If you are lucky enough to have yourself an XBox chances are that you have been unlucky enough to experience or at least hear of some of the issues that are plaguing the great little machine. With an estimated one in three consoles suffering some type of failure you should consider yourself very lucky if you have had a problem free run with yours and hopefully things will continue this way, however if you are one of the unlucky ones please read on for information on how to diagnose the problem and what can be done to rectify the situation.

The most common issue around is the dreaded red ring of death. So named by the gaming community because of the normally green lights on the front of the console turn to flashing red and the number of flashing red lights give an indication of what the problem is. If you have four flashing red lights on the front of your console, say a prayer and thank the gaming gods for your good fortune. This simply means that the AV cable is unplugged or has come loose from it’s socket. Switching the console off and reinserting the cable should see you back in action.

If you have one or three red flashing lights in place of the green ones unfortunately the gaming gods are not looking favorably upon you at this time. This indicates that you have a hardware failure and as the name implies, your console is dead. This does not have to mean the end of your fun though, it can be repaired and back to life without too much fuss or drama.

The reason this problem exists and is so widespread is that the first generation XBox was not given enough testing time before being released and there is a couple of fatal flaws in the design, the first being the inability of built up heat to escape from the console. Over time this heat has a negative effect on the processing units and can cause them to overheat and cease functioning.

The second issue relates to the type of lead free solder used throughout the console. Once again over time the solder is affected by the built up heat and can become brittle to the point where hairline cracks develop and the red ring of death shows it’s ugly face. You may have seen the dodgy ‘towel trick’ that is doing the rounds of the internet and I believe that it temporarily works on some machines because the solder heats up and becomes soft enough to fill in these hairline cracks. Use this method at your own peril though, I **** to think of the damage being done to the processing units while being super heated.

So now we know why these problems occur and we know of one dodgy method of repair that will do more harm than good, what other options do we have? If you bought your console new and have the receipt and don’t mind waiting weeks for a return you can send it off to the factory to have it repaired or you could take an hour or two of your time and repair it yourself. Sound difficult? Not at all, when you have step by step instructions and videos showing you exactly what is needed to be done you can be back in your favorite chair playing your favorite game in next to no time!

By: Craig Wilson

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The Xbox 360 is still one of the most popular selling consoles currently on the market. It has a huge selection of games, online capability, ability to play HD DVD’s and much more!

However…it also has a couple of HUGE flaws that have probably scared a lot of people away from purchasing it. I am writing this article to inform you of the possibly problems you may encounter if you are thinking about purchasing a Xbox 360.

First off, Microsoft decided to skimp on the Xbox 360’s internal cooling. The systems all work fine for a couple of months maybe even a year or two. You may be playing Halo 3 someday and the console will just freeze. You will probably just restart it and it may fire right up, you or might be presented with dreaded three red flashing lights.

If you see three flashing red lights, you have a couple of choices.

Send it off to Microsoft to have them repair it. Depending on if you are in warranty or not this may cost you $140. You will also be without your console for 4-6 weeks.

The second option is to fix it yourself. It is a very simple repair that can be done in under a hour.

The second most common problem is DVD drive failure. There is no known reason as to why this happens. Microsoft uses 4 different DVD drives in their consoles. None of these fail more common than the others.

Unfortunately, there is no fix for this problem. You either have to send the console in to Microsoft for repair or you could possibly buy a replacement drive on eBay and replace it yourself.

There is a rumor going around that if you keep your console horizontally, you are less likely to experience the DVD drive failure. There is no confirmation of this, however it doesn’t hurt to do it anyways.

By: David Clow

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If we have recently noticed three red light flashing on your xbox screen, your xbox 360 is having the problem of xbox 360 rrod or red ring of death and you immediately need to fix it to avoid further damage to your gaming console. Microsoft has accepted a large number of xbox 360 can have red ring of death or xbox 360 rrod problems and you can identify it by observing one or more problems as given below especially if you didn’t notice the three red lights on earlier occasions.

• If you observe a disc unreadable or disc error problem

• If you observe your xbox 360 suddenly freezes or crashes

• If you observe any strange or abnormal sound from inside of your gaming console

• If your system suddenly fails and you are unable to play the game on it.

Causes of Xbox 360 RROD problems

Overheating of the consoles generally causes Xbox 360 rrod problems and if you continue play games for long hours, the temperature inside the console reaches beyond 100 degree centigrade and at such high temperature, the soldering used for joining the electrical wires get melted. To avoid this problem, keep your console at an open space and if required it can be air cooled from outside by a fan.

Xbox 360 rrod repair yourself

Actually if your xbox 360 is under warranty, you should send it to Microsoft for rrod repair, however if the warranty is over, it is better to repair it yourself. You need not to be an engineer or technician, if you simply can follow the audio-video instructions and can understand English well, you can do the job yourself. Xbox 360 rrod repair is quite easy and you will be doing soldering work for fixing the problem, which is quite easy and simple. So, instead of sending the console to Microsoft for repair, using a guide or ebook, you can fix xbox 360 rrod problems yourself.

By: Ashish K Arora

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Xbox 360 is a very popular gaming console by Microsoft which has won the hearts of many gamers all around the world. On the surface this machine appears to be an awesome gaming console, but there are so many hidden problems in it. This machine has sparked an interest in an enormous amount of people all around the world. Not only gamers like this system, but also programmers, hackers, electronic engineers and so many others like xbox and they have their unique reason to like it. Every great console has its own disadvantages. None of the consoles is an exception. Xbox 360 has also come across these situation. The main reason for this is the “Xbox 360 3 Red light error” also called as “Xbox 360 3 Red Rings of Death Error”. This article will guide you to fix the “Three Red Light Error” also called as “Red rings of death error” permanently.

Some failures are very easy to fix. Red rings of death can also be fixed easily in less than an hour. You don’t need to send your xbox all the way to Microsoft to fix it. Thousands of people all around the world have fixed their xbox with this proven method. You don’t need to waste money or time to get your xbox fixed.

Know the Xbox 360 error Lights – Identify yours

Error lights can be as cryptic as error codes. When an error light flashes then it means that there is a problem with the xbox console. I have listed all the possible error lights which used to occur in the xbox 360 console. I am listing out all the error just to make sure that yours is “red rings of death error” or “Three red light fix error”.

1. Green / Red Light – Unit will usually Restart twice then flash red and green

2. Solid Green w/no audio/video/eject – Unit will boot to a black screen with no video, audio or eject. When the eject button is pressed, unit will flash green.

3. Solid Green w/no audio/video – Unit will boot to a black screen with no video or audio, but will eject the dvd drive

4. Orange/ Green flashing – Missing or bad audio/video pack

5. Orange flashing – Reset Signal is not making contact on the LPC bus

6. Orange/ Red Flashing – Unit will reboot twice then flash red and orange

7. Green flashing or green then red flashing – Corrupt or missing eeprom

8. Solid Red – System failure

9. Power supply light alone is red or orange – Poor power supply to the Xbox

10. Three Flashing Red Lights – Red Rings of Death Error also called Three red light error

Red rings of death error is the most commonly occurring error in xbox. Other error were very rarely reported.

Different types of error codes in xbox 360 – Applicable only if there is no problem with your error lights

Error codes are displayed in the upper left or right hand corner of your screen. These codes are very much useful in finding the kind of problem which xbox has experienced. Majority of these errors can be easily rectified. So don’t be worried if you receive anyone of them.

01 Bootldr – Motherboard Related Error

02 Bootldr – Eeprom check failed

03 Bootldr – Unknown

04 Bootldr – RAM check failed

05 Kernel – HDD not locked ( Required to be locked by default bios)

06 Kernel – Cannot unlock HDD

07 Kernel – HDD Timeout

08 Kernel – HDD not found

09 Kernel – HDD parameters (PIO/DMA/ or side (debug), certain size minimum is required for debug)

10 Kernel – DVD timeout

11 Kernel – No DVD found

12 Kernel – DVD parameters (PIO/DMA)

13 Kernel – Dashboard launch fail (due to missing/bad key, or anything else that would prevent it from running) and the dashboard did not specify why it failed

14 Dashboard – Error loading dashboard (dashboard generic error)

15 Unknown – ??/not used

16 Dashboad – Other files to do with dashboard / dashboard settings (specific dashboard error)

17 Unknown – ??/not used

18 Unknown – ??/not used

19 Unknown – ??/not used

20 The dashboard was attempted to load and failed; it was a cold boot, and the dashboard did not specify why it failed, but it (for some reason) needed to be noted that the dvd passed the challenge/response authentication

21 Unknown – This error says that the machine was booted to display a error, basically someone told the machine to reboot(or launch a xbe) with this flag and the error code just means itsbeen rebooted by the flag.

Think twice or even thrice before sending your xbox to Microsoft

Sending your xbox to Microsoft is not at all recommended. You need to spend over $140 + Shipping cost to fix your xbox console. Moreover many transportation problems may also arise. Your xbox might even be crushed or some of the parts may be lost while transporting it to Microsoft or while getting it back from Microsoft. Moreover you need to wait for more than 6 weeks to get it fixed. There is no guarantee that this error will be fixed permanently. Ask some of your friends who had already experienced this problem and they will definitely not recommend sending your xbox to Microsoft.

Fix your Xbox 360 Red rings of death Permanently in just one hour from now – This is the best solution

This is possible. Xbox 360 red rings of death can be fixed permanently in just one hour. There is a repair guide available in the market which is designed mainly for this problem which will help you to fix your xbox in just one hour from now. This also come with video tutorials so that you can do it very easily and quickly. The best part is that they come with 100% money back guarantee. Yes, if you can’t fix your xbox then you will completely get your money back. They are bold enough to offer the money back guarantee because they have a proven method using which over 100000 Xbox have been fixed all around the world. The cost of the Red rings of death repair guide is also very very less and hence it can be afforded by all people.

By: J Harrison

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The Xbox 360 has been one of the best selling consoles in the market mainly due to its large line up of games. But ever since it was released, the biggest downfall has been the Red Ring of Death. This is one sight that any Xbox 360 owner would never wish to see.

The “Towel Trick” is a popular and easy to perform Xbox 360 fix for the Ring of Death. This Xbox 360 fix involves wrapping the Xbox 360 console with towels and then cooking it for sometime. The Xbox should be completely covered by dry towels, blocking all airflow. It should then be overheated for approximately 15 minutes. During this time the Xbox becomes extremely hot and this causes any loose solder joints to melt itself back onto the motherboard. This is a popular Xbox 360 fix as it is it doesn’t cost a cent and also has a high success rate. But keep in mind that it serves as a temporary fix and since it does not void your warranty in any way, this Xbox 360 fix must be done only if you plan to send your console to Microsoft for repair. Even though this has a high success rate, the duration that it would work after wards is unpredictable, sometimes a few minutes or even up to 3 weeks.

So if you are looking for a more permanent and affordable Xbox 360 fix, then it would be recommended to try the X-clamp modification fix, which would cost less than a fraction of what it would to send it to Microsoft.

By: Allan Paige

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If you love the great sport of fishing, what better way to improve your skills than practising in the comfort of your living room, allowing you to escape the task of cleaning fish or the strong smell. Perfect for the freezing winter months, there are many different fishing games to play that will improve your chances of making the biggest catch of your life next time you take to the water.

Catering for all the different consoles, as well as being available online, fishing games are designed for all levels and skills with superb graphics and plenty of fun and relaxation along the way. They also teach you a great deal about the sport, from what type of bait to use, different types of fish, the best fishing weather and where to target certain species. Whether it’s fresh water or deep sea fishing that float your boat, there are games out there perfect for any fishing enthusiast or anyone who wants to try out the sport for the first time.

Online Fishing Games There are many games available online, for free or a small fee, which can help you sharpen your skills. Bass fishing games are the favourite online, allowing you to compete against your friends or other players over the internet. They are great for getting you into the habit of noticing conditions and water type and offer valuable tips for your technique. You can even create your own scenario or keep practising at a difficult site. The graphics are fun and exciting, with splashing water bugs, jumping frogs and fish that fight back harder than ever!

Three of the Best Console Fishing Games:

Sega Bass Fishing: A classic fishing game which was born as an arcade game in the 1990s, Sega Bass Fishing has recently been launched on the Wii. The Nintendo Wii is the perfect console for fishing, allowing the use of the handset as a rod to practice your cast in a more realistic way, or for diehard fishing enthusiasts you can purchase a Wii fishing rod. The game offers four different modes, including practice, arcade, tournament and nature trip, making this the perfect game for anyone new to the sport. Hooked! Also available on the Wii, Hooked allows the gamer to use the remote as a rod and the numchuck as a reel to catch the biggest fish. Settings are photo realistic, including a meteorite crater lake, with features that include fully interactive tutorials to turn you into a top fisherman. Rapala Pro Fishing: created by Activision, this is one of the best known fishing games available on many different consoles. With authentic Rapala fishing gear and guided fishing trips. The under water environments are incredibly realistic and fish have amazing special effects and graphics with an advanced depth of field.

By: Bernard McClay

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New generation systems certainly show how far the video game industry has come since the days of Pong.

Why, just the last generation was simple enough that you could just ask for one of the three consoles (Nintendo GameCube, Sony’s Playstation 2 and Microsoft’s Xbox) without any further specification.

With the latest generation, there are several purchase options, which go far beyond an extra controller or video game. You can now ask for a hard drive with bigger storage capacity, different front skins, type of controllers, internet connectivity, etc.

Unfortunately, this also means that there are more things that can break down with your console. This in turn means that it’s more difficult to identify where the problem lies.

In order to help identify the problem, the Xbox 360 has a system that allows for easier identification of problems. This system uses the lights that appear around the start button to tell the technicians where the problem is.

When only 1 of the 4 green lights that are located around the start button flashes red and the screen flashes an error code number, it means that you’ve got the Xbox 360 1 red light message.

If you get the Xbox 360 1 red light message, it means that the problem is either with the DVD drive, or with the hard drive.

Fortunately, the Xbox 360 1 red light message is not something that you should worry about. In order to identify which of the two drives the Xbox 360 1 red light messages is referring to, just look the code number that the screen displays. DVD drive errors are identified with the codes E64, E65 and E66, whereas hard drive errors are identified with codes E67, E69 and E79.

By: Ashish K Arora

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The Xbox 360 console has been hit with the three red lights of death error from the day it has been released. Over a third of consoles suffer from this problem and many people discover that it always seems to start just as the warranty expires.

The only choice here is a hefty repair bill or a new console. Well there is a third choice. You can fix this yourself with no technical knowledge. Most people know this problem is related to heat but do not know exactly what is causing it.

The main cause of this problem is related to the way the system is assembled and can be easy to fix. Once you see this error occur you should switch the console off immediately, as this can result in hardware damage.

There are then two ways you can get this fixed.

#1. Send the console to Microsoft. You should only do this if it is under warranty or you will face a big repair bill.

#2. Repair it yourself. To do this you have to know what is causing the problem and fix it. Without any clear instructions or a guide, you can end up causing permanent damage to the console.

The first time you see this error power off the unit until it is completely cooled down and try it again. Sometimes this will work but if the three red lights of death keep appearing then you need to take other steps to fix this.

The easiest way to fix this problem is with a video guide and a manual that shows you step-by-step how to fix this problem. With a proper guide you can fix this with no technical knowledge at all and fix this in minutes without risk to your Xbox 360.

By: Alex S Jameson

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What does it mean when your XBox has Three Flashing Red Lights instead of the normal Green Ones?

Three flashing red lights appear when an Xbox experiences a general hardware failure. These Red Lights are known as the Red Ring of Death to most gamers. 

Before this occurs you may have warning signs, like the screen freezing up with strange graphics, or the sound being replaced by a static noise. The console may also say that the disk is unreadable. These signs become more and more frequent, until the hardware failure occurs.

What are Four Red Lights?

Four Red lights are a much more welcome sight, as they appear when the console doesn’t detect the AV cable as being plugged in.  Simply make sure it is plugged in correctly.

Why did my XBox get the Red Ring of Death?

The XBox was originally designed to be slim.  Because of this, there is not enough space for the components to get enough air flow and keep cool.  The XBox problem occurs therefore due to overheating.

Can I Prevent this from happening to me?

You may not be able to prevent it from happening, but keeping your XBox cool may help.  Make sure it has enough air flow around it when playing, and don’t put it on a carpet.  If you start seeing any of the warning signs, try not to play for extended periods.

What has Microsoft done about it?

Microsoft claimed in July 2007, to have resolved many issues with the design. Xbox 360 consoles based on the “Falcon” motherboard feature a different CPU which reduces heat and is more reliable than previous models. Failure rates of the “Falcon” motherboard are supposed to be about 10%.

What do I do once my XBox has the Red Ring of Death?

You can either send it in to Microsoft for free (if you are in the 3 year warranty period), or you can fix it yourself. Sending it to Microsoft will take between 3 weeks to 6 weeks including postage time, and you may not get your own console back, but possibly another reconditioned, or repaired console. It also could happen again, which would mean repeating the whole process again.

By: Shaun Olivier

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