Good News and Bad News
I hate to brag on the Internet about things I get, but I wanted to show you all something really cool I got this past weekend. Unfortunately, today I also got something that every Xbox 360 owner fears!
The good news is that this past weekend, I got me a brand new, 47 inch HDTV! I’ve always wanted a big screen TV, and my video games look great on it! I got a really good deal on it, too, and the online reviews for the brand I got didn’t go below four and a half stars! I’ll have a lot of fun with my new TV.
Unfortunately, yesterday I also got something that Xbox 360 owners fear most. While I was showing a friend my 360 on my new TV, it froze up on me. And when I reset it, I got this:
I immediately called Microsoft’s customer service (who were very helpful and friendly, I might add). We fiddled with the console a bit and luckily, got it working again. I always keep my 360 is a cool, open space and keep it dusted off, so I’ve never had any problems before now. But now I’m a little bit more worried and leery that my 360 may be on borrowed time.
But if I do end up having to send my 360 in to get fixed, I’m not too terribly worried. I know now that dealing with their customer service will be a snap, and while it’s being repaired I’ll still have plenty of other games on my Wii and DS to play. Let’s just hope it keeps on working, though! –Cary
July 16th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
If should ever come to a repair, I hope you have far better luck with Microsoft’s customer service than I did.
My experience with my Xbox is one reason why I have yet to buy a Xbox360.
Wicked nice TV. Let’s see a photo with some Mega Man on the screen! 🙂
Jeff
July 16th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Did they tell you to wrap it in a official MS towel available on Live for $19.99?
Anyway that sucks, but I guess you’re in the majority.
July 16th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Cary – Good luck! Mine did that about two weeks ago. I powered it down for about 20 mins and tried again. It worked fine. Turned it on the next day and again received the red lights. I logged into Xbox’s website and set up a repair request. They send you a box to pack your xbox 360 in for returns. I sent it out on a Thursday and they received it on Saturday. I checked my email Saturday night and they had sent me an email saying it had been repaired and ready for shipping. I had it back that following Wedsnday by 2p. Thankfully my wife was home to sign for it. It’s been working fine so far!
RJ
July 16th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
What brand of television is that? I’ve been browsing the market for a while and I’d value your opinion over most.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Seriously, do not expect that Xbox to be working this time next month. I had the same thing — some sporadic hardware issues, then a few weeks later RROD. If you go to their website, they actually have a special form just for RROD. Get yourself registered at Xbox Customer Service online now, so you just have to log in and fill out a two-minute form to order your coffin. It’s relatively painless, and the wait tends to be about 2 weeks from what I hear. Make sure you know where to find the DRM tool so you can *relicense* your paid content over to the new serial number once your replacement shows up — I don’t have a link handy, but I know Xbox 360 Fanboy talked about it.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
You’re sure taking this well, Cary. When mine fails I’m going to be furious, and I didn’t even pay out of my wallet for it. Although isn’t this technically your brother’s? 😉
July 16th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
You would think they would have done something about this by now. The need to compensate the people who continue to have that problem
July 16th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
The TV is a VIZIO brand.
When I talked with customer service, they gave me a special number that has my record on it so if I have they call again, they can pull me right up. I’ll make sure to ask what I need to do about my hard drive, though!
And the Xbox 360 isn’t my brother’s! I paid for it out of my own pocket. Though Jeff plays it just as much as I do! My other little brothers over at my dad’s house have an Xbox of their own, and it’s red ringed twice on them!
If my Xbox breaks down and I can get it fixed relatively quickly and still have all my games saved, then I can’t complain too much. Shae, they did extend the warranty a while back. –Cary
July 16th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Cary, don’t worry about the repair. It doesn’t take long. I’m on my third unit now but this one has lasted longer than the warranty.
As far as your hard drive, you don’t even send it in with the unit. You just take it right off the side. Then when it comes back you just pop it back on. If they repair your unit and send you back the same one, your licenses are all fine. If they replaced the unit (you’ll know because they’ll include a letter with the new serial numbers and stuff) then you plug in the hard drive and then you go to http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/licensemigration/ and follow the instructions.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:55 am
I’m currently waiting for my 360 to come home from repairs (the second time since I bought it at launch) – while there’s no doubt that it’s pretty darned annoying when it happens, Microsoft’s support process was seamless and extremely helpful each time.
Compensation for the inconvenience – at least in Australia – is a Month of Xbox Live Gold subscription. Doesn’t cost Microsoft a whole lot, but it’s a nice touch.
And by the way Cary, from the look of that photo of the RRoD, the central power light is still greenish/yellow – which according to their diagnostic process means that it isn’t a deadly fault (which is probably why support were able to walk you through sorting it out). When the center light is red too, then the poor ol’ console is pushin’ up the daisies. 🙂
July 18th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
UPDATE: It happened again, so I called customer service and am sending my console (sans hard drive and cables) to be repaired. It’s a pain, but if they can get it fixed and back to me in a timely manner, than I’ll be happy. –Cary
July 20th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
That is really too bad … it is really unfortunate that the X360 is perhaps the least reliable yet very popular consumer device I can think of in modern times (i.e.last half-decade). Hope it works out for you – and cements my resolve not to buy one!