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
Related posts:
Comments (768)
This story is simply amazing and I guarantee will top the list. Early last month I got the old ring of death and had to call xbox directly. My unit was purchased in Xmas 05 and against all rumors that Xbox would repair any unit manufactured prior to that date for free is untrue. At least in my case. So after shelling out 140 bucks a full 7 days later a box comes but NO shipping label (return label) was inserted. I proceeded to call them back and the Indian gentlemen I spoke said to me no label was needed.. He actually said that. I laughed at him and stated that the box would be shipped to them as promised. I was like WTF is this dude selling I argued with him and he said Jason trust me just go to UPS and give them the tracking and ref# and they will print out a label for you??? Ok so off I go and to everyone surprise UPS has no clue about all that. I proceed to call them back an they told me yes Jason a label is needed and we apologize but we have to send you another box.. Well I explain I don’t need another box just a label and because I waited so long I asked if they could next day me or even email a shipping label (Yes you can get labels emailed and you just print them and affix to box) They said its against there policy to do that?? HUH??? Its against your policy to ship a label next day to a customer that has experienced trouble? Anyhow they promised me that a shipping box has been resent and will arrive by this Friday. This was on Monday the 30th of April.. Well Friday comes no box but I decide to wait a full 7 days and nope still no box. Well of course back on the phone to call them and your never going to believe what happens??? YEP no box was sent even after the promised by not 1 not 2 by 3 supervisors.. I called screaming at them now and they only could say that they will send me a free game (Kameo) which I laughed and said no thanks.. So basically I slam the phone down and called them right back.. Trust me this story is just getting juicy.. I talk to another agent and she tells me that the box was sent even after the sup I just talked to said NO the box wasn’t never sent.. I was like does anyone know what’s going on?? She says yes it was sent on the 24th of March??? MARCH???? I never called in March lady!!! yes you did she replies. I almost threw the phone in the river behind me. All I could do was go nuts and wonder am I the only one going thru this? Well clearly no.. So in closing it has been almost 3 weeks and YEP still no box and to this point Microsoft has only offered me a free game of Kameo for my trouble. Something needs to be done I have sent in letters but have gotten no response. Anyone can email me I will glad share me story in full details if they want to hear it. All I can suggest is to NOT I repeat NOT by an Xbox 360 trust me you WILL receive this hardware issue. When it happens it will cost you 140 bucks and MONTHS of headaches. Sure playing Gears of War and MLB 2007 can be fun but when your out of cash and noone can help you don’t say you were not warned. I can only hope you never need to call them because when you do you will experience a world of incompetent people.. TRUST ME
vegasdsports@hotmail.com
http://www.gtelectronics.co.uk/xbox360.htm
Post the Xbox360 to them.
Pay them £55 through paypal, and they ship the 360 back repaired and with a 6 month warranty.
:-)
I got a 360 on release day. Worked fine until now…..almost 2 years later I think? I figured i got lucky and didnt get a faulty one but I think it was just delayed symptoms and was sick all along…. HOWEVER- There is a temporary fix I found out…..leaave it on for like 20mins with the red lights flashing then restart. worked for me….at least once….just did this right now so I hope I can just do this forever and not send it in for huge rip off moola repairs
i got the 3 light hoe can i fix this problem myself are will i have to send it out to be fixed
wounded!
bought my 360 at xmas, now suffering the 3 lights of death bring me the head of bill gates!!!!
This should be reported to watchdog on the BBC after receiving the 3 lights of death.
All users who have had the 3 lights should go to the watchdog website and report the rubbish Microsoft are selling to the public.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog
i bought a core system at launch. then spent all the money on the items to make it a premium console. i got the rings of death a week ago. i called up microsoft tech support and they told me they will fix it for 140 dollars. a few weeks ago my friend got his fixed for free (and he got it at launch). this is poor. considering i work for game crazy and i have influenced many people to buy a xbox 360 instead of waiting for a ps3 or the wii. in my eyes all launch consoles should be replaced, i refuse to pay anymore money to this company. wii shouldnt have to deal with this. =) sorry, 300 dollars, then 250 dollars and the wait for a hardrive was enoough. i played my console maybe twice a week with maybe 100 hours of play total on it. this is bunk. i know this, microsofts name is starting to sound like sony to me. and thats a shame.
I HATE MY 360 sorry for caps but its how I feel. After my console broke down february this year, tht I bought from launch, I was pissed. But I found a way to fix it. The GPU card above the CPU has this glue to hold it on there and keep the connection. After awhile the glue starts to harden and crack causing the Ring of Death. All you need to do is crack open the case and re apply some glue on the GPU card and re attach it to the CPU.
If you use the towel trick for more than 10-15 minutes it can also create a perma fix if you leave it on for a long time. The towel trick connects these two connectors that got split apart, the towel trick expands it and eventually will melt the two back for a permanent hold…of course it could always melt and cause the two parts to completely fall apart.