How to Play Games on Xbox 360 Without a Disc. Don't hassle with digging through a shelf full of game cases to find the right disc. Instead, purchase games online and download the content directly to the hard drive of your Xbox 360.
- Yes you can install the entire disc to the hard drive. As a matter of fact, there's no other way to install it. However the disc acts as the licence, so it is always needed to play the game, unless you buy a digital copy at some point.
- Jan 26, 2011 Can i play Halo 2, or halo 1 (both xbox discs) on my pc? If so, can you explain how. -Find and download the Xbox emulator you want to use (Xeon and Cxbx). -Take either your XBOX Game Disc or Xbox demo game disc and insert it into your PC disc drive. 8:-Choose 'File' and the 'Open xbe' on the Cxbx toolbar.
- Page 3| The Xbox One has evolved over the years, but so have its problems. Games won't install. This could be an issue with the optical drive, the disc itself (assuming it is disc based rather than. If it is just one game, assuming it is installing from a physical disc, make sure the disc is clean and undamaged.
- Stuck Xbox One game installs can have you ready to throw something at your. This can happen when you're installing a game from a disc or downloading one.
[QUOTE='Koady_Rocks'] I was reading about how you can install games on your Xbox 360 today. And that the 360 will run the game off the system and not off the disk, but still needs the disk in the. Nov 07, 2014 It does work the other way (download a game, get hold of a disc later on, play using that without having to install) so probably. So i can easily stick my disc in the new xbox and install that way and then unlock it (to not need the disc) using the code that came with it. Doing it that way should be much faster than downloading.
Microsoft’s Xbox One can now play a limited number of Xbox 360 games. But it’s not as simple as inserting any old disc and starting it up. Only some games will work, and the Xbox One runs them in an emulator.
How Backwards Compatibility Works
The Xbox One isn’t normally capable of playing Xbox 360 games. Instead, Microsoft created an emulator that simulates the Xbox 360’s hardware and software. Xbox 360 games run inside this emulator. It’s similar to how the “virtual console” games work on Nintendo’s Wii U and Wii, or how you’d run old console games in emulators on a PC.
Not all games will run in the emulator. If you have an Xbox 360 game that’s compatible with your Xbox One, you can insert it into your Xbox One’s disc drive. The Xbox One will then download a ported version of that game from Microsoft’s servers and make it available on your console alongside your other installed games. If you have a digital copy of the game, you can download it from Microsoft’s servers like you’d download any other digital Xbox One game.
RELATED:How to Take Screenshots and Record Videos on an Xbox One
Once you do get a game running, it should work well. You can even use the Xbox One’s Game DVR feature to record your gameplay in in Xbox 360 game. Eurogamer tested many major games and found that many of them performed better on the Xbox One than the Xbox 360, although some games had minor hitches and graphical problems that didn’t appear on the Xbox 360.
But again: all this only works if the Microsoft has made the game compatible with the Xbox One. Each game’s publisher will need to sign off on this, and not every publisher has done so.
How to Check if an Xbox 360 Game Will Work on Your Xbox One
Before you go out of your way to get an Xbox 360 game for your Xbox One, be sure it’s actually compatible. The Backwards Compatibility page on Microsoft’s Xbox website contains a comprehensive list of backwards compatible games and shows games that were recently added to the program. There’s also this text-only list.
If a game you want to play isn’t backwards compatible yet, check back in the future. Microsoft regularly adds more games to the backwards compatibility program.
How to Install and Play an Xbox 360 Game on Your Xbox One
If you don’t have a game you want to play yet, there are two ways to get one. First, you can acquire a physical copy of the game. This can be either a new copy or a used copy, so you may be able to find a good deal on a website like eBay or Amazon (or at your local video game shop).
Used copies work well because the Xbox One doesn’t actually play the game from the disc. The Xbox One just needs to check the disc and verify what it is. The actual game is downloaded from Microsoft’s servers and run from your Xbox One’s hard drive. As long as the Xbox One can recognize the disc, you’re fine.
Once you have the disc, insert it into your Xbox One. The Xbox One will tell you it needs to download an “update” for the game. It’s really downloading the entire ported version of the game.
When it’s done, you just have to launch the game like you would any other. The Xbox One will need the game’s disc in its disc drive while you play it to confirm you do indeed own the game, but the game will actually run from the Xbox One’s internal drive and not the disc.
You can also purchase digital copies of Xbox 360 games from Microsoft’s Xbox store. If you already own a digital copy of the game, you’ll find it available for installation on your Xbox One alongside any normal Xbox One games you have. Head to My Games and Apps > Ready to Install to see games and apps you can install.
If you have an Xbox Live Gold subscription, you’ll also be able to download the Xbox 360 games given away for free every month on your Xbox One. Microsoft has promised that all future Xbox 360 games included with Xbox Live Gold will be compatible with the Xbox One.
How Does DLC Work?
Downloadable content works in backwards compatible Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One, too. You can buy the DLC on the Xbox Store and it will “just work” in the backwards compatible game, as if you were playing the game on an Xbox 360.
Games with bundled DLC should work properly. For example, Red Dead Redemption for Xbox 360 is available in three different editions: Red Dead Redemption (standard), Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, and Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year Edition. All three discs are compatible and work how you’d expect them to. The “Game of the Year” edition disc comes with all the additional content, so it will just work in the game. The standard disc doesn’t come with any additional content, but you can choose to purchase the DLC from the Xbox Store and it will be enabled in your game.
That’s how it should work for most games, in theory. In practice, we found that the Xbox One just downloaded the base version of Fable II when we inserted a Fable II: Game of the Year Edition disc. The system wanted us to purchase the DLC that should have been included with the game. The Xbox One can’t seem to tell the difference between the base and game of the year versions of this particular game. The Xbox One may be confused about some other “Game of the Year” games and their DLC, too–we’re not sure if this problem is specific to this one game or not.
All in all, though, the system works pretty well–and should have you playing your old Xbox 360 games in no time.
Microsoft, Jay-Z called. He wants the original Xbox back.
When a gaming console giant such as Microsoft or Sony releases “next-gen” systems, the gamers are sometimes skeptical that the new hardware won’t come without its share of problems. I’ve covered Xbox 360 disc read errors and Red Ring of Death in the past. Now is the time we delve into that forsaken moment when your Xbox One won’t read discs. The truth? A lot of these problems with your Xbox can be prevented upfront, and aren’t necessarily the manufacturer’s fault. Put the pitchfork down for now and make sure you’re doing the following:
- Cleaning the laser lens
- Removing dust from the Blu-ray tray
- Inspecting the power supply
- Deleting huge files that are not used
- Dusting off the cooling fans
- Not buying an Xbox (just kidding, hehe)
Xbox One Won’t Read Discs? Let’s Not Resort to Violence…
An Xbox One can provide hours of entertainment, whether it be long sessions of parkour alien murder, or binge-watching marathons of House of Cards on Netflix. The moment that entertainment stops is usually one where a disc is involved.
A blank screen, an “unreadable disc” error message, and a game that freezes constantly are not old generation Xbox problems. These things happen with all consoles, even that new Xbox One that you’re praying you made Santa’s Good List to deserve.
A disc read error should not resort to a little brother punching session… surprisingly it’s not his fault this time. If your Xbox One won’t read discs, consider the following process of elimination.
Determining Why Discs Won’t Read on Your Xbox
In order for that $60 disc to read properly on your Xbox One, several things need to be in place:
- No fingerprints, scratches or smudges on the shiny side of the Blu-ray disc
- No dust and a properly functioning Blu-ray insert tray on the Xbox
- A clean laser lens to effectively read the data on the bottom of your game or movie disc
Even on a brand new system, one little issue with the disc or hardware can send you back to the days of Pong. Here’s how to prevent issues up front.
Handle Discs Properly, and They Will Love You Back
Fingers should not touch the shiny side (aka the data layer) of your Blu-ray game or movie. It’s not like CDs or DVDs where some hot breath or a rub on a shirt sleeve makes the little scruff marks go away. Once Blu-ray is scratched or damaged, you are going to be limited in the amount of repairs you can do.
And not every finger print or scuff is visible to your eye – even if it looks fine, there still might be something causing the disc not to play.
Hardware Defects on a New Xbox System? That’s Never Happened Before…
Thankfully, reports of red rings of death and overheating are fairly non-existent on the new Xbox One. Nothing on the scale of the 360, at least.
But if you’re receiving a disc read error message on Xbox One, there is a chance that something is messed up with the tray. An open tray error or a malfunction can still happen.
To avoid errors with where you insert the disc, make sure the insert area is dust-free, and the disc slides in without any resistance or strange noises. If any of these things occur (and the disc is not properly aligned on the inside) your Xbox One won’t read discs.
Laser Lens Cleaning is a MUST.
The most common issue you will likely see with an Xbox One is going to be a dirty laser lens. Your new game discs will appear clean, yet none of them seem to work. This is usually a sign of a dirty laser lens.
If the laser lens cannot properly read the content on the bottom of any of your Blu-ray discs, than you have narrowed down the problem.
Time to clean the laser lens, or as game system experts call it: the ol’ laser treatment.
How CleanDr Works
Cleaning your Xbox One’s laser lens should be done at least once a month. And no, you’re not going to be taking the Xbox apart and jamming a Swiffer Swoosher in there.
You can get laser cleaning discs at stores like Target and Best Buy. It’s important that you find one that was made for Blu-ray, or else it won’t work (and might even damage your disc).
These discs claim to do the same thing – but we are recommending the CleanDr brand for the following reasons:
- We made CleanDr. It’s designed specifically for the safe cleaning of Blu-ray laser lenses.
- CleanDr has a patented Zero-Clearance Technology. The brushes on the bottom of the disc retract as they go over the laser lens so your laser doesn’t get knocked out of alignment and cause additional headaches.
- Close distance between Blu-ray disc and laser lens
Why does it matter whether you use CleanDr or another brand):
That is CleanDr for Blu-ray in a nutshell. Give it a try before you go and try to return your Xbox at the store or get on the phone with Microsoft support (**cringe**).
Download Game Disc To Computer
Epilogue
If your Xbox One won’t read discs, you can’t just point your fingers at the console’s maker anymore. A lot of the potential issues with a new gaming system can be avoided.
But if you find yourself with a dirty laser lens begging to be cleaned, look no further than CleanDr for Xbox One.
Can I Download Game On Xbox From Disc On Laptop
Also available for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DVD, and CD players (car stereos, too). This holiday season, enjoy free shipping with the code ‘cleandr’ when you check out, as a thanks from DI. Santa really gets on our case about shipping costs this time of year.