In your FACE, Micro$oft!

F-14 Ace · **on:** May 24, 2009, 11:56:50 PM

If you own an Xbox 360, I'm sure you've all heard of the Red Ring of Death. Last week, my Xbox 360 gave me the blinking red lights and shut down without warning. I freaked out because my warranty had recently expired. I feared that I would have to join the dark side of gaming and buy a PS3 (I wasn't going to buy another Xbox). However, not only do PS3s cost $400, but the games can cost up to $65 each and I would have to buy the same games I already had on my Xbox. Well, then I bega thinking about fixing my Xbox 360 myself since Micro$oft wouldn't do it. The lady aI talked to on the phone said that the RRoD means the machine is broken and has to be thrown away. Well, after doing some research, I discovered that this was pure BS. All the RRoD means is that the heat sinks are not making good contact with the CPU and GPU. I found instructions for how to fix the problem using screws and washers. I spent eight dollars on the supplies and after painstakingly taking my Xbox apart, removing the X clamps, and replacing them with the screws and washers, I finally got my Xbox working again!

So all I have to say is...

IN YOUR FACE, MICROSOFT!
My Xbox is back from the dead and better than ever!

If you still have a warranty and encounter the RRoD, go ahead and send it in. Tampering with the machine yourself will null the warranty. However, if you don't have a warranty on your machine and you encounter the RRoD, here is a cheap way to fix the problem. I mean, you have nothing to lose by trying right?

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fix-the-Re...without-towels/

NOTE: I couldn't find the screws that the author said to use so I used the closest size I could find. It still worked just fine. I thought this was a nifty little trick and it sure beats having to buy a new machine.

Kor · **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2009, 12:27:55 AM

I'm glad that worked for you. Now you know what to do if it happens again.

landbeforetimelover · **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2009, 01:20:47 AM

If I were into gaming, I wouldn't buy a console at all. Just hack the games and store them on a DVR or computer. You can then connect them to the TV or a Projector with no problems. Stripping some wires and writing Windows drivers solves the problem of no controller. You can install Windows on the DVR and it works wonderfully. I have a friend who does all this sort of stuff. Maybe I'll get into games one day and do that. My friend can buy a game for ANY console and run it on the DVR or computer. But most of the time he just gets them for free online.

Petrie. · **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2009, 07:50:42 AM

I wouldn't mind having Super Smash Brothers Brawl for the computer if a version is ever made. I don't have a Wii and have no plans on getting one. I'm a PC person...not a console one.

I've heard of the RRoD before, and yeah, it pisses people off that it generally happens once the warranty is gone (whaddaya know???

: ). Most aren't going to waste their time taking the thing apart. Good resourceful knowledge, F-14.

Tyrannosaur · **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2009, 12:23:54 PM

Microsoft actually extended the warranty specifically for the RRoD (which i have had the plesaure of experiencing

) to 3 years after purchase date. the warranty extension is only for the RRoD though, cus they were having so many problems with it.

if you have had your 360 for less than 3 years, it is supposed to still be under RRoD warranty, just the normal warranty has expired. you got it fixed either way though, so awesome xD

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6173633.html