Open Tray Error (4 Drives Tested & Still No Go)

[gy-repairs]

Hi All,
I am stuck in a little bit of a rut here and would like to ask for some help if at all possible (a little cheeky on my first post I know but lets hope this is the start of a fantastic give/take relationship )

I have a 360 here. Falcon model with BenQ DVD Drive. It was running Dash version 9199 and any disk inserted offered the classic signs of bad laser (whirring once then dead stop). Rather that faff around dismatling the drive I have 3 other BenQ drives sat here so I just read the Firmware off the drive and flashed it to another one.

After this i still get the open tray error on all 4 drives.

I have noticed also that if the console is on and if I unplug the SATA cable from the console to the drive it does not reset as it usually would. Its almost as if the console cannot see any drives on the end of the SATA cable. I assumed that it could be the interface cables so I have also swapped them out with known working ones. No dice... still the same problem.

Any attempt to update the dash above 12611 also results in an on-screen error stating that the update cannot be performed (which also leads me to believe even more that its a problem with the board or the connecting cables) but I can't for the life of me figure out the problem.

Any help or advice on what I can check next would be appreciated as site searches and google have only thrown up the usual 'Open Tray' fixes

Thank you in advance

[Gazcoigne]

when you boot the console does the centre ROL flash constantly?

if it does then the SATA controller may well be fubared.

plugging/unplugging the sata cable whilst the console is powered is a sure fire way to f*** up your southbridge btw no wonder you are having issues!!!

[gy-repairs]

This is just a console that I have had sat to one side for a while, believe me its not a common practice of mine. The ROL board has a steady green light in the center at all times unless ejecting/closing the drive tray as normal.