Laptop DVD drive for an Xbox mini project?

[sonicdude10]

I got a hard one for all the Xbox gurus here. I've turned the net upside down trying to find this. I want to try and use a laptop DVD drive should I decide to make an Xbox mini. Here's what I know so far.

The DVD drive in the Xbox seems to read the data backwards. Meaning it starts from outside and goes in. This is called XDVD I think. Normal DVD drive operation is from inside out. I already know of the power cable hack to fool the box into thinking the original drive is there and using a standard DVD drive in it. Only problem with this is then you are limited to reading DVD movies and burned games assuming one has a modded BIOS. No more original disks. I have a problem with that. I want my replacement drive to read original disks too. Seems there are a few drives out there that have had the firmware hacked to make them read properly. Only problem with that is they are all full sized 5.25 models and weigh a ton. I'm hoping that if I can find a working laptop DVD drive, I can really shrink an Xbox down for a more portable friendly setup. Model doesn't matter. I will get what ever works assuming there is one. Any help? If there isn't one currently, anyone wanna take a crack at modding the firmware? Don't worry about the security features since the recipient will be modded to play backups and other region games. I just need a laptop sized XDVD drive. Preferably one that uses the DVD IDE connector. I can get adapters to go full sized plug.

[Borman]

Dont think itll be easily possible really, the drives that were modified had something special about them, I think. You could always make an external drive.

[HEX1GON]

Best thing to do would be to use a laptop ide/sata drive and just FTP your games over. I know that's not what you're asking, but sure would make the XBOX smaller...

[sonicdude10]

I may instead do something like this to the PC DVD drive that is supposed to work with a firmware flash. Make it a smaller, faster, slot loader drive for the box. I know it will still be bigger than a dedicated laptop drive, but getting to be about half as tall as the original works for me. Watya think?

[ckj79]

i would day its not possible - you would need to rewirte the firmware.
there is only 1 drive i know of that was able to run on the xbox with stock firmware (lg 8164)
Other option was to flash the samsung 616T with the original xbox samsung drive firmware

if you dont need to boot xbox games you could try to just hook up the ide connections, should work but havent tried

[sonicdude10]

I now have a Samsung SD-616T that I'm currently modding to go in my Xbox. I have the firmware flashed, wire connections laid out, drive and Xbox casing cut down to fit this thing in the original location and have the original Xbox bexel line up. I'm stuck at the signal wiring on the Xbox side. Several diagrams have different pinouts. It confuses the hell outta me. Wasn't the wiring for the DVD drive the same between all mobo revisions? If I remember my machine is a 1.4 model that had a Samsung SG-605. The 605 is dead... :(

So if I decide to go smaller as in making a all-in-one handheld or something I will see about chopping the drive down to copy the guy who made a slot loader for his 360. The drive is simple enough to work with and the slot loader I'd use will be from an iMac since they seem the right size to be small yet workable. Hardest part will be the signal conversions for the disk detector sensors. They'll have to cross one another on the tray open and closed lines. Maybe copy the design already used in the 360 slot loader drive. Very simple little PIC. Rest will just be cutting metal and welding other metal in.

Here's the thread for the slot loader 360 drive. My apologies for linking another forum here: http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=666828

[CodeAsm]

Linux will support it propberbly, but not sure. No games :P Firmware problem indeed

[sonicdude10]

The SD-616T with the hacked SG-605 firmware supports original game disks.

[hangover]

It has to be the correct revision of the SD-16T as i think i read that there are different versions - could be wrong though.

[sonicdude10]

I know I have the proper revision for the mod to work. I can't look right now as I'm away from home on a work trip.

EDIT: Just realized this is post #555. 555 timer anyone? LOL

[l_oliveira]

XBOX DVD drive is identical as a normal DVD drive. It simply has customized firmware to deal with media specific authentication (it checks angles on specifically induced bad blocks which identify a disc as valid legitimate to the XBOX kernel).

And no it doesn't read backwards.

The XBOX also uses custom filesystems on the disc and harddrive. Besides that most stuff is "stock" in the sense it's all based on industry standard designs plus a layer of encryption/security.

Basically, NO it doesn't read the discs backwards. XBOX discs are just divided on two "regions" first being a DVD video partition with a message video that tells you to insert the disc on a XBOX console and another partition which contains the encrypted filesystem. To access the second partition you need the custom made firmware be on the drive. (a modded unit with a non original drive will read DVDR backups but not originals).