Hi guys, been reading this site for a while, and thought it was a good place to ask this questions.

I have my hacked Hitachi drive, am burning games using a Pioneer 111D and for the most part this all works fine. However every now and then (say one in 5 disks) I get "unplayable disk", so I have always put it down to bad media.

However I decided to try one of the non working disks out on a friends 360 (Samsung drive) and it worked no problem, as does everyone one of the "unplayable disks".

I always use the same disks (Ridisk), with DVD decryptor and using an image of the game I know works. So can any one explain, or had experience with such a problem on the drive? I have put the latest firmware on the 360 and hasn't made a difference. So is it justa problem with hitachi drives? Would another medi detect update on the FW ease these problems?

It may drive me to selling this xbox and buying a hitachi with MS28 on it.

moving to the back up forum...

Sorry, I didn't know where best to put it. Thanks.

Ridisc outsource to different manufacturers with varrying quality standards so there is no such thing as a "Ridisc." They also tend to use factory rejects (typical of the e-net labels). Have you tried different media? Have you made sure that you have a hitachi with the latest media check firmware.

No offence but how can it be the media when the disk that doesn't work in mine will work in various other 360s with Samsung drives?

Like I said I know it isn't the disks, or the image of the game, or the software I use to burn it or the DVD writer, simple because the disk will work in another xbox.

Jester knows what he is talking about, click the link in his sig. A lot of research there.

I can sum up the whole thing for you & also give you the answer to your problem in 3 words:

USE VERBATIM DISKS! I have a Hitachi & Verbs never fail to please.


Samsung drives seem to be less picky about the media they will run.

P.S. There is no such thing as as MS28 Hitachi drive. MS28 is Samsung. Buying a new 360 or even a new 360 drive will certainly be more expensive than buying $2 disks.

Sorry I meant Samsung MS28 drive, my mistake.

I don't mind having a coaster every now and then to be honest, it's not a problem, I just wondered if this was a known issue with Hitachi drives and was it a drive problem or something that could be fixed with better media detection in future FW.

I now Verbatim disks work, but since I managed to get a deal you wouldn't beleive on ridisk I wont be switching to them. Disk for disk I could verbs for the same high street price, but 200 ridisk for less than £40, no one would turn that down now would they

it is not a coaster if it works in a samsung drive. your hitachi is just picky and like everyone is telling you, ridata or ritek discs are basically cheap. spend the $$$ on verbs that are proven time and time again. there is absolutely no difference in game images from hitachi or samsung. it is just the drive is more picky. buy the verbs and thank us later.
on another note, the reason some of your games work and some dont is because the ridata discs are inconsistent. verbs are very consistent quality.

I'm gonna agree and say go with verbatims, I used some cheap memorexs and got them to work but not after open/closing my drive tray several times b4 I got it 2 read. Also I'm assuming they used riteks dye because ritek popped up in my imgburn log when I popped in the memorex, since the switch to verbatims game boot up 1st try. Try newegg, +r dl go pretty decent over there.

I know ridisk are cheap, but again, the problem here is the drive not the disks, surely the fact it works on Samsung drives points that out as you said yourself Is the Hitachi is picky, that was all my question was.

Also everyone seems to be missing the point, I got 200 Ridisk for £40 so I wont be switching brands any time soon guys, I can cope with one bad burn every 6 or 7 disks you know. Besides I think I have solved it, set DVD decrtyptor to burn at 1X, doesn't make the burn any slower but every single disk has worked in my drive so far.

Thanks for the replys chaps, much appreciated.

I don't think it's the drive. I have a Hitachi with 2.2 FW and I was able to play Verbatims fine until GOW and COD3 began updating via Live when loading up the disc. Now I get unplayable disc errors on both. I never did before the updates. Maybe MS is doing something new. I'm going to flash with the latest and see what happens.

imhere - I have exactly the same prob. Again not really bothered with a bad burn in every 5 or 6 as it still works out cheaper than buying verbs. Pretty annoying tho, I've been using clone cd so gonna try dvd decrtyptor, or you still having success with this prog and are there any other good burning progs I could try?

Imgburn but it's essentially just an upgraded burning engine of DVD Decrypter (same author). BTW for you folks who are all using Ridisc, there is something else you need to consider. How long do you want your backups to work? Getting a working backup doesn't necessarily mean that you have a decent working disc. Seen it happen a number of times where people think that they have good media and then it quits working less than a year after they burn it.

thanks, just tried that, 2 out of three worked. I'm wondering if I should flash my pioneer 111d, I have the latest official firmware but maybe a hacked version would work better? Any suggestions?

It's possible that the firmware flash might fix it but no garauntees. If you are going to use it I recommend one of the buffalo firmwares (ie 8.29)

Me again

Problem still remains, I have tried everything including verb disc and flashed to buffalo firmwares (8.29)!

I'm running out of ideas? I've got sooooo many coaster I feel I should start serving drinks!

Help please god (or one of you lovely lot) help!

Okay once again, you need to give us the breakdown of what method of what firmware your burner is flashed with, what process/software are you using to create and burn your backup with, what firmware your XBOX 360 drive is flashed with and finally have you set the L0 breakpoint at the right spot?