Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Xbox Red Ring of Death Fix- Troubleshooting Guidebook

By Tom Andrews


The Xbox 360 console is a gaming system developed by Microsoft intended to compete against the Sony PlayStation. The Xbox is not perfect and has a lot of design flaws. Perhaps, the most common issue is so called "ring of death". In reality, the Xbox red ring of death fix is an easy task even if you do not have any technical expertise.

An Xbox 360 is basically a computer specifically designed for gaming. All its hardware is cramped in a small space and there is not much ventilation. In addition, the components can generate a lot of heat that can lead to overheating. If your unit constantly overheats, it can damage the motherboard and other components. The instructions on the Xbox red ring of death fix can improve your console and make it last for years to come.

The best thing about the Xbox 360 is that it tells you what the problem is. The 4 lights surrounding the power button is commonly referred to as rings and these greatly help diagnose the problem. If three of the rings light up, then your unit has the infamous ring of death. However, by following the steps in the Xbox red ring of death fix you will be able to repair your console in no time.

Double check the rings and make sure the actual red ring of death error. After that, thoroughly inspect the external parts that are prone to physical damage like the wires and cables. It is also recommended to connect the console directly without any extension cords or surge protector. On top of that, test the console using another wall outlet.

The power brick can cause the Xbox 360 to malfunction if it is not able to supply enough power. Avoid placing the power brick on top of carpeting or any cloth like surface as this can cause overheating. Make sure that it is well ventilated and on a surface that does not let heat buildup. In addition, make sure that there is nothing obstructing the ventilation holes of the power brick.

Also, check if there is any blockage in the ventilation openings or holes. If you have had your Xbox for a long time, dust can block the vents. Just blow off any dust ventilation holes. This will work for both the console and the power brick. If you know anyone who has an Xbox 360, test your console on a different power brick.

Before anything else, please note that the opening up the unit can void the warranty. If your warranty has yet to expire, make sure to bring the console back to the store or a service center. If you are not comfortable opening up the console, it is best to send the unit back to Microsoft as long as it is still under warranty. However, it might take a couple of weeks before you can get the unit back.

Before opening up the console, make sure to try removing the hard drive on the top part of the Xbox 360. Dust can build up on the contact points and it is very important to clean them once in a while. You can use a dry piece of cloth to wipe off the dust.

Once all the easy to reach components have been thoroughly checked everything and the ring of death error is still there, then that's the time to check the components inside the console. The Xbox red ring of death fix will involve cleaning components that produce lots of heat and replacing the thermal compound or paste applied to heat sinks, specifically the ones for the processor and GPU. The best thermal compounds are the ones specifically intended for performance desktop computers.




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