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Author Topic: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death  (Read 508 times)

Offline Serenity

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XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« on: April 02, 2009, 08:20:29 PM »
Alright, I for one think most consoles are just junk. I prefer computers. But a buddy of mine is giving me a free xbox 360, but theres one hitch: It is suffering the Red Rings of Death. Does anyone know a way to fix this without sending it back to microsoft and paying money?
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Offline OOZ662

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2009, 08:24:56 PM »
The system usually fails due to the lead-free solder that Eco-Soft used in the construction. After many heating/cooling cycles it becomes brittle and will crumble off, leaving something disconnected and causing failure. There are ways that you can "superheat" the console to melt the solder back into place, but that fix lasts on average 15 minutes. I suppose you could open it up and resolder the entire system board if you felt like it.
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Offline Serenity

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2009, 08:26:52 PM »
Quote from: OOZ662 on April 02, 2009, 08:24:56 PM
The system usually fails due to the lead-free solder that Eco-Soft used in the construction. After many heating/cooling cycles it becomes brittle and will crumble off, leaving something disconnected and causing failure. There are ways that you can "superheat" the console to melt the solder back into place, but that fix lasts on average 15 minutes. I suppose you could open it up and resolder the entire system board if you felt like it.

I don't feel like it, but I have a henchman with free time and soldering tools. So, that is it? Just re-solder everything?
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Offline OOZ662

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2009, 08:28:00 PM »
99% of the time, yes. Unless the console shorted somewhere due to the nasty solder or something, I'd surely place my bet on a simple open connection.
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Offline Serenity

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2009, 08:57:40 PM »
Quote from: OOZ662 on April 02, 2009, 08:28:00 PM
99% of the time, yes. Unless the console shorted somewhere due to the nasty solder or something, I'd surely place my bet on a simple open connection.

So there's no quicker fix? I've heard of lots of junk like taping pennies to the heat sinks...
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Offline OOZ662

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2009, 09:00:09 PM »
As I've heard it, all of it is a load of dump meant for you to void your warranty. The one that temporarily works is by wrapping it in a towel to remelt the solder. Like I said, it works for a few minutes.
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Offline Roundeye

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2009, 09:07:53 PM »
If it's less than 3 yrs old, MS warranties repairs for the original purchaser. 

If it's older than that, you are hosed and can fix it like I did mine.  I soldered all connections with hot lead.   I have had no more trouble with it.

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Offline Serenity

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2009, 09:11:40 PM »
Quote from: Roundeye on April 02, 2009, 09:07:53 PM
If it's less than 3 yrs old, MS warranties repairs for the original purchaser. 

If it's older than that, you are hosed and can fix it like I did mine.  I soldered all connections with hot lead.   I have had no more trouble with it.

(Image removed from quote.)

lol. I'm not the original owner, and I figure, if it's free, it would be cool to get working. OOZ, I'll have my buddy re-solder everything for me, and see if that works.
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Offline cactuskooler

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2009, 10:00:50 PM »
Check out this mod...
http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/263/1/

A friend's Xbox had a ring of death and I fixed it with that mod. It cost a few bucks for supplies and took some time to do, but it has been working for months now. Just know it will void any warranty you have(which is always a plus ;)).
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Offline OOZ662

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2009, 10:06:48 PM »
She seems to be pretty retarded to be doing all that on a carpeted floor and using a MASSIVE glob of thermal compound.

EDIT: I guess all that makes sense. You're basically forcing the solder back into place or jamming the chips into their connections, but it still sounds like a rather flimsy fix.
« Last Edit: April 02, 2009, 10:11:31 PM by OOZ662 »
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Offline Serenity

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #10 on: April 02, 2009, 10:10:39 PM »
Quote from: cactuskooler on April 02, 2009, 10:00:50 PM
Check out this mod...
http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/263/1/

A friend's Xbox had a ring of death and I fixed it with that mod. It cost a few bucks for supplies and took some time to do, but it has been working for months now. Just know it will void any warranty you have(which is always a plus ;)).

lol. Hell, there's no warranty, and I don't plan on wasting my own time on it anyway, might as well! Thanks!
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Offline 1701E

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #11 on: April 02, 2009, 10:19:34 PM »
Quote from: OOZ662 on April 02, 2009, 10:06:48 PM
She seems to be pretty retarded to be doing all that on a carpeted floor and using a MASSIVE glob of thermal compound.

Shuffle shuffle shuffle, bzzt.  Oops...sorry.
She even lays the back of the Motherboard on the carpet, how dumb can one be?
Plus, the way she handles the thing is a sure way of making a nerd go mad.  Whoa just noticed she uses a magnetic Screwdriver the whole time! :rolleyes:
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Offline Serenity

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2009, 10:20:26 PM »
Quote from: 1701E on April 02, 2009, 10:19:34 PM
Shuffle shuffle shuffle, bzzt.  Oops...sorry.
She even lays the back of the Motherboard on the carpet, how dumb can one be?
Plus, the way she handles the thing is a sure way of making a nerd go mad.  Whoa just noticed she uses a magnetic Screwdriver the whole time! :rolleyes:

lol. Wow, I'm no tech guy and even I know that's retarded...
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Offline OOZ662

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #13 on: April 02, 2009, 10:22:12 PM »
Quote from: 1701E on April 02, 2009, 10:19:34 PM
Whoa just noticed she uses a magnetic Screwdriver the whole time! :rolleyes:

Since she's not working around a monitor or hard drive (it just pops out), that isn't much of a problem. But, overall, she doesn't seem too bright...like someone handed her instructions.
« Last Edit: April 02, 2009, 10:30:45 PM by OOZ662 »
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Offline 1701E

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Re: XBOX 360 and Red Rings of Death
« Reply #14 on: April 02, 2009, 10:29:27 PM »
Quote from: OOZ662 on April 02, 2009, 10:22:12 PM
Since she's not working around a monitor or hard drive (it just pops out), that isn't much of a problem. But, overall, she doesn't seem to bright...like someone handed her instructions.

True, not all parts parts are very susceptible to magnets, but either way I would never trust a magnet near a 300$+ piece of hardware. :)
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ID: Xcelsior
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