If you or a friend have used an Xbox 360 for any length of time, you’ve most likely experienced or heard of the red ring of death. Ever since it’s introduction to the market, problems have been no stranger to this machine. This problem is indicated by 3 flashing red lights around the power button. Repair work is not out of the question if you wish to eliminate this problem.

Before considering any repair work, try out the following suggestions:

Restart the console.

If this doesn’t help, then the problem may be due to a loose cord or cable. First, any power cords and cables that can be disconnected should be removed. Unplug the power cord from the wall. All cables and cords should now be reattached to the console. Now connect up the power and switch the console back on.

If the above step didn’t work, then turn off the console, unplug the power and then disconnect the hard drive. Switch on the console after plugging the power back in. If there isn’t a “three red lights error”, then turn the Xbox off and disconnect the power cord. Finally, reattach the hard drive, plug the power back in and turn on the console.

If this didn’t work, you may have a heat related problem. If the internal chips get too much heat exposure, they will shut off. Sometimes the thermal shutdown will be accompanied by the three red light error. This can definitely happen if you’ve had several thermal related shutdowns before.

Switch your Xbox off and give it some time to cool down if you believe that it is experiencing too much heat. Clear the cooling vents of all obstructions and place your Xbox in an area that is open with lots of ventilation. Keep it away from all sources of heat. Clean out dust and debris from the inside of the console. Cool off your console with a small fan. Remember to keep the power brick cool, so do not place it on shaggy carpeting.

This article dealt with all of the measures for coping with the ring of death that doesn’t involve repair. If your problems still persist, repairing your machine is the next step. The warranty of any Xbox with the ring of death failure has been extended for three years beyond the date of purchase by Microsoft. If your console has been opened, then the warranty is void. Expect to get your repaired Xbox back from Microsoft after several weeks of delay. If you’re too impatient with Microsoft’s delays, a quicker but more expensive option is to send your console to a repair shop. Finally, you can take matters into your own hands and repair it yourself using one of the available guides.

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