read the games you give it. But before we go out and try to resolve your disc read error, make sure the disc itself isn’t just dirty or scratched. There’s no point to fixing the DVD drive when it’s the DVD that’s broken.
Click Here for a guide to fixing your disc read error now!
Also before we continue: perhaps, through experimentation, you notice that only certain games refuse to work in your Xbox, while others seem fine. This could make it seem like the discs are the culprits, but it might still be the drive in error. You see, some Xbox 360 games are CD’s, while others are DVD’s. The DVD’s, being more complex and harder to read, will be the first to stop working.
Okay so your DVD drive is dirty, we’ve figured that out. You probably want to go run to the pantry and grab that aerosol can with the long, red straw—don’t do it. Spraying a bunch of air in there is like kicking a TV, there’s maybe a 5% chance it’ll help, and an 80% chance it’ll make things worse. I’m no gambling man, and those odds are just stupid. So what should you do?
The easiest thing to do would be find yourself one of those CD/DVD cleaners. It appears to be a blank CD, and you put it into your Xbox. Disc read error? bye bye. On the disc, there are a few tiny brushes. As it spins about, those clean the lens and allow it, once again, to read your games.
If this doesn’t work, or you just want to make darn sure you fix the problem, you can clean the drive by hand. You would have to disassemble your Xbox, then open up your DVD drive and swab the lens clean. That is a pretty surefire way to make sure the disc read error goes away, but it is also rather aggressive. I would at least try the other solution first, just to be sure.
Either way, good luck and may your Xbox read your discs flawlessly!