Are you encountering frozen games or the dirty disc error screen on your television? If this is the case, the problem is your DVD drive. While there’s always the option of purchasing a replacement drive, you can save loads of money by taking the repair route. So, how would you go about fixing this issue?

It is imperative to keep in mind that you do not blow canned air into the drive without opening it. It is a common misconception that this will work. In fact, it could actually cause even further damage to the console. All you will be affirming is that the dust will be redistributed evenly inside the drive.

Try not to feel bad about your newly acquired problem; you will find there are actually a few simple steps that can be taken to solve your DVD drive problem. The first option is to use a standard CD/DVD cleaner. These are widely found at many retail and/or video game stores. This cleaner resembles a normal CD, but with two small brushes attached on the bottom of them. Once inserted, the benefit of the CD is that only the lens will be cleaned.

Your second procedure for repairing your Xbox 360 is to gather the information you have, and then figure out what drive you are working with. Figure out the manufacturer of your Xbox DVD drive and complete the disassembly tutorials. Some manufacturers you will most likely be working with include Thomson, Phillips, Laser Installation, or Samsung.

Once you have determined the manufacturer and completed the tear down tutorials, the next proceeding is to clean the lens and mirror manually. This is where it is highly beneficial to you and your console to have thoroughly read and completed the tear down tutorials.

Next, you are going to adjust the potentiometer on the laser. This is fancy jargon meaning the voltage divider. Lastly, replace the laser in the DVD drive with your replacement laser you purchased from Samsung, Phillips or Thompson. Although it may seem a bit drastic, replacement is actually a fairly manageable process if you accurately follow the steps.

The last item to consider on repairing the Xbox 360 DVD drive problem is purchasing a completely new drive. However, if money is a factor, there are quality instructions widely available on the internet that can help you repair the system on your own. Sometimes it can be a relatively quick fix done manually, and it may prove to be a wise choice.

Eric Frey is an dedicated XBox 360 gamer who has dealt with the 3 red lights, a.k.a the Ring of Death on his XBox. If you want to learn the techniques he used to fix his XBox, then you will need a XBox Repair Guide that will walk you through the process. Eric found a few really great 3 Red Light Fix guides that are guaranteed repair your XBox.