Xbox 360 HDD Replacement - IFixit Repair Guide

Skip to main content Fix Your Stuff Community Store Xbox 360 HDD Replacement

Introduction

It should be noted that while this modification will add additional storage to your console, it violates the Xbox Live terms of service, and could potentially lead to your banishment from Xbox Live.

Here I show you the rather simple replacement of the actual hard drive in the 360's HDD enclosure. Microsoft makes it expensive or difficult to upgrade your hard drive by limiting your options with said upgrade. This guide deals with how to physically take the drive apart and replace it with your shiny, new WD HDD. Yes, for some reason it has to be a Western Digital drive. One from either of the following drive series:

-WD Scorpio Series BEVS/BEAS

-WD Scorpio Blue Series BEVS/BEVT

-WD Scorpio Black Series BEKT/BJKT

-WD VelociRaptor Series

I looked on Newegg.com and found a Scorpio Black 250GB drive spinning at 7200RPM with 16MB cache and 3.0Gb/s. for about $65. That is what I would probably recommend, being that it gives you the most bang for your buck, and is about half what MS will charge you for the 250GB drive.

What you need

1. Step 1 HDD

   

   • Here it is. The standard 20GB HDD for the Xbox 360.

   • Notice the proprietary adapter. Inside is just a pretty standard 2.5" SATA drive...

   • I took these pictures as I was putting it back together, hence the Microsoft warranty sticker looking a little funny.

   • You may also notice the screw in the bottom left is partly out. This is because as I was replacing the screw before it, I broke my bit. I was using a 1/16" flathead bit (I don't have a T6 Torx) and used just a little too much torque and it snapped. I found another 1/16" bit to finish, but didn't get a pic.

   • If you have Torx bits/drivers, use them. They will work much better than the flatheads.

   Edit Add a comment