Thread: How to open up a X-Box 360

The XCM 360 Case opening tool offers both the torx 10 driver needed to remove the lid and an ingenious metal tab device that allows you to easily release the plastic clips on the back of the 360, and a poker to release the clips holding the top and bottom vent covers. This tool can be replaced with a small screwdriver, see above external tutorial links for details on that process.






First things first remove the faceplate. If you skip this step and go on to removing the top and bottom plates you will find they can be removed but you greatly increase the difficulty and chances of breaking the little tabs off the top and bottom plates. The easiest way to remove the face is to use the finger hole at the bottom of the console and simply pull forward. (In this photo the Xbox is upside down)


Give her a good tug and pop!




Starting with the gray bottom vent plate, six tabs that hold it into place. You will find that all of them are accessible from the sides through the vent holes. Gently pull up on the plate and simultaneously release the clips by pushing in with the opening tool or other tool that fits through the hole.




Start at the front of the case and work your way back alternating sides so each pair of tabs are released.



Keep gentle pressure to pull it up and away as you go




The top plate offers a bit more of a challenge 3 of the six tabs are not in plain sight, begin with the front two, they can be accessed from the two corresponding holes where the drive tray connects. The opening tool has a cut out so it fits just right to reach the two clips.


The next two are visible through the vent holes and easily accessible.


The final tab can be released by removing one of the Xbox feet at the rear to reveal a hole



With the top and bottom vent covers removed we now lay the xbox down upside down. This makes the process much easier as the chassis is screwed to the top. With the bottom shell, (the one with the feet) pointing toward the sky we see these innocent looking 7 little holes.


This is where the opening tool really comes into play. When releasing the clips I find it helpful to spread the case with my thumb and forefinger, then position the tool so the tool lines up with the two holes by the power cord.



Press in on the tool, you should hear crisp clicks as the clips release and the case should pop open a bit.


Continue to spread the case apart and push in on the vent area, there are a couple more spots where the case connects but these are not clips and do not require the tool. When you press in nothing too impressive will happen but you may notice that the case spreads slightly further apart.


Then flip the tool around and line up the 5 tabs with the corresponding holes. Continue spreading the case apart from the right side and press the tool in.


You should hear a series of more click clicks and the case is free. Spread the back apart a couple inches it should be able to rest open while you spin it arround to work on the front


Begining with the front clip nearest the DVD drive a fingernail will suffice as an opening tool. A little pressure spreading the lid apart and it should pop right open


same with the next clips


and the last

Lift the lid and ta-da a steel chassis presents itself, in this photo the six screws that need to be removed are circled. You should be very proud at this point shout to anyone that will listen "I got the thing open!" Okay now settle down and remove those six screws with a torx 10 driver.


Flip it back right side up but before yanking the other half of the case off remove the eject button. Just jamb a fingernail under the right hand side and give a yank it will pop out. You can wiggle the case around and get it off without removing this but the chance of damage drops to zero if you already took it off.


Lift the lid and there we go! This is another good time for shouting to anyone in the room... use your best judgment.


You should now have a plie of parts that looks something like this.


When Opened DO NOT TOUCH THE MOTHERBOARD!!!

Those case opening tools piss me off, as they are completely unnecessary for opening a 360. All you need is a flat head screwdriver and a little bit of force.

Other than that, this is a nice tutorial. But it is not your own, so credit the original source - How to open/dissassemble a 360 case

Originally Posted by mt3ch

Those case opening tools piss me off, as they are completely unnecessary for opening a 360. All you need is a flat head screwdriver and a little bit of force.

Other than that, this is a nice tutorial. But it is not your own, so credit the original source - How to open/dissassemble a 360 case

Yeah credit the priginal source. I just thought i should share the info i found with T-i

Originally Posted by mt3ch

Those case opening tools piss me off, as they are completely unnecessary for opening a 360. All you need is a flat head screwdriver and a little bit of force.

Other than that, this is a nice tutorial. But it is not your own, so credit the original source - How to open/dissassemble a 360 case

Yeah I already sent a pm to Jenna right when he posted this up about him not listing his source.

You have to list your source when you post it, no plagiarism is allowed here.

But yeah it is a nice guide, will come in handy when I decide to mod my xbox.

You were hoping for easy rep. That is not okay.

Banned for one month.

It looks hard in the first time.
The last i opened in 2 or 3 minutes