Xbox 360 RROD Repair Solutions and Alternatives
The Red Ring of Death, one of the biggest sources of disappointment to rock the gaming world in quite some time, and something that affected a massive amount of Xbox owners. This was an error that was caused through a poor manufacturing choice by Microsoft, that caused your Xbox to practically fry itself with prolonged use. While the newer consoles have been made to avoid the problems caused by the RROD, what are you to do if you have one of the older Xbox consoles? If you’re in a bind and you can’t drop $300+ on a new 360, there are still some good Xbox 360 RROD repair ideas that you can attempt.
Basically speaking, there’s a lot that you can do right from home to get your Xbox working again, at least for a little while, so that you can finish that last game, retrieve a save, or even play online with a friend for a night. But the level of technical known how of some techniques can be pretty high, so just be advised from the outset. There are plenty of techniques that you can employ, and here are some of the most common:
The Towel Method
This is one of the most common and easiest to employ Xbox 360 RROD fix solutions that is out there. Basically this is just running the console after you get the 3 flashing lights signaling you’ve got a problem, and doing so with the Xbox wrapped in a towel or even blanket. The 360 has a major ventilation problem in which it really builds up a ton of heat when playing games, so covering up the vents with a towel is going to cause a ton of heat to build up within the console. When doing this for a few hours, after you’ve allowed the console to cool it should be able to play any game fine. Just be advised this only works for a short while.
Actually Fixing Your Motherboard
This is an extremely challenging process that’s going to require quite a few tools, and that actually demands you have some computer knowledge yourself. That’s because this entails literally unscrewing the console cover, and also acquiring a key to unlock the Xbox as well. Microsoft doesn’t make it easy for you, and you need a key if you’re going to fully open the Xbox. But these can easily be found on sites like Amazon.com for relatively cheap, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
But the process is pretty involved in which you actually have to re-solder the wires that actually come undone when Xbox 360 RROD repair is required. This is going to meant that you need a pretty involved guide, and there are plenty of places where you can find them online. Some of the best resources at your disposal include eHow.com which features plenty of video guides and step by step guides on this method. Instructables.com and even Squidoo.comcan really help you out.
Sending Back Your Xbox if You’re Still Under Warranty
For all the consoles that are sold with the faulty motherboard, Microsoft actually extended warranty benefits for another year on top of the warranty that you did have. That means that you can still send your console back for professional Xbox 360 RROD repair, and they will also totally clean and service the device as well. This will cost you nothing so long as you are under warranty, but if you’re not you’ll be looking at spending around $100 for the total cost of the repairs which can be annoying, but worthwhile so you can get your console fixed and back in your hands quickly.
Finding Independent Repair Companies
But of course you can also find the right type of repair services where you live as well, so that you can get professional Xbox 360 RROD repair for a lot cheaper. Some companies including the major game retailers like Gamestop or even some local ones near you most likely, are going to offer repairs at a greatly reduced cost. But you have to realize that while this type of Xbox 360 RROD repair is convenient and easy, and especially cheap, it also totally voids your warranty. So if something here doesn’t work, you can no longer send in your console and you would have to buy a new one most likely.