I bought my first one a couple months ago, I had it for about 3 weeks and I got the red rings, so I stopped playing it for a week, and it magically worked again. I have no idea what happened but I'm happy I didn't have to send it in and it still works fine.

There's actually a type of audio/video error that looks very much like the RROD -I had an error like that once, but then hooked it up again and it played fine. It was probably like that.

But trust me, when your chipset is fried, you'll know it.

99% of RROD are related to chipset cooling, you can replace the OEM cooler for a much better one and that will fix 99& of them. There directions online how to also reset the unit ofter a RROD.

And here the way I did mine a few months ago..

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fix.....ithout-towels/

I'll keep that in mind. I (foolishly) bought the extended warranty when I first bought it. A year ago there was a price drop and they were able to just exchange it in the store, but due to the price drop, I renewed my warranty for free. This time around they wanted to do the "rapid exchange" program, which is total BS. It may take a shorter period of time, but not for the money that that warranty costs -total waste...

But thank you very much. Once my warranty is over I'll be sure and give this solution a try.

Uh.....none. I don't own a 360. :)

3 times here,
1. my first 360, during Mass Effect 1 play.
2. Right after I got it back it red ringed again, they sent me back somebody else s system too....
3. I watched the one at wal-mart red ring and smiled :D.

once. a good trick is to leave the system unpluged when not using it.
I'm actually ok with the RROD. sence its a free replacement. Its not like most
systems where you have to pay for a new one.

Not true, actually. Microsoft, due to the overwhelming number of systems being returned, decided to 'fix' them themselves. There's no guarantee you'll get your own system back, but more than likely a refurbished one, and I've had friends that have had those crap out on them too.

*shrugs* i'm ok with that. I had a good run of nearly 2 years before the RROD. And i got it shipped and got the refurbished one for free. So i'm not too bad with it. IT would be nice if they sent a new one. But that would be too obvious a way to fix the issue... and they could remodle the system to no longer suffer from the issues... they could have taken the time to finish the systems instead of release the rushed one..

Lots of ways to fix the problem... and they could have done any of them... and i know. i have a frend who had to send back the system the same day he got his replacement.. Instant RROD

I guess the frustrating thing for me is that I have both consoles for only a year -not only that, but they were both the more expensive elite units that supposedly used the better heatsinks and better overall airflow.

I'm just mad, I love the 360, and especially having paid the extra money for the BB warranty -which is now a joke since now I have to go through with their 'rapid exchange' program instead of swapping it out with a unit on the shelf.

I understand. It's kind of a crapshoot. I kinda wish they would have replaced them with better systems that no longer have the heat issues. i have friends that rest their systems on small box fans.

Bought my first 360 two years ago. Still haven't had to replace it yet, so I got REALLY lucky.

i must be one of the lucky ones, mine is still working fine

Just got it once. Instead of fixing it, my dad bought another one. Since then, I always install my games into the HD, to reduce stress on the console. ^^;;

I thought I was playing it safe. I always install to the hard drive too, and even bought the more expensive model that's supposed to have much less of this sort of problem. I don't even play for hours on end even, I'm just confused as to why it died. I've only had it for about a year!

You should file a complaint or something.

Also, maybe you should try getting a cooling unit. Or maybe putting the console next to an electric fan or an air conditioner. ^^;;

I'll probably do that. In fact, the next time I see a super deal on a laptop fan, I'll probably pick it up to set underneath it.

As far as complaining, I think Microsoft's done all they can for damage control. I don't think that their method of replacement is acceptable though, sometimes taking months for replacing units.

But this part has me the most upset though -I had originally bought a service plan through best buy. The first time around, I was able to just swap it out with one off the shelf (keeping my hard drive, of course) This time around, though the store was unwilling to do so. They just ordered a new one through their 'rapid exchange' program, which takes 3-4 days (we'll see about that) for the $60 I paid for the plan, if I have to walk out of that store without a machine it's anything BUT 'rapid' in my book.

The other thing that really pissed me off is the employee that didn't explain this to me, rolled his eyes, and walked away until another employee explained it, while hiding in the back. That in itself I did talk to the store manager about.

Dang. I'm sorry to hear that.

My buddy is on his 8th Xbox... lol

I'd believe it too! I've only had it for two years, and I'm already moving on to number three!

I've had two Red Rings of Deeeeeeath, and one time it just broke coz it was bored and because that week, all the big releases were coming out so it thought it'd be an extra assholey asshole. Still, I haven't gone out and bought another one or anything coz they're nice enough to fix it :3 And the third time they gave me Ninja Gaiden for free! :D Which I then traded in for $50.

It's been going strong for a good year and a half now. I'm a bit suspicious of it because I think it's pretending to work like a proper console should and waiting til I get excited over new releases again.

It may have been foolish to buy Best Buy's warranty but a year ago when my unit konked out, I felt pretty good about it since I walked out of the store the same day with a new unit. What I didn't know is that once you use this warranty, just ONCE it's not good any longer. Since there had been a $50 price drop between #1 & #2, I was able to get it reinstated for free. Now I have to go through their 'rapid exchange' program, which is complete BS.

So I'm wondering why this STILL is an issue five years after the release of the 360.

Also, you are correct to suspect your 360 is working against you, be ever aware of it's loyalties, I suspect they lie elsewhere as well.

Well, it IS Microsoft. A naked robot once came back from the future and told me that Microsoft is going to change its name to SkyNet one day.

Why is it still an issue? Why do none of my cordless controllers work cordlessly? Both very good questions. The answer is something like "Because Microsoft knows the cost difference between mass producing crap, and mass producing quality." My guess for why it's happening is because Microsoft DOESN'T KNOW how to fix it without recalling every console ever and your grandma's teeth.

It's a matter of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." But in this case, it's "if it is broke, make one that is identical to it that breaks again because we're lazy and terrible designers."

I'd like to believe that once a single xbox 360 has been repaired a few times, it gets the idea that breaking isn't a nice thing to do and stops taking the piss. I'd also like to believe that you can create portals to other dimensions with crayons and watercolours.

Got mine nearly two years ago. It's still working nicely. Watch, it'll die after the replacement plan I got at bestbuy runs out (got the plan because a friend who works there explained how the plan worked)

I had one of the original 306's, it survived Oblivion, Dead Rising, and the spontaneous combustion :P it never red ringed but for some reason one day it refused to recognize controllers so i had to get a new one :<

I've had the same 360 for years... it's an elite, never had any problems or red rings with it.

I'm glad to hear not everyone has this problem -a vast majority, it seems -but not all. The most frustrating part is that I spring for the elite, which was supposed to be much less prone to these issues -and even though I (over)spent on the Best Buy extended warranty and I still have to wait to have it replaced -not only that but their two year extended warranty in null and void if you happen to use it even once within that time period.