Well, your once home-media centre is now little more than a big white Microsoft brick. This can be a confusing and frightening time for any gamer, and with Halo 3 just around the corner things look pretty bleak. Here's what you need to know.
What are your symptoms?
3 Red Lights (aka The Peter Moore)
Maybe it's not really dead...?
If you want to try the few known fixes check out Microsoft's Advice
However, the 3RLOD is usually fatal. Your 360 needs to go back to Microsoft to be repaired. If it's beyond repair you'll be sent a refurbished console. MostAll refurbs are being sent out with the new cooler design - you can find out if yours does by checking here.
You can figure our what has caused your 3 red lights as follows:
The specific type of hardware failure can be determined by a “hidden” error code. Turn the xbox 360 on, and wait till the 3 red lights are flashing.
Press and hold the sync up button (the small white one), while holding that button press the eject button.
The LEDs will now blink the first number in the code (as described below).
Release the eject button and press it again.
The LEDs will now blink the second number of the code.
Release the eject button and press it again.
The LEDs will now blink the third number of the code.
Release the eject button and press it again.
The LEDs will now blink the forth number of the code.
Release the eject button and press it again.
The LEDs will go back to the 3 red flashing lights.
You should be able to determine the difference between the 3 flashing lights and the error code lights by the rate in which they flash.
Here is how you interpret the LEDs to get the code number:
All four lights flashing - 0
One light flashing - 1
Two Lights flashing - 2
Three lights flashing - 3
0001 power supply problem
0002 Network Interface problem
0003 Power problem could be the PSU could be the GPU/CPU, somehow the console isn’t getting clean power from the power supply.
0010 over heating
0011 over heating - If you are receiving this error after disassembling your console make sure to all 8 of the heatsync screws are tightened securely to the board/heatsink holes.
0012 over heating
0013 over heating
0020 (Not yet known, possibly overheating)
0021 DVD Drive Time out - Can be caused by problems with a firmware flash. This is also speculated to sometime be caused by a problem with the southbridge chipset on the motherboard.
0022 GPU Error / GPU Overheating
0023 (not yet known)
…
0101 (not yet known)
0102 unknown error
though it’s most likely GPU related literally means the console does not know what is wrong. possibly a short or cold solder joint somewhere. So far there is 1 major theory for what causes most of these errors is that the Ram, CPU, or GPU are not soldered properly to the mother board due either to poor manufacturing or excessive heat up and cool down cycles that stress, weaken and eventually break the soldered connection.
There are two theories to fixing this one deals with the “X” clamps that hold down the chips. The other involves re-Heating the chips. DO NOT attempt either of these if your console is still under warranty. If your console is still under warranty return it to the store where it was purchased or call MS to have it replaced. I have also heard of limited success by simply switching the AV cable from “HDTV” mode to “TV” mode.
0103 CPU Error/ CPU Overheating - see solution for error 0102
0110 Memory Error / Memory Overheating - see solution for error 0102
…
0200 (not yet known)
…
1000 (not yet known)
1001 (not yet known)
1002 (not yet known)
1003 Hard Drive Error… It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and playing without it
1010 Hard Drive Error, Can be caused buy a corrupt or missing eProm.
1011 (not yet known)
1012 (not yet known)
1013 (not yet known) possibly a dashboard update error
1020 (not yet known)
1021 (not yet known)
1022 AV cable error… There is a problem with the AV cable, try using a different AV cable. (could also be a problem with the encoder chip)
1023 DVD drive not connected, connect DVD drive to boot
1030 (not yet known)
1031 (not yet known)
1032 (not yet known)
1033 (not yet known)
The good news
Microsoft will cover you for any 3 RedLights failure and you won't have to pay anything to get your 360 repaired.
The bad news
Turnaround time is currently about 20-25 working days, meaning 4-5 weeks before you'll get your console back.
What next?
Ring Microsoft on 0800 587 1102. After determining what you'll need to send back to them they'll email you a shipping label and instructions - a courier will then pick your 360 up and it'll be the waiting game. It's highly unlikely that they'll ask you to send the hard-drive back, but make sure you ask on the phone what they require for your specific case. However, be warned that if you accidentally leave a game or DVD inside your 360, or send back your controller you probably won't get them back.
Someone you know has lost a 360...
The only way to say you understand - here
4 Red Lights
I've got more lights... is that good?
Well, actually yes. This means your console will live to fight another day. The most common cause of this is the AV cable not being seated correctly into the back of the console.
What next?
Have a read of Microsoft's suggestions
I'll update this as and when anything new occurs, or if anyone wants to write a guide for the other failure problems.
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Put 4 red lights in there too, telling people to check their AV cable is plugged in properly!
