I got a Thompson drive. Should I trade it in now?

L

Lina

Banned
I got my XBox used from Gamestop a week ago.

They have a 90-day warranty.

Should I bother trying to get one with Phillips or Samsung? I'm reading nothing but problems with Thompsons.

I haven't had any problems yet, but after just losing a PS2 that had nothing but problems, I don't want to go through that again. Thanks.
 
Problems are totally blown out of proportion. That being said there will be a lot of people telling you to take it back because (insert random possibly made up story) happened to them. Most likely you already have the answer in your mind, so do whatever you want.
 
I don't know. 'Tis why I asked.

I'm far from being a techie geek, like most are here probably.

I wanted to buy a new one, but they're nowhere to be found.
 
I bought a used Xbox with a Thompson in 2003 and it worked perfectly fine until I traded it in Dec 04 to get a brand new one.

I'd say as long as it works fine, keep it. But just remember, the best way to guarantee you get as close to perfect a machine as possible is to buy a new one. You never really know when a used one is going to go bad on you. That's why I traded mine in while it was still working.

Also, if you can't find a new one anywhere, buy one off the net. That's how I got my PS2. I know both FYE and Amazon offer free shipping.
 
Buying one off the net is bad, because that's another $150+.

I don't think I can just take this system back to Gamestop, and get all my money back. Was $119.

I'd take this back, and pay another $30 for a new one.

I tried calling, but as usual, I got some 18-year old who hates his job and wouldn't help me at all.
 
[quote name='zewone']Trade it in now. You'll get problems in the future. And they come out of nowhere.[/quote]


That's total bullshit. My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2. It's so stupid how many people rave about how bad the Thompson drive is, yet I hear so much less stories about how someone's Xbox crapped out on them than how bad the Thompson drive is. STFU and learn what you're talking about.
 
[quote name='XboxMaster'][quote name='zewone']Trade it in now. You'll get problems in the future. And they come out of nowhere.[/quote]


That's total bullshit. My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2. It's so stupid how many people rave about how bad the Thompson drive is, yet I hear so much less stories about how someone's Xbox crapped out on them than how bad the Thompson drive is. STFU and learn what you're talking about.[/quote]


seconded
 
[quote name='icemanjmw13']Problems are totally blown out of proportion. That being said there will be a lot of people telling you to take it back because (insert random possibly made up story) happened to them. Most likely you already have the answer in your mind, so do whatever you want.[/quote]

Umm.. they aren't blown out of propotion. The Thompson really does suck that much. It can barely play the ESPN games, newer and huge games like KOTOR2 lock it up constantly, etc.

That's total bullshit. My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2. It's so stupid how many people rave about how bad the Thompson drive is, yet I hear so much less stories about how someone's Xbox crapped out on them than how bad the Thompson drive is. STFU and learn what you're talking about.
Click to expand...

*looks at your games list*

You have 21 games, none of which have been reported problems with the Thompson drives. So until you get one of the problem games, like any of the ESPN 2K5 series, Raw 2, GTA, the KOTORs, Driv3r, and other newer games, YOU quit trying to act like there's no problems. My Thompson crapped out, my cousin's crapped out, customer's crapped out and they brought it in. Quit trying to deny a problem. THERE IS A PROBLEM. How can you be an XBox fanboy with 21 games? That explains why you're trying to say there's no problem, though, you're a self proclaimed fanboy.

Trade it in and get another drive.
 
[quote name='XboxMaster'][quote name='zewone']Trade it in now. You'll get problems in the future. And they come out of nowhere.[/quote]


That's total bullshit. My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2. It's so stupid how many people rave about how bad the Thompson drive is, yet I hear so much less stories about how someone's Xbox crapped out on them than how bad the Thompson drive is. STFU and learn what you're talking about.[/quote]

How about you STFU? I had a Thomson (not Thompson) for 3 years and all of sudden crapped out on me out of nowhere. I had to buy a new one, so yeah I know from first hand what I'm talking about.
 
It's played ESPN MLB 2k5 and College Hoops 2k5 without any issues so far. They're both brand new though.

My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2.
Click to expand...

That doesn't give me much confidence.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the advice.

I've read that Gamestop will allow me to take in my pre-owned XBox for a new one. So, I'll wait the next couple months, and hopefully there will be some new ones in stock.

Leena.
 
[quote name='icemanjmw13']Problems are totally blown out of proportion. That being said there will be a lot of people telling you to take it back because (insert random possibly made up story) happened to them. Most likely you already have the answer in your mind, so do whatever you want.[/quote]

I thought so too, but my Xbox began crapping out last week. I am super anal about my games and hardware, and it has been kept in perfect condition by myself. I say trade it in, especially if you are going to be playing newer games. It seems right after I played MLB2K5, problems began popping up (Dirty or damaged disc; Please insert an Xbox game disc.. :( ) in all of my games.
 
[quote name='XboxMaster'][quote name='zewone']Trade it in now. You'll get problems in the future. And they come out of nowhere.[/quote]


That's total bullshit. My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2. It's so stupid how many people rave about how bad the Thompson drive is, yet I hear so much less stories about how someone's Xbox crapped out on them than how bad the Thompson drive is. STFU and learn what you're talking about.[/quote]
No, YOU learn what you're talking about. I've personally owned two Thompsons, both bought on launch day, that have crapped out. Will each and every Thompson crap out? No. But they have a much, much higher failure rate than the other drives. Not every one will fail, but the chances of them failing are greater.

There are certain games that Thompsons have more problems with than others. Just because yours has not yet failed, doesn't mean that the problem doesn't exist. Theres a reason why they don't use Thompson drives anymore.

OP, I would return it, and check to see which drive your replacement Xbox has before you even leave the store.
 
Mine has nothing but trouble reading LEGIT games keeps getting disc read errors, however Backups will generally play just fine. My Advice get a Samsung.
 
[quote name='dafoomie'][quote name='XboxMaster'][quote name='zewone']Trade it in now. You'll get problems in the future. And they come out of nowhere.[/quote]


That's total bullshit. My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2. It's so stupid how many people rave about how bad the Thompson drive is, yet I hear so much less stories about how someone's Xbox crapped out on them than how bad the Thompson drive is. STFU and learn what you're talking about.[/quote]
No, YOU learn what you're talking about. I've personally owned two Thompsons, both bought on launch day, that have crapped out. Will each and every Thompson crap out? No. But they have a much, much higher failure rate than the other drives. Not every one will fail, but the chances of them failing are greater.

There are certain games that Thompsons have more problems with than others. Just because yours has not yet failed, doesn't mean that the problem doesn't exist. Theres a reason why they don't use Thompson drives anymore.

OP, I would return it, and check to see which drive your replacement Xbox has before you even leave the store.[/quote]

My Thompson Drive also has problems with newer games, such as Halo 2, and even older ones like Kung Fu Chaos. Hell, my friends Thompson drive wont read shit.
 
[quote name='Scorch'][quote name='icemanjmw13']Problems are totally blown out of proportion. That being said there will be a lot of people telling you to take it back because (insert random possibly made up story) happened to them. Most likely you already have the answer in your mind, so do whatever you want.[/quote]

Umm.. they aren't blown out of propotion. The Thompson really does suck that much. It can barely play the ESPN games, newer and huge games like KOTOR2 lock it up constantly, etc.

That's total bullshit. My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2. It's so stupid how many people rave about how bad the Thompson drive is, yet I hear so much less stories about how someone's Xbox crapped out on them than how bad the Thompson drive is. STFU and learn what you're talking about.
Click to expand...

*looks at your games list*

You have 21 games, none of which have been reported problems with the Thompson drives. So until you get one of the problem games, like any of the ESPN 2K5 series, Raw 2, GTA, the KOTORs, Driv3r, and other newer games, YOU quit trying to act like there's no problems. My Thompson crapped out, my cousin's crapped out, customer's crapped out and they brought it in. Quit trying to deny a problem. THERE IS A PROBLEM. How can you be an XBox fanboy with 21 games? That explains why you're trying to say there's no problem, though, you're a self proclaimed fanboy.

Trade it in and get another drive.[/quote]
:applause: Thank you for saying what needed to be said. My xbox crapped out at the worst time (during the shortage, I finally got one at walmart). All my favs would crap out; Rally Sport 2, Colin McRae 2k3, ESPN football & numerous others. ESPN 2k4 was especially annoying as it would crash AFTER my match ended which if you are playing in season mode, it's pretty much worthless becuase it had to load 1st to the menu THEN save the season stats. All you naysayers either had dumb luck or are talking out of your a$$. My 2 cents.
 
my goodness people, such hostiality. the Thompsons are just like any other piece of electronic, they can and will crap out, the samsungs will do it eventually too. if it works awsome, but if you can get a new one then why not?
 
Go exchange it, chances are it will fail sooner or later, the Xbox fanboy just doesn't like admitting it has a high chance of failure, he seems to hate it so much he started talking bad about the PS2.....I'm not saying PS2 doesn't have DRE's, because they do but they are more talked about since there are a TON more PS2's out than Xbox's. Besides it looks like there aren't many DRE's anymore with newer PS2's. I haven't heard of one.

But the most experience I have from it is my friend getting a brand new game and it not being read. I was also pretty bummed because I was at his house waiting to play the game with him.
 
I didn't intend to start fighting in here. :(

Yes, I will definitely check the drive manufacturer on the replaced system I get.

I'm normally very picky about these things... but I hastily bought this XBox after my PS2 died, and figured XBox couldn't be nearly as bad.
 
I had a launch-day Xbox that didn't crap out til about 6 months ago. Call me immoral, but the MOMENT it started to give me problems (in Fable), I sold it to GS to salvage what I could, and got a brand new 'box for about $30 out of pocket. Since you bought yours used, it's entirely possible someone could have done the same thing I did. I'm quite sure that I'm not at the peak of creativity when it comes to "scams". I'd try to get a different one if I were you.
 
I would take it back if I were you. I have had some personal experience with a used thompson. It overheated when I played fable more than 45 minutes at a time and always took a long time to cool down so I could play it again. I could have probably just put a fan on it, but it was rather interesting seeing how crazy my parents got about it.
 
[quote name='SBWildBill2004']my goodness people, such hostiality. the Thompsons are just like any other piece of electronic, they can and will crap out, the samsungs will do it eventually too. if it works awsome, but if you can get a new one then why not?[/quote]

Exactly what he said, if you can then why not?
 
I got a used Thompson from my mom's boyfriend (who had bought it used/refusrbished from EB). I didn't have any trouble with it for a while, due in part to the fact that I didn't have very many games for it, and there weren't really any games I wanted for the system anyway. Then, out of no where, it won't read some discs or the Xbox would just freeze mid-game. I said screw this, I'm going to get a new one. I got one of those sexy green Halo Xbox bundle things with Halo 1, and haven't had a problem with it yet. I sold the other Xbox to a friend for 50 bucks along with 3 games.

It could be that my mom's b/f didn't take care of the system, it could be that the Xbox was already crappy when it was bought used, or if the Thompson drive is just plain poo.

My advice is this: If you are really that worried about it, return it. If not.....whatever.
 
I got one of those sexy green Halo Xbox bundle things with Halo 1,
Click to expand...

Wow, good deal!

If you call MS, they usually replace the drive for around $40. My friend reported this to the BBB and they replaced his drive for free.
 
[quote name='Scorch']
I got one of those sexy green Halo Xbox bundle things with Halo 1,
Click to expand...

Wow, good deal!

If you call MS, they usually replace the drive for around $40. My friend reported this to the BBB and they replaced his drive for free.[/quote]Why do they go for so much on eBay? I was just happy to get a new Xbox, and it was only $170 so I thought I may as well get an extra copy of Halo (my other one had been borrowed and played so much it wouldnt read).
 
Well if u have a thompson drive u better get a new xbox. Some people might say theres has worked for three yrs. But u might not be so lucky. i've had mine for like yr and 1/2 and its not reading new games that come out like GR2 and Rainbow Six # black arrow. And with me being on HITSQUADX(a xbox live community clan) makes it hard for me to play. But i say just to be safe get a new one!!!!!!
 
Trade it now. It's well documented that these drives are bad. Why do you think MS stopped using them in production. I would insert my exaggerated and made up story here, but i don't feel like it.
 
ive had thomsons before...it gave me problems with morrowind...but my recent one (from the holiday bundle) hasnt had a problem yet..even with some of the trouble games

maybe the new ones are better?
 
[quote name='blackjaw']ive had thomsons before...it gave me problems with morrowind...but my recent one (from the holiday bundle) hasnt had a problem yet..even with some of the trouble games

maybe the new ones are better?[/quote]

does your new one have a thomson?
 
[quote name='blackjaw']ive had thomsons before...it gave me problems with morrowind...but my recent one (from the holiday bundle) hasnt had a problem yet..even with some of the trouble games

maybe the new ones are better?[/quote]

Morrowind is a slow loading game, and the original (not GOTY) was notorious for being buggy. It may not have been the system.

I bought a Gamestop refurbished XBOX (Thompson drive) in May/June 2003, and I sold it when I bought my Halo LE XBOX (Samsung drive)nearly a year later. I never had a problem with either model. The only difference in the models happened when it came to burn music.

Maybe some people don't take care of their XBOXs or abuse it with botched modding?
 
i've had my xbox since dec. 2001, i havent had many problems other than occassional freezing...though i also occassionally get the disc dirty disc error once in awhile...it happened w/ sudeki and once with mlb2k5, but restarted fine...so not a big deal..maybe if an ebay trade in deal comes soon i will, just to get a newer one, but not really neessary at the moment
 
Well, I have a Thompson drive, but, I consider myself very lucky to only had a few DDE's with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dead or Alive 3. In the future, I would like to have another Xbox as a backup. What are the chances of scoring a brand new Xbox with a Samsung drive?...
 
[quote name='XboxMaster'][quote name='zewone']Trade it in now. You'll get problems in the future. And they come out of nowhere.[/quote]


That's total bullshit. My Xbox with a Thompson lasted over 3 years and could still play discs better than a crappy PS2. It's so stupid how many people rave about how bad the Thompson drive is, yet I hear so much less stories about how someone's Xbox crapped out on them than how bad the Thompson drive is. STFU and learn what you're talking about.[/quote]

Another STFU for you. And don't P in your Thomson. Maybe the 4th XBox drive, the Thompson, had a lower failure rate than the infamous Thomson.
Some had no problems, but the simple fact is many did. Sure, the Samsung and Phillips drives had issues, but more Thomson drives did. Maybe it's you who should learn what you are talking about.

Supposedly there was another revision of the Thomson drive, and those (again supposedly) had fewer problems. My second XBox has a Thomson also (so did the first), and knock on wood, it's been fine for almost 1 1/2 to almost 2 years now.
 
I traded my gamecube in at gamestop, payed about $40 out of my pocket and got an brand new xbox, manufactured in January 05, it has a thomson drive, and I've only experienced minor problems with Morrowind, but like manofpeace20 said, it's probably just the game. I can't understand why you guys would argue so badly about something so simple. If the person's that worried about their drive, they should take it back and get a new one. Not ask people on a forum simply to get a rise out of them. Use common sense.
 
I didn't ask to get a "rise" out of anyone... I just wanted some help with my decision. Most people here know far more about this than I do. But, considering your location and sig, you're probably just some dumbass kid anyway.

Anyway, my Thomson is working fine for now... but, I'm gonna get a replacement, because I want one that reads my burned CD's.
 
[quote name='manofpeace20']Morrowind is a slow loading game, and the original (not GOTY) was notorious for being buggy. It may not have been the system.

I bought a Gamestop refurbished XBOX (Thompson drive) in May/June 2003, and I sold it when I bought my Halo LE XBOX (Samsung drive)nearly a year later. I never had a problem with either model. The only difference in the models happened when it came to burn music.

Maybe some people don't take care of their XBOXs or abuse it with botched modding?[/QUOTE]
I played the hell out of the original Morrowind, and it was one of the first games I had problems with on my Thompson. Certain games give more problems (ESPN 2k5 series, etc) than others. Dirty disc errors and errors saving the game (since it reads the disc a whole lot while doing that).

You only had a Thompson for about a year, mine took about a year before I started having anything other than occasional issues.

Look at how many people in this thread alone have had problems with their Thompson drive. Its more prone to failure than the other drives are. I had to quit the CAG NHL2k5 league because my Thompson wouldn't play it anymore. You don't think theres something going on there?

Lets take your argument, and say that its all the owner's fault because they're stupid and broke it themselves. Now, statistically, there would be about an equal number of stupid people that break their own drives somehow. Why don't you hear nearly as many (or any) horror stories about the other drives? The newer drives have been out for a long time now, and outnumber the older Thompson's.

I'm tired of people thinking that because they didn't have a problem, the problem must not exist at all.
 
I got a Thompson in my XBox...god it's annoying. can't play 5 mins. with out it skipping and jittering to load. Also tons of DRE problems, and it always messes me up on Xbox Connect.

Its not a bad as my Philips Xbox though. That drive dont Eject, or play games. But if i MANUALY take the DVD lid off and put a Disc in the Drive it will eject...it's ****ed up.
 
I didn't ask to get a "rise" out of anyone... I just wanted some help with my decision. Most people here know far more about this than I do. But, considering your location and sig, you're probably just some dumbass kid anyway.

Anyway, my Thomson is working fine for now... but, I'm gonna get a replacement, because I want one that reads my burned CD's.
Click to expand...

It would be quick and easy for you to assume that. Well, you're right. Dumbass kid in the forum. Sound the alarm.
 
I got 2 thomsons... one of them i can't get to work for the life of me, while the other i have never had a problem with. Just from my experience I would say go get urself a samsung, which also reads burned cd's.
 
[quote name='gaelan']does your new one have a thomson?[/QUOTE]

yes, it has a thomson...ive had it since christmas and it hasnt given me a problem yet on games such as shenmue 2, morrowind, kotor, halo 2, etc etc (games that others have had problems with)

i think they may have fixed the problems for the new thompsons, only time will tell though, but so far im doing good
 
[quote name='Ozzkev55']how to you find out if you have a thompson drive?[/QUOTE]
Just open the drive and check the tray.
DVD_comparison_011.jpg
 
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