How To Fix Xbox 360 Red Light Error

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How To Fix Xbox 360 Red Light Error (Red Ring of Death)

You turn on your Xbox 360 only to be greeted by three flashing red lights around the power button. Oh no! Not the red ring of death! What does this mean, and what do you do now?

The three red lights flashing around your Xbox 360's power button are an indication of a general hardware failure. General hardware failure? Yes, there are any number of things that could be wrong with your Xbox 360. However, the most common cause of the red ring of death is GPU and/or CPU failure resulting from overheating. If you're interested in a more in depth explanation of what causes the red ring of death, please click here for an article on just that.

Okay, don't panic. You CAN survive the red ring of death. This article will provide a brief overview of what you should do now. Please see RedRingOfDeathCure.com if you need more comprehensive instructions on how to fix Xbox 360 red light errors.

Call Microsoft 

First, if your Xbox is still under warranty, call Microsoft Tech support. If you open your Xbox, it will void your warranty, so call Microsoft first!

If your Xbox 360 is no longer under warranty and you want Microsoft to fix it, it will cost you around $140 plus shipping and handling. They'll send you a box to ship the unit back to them, then they'll send you a refurbished unit as a replacement. This can take about 4 to 6 weeks.

If you're not ready to spend $140 and wait 4 to 6 weeks, try the steps below.

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Step One: Check the Cables and Hard Drive 

Unplug all the cables from the unit, reinsert them, then try booting the system again. If this doesn't work, remove the hard drive and reboot the system to see if the hard drive is causing the problem. If your Xbox works without the hard drive then the hard drive will need to be replaced.

Xbox 360 Hard Drives 

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Step Two: Prevent Overheating 

Make sure your Xbox is not sitting on the carpet or enclosed in a cabinet -- it needs to breath. If it already has plenty of ventilation, clean it out. Blow all the dust out carefully and completely. You can open the box for thorough cleaning, just remember this will void your warranty.

Don't forget that the AC adapter can also overheat. Get it up off the floor. If it still overheats, try placing it across an empty box for further ventilation.

You might also want to try replacing the fans in your Xbox. Remember, opening your Xbox will void the warranty, so don't try this if your unit is still under warranty. Talismoon replacement fans are quieter and move up to 50% more air than the fans in your Xbox. Just follow the instructions included with the fans.

You can also try replacing the clamps that connect the heatsink to the GPU and CPU with nuts and bolts that will keep the chip in full contact with the mother board and stop the board from warping. Click here for more information on the Xbox 360 x-clamp fix.

Xbox 360 Talismoon Fans 

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Step Three: Check Your Power Source 

Have someone test your wall outlet. The Xbox 360 requires a constant power source, and you might be surprised how much your electrical current can vary when other appliances in the house come on (like the refrigerator or furnace).

You may need to consult an electrician to rectify problems with your power outlet.

Step Four: Fix Xbox 360 Red Light Error Yourself 

If the previous three steps haven't helped, and you're not ready to send your Xbox 360 back to Micorsoft, you can fix your Xbox 360 yourself. Yes, really, you can!

See RedRingOfDeathCure.com to learn how to fix the Red Ring of Death.

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Are You Suffering From the Red Ring of Death?

You can have your Xbox 360 up and running again in under 1 hour!

See RedRingOfDeathCure.com

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Xbox 360 red light error? Learn how you can fix your Xbox 360 in under one hour! RedRingOfDeathCure.com

 





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