Repair Xbox 360 – 3 Red Lights
James at joystiq fixed his own 360 that was flashing three red lights, which indicates an internal error.
If you have this problem try this simple fix:
1) Remove your hard drive and/or memory units.
2) Run "Initial Setup" under the system blade.
3) Decline inserting HDD or memory unit when prompted.
4) Sync your controller and pop in a game.
*** UPDATE *** Microsoft has a new free warranty of 3 years for the 3 red light error. If you have this problem, you can send your console in for free repair. Or, if you don't want to pay shipping and have to wait 2-3 weeks, you can attempt to fix it yourself.
More details here:
NEW! Instructional videos to repair your 360 yourself in less than an hour, guaranteed: Xbox 360 Three Red Light Repair
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December 18th, 2006 at 12:50 am
“James said,
Comment • December 12, 2006 @ 10:40 pm
Is there anyone else in australia with the same problem or is it just other countries?”
Answer YES, my mates 360 just crashed the other day. bought it about 5 months ago here in Australia. At least we dont have to pay for repairs here like in the US (poor bastards shouldnt be charged at all!!)
Extreamly dissapointed that people sent in their system and the same problem still arises!
QUESTION TO MS: HAVE YOU ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM YET? OR ARE ALL 360′s INEVITABLY GOING TO BREAK STILL?
December 18th, 2006 at 6:28 am
You guys act surprised at this? Geez … Microsuck – it’s all the same. Computers and Xbox — Look, it’s good that everyone is trying to find solutions, but turning this off, pressing that, resetting this, flipping it over 59 times, rubbing it, stacking it on bricks .. etc etc. does jack squat. Why should you have to do any of this? What’s the freakin point to get excited if it works that one time? You know its coming back don’t you? Microsuck has never made quality equipment. Get a MAC if you are running windoze. Gates could give a rat’s @#$ if you have a quality component. He’s made his Billions by sucking people into his wormhole …….. think for yourself. Think different. Don’t give these people your money! You all complain, but then you still give that chump your dough! And he laughs all the way to the bank! CMON!!!!
December 18th, 2006 at 11:33 am
AusComment • December 18, 2006 @ 12:50 am sie Customer. QUESTION TO MS: HAVE YOU ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM YET? OR ARE ALL 360’s INEVITABLY GOING TO BREAK STILL?
I work for the Microsoft tech.support team on the cause of Xbox 360 internal harware failure. The problem was *fixed with the new hitachi hardware drives that run at 36.0 decimal seconds with noise equalizers for smoother running times. Also new software updates which will now alow 1080p and 1080i for H.D Tv.s. The overheating problem was the cause of the internal sensors which will alow the Fans to interact with the internal GPU-and-CPU tempertures. The fan sensors would crash then cause the Xbox 360 console to overheat and stop the console so you would not burn up the cpu-gpu and/or the hardware graphics chip, three cored processors or/so the three threads. The console will shut down or show the three red lights of internal haredware failure so you yourself do not ruin the console forever. Now this problem is solved and should not show any of these continues problems of the launch consoles. Thankyou for all the questions. Please contact my team at (1-800)4my-xbox /or/ over the website ( xbox.com ) update.next day.
December 18th, 2006 at 11:54 am
Well I don’t own a 360, was looking at buying one, but feels I might think twice now.
December 18th, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Hey Mac User… we’d ” think different” if apple made a game console :)
December 18th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
ditto to every thing above, my son’s has just died, UK support say will fix- so will wait and see- died exactly 1 year after date of manufacture 18-12-05!! I appreciate the microsoft tech reply above but I hope I get a new console or i will be asking for a refund- we paid £400. Cant believe anyone thinks its fixable by any form of button pressing etc. the fault is internal, intermittent and only going to get worse. I design engine controls and we have guys at work who fix these via the paste wipe fix- but we reckon you have to keep doing it-its not worth it. If I worked on the design of this product I would be ashamed to read this stuff- surely someone at microsoft design team has the guts to come out and tell us if new units have been properly fixed- maybe they are too ashamed
December 18th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
I got my 360 the day it came out, got the “Ring of death” Nov. 24, 06, Microsoft sent me a free xbox. and it arrived today Dec. 18, 06
December 19th, 2006 at 3:15 am
I get the 3 red lights of death too when i turn my machine on. If i leave it on for a while (say 15 min or so) and then turn it off and on again it works fine. Does anybody else get this?
If I have to replace my machine i’m going to switch to PS3.
December 19th, 2006 at 4:21 am
Wish Apple did make a gaming system! Don’t get me wrong ….. I’ve been wanting to get a 360, but seeing what you all have gone through and what my younger brother has put up with just irritates the hell out of me. My brother has sent in his first gen xbox and his 360 twice …… I’ve still got the first gen ps2 and other than cleaning the system out occassionally (cleaning the lense), I’ve had NO PROBLEMS ….. Now, you tell me ….. Why is it that a system this old keeps on rollin along, while the “NEW” systems don’t? Because everything is junk nowadays period. It’s a rush to get them out … autos, computers, just about everything you can think of … washers, dryers etc. JUNK JUNK JUNK. There is no such thing as quality anymore …. it’s quantity. Who cares if a few million people get crappy products, when there are a few more million lining up to buy them? The money is being made …… they don’t care! I feel sorry for the people who bought the 360 for their kids this xmas. Inevitably it will break. I agree with the earlier threads ……. contact the BBB. It’s the ONLY way to have any chance with a jugernaut like MS. Complaining ain’t gonna do it. It just amazes me how many people say they got MS to come down on their fix price! WHOOPEE! You aren’t getting a deal! You are still giving them money they DO NOT DESERVE PERIOD!!!! I know you want your product fixed, but get a refund, trade in your games or sell them. KICK THEM IN THE &*! WHERE IT HURTS! THE POCKETBOOK! I’m not out to bash, but enough is enough. I agree with the post earlier …. if this was an automobile it would be recalled, why isn’ this? Because it’s not a SAFETY issue. But like the other person said ……. make it one … tell em it overheats, which is the truth. Overheating = fire. Scare em a little. Remember the battery packs in the sony comps and Apple comps? Overheating issue = recall.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:24 am
Well. Add mee to the list. I have been enjoying my 360 since Christmas last year. NO ISSUES. Recently the DVD tray door began to stick in the closed position. So I ordered a repair. Two days after the return box got here I got the RED LIGHTS. I was going to hold off on the intermittent door problem until after the holidays. NOW the 360 is in the mail! REDICULOUS! It looks like the HD-DVD player, racing wheel and gears of war I will be getting for Christmas are going to have to wait until after the new year.