Whether you've stopped using your Xbox 360 or you demand to backup data, at that place's a good run a risk you've considered connecting the Xbox hard drive to your PC.

But is the Xbox 360 disk drive compatible with a PC? How can you connect it and view the files? And would you really want to?

Here's how to connect your Xbox 360 difficult drive to a Windows PC.

Why Connect Your Xbox 360 HDD to a PC?

Information technology'south non immediately obvious, but the Xbox 360 hd drive (HDD) is a standard 2.5-inch SATA storage device. You'll discover a similar drive in your PC or laptop. Every bit such, it can exist continued to any PC either using an adapter cablevision or via a HDD docking station.

But why become to the trouble of connecting your Xbox HDD to a reckoner?

  • You need to support your Xbox 360 HDD (east.g., the HDD is almost to die)
  • You want to read the Xbox 360 files on your PC
  • Yous desire to reuse the disk drive for data storage

Reading the Xbox 360 disk drive isn't uncomplicated, however.

The Reality of Reading an Xbox 360 HDD on Your PC

With some piece of work, the HDD from whatever Xbox 360 can be continued to a Windows calculator. Just connecting an Xbox 360 disk bulldoze to your PC might not take the results you're expecting.

The problem comes with reading the device.

If you're looking for a way to view Xbox 360 files on your PC, things become tricky without a dedicated utility. Incredibly, Windows cannot read an Xbox 360 disk drive. Instead, you'll be prompted to format the device upon connection without Windows giving y'all a suitable option to read information technology.

Currently, the best tool for reading your Xbox 360 drive is FATXplorer.

This utility is available for Windows Vista SP2 and later. It can be downloaded in 32-chip and 64-bit versions merely costs $25. Fortunately, information technology as well has a seven-day trial.

Download: FATXplorer ($25)

Note that some antivirus software displays FATXplorer as malware. However, this is a false positive, so you can install the utility safely.

FATXplorer reads Xbox 360 disks on PC

Once installed and running, FATXplorer will let you view files on your Xbox 360 (and Xbox original) hard disk. You just need a fashion to connect your Xbox 360 HDD to your PC.

Tin You Use an Xbox 360 HDD Transfer Cable?

Before spending time hacking your sometime Xbox 360 HDD case, consider the Xbox 360 Hard Drive transfer cable.

It is designed for copying the contents of one HDD to another and it also works with a PC. And then, connect the Xbox 360 hard disk instance to the transfer cablevision and plug the USB cable into your PC. FATXplorer should then detect the device to read the Xbox 360 files on Windows.

If yous don't want to utilize the official transfer cable (or like devices) you lot tin can endeavour a DIY solution. However, yous need to remove the difficult drive from your Xbox 360 beginning.

Removing the Xbox 360 Difficult Drive

Before connecting the hard drive to a PC you must remove it from your Xbox 360. Three models of Xbox 360 were released:

  • Original Xbox 360 (2005)
  • Xbox 360 S (2010)
  • Xbox 360 E (2013)

Each requires a unlike gear up of steps for removing the hard disk drive drive

Before proceeding, ensure that the Xbox 360 panel is shut down and the device disconnected from the mains.

Remove the HDD from an Xbox 360 Original

To remove the HDD from the original model of the Xbox 360, you lot're going to need two TORX screwdrivers. Specifically, TORX T-6 and T-10. If you lot don't already own these, they tin can be easily picked up on Amazon.

You should also consider buying an anti-static wrist strap. Learn most the risks of static electricity to notice out more.

On the original Xbox 360, the HDD connects to the side (or acme if yous stand your panel upright). It'southward housed in a sealed case, designed to match the shape of the Xbox 360 in contour.

To proceed, eject the case by pressing the release button.

If you plan to access the HDD with a transfer cable, connect this to the prominent black plug. To open the drive, turn it over and remove the Microsoft seal.

Exist aware that this voids all and whatsoever warranty that you take left on your Xbox 360's difficult drive. If it breaks afterwards the procedure, you'll take to buy a new one.

Don't worry also much though, the warranty on your Xbox 360 console volition remain intact, even so.

Look for 4 visible screws (one was under the seal)---remove these with the TORX T-half dozen screwdriver.

TORX screws secure the Xbox 360 HDD in its case

After that, remove the pinnacle gently. You might need to apply a plastic knife or guitar pick to help.

Don't pull likewise hard, only offset at the rounded side and pull it open slowly. The square end should give style also, in the end.

Inside you lot'll observe four more TORX screws. Apply the T-10 this fourth dimension.

After yous've removed them, pull away the thin metal cover to reveal the ii.5-inch difficult bulldoze.

Unplug the cable, then lift the bulldoze to pull information technology free from the caddy.

Remove the HDD from an Xbox 360

(You might need to lift the drive kickoff to become plenty infinite to remove the cable.)

Remove the HDD From an Xbox 360 S

Things are simpler with the Xbox 360 S. With the console positioned horizontally, facing you lot, find the hard drive cover release on the right-hand side. You lot'll detect information technology near the back of the panel.

Slide the release toward you lot, opening the hard bulldoze encompass as you do.

Remove the hard drive by pulling the tab.

With the drive removed, remember to close the cover.

Eject the Hard Drive From the Xbox 360 E

For the Xbox 360 Due east, hard bulldoze removal is almost equally uncomplicated.

Again, with the panel laid horizontally and facing you, locate the hard drive cover release on the right.

This time, the release slides diagonally, downwardly and toward you. Pull the difficult bulldoze door open at the same time.

Once again, pull the tab to remove the HDD.

Connecting Your Bare Xbox 360 Hard Bulldoze to Your PC

With the HDD removed from your Xbox 360, yous're fix to connect it to your PC. You take three means to do this.

  • SATA to USB cable
  • SATA to USB HDD docking station
  • Install the disk inside your PC

Let'southward look at those options in more detail.

Connect the HDD to Your PC With a SATA to USB Cable

To hook up the HDD with your PC, the easiest solution is a SATA to USB adapter. These are affordable cables with a power supply that you'll find on Amazon.

Safer than opening your calculator, this solution is also tidier. You can reuse the cable subsequently for other spare drives, too.

Connect the Xbox 360 HDD to a Docking Station

Using a hot-pluggable USB docking station, you can easily connect SATA devices to your PC without opening information technology.

Diverse options are bachelor. The Olmaster USB three.0 SATA hard bulldoze docking station features an eject button. It'due south also compatible with 2.v-inch and three.5-inch drives.

Alternatives might take multiple slots to handle more than one bulldoze at a time. Y'all could likewise utilise an empty external hard disk drive case to read the contents of the Xbox 360 HDD.

Install the Xbox 360 HDD Within Your PC

Every bit noted, the Xbox 360 HDD is a uncomplicated 2.5-inch SATA bulldoze, and then connect it like yous would whatsoever other. Near computers open hands, and yous tin admission the interior by removing just two screws.

Inserting the drive in your PC will crave a SATA data cablevision connected from your estimator's motherboard. Information technology will likewise require a SATA power cablevision from your computer's ability supply.

Secure the HDD in a free bay with two or more than screws if you're planning to leave it connected long-term.

Read or Reuse Your Xbox 360 Disk Drive on Windows

Accessing the contents of your Xbox 360 hard drive is straightforward with a dedicated transfer cable. Or y'all can rely on SATA adapters, or simply install the disk in your PC. You lot'll also demand a tool like FATXplorer to read the contents on Windows. Alternatively, format the disk and reuse it.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is removing the HDD from your Xbox 360. Fortunately, this gets easier with each subsequent version of the console. If you're moving on from the quondam Microsoft console, here'southward how to play Xbox 360 games on your Xbox I.