Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:43 pm Post subject: Issues playing films on softmodded Xbox with DVDX2
Hello!
I recently purchased a second-hand soft-modded Xbox and am blown away by how much can be done with it. But I'm especially keen on the possibility of using it to circumvent region locks on DVDs (I've moved around a lot over the years and not all my DVD players work so well). So, what I'd like to know is if, firstly, this is possible without the use of the Xbox remote, since it was not included in the sale. And, secondly, how best to accomplish it.
I've spent a little time trying to work it out myself, but I can't seem to make any progress. I don't know that much about softmodding, if anything, as I wasn't personally responsible for the softmod I obtained, so I can't guarantee I'll know exactly how to answer any and all questions, but I'll try to explain what I'm doing.
I have a stack of DVDs, all of them from Europe and guaranteed working. I place one in the Xbox DVD tray, close it, and then attempt to manually launch the DVD from the dashboard. No success. I've also tried to launch the app DVDX2-NoDongle (or something to that tune, it's not DVD2XBOX though, which bears a similar name), and see if the movie would start there, but no success. I've also gone into settings and tried to enable DVD autoplay and set the .xbe of DVDX2 to be the default player, but it has had no effect, the DVD still refuses to be recognized.
It's possible that the DVD drive itself is the culprit and unable to recognize any DVDs; I haven't had a chance to try it with an Xbox game yet (and probably won't until a week from now) so I can't rule that out. But if anyone can point out a very obvious mistake I'm making, I'd be much obliged! I've seen something about needing an XBMC, but I'm not sure what that is, how to check if I have it and, if I don't, how to get it.
Thank you for any answers in advance!
Xbmcmodsforxbox Moderator
Joined: Aug 13, 2018 Posts: 605 Location: United States
Joined: May 22, 2003 Posts: 23945 Location: NSW, Australia
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 7:53 am Post subject:
Xbmcmodsforxbox wrote:
maybe the type of DVD you are using is not compatible with the Xbox might need a different brand and maybe try popping in a music cd or movie and if that loads your disc drive is good.
That sounds right. I'd suggest identifying which DVD drive you have in that box and use the DVD/CD database to check which brands of DVD are compatible with it.
As near as I can figure from the guide, I have a Samsung DVD drive, which seems incompatible with many types of DVD.
Forgive me if this is a silly question, but I understood DVD Video to be its own format, not part of DVD-R or DVD+R?
Anyway, I also tried an audio CD and, just for the hell of it, a computer game CD from way back. Neither were recognized, my Xbox only insisted that the drive was empty, which isn't encouraging. I've tried to play with the settings for PAL and NTSC, but it doesn't seem to have any effect, no matter what settings I choose.
I'll try an XBox DVD soon and see if it recognizes that. If not, I'll have to see about contacting the original seller and asking him if the DVD drive was working when he used it.
SCARFACE Administrator
Joined: Feb 06, 2007 Posts: 2470 Location: Minnesota, USA
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 1:20 pm Post subject:
Yea if switching the region doesn't work then the DVD drive is needing a pot tweak or a new DVD drive, but again (they were not made to play DVDs but games it was just that added option that got people in the door but it was never a good option) So change region to pal and try the discs if not then something with the dvd drive has gone out. _________________ The one the only Scarface!!
ArchAngle V.I.P. Lifetime Xbox Version: v1.6 Modded: Xecuter 2.6 CE
Joined: Oct 03, 2014 Posts: 367
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 1:35 pm Post subject:
That's my thought too.
If it won't play original Xbox games discs, commercial audio CDs or DVDs then the disc drive (probably the laser) is the most likely culprit.
You could try cleaning the lens with a soft cloth and some photographic grade lens cleaning fluid but I don't rate your chances of getting it working again just by wiping any accumulated dust off it.
The pot tweak is a dark art specific to each make/version of Xbox disc drive and can shorten the life of the laser if taken too far.
The Samsung 605F is the, equal, least compatible disc drive for self-burned media but like all other drive types it should not have any problem with original media discs.
Tommy_the_Jerk Xbox-HQ Newbie Xbox Version: v1.6 Modded: Xecuter 2.6 CE
Joined: Mar 03, 2021 Posts: 4
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:11 pm Post subject:
It seems that the laser is burnt out on this Xbox, best I can tell. In any event, the DVD drive doesn't work with anything I've tried thus far.
I suppose this ends my thoughts of playing any DVD on it, but I'm told there are ways to enable FTP between a PC and a modded Xbox and simply put all the games you want to play on it. I am a bit concerned at the lack of space on the 10GB hard drive, so I'm thinking now would be a good time to look into upgrading the size of the hard drive by replacing it. I've looked a bit into the guides and it looks quite doable and I have a prospective IDE hard drive that is widely confirmed to work. If there's anything I should be especially aware of, feel free to chime in!
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