Xbox360 RROD life goes on.

[OldTimer]

Got my 4x rrod on xbox 360 close to the begining of june. Sent it in for repairs. Just wondering how many other people have gone through this and how many times. I still love xbox for the `live experience' with online fps. Also the new game 1 in 100 that did the beta testing start in Canada. (finnaly got something before the states). The wife was starting to play my xbox with that game (not a button masher just a quiz type game). Then the xbox died. Anyways I had time now to build a fence in my back yard and start tilling my kitchen.

[jim5cents]

that sucks, i've had my 360 since march 2006, never had a red ring.

btw, 1vs100 is available in the states...it rules.

[OldTimer]

yeah june first it came available in the states as they continue to beta test it. Canada started in may. No prizes available to be won yet. But they are doing a draw based on how many questions you've answered (right or wrong) to max of 500 entries. In may we hit about 7000 to 11000 people at once in canada. When the states joined it jumped to 49 000 people june 1st playing the game. (my xbox died june 2nd)

[Winnebagel]

I have gone through the RROD issue once. That was about two years ago and the second 360 has not had any problems.

I also, just two weeks ago, had my PS3 go down. It stopped playing Blu Ray discs and gave an error that I have found other people have experienced as well. Since the system is not covered by the warranty, I had to buy another one. :'(
The one positive thing about all of this is I was able to upgrade from the 80GB to the 160GB PS3.

[Kugyince]

The Wii could survive a nuclear holocaust.

[Winnebagel]

The Wii could survive a nuclear holocaust.

I think you're right. The only issue I have have with my Wii at all is the blue light used to stay on all the time (when the machine was off) and was starting to mess up the drive. This was fixed easily enough by making sure there was no disc left in the machine when it was powered off. So Tenser, if/when the nukes go off and everything else burns, we can start playing each other online in the new Punch-Out game. :cool:

[DrunkN]

The Wii could survive a nuclear holocaust.
Maybe not the Wii but the game cube could. Those things are indestructible (practicly)

[Winnebagel]

Game Cube is a great system too. I think a lot of it is Nintendo has pretty high manufacturing standards, so most of their systems are fairly durable. I remember my old NES got banged around alot back in the day, but it never stopped working (as long as the connectors were clean).

[Kugyince]

The SNES and GBA:SP are tanks as well.

It'll be cockroaches and Nintendo consoles.

[Winnebagel]

The SNES and GBA:SP are tanks as well.

It'll be cockroaches and Nintendo consoles.

That's true. When closed, even the DS is much more durable then say the PSP. I have gone through 2 PSP's (on the third), but still on the first DS Lite. Of course to be fair, I lost one of those PSP's because it "bricked" (another thing that doesn't happen on Nintendo systems as far as I am aware).

[OldTimer]

The SNES and GBA:SP are tanks as well.

It'll be cockroaches and Nintendo consoles.


After the nuclear holocast, twinkies and mcdonalds french fries would also survive. (read somewhere 9 months to grow mold on ff because of the preservitives in it.

[Slime Slayer]

That's true. When closed, even the DS is much more durable then say the PSP. I have gone through 2 PSP's (on the third), but still on the first DS Lite. Of course to be fair, I lost one of those PSP's because it "bricked" (another thing that doesn't happen on Nintendo systems as far as I am aware).

ds's are brickable, through uncareful uses of passme's and flash cards, not something ive come accross personally though

[Winnebagel]

ds's are brickable, through uncareful uses of passme's and flash cards, not something ive come accross personally though

Okay. I wasn't sure. My PSP bricked with a simple system update. I didn't realize that the wall charger wasn't plugged in all the way and the battery died while it was downloading the update. That was all it took. :mad:

[CatalystiCam]

only nintendo product that really breaks is the N64 joystick...

once on my 360 after 2 1/2 weeks of owning it... unbelievable, nothing lasts anymore...

on a previous note, I heard they dropped a ps2, xbox, GC and a dreamcast off a high bulding and the GC's light still turned on.

[Winnebagel]

on a previous note, I heard they dropped a ps2, xbox, GC and a dreamcast off a high bulding and the GC's light still turned on.

Nice! I can believe that. I know the PS2 would explode with its shoddy construction.

[Dudebro]

My brother had problems with RROD but his new system seems fine.

Sucks to hear you had to buy a new PS3 WB. Interesting to hear that PSPs aren't that great either. At least Microsoft is covering thier end of this. Figures Sony wouldn't.

[CatalystiCam]

I can't believe Nintendo thinks the GC was a collosal failure, GC out-lives the other 3 by far.

[Kugyince]

As for controllers themselves, the NES controller is indestructable.

As a kid I've thrown it a hundred times, stomped on it, ripped it out of the NES countless times, and spilled who-knows-what on it. Yet I still have the the first two originals that I've ever owned and still in working order.

[Dudebro]

I have about 6 NES controllers from various people. As far as I know they all work. BUT, I've had countless Snes controllers that died without much effort.

[Kugyince]

I've had one SNES controller that quit on me. All the other busts were third party SNES controllers like the Turbo Touch.

[Dojah]

I have experienced the red ring of death a couple times, and man it made me angry. Honestly I would never send it in to get fixed. It takes to long and the cost is higher than it needs to be. Usually local game stores have a tech that can fix it for 20-40 dollars. But what I have done and it works perfectly, and I have done this on 5 different 360's and none of them have had a problem since is : ~~Wrap a towel or 3 around your xbox covering the whole console, turn it on and let it run for about 10-15 minutes....after that time you turn off your 360 and wait for about 2-3 minutes while taking off towels. Turn 360 on and no more red ring.

[Kugyince]

Then pray to Walkarmatzuka Ixitxachitl while dancing naked covered in severed chicken heads.

[Dudebro]

I don't get how that would solve anything Dojah.

[Winnebagel]

My brother had problems with RROD but his new system seems fine.

Sucks to hear you had to buy a new PS3 WB. Interesting to hear that PSPs aren't that great either. At least Microsoft is covering thier end of this. Figures Sony wouldn't.

Yeah it kind of sucks bro. The crazy thing it that the situations were almost identical.

I called Microsoft and told them I was getting the RROD, and at the end of the call they said, "Sorry you had this problem. We will send you a prepaid box and repair this at no charge". They didn't ask for proof of purchase, UPC, or anything - just the serial number of the system.

Unfortunately, during some recent home renovation, I lost my PS3 receipt, so when I called Sony, they said, "We require you to have the original receipt showing the purchase date, so we can assess your warranty date and proof that you purchased the system new." Because I didn't have that, they said it would cost $149.00 + applicable shipping + tax (yes tax!), and they would send a new unit. I figured screw it and just bought the one with the bigger hard drive. The plus is that my sister wanted to get a PS3/Blu Ray player, so I told her if she would pay the repair charges she can have the 80GB unit. Not a bad deal for her. She will end up getting an 80GB PS3 for around $200.00, but it is still the principle of the matter. :mad:

The thing is, I do like the PSP (and the PS3), but Sony's manufacturing is just so awful. They always try to talk up how their systems look like sports cars, but they never want to talk about their actual construction. So ultimately one can end up with the best looking system in the world that doesn't work.

@ T, I hear you on the NES controllers. I still have the original ones too. One of them was used so much that the buttons were pressed in almost completey, but years ago I ordered a repair kit (to replace the button pads) and Gamenguru opened the controller and switched it out. After that it was voila! good as new.

---------- Post added at 10:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 PM ----------

I don't get how that would solve anything Dojah.

I have heard of other people using this method DB. The idea is that since the root of the RROD is overheating, towels (ice packs, cold sushi, snow, pre-chilled metallic lingerie, etc) can cool the system and the portion that RRODs.

Ironically enough, I had one SNES controller break also, and sadly it was the one that I had applied a cool skin, from Nintendo Power, to. I still have it though, so I can look at the skin. :(

[OldTimer]

I have experienced the red ring of death a couple times, and man it made me angry. Honestly I would never send it in to get fixed. It takes to long and the cost is higher than it needs to be. Usually local game stores have a tech that can fix it for 20-40 dollars. But what I have done and it works perfectly, and I have done this on 5 different 360's and none of them have had a problem since is : ~~Wrap a towel or 3 around your xbox covering the whole console, turn it on and let it run for about 10-15 minutes....after that time you turn off your 360 and wait for about 2-3 minutes while taking off towels. Turn 360 on and no more red ring.

the towel trick i know of. It didn't cost me anything to ship it this time but yeah the wait sucks. When it crapped out on me this time i thought it was the plasma tv( graphics went all funny). It turns out to be shoddy soldering on the graphics chip which can be fixed by heating up the xbox to resolder the chip. It works but not all the time. There are also other ways to fix the soldering job but you void the 3 year warranty by cracking the guts open which i did in the past to fix my other one. I bit the bullet and sent it to toronto (finnaly have a place in canada to fix it, instead of shipping to the states.

---------- Post added at 09:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 PM ----------

Then pray to Walkarmatzuka Ixitxachitl while dancing naked covered in severed chicken heads.

i just tried that and it didn't work plus i think the wife called mental health on me. I'm going to hide in the garage till this blows over and bury the chicken heads.

[CatalystiCam]

I had 4 Snes controllers...

they all worked fine, So I wired one to some chips with my friend and through to the gamecube slots so I could use it on the VC games.
Down to 3, one got lost and I recently found it, but half the time only the left side of the controller works...
Down to 2.

The other 2 still work fine and I bought an arcade controller for well... it was 5 bucks! and it's great with EDF and top gear :)

[Slime Slayer]

i had a snes controller that you had to give it slight counter clockwise pressure (like twisting it, like a twizzler) in order to make it work. also ive broken ontrollers for every system ive owned, mostly my brother did all the damage though, one time the controller wasnt breakin quickly enough for him so he simply cut the wire with scissors

[OldTimer]

I got the confirmation email today that my xbox is fixed and is en-route to me. Ya! I should get it back in a week. Not to bad considering it got shipped by ups to them on the 8th of june. not too bad. Ya!

[Winnebagel]

I got the confirmation email today that my xbox is fixed and is en-route to me. Ya! I should get it back in a week. Not to bad considering it got shipped by ups to them on the 8th of june. not too bad. Ya!

Nice! Hopefully, the next one will last a long time. :D

[jim5cents]

.....Originally Posted by Dudebro http://retrouprising.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://retrouprising.com/general/chat/xbox360-rrod-life-goes/t3233/p3/#post67610)
I don't get how that would solve anything Dojah.


it is my understanding that the rrod is caused by overheating which melts on tiny little piece on the circuit board...i know two dudes that do rrod repairs...of course, if you do it, then your warrenty is void, but it works. basically, they order a new board, replace it themselves.


the only snes problem i have ever had involves the rf adaptor...on my current and first snes...16 years after its release

[Dudebro]

I still don't understand how blocking the vents on the 360 will help the overheating issue. Seems like it'll make it worse.

[OldTimer]

my understanding of it is the connections melt off when it overheats. You superheat it with the towel trick to solder them back on. Glues the chip back in place. I don't know if i am making any sense?

[CatalystiCam]

I have no knowing in how old my SNES is, my dad got it 2nd hand from a co-worker, I was either too young to rember or yeah.

I don't understand why SNES's turn yellow over time?

[Dudebro]

my understanding of it is the connections melt off when it overheats. You superheat it with the towel trick to solder them back on. Glues the chip back in place. I don't know if i am making any sense?
Well damn that must get pretty hot to resolder it. I've used a soldering gun and that sucker gets very very hot. Wouldn't this also mess with everything else that has solder on it?

I still doubt overheating a sensitive piece of electronics will help in anyway.

[Dojah]

I still doubt overheating a sensitive piece of electronics will help in anyway.

Well I have done the towel trick on 2 of my 360's and couple of my friends 360's, one of them being modded and there has been zero problems. You might have doubts but it really works. Never had a problem since on any of them. Maybe I am just lucky. I am suprised you have never heard about it. Honestly I dont understand how it works but if does.

[Dudebro]

Well if it does work then I doubt it's resoldering anything(unless it's the only thing that uses solder which seems unlikely).

[Dojah]

Well if it does work then I doubt it's resoldering anything(unless it's the only thing that uses solder which seems unlikely).
Yeah I doubt it becomes that hot.

[OldTimer]

"A solder is a fusible metal alloy with a melting point or melting range of 90 to 450 °C (200 to 840 °F), used in a process called soldering ..." I think it is possible to get the low point of that range but there could be something else involved as well.

[Kong]

If you were melting the solder the wires would probably slide out of place without you holding them. Plus if you needed to resolder the wires they would already be out of place. I really do not think this is what is happening. I am also highly skeptical that this is good for your xbox. Try it on your friends first.

[OldTimer]

What i've read on the xbox forums and seen in my other xbox's is that the wires are still there. They are just not making a complete connection. The idea is to soften the solder enough to make a better connection with the terminals. It has been implied that this was a manufacturing problem with the xbox's and not a problem of faulty chips. But I totally agree with you kong. Vent's on electronics are there for a reason, blocking them can cause unknown complications.

[Kong]

My first bet would be that this is an urban legend or April Fool's Joke. My second would probably be that it is frying the sensor that checks if the red ring should be shown. Kind of like if you have a car that has the check engine light on. One (bad) way to turn the check engine light off is to break the check engine light bulb or fuse.

If the solder is still there and making a connection with the wire then it is doing its job. Heating up the solder would not accomplish desirable results. It would just become liquid and either allow the wire slide away or do nothing. Once it solidified again there would not be a better connection than before.

[Dojah]

My first bet would be that this is an urban legend or April Fool's Joke. My second would probably be that it is frying the sensor that checks if the red ring should be shown. Kind of like if you have a car that has the check engine light on. One (bad) way to turn the check engine light off is to break the check engine light bulb or fuse.

Well regardless of what people think it really works. If someone was going to send it in anyways why not try it. It does not void warranty at all, and there are thousands of people who have done this with videos to show results. That analogy of the car engine light is would be good, but that does not fix the problem....with this it does fix the problem. Whats the worse case scenerio?...you try it and waste 15 minutes before sending it in to get repaired.

[Dudebro]

@Kong- one thing to remember is the red ring is not just a light. If you see it you literally cannot play your xbox, it just won't work. It's like the blue screen of death on a PC. It's telling you there's a serious issue and it needs to be repaired.

@Dojah- I don't doubt that this is making it work for some people(since there is a lot of first hand accounts). I'm just doubting the procedure is helpful overall. Whatever it's doing right is fine but overheating the xbox is just asking for another RROD down the line, one that probably can't be towel repaired.

[Kong]

I know it isn't just a light. But it is a sensor. You could be blowing that sensor.

I understand your point about what could it hurt if you are just going to send it in for repair anyways.

Here is one possible scenario where it would hurt.
If you have say a 3 year warranty. You are 2.5 year into it and this happens and instead of waiting for round trip shipping you do the towel trick. It works. You manage to get another 8 months out of your xbox. Then it breaks again. This time the towel trick doesn't work and you warranty is expired.

I would be curious of what MS would say if you emailed them all the links to the youtube videos and other places saying to do this and asked what they thought was going on and if they recommended it.

[OldTimer]

Microsoft position is that they know that some xbox's are faulty and that's why they extended the warranty to 3 years for the E 73 error or RROD error. They refuse to admit what it is. (to admit you are selling something faulty is bad business) All of these diagnosis and towel tricks come from users through trial and error.

You are correct by saying the towel trick isn't a permenent fix because it is not. Nor does it work all the time. I used it before and got another 2 weeks out of my 2nd xbox. This time it did not work with my xbox.

[Squall]

I know it isn't just a light. But it is a sensor. You could be blowing that sensor.

I understand your point about what could it hurt if you are just going to send it in for repair anyways.

Here is one possible scenario where it would hurt.
If you have say a 3 year warranty. You are 2.5 year into it and this happens and instead of waiting for round trip shipping you do the towel trick. It works. You manage to get another 8 months out of your xbox. Then it breaks again. This time the towel trick doesn't work and you warranty is expired.

I would be curious of what MS would say if you emailed them all the links to the youtube videos and other places saying to do this and asked what they thought was going on and if they recommended it.

yeah, this bit. over here, you can join the xbox website and get complete cover free for up to 5 xbox's. i know this because i got the RROD, then signed up and sent it away, completely free of charge. i dont know if its the same in america though.

[OldTimer]

My xbox just came back! that was quick (13 days). I feel like a little kid on christmas opening up the box.

[Dojah]

@Kong~ Well that is true. That could be bad. About MS, thats a good question...I've heard something along the lines of anyone who has an xbox 360 with the rrod gets an automatic 3 year extended warranty.(Just noticed oldtimer's quote) I've heard this is because the rrod can happen again even if you send it in to get repaired, meaning MS can't make a permanent fix. Honestly I think it sucks all around for the gamers who have to deal with it.

---------- Post added at 03:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:16 PM ----------

My xbox just came back! that was quick (13 days). I feel like a little kid on christmas opening up the box.
Nice, That is a great feeling.

[Winnebagel]

Yes it is. I remember when my system returned. It felt like a good friend coming back home. :)