Xbox Disassembly

Written By: rmarstel
  • Comments: 18
Xbox Disassembly

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

20

Time Required

45 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

This is the teardown for the original Microsoft Xbox, not the Xbox 360.

  1. cCpQD2Otgn4RbANa

    • Start with your Xbox unplugged and sitting on a flat, stable surface.

  2. IhFXWM2AXhlgpmGM

    • Flip the Xbox over and pry off the rubber feet with a metal spudger.

  3. qwydXbfpOdqeqyD4
    qwydXbfpOdqeqyD4
    GMjTSrKIctUUjxNb

    • Peel back both the silver sticker and the white barcode sticker to reveal two additional screws.

    Or use an exacto knife to cut circles out where the two screws are located. First make indentations over the screws with your finger, this to help make it easier to trace the holes before cutting. The end result is often better than trying to peel corners. You can also try removing the stickers using a hair dryer, but it's not easy; if successful, they can potentially be reapplied, however.

    Nathan -

  4. kwDSCThWf2yPYZQG

    • Use a T20 Torx screwdriver to remove the four screws located under the rubber feet you just removed as well as the two screws from beneath the stickers removed in the previous step.

  5. UjoWrLCMxPlwM21b
    UjoWrLCMxPlwM21b
    F3qAtaCmTouUU4ZZ

    • Once the bottom shell is no longer attached, carefully turn the Xbox right-side-up and lift off the top shell.

  6. h6oUKDCEMVcibWgc
    h6oUKDCEMVcibWgc
    pfBrbtP3VXu4Yocm

    • Move the grey ribbon cable out of the way in order to remove the three 3 mm screws using T10 Torx screwdriver. They are located on the upper right corner, lower right, and lower left corners of disk drive.

    • The screw on the lower left corner of the disk drive is not in the hole that it appears to be in, but rather just closer to the corner.

  7. D6p41bwi262iiRB1
    D6p41bwi262iiRB1
    tutyQdiML6LVljRw

    • Lift the hard drive storage unit out of the Xbox. It should come right out.

    • Take the power cable out of the track around the hard drive so that the unit will come out easier.

  8. NiXEQOD5ewxL1TEc
    NiXEQOD5ewxL1TEc
    DZMTc5iFuWObxj34
    KQjeVo3KofOFukTs

    • Use a T15 Torx screwdriver to remove four 3.37mm screws from both sides of the hard drive.

    • Remove the plastic housing from the hard drive. It does have some clips on it, but it should come right off.

  9. mpeLaPTAAkRXUZgO
    mpeLaPTAAkRXUZgO
    UUb41QApsLWccgQW

    • Unplug both the ribbon cable and power cable from hard drive.

    • They are in there pretty tightly, so this may take some effort.

    how do i do the wires

    elijah ross -

    that was very hard

    elijah ross -

  10. gS1tj3mRKCafh1Vo
    gS1tj3mRKCafh1Vo
    VhEjek3puVjwfjbS
    sVFFFBIxPcLsfDMR

    • Remove the disk drive. It should come right out.

    • Unplug the ribbon cable and yellow cables from back of disk drive.

    It was really challenging. Drive Mad

    chipmunkcot -

  11. 4bfCkjGmsQYYaWvs

    • Pry back the black plastic tabs around the disk drive in order to remove it from its housing. Once removed, set the drive aside.

  12. XVT2qunMr3nXGJLx

    • Unplug the multi-colored power cord from the motherboard. It can be plugged in very tight, so it may take some effort to unplug it.

  13. eyqKZlCdVJDptHcq
    eyqKZlCdVJDptHcq
    XjeTjKPVwb3DkPOX

    • Using T10 Torx screwdriver, remove two 3mm screws from the power supply board.

  14. pPSl4k1AJURDGomZ
    pPSl4k1AJURDGomZ
    CNWDYVqOemKXfLEP

    • Remove the power supply and set it aside. It should lift right out.

  15. fowCTkyCndfjhMgk
    fowCTkyCndfjhMgk
    jIWLNV6ShHrZT1kq

    • Unplug the bundle of yellow cables as well as the rainbow cord from the motherboard.

  16. 5ukQPgUaLSfFCHuv
    5ukQPgUaLSfFCHuv
    jBJIK6WyTFjZiSFx

    • Remove eleven 3mm screws from motherboard, using a T10 Torx screwdriver. Refer to the picture to find all eleven.

    • Unplug the power cable attached to the fan.

  17. pGoYUi4cUchmhI3T

    • Remove the motherboard from the Xbox. As long as all of the screws are out and the fan is disconnected, it will lift out easily.

  18. rGQ5hnmYGIsyvce2

    • Pry the plastic fan clips away from the fan base and remove the fan.

    • This may take a little effort, as the clips are pretty stiff. Beware, the fan will be filthy.

  19. PLcfERM4YnTO2iK4
    PLcfERM4YnTO2iK4
    XNi44LtZJ5wkuutX

    • Using a T10 Torx screwdriver, remove two 3mm screws from each of two controller sockets.

    • Take the sockets out by pulling back and up at the same time.

  20. YJPnCc6mMRdryjJ1

    • Congratulations, your Xbox is now completely dismembered.

    Thanks made my day i shall put it in a old radio =) Perra

    Perra -

    My Xbox is not completely disassembled. How do I get the front panel and metal shield out of the bottom case so I can wash them?

    Michael J Cotton -

    Same here. I got everything out but the front. Trying to replace the power/eject button

    Joshua Sweeney -

    You forgot the power button area....

    Christopher Mee -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

rmarstel

Member since: 29/10/09

5674 Reputation

10 comments

Awesomeness, thanks a lot!

godoyander -

Thanks a million - perfect!

xan_lucky16 -

Heatsink removal?

Matt Russell -

Face plate removal?

Herberth Alvarez -

Did a complete cleanup and refresh of my Xbox thanks to your guide, thank you :)

Mickaël STEMMER -

would you be able to make a guide on how to remove the plastic outer shell from the metal parts inside? i want to clean a dirty shell but i don't know how to get the parts seperated.

Davis Williams -

Looks like I'm not skilled at fixing things, my machine broke right after that.

stickman fighter

LouisPaul -

It was really challenging. Drive Mad

chipmunkcot -

Parfait, merci ;-)

frederic_22_05_84 -

Attractive information. I can fix the Xbox. Your steps are excellent. Have a nice day, bro!

baldi's basics

Walt Junc -