GameCube Disc Drive Troubleshooting and Repair 

Got a broken gamecube for $5 today and this tutorial made it like brand new, thanks a bunch!

Christmas day. My 14 y.o. son wants a retro game to play. I bought one online for a lot more than the price mentioned here. It will work for 2 or 3 minutes before giving a disc error. We follow these steps and find our resistance is a little over 600 ohms. We corrected down to 300 ohms. Running great now. A great father-son project on Christmas day! Thanks!

I tried this on a GameCube that would no longer read discs- worked great! This is an excellent video that is very easy to follow for fellow electronic geeks. One suggestion would be to ensure that the top lid is in the open position before re-assembling- I broke one of the micro-safety switches that shuts off the unit when the lid is opened (no biggie, bypassed- don't open the lid and stare at the pretty red laser- lol.) I had to set mine to 300 ohms before it started working. I am guessing that the laser is weakening and will eventually fail, but a great procedure to get it back up and running!

I really wanted this to work. What an in-depth video. I followed it precisely but I am still experiencing the same problem.

Thanks to you I fixed my GC for $.82! I went without the multimeter and just turned the laser's screw/knob (potentiameter) counter clockwise about 1/8 of a turn. Thumbs up -- excellent video and advice!

I have 3 gamecubes now because of the optical problem. Amazing how many useful videos you've made. Thanks!

This helped me get my GameCube back up and running. First problem I’ve had with it for over 12 years, glad it’s working again!

Wow! Absolutely amazing! You are a very smart man! I'm very impressed about how you know a lot of the inside components of a Gamecube and how you got the disc drive to work again. You took the Gamecube apart and put it back together perfectly. I will definitely reflect on this video if I have any problems with my Gamecube's disc drive not working.

I was actually looking for a disc repair guide and came across your video. Now I want to find a cheap broken gamecube to fix this. I'm doing a lot of electronic repairs on newer devices so I'm alway really excited to see how easy the disassembly of older devices is.

"I like to do the simple things first"... *takes off the shell before cleaning the lens*. Suuuuure :')

i had this problem when i was young, is pretty cool to know now what was the problem in my game cube. Good video

A million thanks to you sir. I bought a brand new Nintendo GameCube, complete with box and manuals last 2016. after I bought it from the seller online, I didn't​ bother to test it because it's brand new. but only now I realized that I need to test the GameCube that I bought. when I did, I have the same problem just like your GameCube. So I followed your instructions and after adjusting the VR or whatever. Wow, It's a magical feeling! I'm just worried because I didn't use a potentiometer. I just tweaked it once counter clockwise.just a little. God bless you Sir.

Great video. Pretty interesting stuff. I've always wanted to mess around with consoles and fixing things, so it doesn't seem too challenging. Probably the hardest part of it all is having the proper tools.

Thanks for the tutorial! I definitely learned something I can use in the future even if this didn’t solve my GC problem at this time. It makes it so that I won’t hesitate knowing I have more tricks up my sleeve to purchase a GC that’s not working properly.

I had this problem with my 20-year-old GameCube. Didn’t work after trying to set it to 480 ohms. Watched another video saying to set it to about 175. I did so and it works now. Are there two different models? I read something online about a DOL-001 and a DOL-101. I’m unsure, but happy these videos exist to make me look intelligent to friends and family. :)

THANK YOU!!!! I have a Gameboy player attached to my GameCube and I knew I wasn't getting another system that could play these games on television. With a $70+ price tag to fix, I found your video. Really appreciated!

I have a GameCube with the same failure mode as the one you showed in the video, so I’ll give it a shot and will definitely let you know the outcome... Excellent video indeed! Thank you!

This helped me fix a completely different problem with my GameCube thanks.

It was very useful, my gamecube was brougth to life after 5 years of being useless, thanks pal

Thank you for this video ❤ I just recently bought used Gamecube and my disc drive was not working sadly. Thanks to you I managed to fix it and it works like a charm 😊

Good to know, already have the tools and always wanted a Gamecube, really useful info on the laser values. May give it a shot! Thanks!

Disk wasn’t reading at 231 Om. Adjusted to 160 Om and now reads disks. Watched another YT video with other OM suggestions for the working resistence. Great tear down video!

I did this without the Hioki, because I'm daring and desperate, and I just turned the dial a tiny bit (like 1/4 couter-clockwise) and mine works fine now!!! Thanks for the helpful video!

Awesome! Thanks for the great video. I was able to fix my gamecube thanks to it. The pot started at 580 Ohms so then I tried ~410, still no good (though it would read the disc in 1 every 3 tries instead of 1 every 15 before; so an improvement), then i lowered it even more to 350 and it works like a charm.

This was such a coincidence, I was attempting a repair myself before clicking on this video and we used the exact same two test games.

just watched the video today, and you did a pretty good job with the explanation, thanks.

adjusted the potentiometer and bam! reads like a dream! thank you so much!

this worked!! I didn't have a way to measure the voltage so i just turned the knob like a 1/4 turn and it works like new! Thank you!

Had no multimeter of any sorts I had already taken it apart. As said in the video be careful to not blow it up. Also mentioned to twist it only 1/8 of a turn, so I did and that fixed my issue with it not reading disks. Might have been the bad disk reading was the reason for the seller selling the Pokémon Colosseum version, but it works! THANKS!

You saved my gamecube!!!!!! I am adding this video to my favorites should I ever need it again!

Worked for me and didn’t even need the multimeter Thank you so much!

Thanks so much! Fixed the GC that I just bought that wasn't spinning or reading disks.

This video was spot on except I couldn't see or figure out where to apply the multimeter leads and I didn't understand what you meant by legs. But I did eventually get it done and set to 157.9 ohms!

It's alive! Long live GameCube👏🙏

Excellent! Thanks for this. Unusually good video for a repair guide.

My GameCube would say no disk. Then after 10-20 restarts it would say can't read disk. Then after some more restarts it would work. This solved my problem. I was around 550 ohms, the tiniest turn brought it down to 435 ohms and now it reads the disk first time. 550 ohms must be right around the limit, makes me believe the 500 ohm number you found. This was very helpful. Thanks

Fixed my gamecube with this tutorial. Thanks!

Thanks a lot, you had me worried there, as I don't have the right equipment. Tried cleaning the lens with an alcohol wipe and all is good

Ha! I usually mess these things up, but it actually worked! Adjusted the laser very slightly, dig out an old analog multimeter (had to actually clean a battery contact), swab the lens, and now I can play my old games again!

The "official term" is NEC External Line Head screw. Haven't heard it called that in almost 20 years though. ;) Also, I'd suggest leaving the disc in during disassembly, or at least leave an 8cm/80mm blank or slug disc (clear disc usually included with a spindle of blanks).This will prevent accidental touching of the laser and should not interfere with disassembly.

Thank you for this informative video! I’m gonna try cleaning the laser one more time. Unfortunately I have a tremor disorder, and don’t trust myself to take it apart, and currently I have no money so I’ll have to wait to take this to someone to fix.

I was so worried that I had to take my gc back to gamestop but thank god I found this video and saved me the hassle

Wow thank you so much my meter was reading 900+ adjust the potentiometer back to 466 and it works great!

This worked so well for my cube thank you so much it boots games right up no questions asked I set the pot to 310 it was at 180

I will be trying the potentiometer adjustment when I get home. Will post an update on whether it works or not. Thanks!!

I bought an old Gamecube and now it works after adjusting the potentiometer :D thanks a lot.

You are a GENIUS dude, big ups

I follewed this tips with my friend and my trusty cube came back to life! Thank you mate!

I LOVE YOU! This guide helped me fix my best friend's Cube, thank you dude ♥️

Awesome video, got my working at 110 ohms, I had to drop it from 199 ohms to 110, with trail and error. I think everyone will have a different "sweet spot". The best solution is to replace the Caps on the optical drive.

Awesome video, Colin. I'm going to attempt your fix.

This really help my Gamecube disc reader's problem but I mostly clean the lens and the disc spinner and the game disc it's self but I might see one day to see if it that but I still can play my games on it.

Just fixed mine right now after a whole year of looking, thanx

I have no knowledge of this kind of stuff, but this does interest me. What would cause the laser to change from what it was when you first buy it new from a shop to cause this? Just general 'wear and tear' electronics style, or is it something the user does during their usage of the system? Great video by the way, very easy to follow without being too baffled haha. You make this look/sound easy !

Thank you my gamecube was not reading dices and I didn't know why so I clean the it and it work so thank you so much

Thanks! Totally saved my gamecube, now I can enjoy it with the kiddos.

I think my GC has this problem. But with patience and changing discs I get to a point where it does reads the discs so. Maybe later I will do this fix. Thanks for the video explanation.

I Looked this up to help my gc issues and to went like an subscribe an what do you know I'm already subbed lol ,great video ,thank you for this walkthrough!!

Cool!! My brother told me about your channel and mentioned console maintenance and I got excited. I also watched your video game console OS video and really enjoyed it. I'm a mechanical engineering student so it's great to see someone with so much expertise discuss consoles at such a technical level. What is your academic background? it seems like you must have some computer science experience. Thanks for the great video!

Very informative thanks so much for the visual knowledge!

I think my gamecube has this exact problem because when I put discs that I know work in and turn it on it comes up as no disc so I need to try this, Thanks for the step by step clear instructions :) you Legend

It worked! I turned down from 515 to 350. I have a DOL-001 gamecube. Thanks m8

The heatsink screws actually do not hold the mainboard to the bottom shell.

It worked on my game cube. I did not use the meter tho. I just twisted it very carefully until it worked. Thanks!

Worked for me! Thank you for the walkthrough

This video saved my Gamecube! Thanks!

Thanks for this video I got a GameCube just the other day with a copy of smash bros melee for 10 bucks but when It didn’t play the game but thanks to your video I fixed it

Cool video, had all the information i needed, thank you

Well I'm glad to say that... IT WORKED!!!!! The lens power was to weak so when I increased it, it worked. 5 stars man! 5 stars

Nice Job! and pacman vs is a great party game!

awesome help video! follow step by step, the gamecube i bought as is for $7 working perfectly!

You had me worried there, as I don't have the right equipment. Tried cleaning the lens with an alcohol wipe and all is good :) thanks

Nice! I will remember this! Thanks for posting

my GameCube will turn on (fan turns on and the power light turns on) but nothing else. I took it apart to see what happens with the laser and the spindle, and the laser didn't turn on nor did the spindle rotate. the gamecube fell off a couch before it wouldn't work, what do you suggest might be the issue? do I need a new optical drive assembly?

Wanna hear my story? My GC would require a few attempts to even detect a disc right after it started up, but after that games would work just fine, so for a while I thought I could live with that. After watching this video though, I wanted to see if I could fix it just out of curiosity. So when I saw the potentiometer, there was some dust on its connectors, and I used a multimeter to measure its resistance. Since it wasn't different from what it should be, I didn't turn the screw on it. Using it also took off that dust. Now that problem is gone, so thanks for giving me the inspiration.

Thank you for the help kind sir, I can now play my game cube games now thx.

My gamecube arrived yesterday. it fully works :D no problems reading disks. Controller works fine. it is also a rare version i got because it has digital av out. it is a black gamecube like yours

Great video!!!! Helped me out a lot!!

Hello, I did it, however my GC still not reading the games. I already cleaned the lens up and nothing..

You got to love test gear names. If it works, it must be a Fluke; but now I want Hioki tools. :)

Great vid. I got a gamecube console for $5 and may have the same problem

Still works great in 2023! Thank you!

This worked for like two days for me. Now it’s back to not reading. Sometimes it will read the disc if I boot it up with no disc and place it in after, and sometimes I have to swap discs using the previous method and once they read the disc, I swap to the preferred game. I’ve cleaned the lens again to no improvement. What do you think?

10:28 - "You'll *potentially* burn up the laser", eh? :)

Great video. I’m much too scared to do this myself but may have an engineering friend test their hand

I really like your video. It is indeed helpful. I just can not see through your hands to the exact places to test the circuit board with the multimeter. Even though you gave a great explanation a forehand, I need a diagram to guide me through that. Using a multimeter is new to me and mine is a super cheap one( a world away from the Hioki you have). I did this fix without the multimeter reading and I now instead of a no disc error, I am having a disc reading error. Two steps forward and one step back. Help!

I’m getting a replacement laser for my GameCube. Would it be wise to start at 500 kilo ohms and work my way down until it reads the game disc correctly?

I have a black Gamecube with the same problem, it's a chore to take it apart, but I might try this.

THX great video fixed my gamecube :)

This stuff blows my mind I just want my GameCube to read the discs better haha

Okay, sorry about multiposting, but in the end I decided to tweak the laser pot a little bit. So far, so good.

good stuff well presented.

When I first started the laser would come on, but when I adjusted the VR401, the laser wont move at all i dont know if that means if I burnt it out

Hi collin. Just did this on an old cube my nephews gave me years ago. Funny how it almost had the same values. Originally it read 636 ohms. Did the adjustment, read 450 ohm. Tested it and it worked. Do you think those pots maybe wear over time or from lack of use? (This thing’s been unused for about 11 years. ) anyway, thanks for the video. Now to clean this baby up. It is filthy!

What is the type / size of the screwdriver used for the second part of the disassembly process? Thank you!

Just did this on my GameCube and it appears to work as far as reading the disc at first. It loads up and plays for about five minutes and then I get the error message saying "cannot read disc" so then I reset it and it plays for about a minute before I get the same error. Is this a overheating issue?

so, the lazer is not supposed to go to the back or is it to continue moving reading the disk/

I’m able to play games on my GameCube but after 10-15min or so the game disc cannot be read and I hear the game stop spinning... after I open and close the lid I am usually able to play for another minute or so before the game disc cannot be read again. Not sure how to fix it... tried the alcohol and q-tip and I don’t think it helped.

Wait when you tested the resistance on the potentiometer, where exactly did you place the test leads?

I have a question about the multimeter. I have one that has number with the ohms instead of just the symbols. What number should I use. Says 200, 2k, 20k,200k,2m