subject: Can You Repair Your Xbox 360 System? [print this page] You have just reached the final stage of the hardest game you have ever bought. The next thing, your picture freezes, then three lights starts to flash. Your heart sinks; you know exactly what has happened. The dreaded Red Ring of death, or RRoD for short.
An error code which signifies a malfunction of one or more of the hardware components; and the bane of many Xbox users existence and cannot be repaired by slamming your fist into it (even though it would satisfy many a gamer). It can also mean your unit is overheating or there is a problem with your power supply.
Before you consider sending in or repairing your Xbox 360, check your power cable, if that is alright, plug it in another outlet. Or try using external fans to try and cool the machine down. If that does not work, you can try and repair it yourself.
First of all, if your machine is still under warranty, take it back to the shops and get a replacement. If it is out of warranty, you have the option of either sending it in to Microsoft for repairs or repairing it at home.
If you decide to send it in to Microsoft, you will wait up to three to six weeks for them to repair it and you can pay up to $150.00 and the Xbox 360 repair is not even guaranteed. In fact, some people have complained that their Xbox suffered the same problem a few weeks later after a professional did a repair on Xbox 360. Which means it cost them even more money than they should have paid in the first place.
Fixing it at home will not only cost you less, you will also be gaming again in a few hours. Some people who have done it have said that an Xbox 360 repair only takes an hour and is cost effective. Also if the problem comes back, you are able to fix it.
To repair Xbox 360 is easy to do. You can get all the supplies you need from your nearest Radio Shack. One of the first things you can try is to unattach then reattach the harddrive. Some have even come right with blowing out dust with an air gun. If you had gone to Microsoft, they would have charged you $150.00 (minus postage and packaging). Just for a good cleaning.
Since Microsoft does not want you to repair the machine, there is no official repair guide. There are a few repair guides available that can help you repair your system. Just make sure that the guide offers clear step by step directions on how to repair your Xbox 360.
Videos are usually easier to follow than pictures so be sure that videos are included in the guide. You may also be able toget help from forums although you may come across much incorrect info. Just do your research and you should be able to get your console up and running again.
