If you are reading this you are no doubt experiencing a Red Light on Xbox 360 issue. Issue? That is stating it mildly… It is more like a major disaster to most serious gamers! You might even consider it the end of the world. I’ll bet you are even considering buying a new one.
A friend of mine did that… bought a new one then forgot about fixing the first one and guess what? Yep, the second one did the same thing… he was fragged by the feared RRoD!
There has to be a better solution and no… switching to a PS3 would be…well… just not right, after all, you love your Xbox 360 games!
Since getting a new one doesn’t really solve much and it will cost some hard earned money that maybe you don’t have at this time, I will tell you of the other two options open to you. I am also going to briefly explain the cause behind the blinking red light on Xbox 360 s.
If you have 4 red lights on the power ring you’re in luck. That means your Xbox 360 isn’t detecting an AV cable. Might be just unplugged or need to be cleaned. If that doesn’t work that borrow another or but a new one.
1 or 3 red lights on the power ring indicate various types of hardware failure. You may even see an error code on the screen. E64 is a DVD drive error; E67 is a hard drive error and so on. Fixing it may be as easy as reloading the disk or a good old reboot. However, if you are reading this I’ll wager you already tried that and it didn’t work. Your solution is going to be a little more involved but have no fear… it’s completely doable. See your two options below.
2 red lights means your Xbox is overheated. This can make your console not function for a period of time. Unplug, take a break, and let your brick cool down. It should work again when it is cooled. Make sure your console is on a hard surface (not carpet) so air can get underneath, and in a well ventilated area. The overheating of an Xbox is actually rooted in a couple of design flaws and if this problem persists you will have to take some additional action. Again, the two options below.
Your two options if your Red Light on Xbox 360 issue persists:
1. Return your Xbox 360 to the manufacture. The manufacture has recognized various design flaws and is willing to address them. They have extend warranties from one to three years. The warranty is only good if your console has not been opened or tampered, so if you have been a bad boy (or girl) and nosed around inside your brick your warranty is no longer valid. If everything is still sealed then call 1-800-4MY-XBOX and check and see if you are still covered. If you are it is free. If not they will still repair but it will cost you around $150 (ouch!). Remember, the manufacture reserves the right to fix your console or replace it with a refurbished or new one. Down time: 2-4 weeks (bummer).
2. Fix your Xbox 360 yourself. This might seem a bit frighting at first but it really isn’t. You might feel that fixing your Red Light on Xbox 360 issue is beyond your abilities. Well think again. If it is not under warranty and you don’t have $150 or the time to wait this option starts looking better and better. If you have a quality guide and know the problems, fixing your Red Light on Xbox 360 issue will be a snap.
The key is to get a good quality guide, one with not only written instruction but also Video. This type of instruction has helped 10s of 1000s to fix their Red Light on Xbox 360 issues in as little as an hour… for less than $30!
Like usual, good common sense is the key to success. By identifying the problem and weighing your options then taking some action, you can have your Xbox 360 up and running in no time. Maybe without spending a bundle! Once resolved you will never have to worry about any Red Light on Xbox 360 issues again.