1. Stabilise the console before checking

• Use the Xbox 360 in a stable horizontal or vertical position.
• Switch off the console and remove the disc before changing its orientation.
• Also remove the disc before moving or tilting the console.

Microsoft says Xbox 360 can be used horizontally or vertically, but requires discs to be removed before changing orientation or moving it.

2. Check the disc and its position

1. Check that the console supports the disc format.
2. Look for cracks or significant damage. Do not insert a cracked disc.
3. Check that the disc is correctly placed in the tray.
4. If the console is vertical, make sure the tray tabs hold the disc.
5. Do not use discs smaller than a standard CD or DVD.

3. Clean the disc without unsuitable products

Hold the disc by its edges and gently wipe its surface with a soft cloth, from the centre outwards.

Do not use solvents, disc-cleaning devices, compressed air or DVD lens-cleaning devices. The consulted Microsoft manuals advise against these methods.

4. Compare with other discs

After these checks, compare behaviour with another Xbox 360 game. A supported DVD or audio CD can also provide a useful comparison if you have one.

• Only one disc fails: that disc is the first item to investigate.
• Several games or disc types fail: the drive or console becomes a more plausible cause.

This comparison is a troubleshooting indication reported on Microsoft Community, not an exhaustive technical procedure. It cannot identify a faulty component with certainty.

5. Do not open the console for these initial checks

Microsoft recommends not opening, disassembling, modifying or attempting to repair the console, power supply or accessories. If several discs fail after external checks, stop and have a qualified repairer assess the console instead of attempting an internal repair not documented here.

What these checks can tell you

• A cracked, incorrectly placed or dirty disc is directly checkable.
• A failure affecting only one disc points first to that disc.
• Repeated failures across several discs point towards the drive or console without identifying the faulty component.
• These checks do not justify opening or disassembling the Xbox 360.