subject: What Do the Flashing 3 Red Lights on Xbox 360 Mean? [print this page] What Do the Flashing 3 Red Lights on Xbox 360 Mean?
You might be one of the many people who are seeing 3 red lights on Xbox 360 consoles when the device is on. If you're new at using this game console and has no idea what these flashing red lights are, here are some explanations on what they are and what causes them.
What the flashing red lights mean
When you power on your Xbox 360, the power button will show four green lights around it. This means that the device is in good working condition and you can use it without any problem. However, if what you are seeing are three flashing red lights, then your console is encountering the dreaded red ring of death.
The red ring of death or RRoD appears when your console is having an internal or hardware problem or if not enough power is being supplied to the device. Sometimes, when the power cable is not fully plugged in, the RRoD happens. Power surges can also cause these red lights to appear.
Warning signs
If the cause of the red lights is more than shortage of power supply or sudden power surges and actually has something to do with a hardware problem, then the device would need to be serviced. In some cases, before the actual appearance of the red lights happen, several signs can be seen by the console user to signal an internal trouble.
One of the most common signs of hardware trouble is freezing up. If the game suddenly freezes up in the middle of a game or if graphic problems suddenly occur during a game, then it could be a signal that something is wrong with the device's hardware. Audio errors can also happen if the Xbox console is having an internal problem.
Troubleshooting the problem
One of the first things that an Xbox user should do when the three flashing red lights appear is to check the cables and cords that connect the device with the wall outlet and the power surge protector (if any is being used). Power plugs should be properly inserted in outlets and the cables should be in good condition.
For those who are already experts at using the Xbox 360, cleaning the GPU and CPU chips inside the device is something that they can easily do. This could also help solve the RRoD problem if the cause is dirt on the chips. Letting the device cool off for 30 minutes before using it again is also worth a try.
There are other ways to deal with the 3 red lights on Xbox 360 including using a step-by-step guide that shows you how to repair the fault yourself.
