So...my 360 has Red Ringed

[18-Till-I-Die]

Yeah...

My XBox died, for some reason. Which is odd since it worked all this time without error but suddenly ploped out. I should have known it was going to die when i was playing Mercenaries 2 a few days ago and it froze on me...happened three times in a row, tried to turn it on just a few minutes ago and it Red Ringed.

So before i go through the BS of trying to see if i can get it fixed or replaced or whatever, i have to ask someone who may know:

Am i going to have to fork out money for it to get fixed, replaced, whatever?

Will my old hard drive work on a new one?

To say the least, i'd be greatful for any advice on these salient questions. This is the first time it's ever happened before to me and i figured, wrongly, i had dodged the bullet so considering the economic BS going on it'll probably be a while before i can get a new one if it costs money. If not i'll probably run over to the consumer service site tonight.

[Mr Bean]

Xbox 360 correct?
Right when did you buy it You have three years from date of purchase to get a mostly no question's ask game console-swap.

[18-Till-I-Die]

I got it around Christmas, last year, 2008.

So i figure that means i'm well within the threshold then?

[Mr Bean]

I got it around Christmas, last year, 2008.

So i figure that means i'm well within the threshold then?

Well within, get on the phone to MS support, tell them you have a red-ring Xbox360 and make sure your infront of the Xbox360 as they will be asking for some information off the stickers on it.

[Laughing Mechanicus]

Also you do not have to send the hard drive back with the console (I actually recall them specifically asking you not to send it) because sometimes rather than fixing the console and then returning it they will just send you a brand new one (with no hard drive) immediately.

[Oscar Wilde]

Call 1-800-4MY-XBOX and they'll help you sort it out.
I don't remember if they gave the option to have them send a box out with the label or if they said to provide a box and emailed the label. As said above, the will not send back attachments on the console, so remove everything including (if you want, I don't know if you have to) the Faceplate.


That or you could try the towel trick, although that's a short term fix.

[Joviwan]

If your xbox is under it's 90 warrantee, they'll ship you a special box with a UPS label to slap onto it to ship the dead box back to them. If your xbox is out of the 90 warrantee, but still within the 3 years date of purchase warrantee, they'll make you print and tape your own shipping label to whatever box you have convenient. No, they don't care if the xbox actually fits snuggly in the box.

So yeah, they'll want the serial number of the unit, which is in the USB port secion in the front and along the back. Detach your hard drive, it'll work fine on your new unit.

[Mr. Coffee]

What ever you do, DO NOT open the case. Ever. or at least until the warranty runs out.

[seanrobertson]

I had the RROD about a year ago, and I was among the first to buy a 360 (Dec. 2005)

But, for once, I have to give Microsoft credit: I shipped the sucker off (MS mailed me a shipping label, so that was free-of-charge), and she was back within two weeks. All of my files were intact. Everything worked beautifully and, to date, I've had precious few problems.

But more to the point: you're in-the-clear, 18. Send that sucker back. They'll fix it and, if my experience is any indication, she should be as good as new.

[Lord Relvenous]

You can also request a repair on xbox.com support. In fact, when you call in for the repair, they will refer to that site to print off your shipping label. The label is pre-paid, so if you have shipping materials and a box, it's completely free. If you don't you can just drop off the xbox with the shipping label at a UPS store, and they'll pack it for you for $6.50 or somewhere thereabouts. Good luck.

[Stark]

Get it replaced/repaired, sell it to a friend, and buy a new one.

Worked for me!

[The Yosemite Bear]

I'm just suprised the RROD is so well known amoung nerds that no one from Wii, or PS3 has done a Sadako commercial making fun of it yet.

[seanrobertson]

I'm just suprised the RROD is so well known amoung nerds that no one from Wii, or PS3 has done a Sadako commercial making fun of it yet.

Indeed. Given lagging PS3 sales in the Western hemisphere, I'd at least expect that from Sony.

By the way, 18-Till-I-Die ...

Like a complete dolt, I [almost] forgot something: when I contacted MS about my RROD and the company sent me a package w/ which to mail them my 360, they instructed me to remove my unit's hard drive before shipping.

That's why your files will be safe. You'll separate your HD before mailing your console back to 'em.

Apologies that I didn't remember this earlier; I know it's of little consequence, but I wanted to clarify why your files would be "safe."