Xbox 360 RMA

[Gulzakar]

In Short.

I'm on xbox #5.

Xbox 1: Died 6 months, returned to Costco, replaced.
Xbox 2: Died 6 months, returned to Costco, cash back (none in stock)
Xbox 3: Died after over 2 years. E74 Error code, 1 red light. I didn't know about the extended warranty, so I cracked her open to attempt repair, no luck, so I bought...
Xbox 4: Died, 30 days.
Xbox 5: Still going after 6 months.

Why did I continue to buy? My GF gave me grief because of the games she wanted to play and didn't want to rebuy for the psdoesnotldie3.

Recently, a friend told me to call Microsoft to see if I could get a replacement for #3. I guess he got his fixed after it was opened. I called Microsuck and talked to a very nice gentlemen, went thru the bootup process and all that. I told him my issues (see above 4 deaths) and asked him about repair or replacement. I told him that I had opened the xbox and didn't think it would be covered (but I had to try), and he told me it was ok and to send it in for repair. Said he made a note in the system about it being opened (and gave me a free month of xbox gold). I then received my 2 day shipping label from them (free) and sent it off.

Now, on my doorstep, is my returned dead xbox. I call them ask about it. They tell me it was tampered and not under warranty. No $hit. I get transferred to a manager when I called...and then promptly disconnected.

Anyone else have this craptacular service?

 

[sygyzy]

My 360 lasted for years when it finally died. When it did, MS replaced it. I had the old school ones too with the chips that ran hot. I guess it's just bad luck for some.

 

[Gulzakar]

I checked the power line with my volt meter, everything checked ok. Even tested through the surge protector, still ok.

It's a mystery. The console sits in an open bay, breaths fine, the powersupply (too) also sits to open air.

 

[gorcorps]

I've had one die within a year and was replaced. My current one has been going pretty strong since. I've had it for ~4-5 years now. I use it quite a bit.

 

[Gulzakar]

Once they setup the xbox to install to the hard drive, I'm guessing the failure rate dropped a lot.

It's just an odd thing. If it happens again, I'm purchasing a ps3.

I'll go Office Space on the Xbox.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

Once they setup the xbox to install to the hard drive, I'm guessing the failure rate dropped a lot.

It's just an odd thing. If it happens again, I'm purchasing a ps3.

I'll go Office Space on the Xbox.

From what I understand, the majority of Xbox 360 failures were related to the specific lead-free solder Microsoft used in the manufacturing process. Over time and heat cycles, it would develop micro-fractures which would eventually cause the hardware to cease working. One way to get around this is to re-flow the solder by one of several methods, and another is to pay for someone with a specialized tool to redo the solder joints with lead solder. From what I know the latter option is particularly pricey, the former option can range from free to ~$60 depending on tools available and method employed.

You can retrofit the clamping system in the Xbox to use a combination of washers and nuts/bolts in place of the x-clamps, try out the towel-trick by wrapping your Xbox 360 in two or three towels and running it for about 25 minutes, bake the motherboard in an oven at no more than 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes (using non-conductive standoffs to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the pan and the motherboard), or what this guy did here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiXwA9T26W4&feature=channel

^^-- He's a pretty cool dude who's an ASE Certified Master Technician, and also has a lot of well-made car repair videos.

 

[RavenSEAL]

I went through 3 360s and gave up, my friend has gone through six and still can't get him to switch over to the dark side. My PS3 slim has been going strong for about a year now, my fat is still going after 3 years(sold it), my PS1 and my PS2 went 7 and 8 years accordingly. Crazy stuff, the 360 is a good console, microsoft just didn't work hard enough to make sure the quality was top notch...

 

[KB]

My XBOX RROD, sent it in for a fix, was fixed and shortly thereafter I had the DVD ROM go bad. Unfortunately MS decided to make each XBox only work with its unqiue DVD ROM (key embedded in hardware) and they used 3 diffferent DVD ROM manufacturers to boot. Now I need to decide whether to buy a new DVD, of the same manufacturer and resoulder the green board from one to the other. MS needs to stay out of the hardware business. I am thinking about going back to PC gaming, because I can easily fix my hardware in that case.

 

[slag]

I bought a used xbox 360 and after a year and a half, it went RROD. Sent it off to Microsoft and they returned it fixed. Still going strong a year and a half later. I'm now contemplating picking up a kinect and think I should get a whole new setup with the 4 gb xbox and kinect rather than just buy the kinect for this older xbox 360. Tempting fate and all, it would be a wiser choice to just get everything new.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Had a launch 360 go RROD on me 2 minutes into watching 300 on DVD about a year after getting it, but the machine had problems since the first time I took it out of the box, it literally took me half a dozen times XMas morning just to get it to boot up properly. MS replaced it with a refurb and that worked fine until I sold it about 2 years ago. I have a Falcon based unit that I bought at Target for $80 4-5 months ago when they were clearing out arcade units, that seems to be working fine for now. Bought my son a Kinect for XMas, so it would be sad if it crapped out.

 

[Gibson486]

I had one die. I bought it off craigslist. It died 2 weeks later, but i kind of banged on it, then it worked again. I sold it after that and bought a PS3.

 

[Saint Nick]

I am on XBOX 360 number three. This one I'm on has lasted a year so far...I am guessing it will crap out in a few months.

 

[MrWizzard]

Yeeeeep,

X360 #1 Died RROD 4 months
X360 #2 Died RROD 2 months
X360 #3 Died RROD 1 year
X360 #4 Died RROD 1 year 2 months
X360 #5 Died RROD 2 years
X360 #6 Disc drive stopped working. 3 years 2 months
X360 #7 New Slim been fine so far. yay

I didn't even use them that much :-/

PS3 #1 60GB Fatty fine since launch never had a problem.
PS3 #2 60GB Fatty fine since launch never had a problem.

X360 is fun, when it works. heh But I tell friends to just get a PS3.

 

[gotendbz1]

xbox live is what is keeping xbox alive. if they didn't have that they be dead in the water.

 

[slag]

Sold my xbox last night, the white one, with a wireless controller for $100.00. Went to wallyworld and bought a new 4g with connect bundle for $299.99 and got the 2 year warranty for another $20.00. I now have 3 years of warranty with this Xbox should anything happen to it.

 

[RedRooster]

When you have 30 games for a system and have paid for a year of online access 2 months ago, even though you hate the hardware its pretty hard to switch and re-invest in everything all over again. It's just as easy to drop $200 on a new machine and keep going.
It's going to be even worse when everything is digital distribution, you can't even sell your stuff to recoup costs!