Seeing Red: Solving Your Xbox Problems
August 28th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Owners of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console have access to one of the best software libraries in gaming history – modern masterpieces like the Halo series sit side-by-side with downloadable classics from Xbox Live Arcade. Unfortunately, many gamers also report a laundry list of Xbox problems, from cheaters online to the dreaded red ring of death. Up to 30% of Xbox systems experience some kind of technical error within the first three years of their lifespan, so read this and be prepared.
One of the most common and feared Xbox problems is the “Red Ring Of Death.” On the front power button, three of the four lights will illuminate red, in the top left corner as well as the bottom half. The console will be completely unresponsive to any input, and can only be powered down. This error is so widespread that Microsoft has extended the warranty on the console to 3 years to cover it. If it happens to you, the only thing you can do is pack the machine up and send it in for repair. If for some reason your console is out of warranty, it will cost you $140 to have it fixed.
What’s the cause of the Red Ring Of Death? It’s sad that the leader on the list of Xbox problems has a very preventable cause. The RROD comes up when the system’s GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) comes loose from its connections. And it comes loose because the solder that Microsoft used to assemble the Xbox is not heat-rated for the temperatures that the unit generates. Too much heat melts the solder, the GPU gets dislodged, and bye-bye funtime.
Another common Xbox problem is overheating. Because the heat sink for the Xbox 360 is not large enough, the system can often get way too warm if played for too long a time. To circumvent this crisis, make sure to not run your Xbox 360 for too long a time – shut the machine off for a break every hour or two. Also, make sure the console is placed in a well-ventilated area where the fans are exposed, to allow the cooling mechanism to do its work.
Now that the console is farther along in its lifespan, the manufacturing errors that caused the tidal wave of Xbox problems that led to a public relations disaster for Microsoft has primarily abated. But don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security – these errors could strike at any time, leaving you clutching your controller and weeping softly. Just get that warranty card in, make sure your machine is clean and well-ventilated, and treat it with care, and you can ensure yourself a long life of happy gaming for years to come. Or until the Xbox 720 comes out, whichever comes first.
Tags: xbox problems, red ring of death, xbox 360
The Most Common Xbox Problems
June 18th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Does the Red Ring of Death sound familiar? The Microsoft gaming console, the Xbox, continues to be plagued with problems. Common xbox problems include the red ring of death, one ring error, two rings of light, and a four ring error.
What the heck do these errors even mean? The Red Ring of Death is when the power button illuminates in three quadrants (1, 3, and 4). When this error occurs your console will lock up – the only option is to hard reset the device by unplugging it and plugging it back in. Occasionally an E74 error will display on the television screen. This is the number one defect on the xbox console, and Microsoft was forced to extend the warranty an additional two years.
Other xbox problems include the one ring error, in which the lower right hand ring is lit. Additionally more details will be displayed on the television. Be advised the error details are often errors themselves. The console detects a problem but fails to detect the underlying reasons. The two ring error indicates that your console is overheated, and the four ring error denotes there is an A/V problem.
The Red Ring of Death error is caused by your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) coming lose due to high heat. The reason for overheating is that Microsoft shrunk the cooling unit in order to accommodate the DVD drive. You can fix your xbox problems by readjusting the cooling unit on the motherboard.
Other causes for the errors include the heat sinks for the CPU and GPU being too small, not dispersing the heat well enough. The high heat makes the solder that holds the CPU and GPU in place very brittle, which makes it easy to break.
Without a GPU your xbox problems only get worse. Microsoft charges $110 for the repair if you are out of warranty, however; there are plenty of Do It Yourself guides available for purchase.
Microsoft did not create the xbox with that of their consumers in mind. At the time they were determined to get the unit on the shelves before the PlayStation 3 console came out. Consumers paid the price for Microsoft’s mistakes. The company overlooked many problems, thus causing the plethora of xbox problems. Should Microsoft be charging consumers for their mistakes? No. But it wouldn’t be Microsoft if they did.
Be careful when purchasing an xbox on auction sites or at garage sales. Your $50 used gaming system could cost you a lot more… $110 more to be exact. With some of the errors, you may need to replace an entire component (such as DVD drive). A quick Google search of xbox problems can provide you with valuable DIY resources.
Find Some Xbox Repair Guides Below
1) XBox 360 Repair Guide
2) Xbox 360 Red Light Fix Pro
3) Xbox 360 Ring Of Death Fix
Tags: xbox problems, red ring of death, xbox 360 problems
