The Latest XBox LIVE Update May Affect DVD Drives

We’ve just had a look at a verified email, sent from Xbox LIVE customer support, claiming that a recent update to Xbox LIVE is preventing “a very small number of Xbox 360 owners from playing retail discs”.

The email, which was verified via this twitter post from Xbox Support, offered the user in question a new Xbox 360 in response and a free year’s subscription to Xbox LIVE.

“Checking my e-mail earlier today,” said Avery Penn, “I found a rather interesting message from Xbox Customer Support, saying that a software update is stopping some Xbox 360s from reading game discs.

“Saying they were able to detect this issue over Xbox Live, Microsoft went on to say that, after jumping through all the necessary hoops, they’d send me a brand new Xbox 360 S and a year’s free Xbox Live. At this point, my jaw hit the floor.”

According to Avery, his 360 was still playing discs at the time the email was sent and, just for reference, his console was 60GB Pro from 2009.

The email was most likely referring to the Xbox LIVE update which is being phased in between May 19 and May 30 – an update which reflashes the DVD drives to a new stock firmware, and adds support for new XGD3 disk format. It’s this update that allows an extra GB of usable storage on game discs.

That would most likely mean that the games Avery’s Xbox 360 wouldn’t be able to read haven’t even been released yet – explaining why his 360 could still read currently available game discs.

We’ve contacted Microsoft for a response on the issue, which we’re currently awaiting – and we’ll update the story accordingly. In spite of the obvious issues, which may affect a good number of Xbox 360 users, we’re impressed by the pre-emptive work of Xbox’s Customer Support – as was Avery, who was seemingly happy with the situation.

If Microsoft continue to pre-emptively solve these issues, then more power to them, but problems may arise if users find themselves unable to play new games released in the future.

Source

Ummm, I wouldn't mind getting a new Xbox 360 S with 250GB HDD as I've got the old 20GB model. Thought I'd share this with you lot as the update is meant to go live between 19th and 30th May.

Interesting.

I have a 60GB from 2009 as my spare, might bust it out and see if I get an email!!! 

hmmm..my 360 is a white 60gb pro as well.. i've not been on live recently so i wonder if they'll be able to recognise what you have when you log on and email accordingly? i'm guessing it must be a very very small number of 360's though as, as nice as this is and possibly some of the best customer service i've seen, Microsoft are still a business so it'd have to be cost effective.

Hopefully when I get home from work tonight, have a few hours on the xbox, i'll have an email tomorrow haha!

brb breaking xbox

That reminds me as well, I still have one of those early steering wheel models that are supposed to go on fire if you use it too much.

Does the size of the HD actually affect this, or is it just manufacture date? Because my white XBox must be from around 2009, but it now has a 250GB HD.

fingers crossed my xbox requires an upgrade lol.

T0M W00DY:

Does the size of the HD actually affect this, or is it just manufacture date? Because my white XBox must be from around 2009, but it now has a 250GB HD.

Just the manufacture date. The Hard Drive doesn't matter.

SONIC SCREAM 07:

T0M W00DY:

Does the size of the HD actually affect this, or is it just manufacture date? Because my white XBox must be from around 2009, but it now has a 250GB HD.

 

 

Just the manufacture date. The Hard Drive doesn't matter.

it's the actual DVD drive in the console ... i'm assuming all current releases and previous releases will still be playable too just the new releases on the new format.

According to Eurogamer

"this new release is the first that will actually see the drive firmware being rewritten by the Xbox 360 itself. Any one using a current hacked DVD drive will find that updating to the new dash instantly kills their ability to run pirate software, with the hacked code completely expunged from the DVD drive. Microsoft has employed a wide range of DVD drives in its machines from launch - the best guess is that not all of them can be flashed directly, necessitating a swapped console."

I reckon within a week of the update going, there will be loads of sites telling you how to spot the dodgy DVD drives.

Even then, it may only be batches, rather than a specific DVD drive.

I would imagine the upgrade will report back to Microsoft if you've got one of the dodgy drives, and you'll have an email shortly afterwards. As such, its probably a very good time to check the email address you've got listed against your gamertag to make sure its valid.

Microsoft confirms the replacements.

Here.

It's being very pro-active about all this... that's a good move indeed from MS... I would assume if you're affected an email will have already been sent.. and i've not had one... bloody typical!

Sounds good. My 60gb pro model is struggling with some DVDs now, so a freebie upgrade would be nice.

Hmmn, hopefully my (now spare) launch day console will need replacing :-)

Will this update be on game disc's and if so how will that affect people with no Internet connection to connect to live to show their DVD drive has been guff'ed by the update.

So, do you think the Slim models are safe already? Is it just the elites/arcade models that will be struggling?

AlertedENCORE:

Will this update be on game disc's and if so how will that affect people with no Internet connection to connect to live to show their DVD drive has been guff'ed by the update.

These updates normally do get included on game disks for those who don't connect to xbl. I guess It would then have to flag up a message if the console needed to be replaced and give instructions.

I've got a 20GB launch console that hasn't been connected to live for almost 2 years... perhaps now would be a good time to reconnect it and see if I get one of these emails.

Cavey74:

I've got a 20GB launch console that hasn't been connected to live for almost 2 years... perhaps now would be a good time to reconnect it and see if I get one of these emails.

Sounds like it's connected to the exact DVD drive type, so I doubt a 20gb launch model would be the same as a 2009 60gb.

W00t I have 1 possibly 2 that are those. If it does and whilst im just starting LA Noire im proper going to scweam and scweam and spit my dummy out. ..grrr .. then again both drives  are playing up saying open tray when a disc is in ..may be time to cash in lol. I like my white xbox though

can anyone confirm if they still work with current games and it will just be the new format it will be incompatible with?

Butters Yo:

can anyone confirm if they still work with current games and it will just be the new format it will be incompatible with?

The article seems to suggest it is only with games using the new DVD format:

"...his 360 was still playing discs at the time the email was sent..."

"...problems may arise if users find themselves unable to play new games released in the future."

Campotech:

Butters Yo:

can anyone confirm if they still work with current games and it will just be the new format it will be incompatible with?

 

The article seems to suggest it is only with games using the new DVD format:

"...his 360 was still playing discs at the time the email was sent..."

"...problems may arise if users find themselves unable to play new games released in the future."

Yeah what he said. If you decide not to update it, existing games will work, it's just that any future game using the new discs/format won't work.

Ah excellent thanks all..

At least if my 60gig Pro is one of the ones affected I can still play LA Noire next week!

Yes Got the Elite Briliant for dvds never had a problem :D

[Update]
A Microsoft US spokesperson has contacted us to clarify that this issue is unrelated to the upcoming update, sending an edited statement that includes the above as well as this:

"This disc read error message is tied to a change in the disc reading algorithms in a recent software update and is not specific to older or newer versions of Xbox 360."

Fingers crossed lol, hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones.

See i want the update to mess up to get a new xbox.... But not this close to L.A noire.........What a pickle!

I am getting a new Xbox as I received the email from Microsoft and I filled out the replacement form. Replacement deliv date est. 20th May

i turned my xbox on last night, so waiting hopefully...although i know with my luck i won't receive one!

Do they send the message to you on xbox or your hotmail?

They email your hotmail account linked to your gamertag.

I got prompted to download the update just now.

Hmmmm, not sure if I want to do it right now...

Ive had the update in the last 24hrs. My Elite went RROD so im using an Arcade model with my elite h/d as my personal machine, so was very nervous. No problems for me though. Play's everything fine.