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
768 Responses to “Repair Xbox 360 - 3 Red Lights”
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Brad Woods said,
Comment • July 23, 2006 @ 2:53 pm
BTW does anyone know how to contact MS. Not the customer service people. Someone who would take complaints. CS can only do whats in there book.
Carlos Quintanilla said,
Comment • July 24, 2006 @ 1:19 pm
Hey guys why doesn’t everyone complain to the BBB if enought people complain then something will be done about it. I don’t own a 360 but was looking into it doesn look like its worth it as for the PS3 i’ll pass so i’ll go back to nintendo i’m old school. Hey you never know maybe a good lawyer will pick up the case and new systems for everyone hey it could happed.
none said,
Comment • July 25, 2006 @ 11:26 am
I had the 3 flashing red light problem. I called them up, didn’t cost me anything. They are paying ALL shipping costs. Took about 4 days to get the box, 3 days for them to get it back, less than 12 hours to fix it and get it shipped back to me. Its on its way now. I know 360 have there problems, just as the PS3 will, but I cannot complain to much about that kind of customer service! Oh yeah, Also when I get it back they are restarting my 90 day warranty!! Not to bad!!
GAZ BROWN said,
Comment • July 26, 2006 @ 4:42 am
I live over the pond in UK, & had a problem with my 360 about 4 months ago. The dreaded 3 red lights - GULP!
Ended up returning it to M.S. - Cust Serv in UK & got it back 4 days later. NOT the same machine however !! & NOT with my original hard drive, that they insisted I return with the console at the time.
NEVER at any point did they state to me that they would not return MY hardrive back to me afterwards, & they did NOT state that they would send me a new one.
Imagine how upset I was, when I realised 6 months of solid gaming had vanished + about 6000 GP’s!!!!
If I had known this I would have took it round my mates house to at least transfer/copy my game saves !!!!
Watch out for this before you return your consoles !
GAZ BROWN said,
Comment • July 26, 2006 @ 5:03 am
The Gazster again from accross the pond. Take heed of these tips for safer gaming !! 
1) Arm yourself with a one of them power fluctuating power protecting plug things, I beleive a slight fluctuation in Electric caused my 3 x red lights.
2) Keep Power supply brick off the floor - try raising on a couple of small wooden blocks.
3) Carefull with seperate external fans on the machine to keep it cool, - these can also blow up dust into the Machine !
4) Raise 360 console off the deck slightly - again on wooden blocks.
5) have a couple of blank memory cards handy to back up games saves on your hard drive, if it happens again. Or refuse to return your hard drive to M.S.
6) Do not EVER, EVER, move or flip your 360 with a disc still in it. this will damage the CD read head/Disc.
The 360 is an extreamly tempremental machine !
Aaris said,
Comment • July 26, 2006 @ 6:21 pm
Just bought a new Xbox..worked fine for 2 days, now have to send it back for 3 red lights repair. VV disappointed, only 2 days or worse if I say exactly 5 hrs.
none said,
Comment • July 27, 2006 @ 10:42 am
Gaz-That’s crazy they asked you to send the hard drive. Here they make it a point for you “NOT” to send in anything got the system itself. They even want the faceplate removed. Sorry bout your problems, though. That sucks…Got mine today…Total time gone was right at 2 weeks and most of that was involved with shipping…I can’t complain to much since I wasn’t paying for anything.
none said,
Comment • July 28, 2006 @ 11:37 am
Actually I got home from worked and opened my box to find they had sent me a brand new unit so that I could get my unit back faster. Once again it sucked that it messed up, but you can’t beat that kind of customer support.
Goran said,
Comment • July 30, 2006 @ 4:05 am
My xbox died as well, im from Australia.
My console is well ventilated and it has less that 10h of play, ad yet it crashed and resulted with 3 red lights. That is a joke, I HATE XBOX FROM NOW, and i cant wait for PS3. At lease PS3 will be Made In Japan, and not crappy China Made. PS3 will Rule
Brad Woods said,
Comment • July 23, 2006 @ 2:47 pm
I have never been as dissapointed in my entire life as I have today. When I got my 360 in January I was a little skeptical but I figured MS would support there product. I played it had over 2000 GP and then my 12 month Live subcode failed and corrupted my account. It took until May(3mnths)to get live up and running minus my GP and Gamertag. Then my games started freezing on Tomb Raider. Now I have the three flashing lights. AHHHHHH.
Customer Service said they would fix it for $160. I whined and moaned and got it down to $120. Then they said they only accept Credit Cards. I don’t have one
I don’t have access to one and I now own a $500 paper weight. I knew I should have waited for PS3. I would recommend to anyone who has one, fake a problem before the three months is up and have them fix it anyways. Maybe Apple with come out with a gamesystem and we can avoid all the crashes.
Microsoft sold knowingly sold faulty consoles, and a probably exstatic they are crashes after the three months. They should be ashamed of themselves.