Freakin never saw it comin [RROD] [Archive]

mnbren05

10-07-2009, 12:36 AM

Hm just lost a close friend to a terminal illness today, (saw it coming but never got to say goodbye) this had plagued all those with close relations too. I am of course talking about my gosh darn Xbox360, mother F'er chose to RROD right as I have 3 friend over for some Madden 10, wtf mate. :frustrated:

Anyway, I am over my warranty by about 2 months customer service said I'd be looking at 100 or more based upon if anything else was wrong. I told her that was unacceptable and I wanted them to cover it due to their high failure rate and overall poor product reliability. She said "Sir I am sorry you feel this way but we must blah blah blah". Anyway anyone else no of any good deals going on xbox 360 wise I see Game Natzi er Stop has refurbish for 130-140ish (not really my cup of tea nor is ebay). Also the $50 rebate on the elite is tempting but I'd prefer a sub 200 option maybe Arcade? Suggestions? Comments? Anyone interested in an unattractive large white paper weight?

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-07-2009, 01:22 AM

If you want to keep going with you 360 gaming, I'd say buy a new Arcade unit.

You'll get another wireless controller (a $50 value which you can easily sell if you don't need it) a unit with an HDMI port, a newer (allegedly less failure prone) motherboard design, and you'll reboot your entire warranty.

You can use the online license transfer tool (once a year only!) so you can play all the DRM heavy games on your HDD, and you'll be good to go.

You can even sell your RROD unit on eBay ... there are people out there that'll buy em broken!

Personally, I wouldn't pay $100 for repairs (or likely a refurb unit).
That's just me, but it doesn't sound like you're game for that either.

meancode

10-07-2009, 01:47 AM

You could also sell your dead unit to GameStop for a little cash. This happened to me, my 4th unit, and I just bought an Arcade as Frankie said.

Shadow Kisuragi

10-07-2009, 09:19 AM

If it's just the RROD, that's a fairly simple fix that you can do yourself. It took me all of 10 minutes with $3 worth of parts. Send me a PM if you're interested in repairing it, but you would need to decide on whether to do this before selling it back to GameStop - they won't accept Xbox 360s with voided warranty stickers, and it's typically pretty easy to see if an Xbox 360 has been repaired.

On the flip side, I would suggest going the Arcade route and saving your HDD from your previous Xbox 360, if you're not interested in the larger HDD size. This will give you a new warranty to work with instead of getting a used one in unknown condition. Use the DRM Transfer Tool to transfer all of your licenses to the new Xbox 360 and you'll be good to go.

carlcarlson

10-07-2009, 09:26 AM

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=1586516

$214 for an elite through overstock.com apparently. I don't know how the bing cashback works, but it might be worth a look since that would be the cost of an arcade basically.

meancode

10-07-2009, 04:11 PM

BHvrd

10-07-2009, 04:15 PM

Gamestop has used ps3's at $228 now, nuff said.

mnbren05

10-08-2009, 01:05 AM

Gamestop has used ps3's at $228 now, nuff said.

Already have a ps3 but my xbox 360 pile o' games is calling to me. New Halo and Madden 10 are tough to put on hold.

meancode

10-08-2009, 04:52 AM

Can you afford an Arcade right now? That is what I would go with.

vivaeljason

10-08-2009, 06:54 AM

You could also sell your dead unit to GameStop for a little cash. This happened to me, my 4th unit, and I just bought an Arcade as Frankie said.

Whoa, whoa, whoa...you're on your FOURTH Xbox 360? Maybe it's just me, but if I got the RROD once, I'd be done with the X360 (and probably any future MS systems) forever.

Jimid2

10-08-2009, 08:47 AM

Whoa, whoa, whoa...you're on your FOURTH Xbox 360? Maybe it's just me, but if I got the RROD once, I'd be done with the X360 (and probably any future MS systems) forever.

Geeze mate... if half the 360 owners out there felt like you do, Microsoft would be out of the gaming business for good by now... LOL

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-08-2009, 08:51 AM

Whoa, whoa, whoa...you're on your FOURTH Xbox 360? Maybe it's just me, but if I got the RROD once, I'd be done with the X360 (and probably any future MS systems) forever.

I'm on my 6th 360.

While the ultimate value of replacing a 360 is a matter of personal preference

For me, there was just too much good stuff out and coming out to just let it go, and only once out of those 5 replacements did I ever have to spend cash to get myself a new rig.

And on the subject of this thread ... it really should be a healthy expectation that all 360 users have. - At some point, regardless of my usage habits, my 360MAY fail (in one form or another) forcing me to replace it. - It's just the way things are.

meancode

10-08-2009, 09:45 AM

Whoa, whoa, whoa...you're on your FOURTH Xbox 360? Maybe it's just me, but if I got the RROD once, I'd be done with the X360 (and probably any future MS systems) forever.

No, you did not understand me ;) I am on my FIFTH 360. And 2 were RRoD, 2 were dead DVD drives. Besides the fact that I review games constantly, I would NOT be done with the 360, on the basis that it has the games I want to play. So regardless of the crappy hardware, it is still worth it, to me. I know others feel the same way.

I had a launch unit that RRoD, was refurbished, got back a new unit, DVD drive failed on it. It got refurbished again so when I got it back I sold it right away and used the money to buy another Pro, #3. Pro RRoD, sent in to get refurbished and then the DVD drive died and once I got it back from Microsoft I immediately sold it again, bought the Elite, #4. You know, because it was supposed to be a better chip design. The DVD drive on it failed out of warranty, and instead of paying the $100 out of warranty price I just sold it for scrap to a buddy and bought an Arcade. Now have a Jasper arcade, my fifth Xbox 360.

I also recently purchased a Japanese Jasper, so I hope to god THAT does not have problems, because there is no way to get warranty work done on it.

But if it were not for the games on the system, and Blogcritics, oh, and all the digital stuff I have purchased on the system such as Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and XBLA, I would have likely just said forget it and stick to my PS3.

kupomogli

10-08-2009, 10:18 AM

Depending on how many games you have that you like, I'd say sell your 360 and get a PS3.

skaar

10-08-2009, 10:27 AM

I like how it took only 7 posts for the PS3 people to make an appearance. Geez.

Shadow Kisuragi

10-08-2009, 10:40 AM

...he already has a PS3, so the point is moot. Good luck with the repair/replacement.

mnbren05

10-10-2009, 01:46 AM

Well looks like I'm going to go repair route and see if I can get this one back up and running. I've been tinkering with electronics lately with success, repaired my old Blackberry 8100, Samsung SYNC phones and my sisters ancient boom box. My only real failure in the last few years has been with my Sega CD which to this day I cannot figure out what was wrong with it.

So I'm waiting on the bit driver to come (snagged one for 1.99 plus another 2 for the heat sink paste). Looks fairly straight forward and I have already opened up the 360 to get a feel for it (reassembled until the stuff gets here Monday/Tuesday). At this point if the fix doesn't work I'm only out $6.50 total with shipping and I'll have to buy an arcade xbox. Thanks Shadow Kisuragi for the advice.

TazVag

10-10-2009, 02:46 AM

Maybe I'm the only one, but the way you started off this post actually made me feel sad for a second.

mobiusclimber

10-10-2009, 10:42 AM

Dude, you really should call back Microsoft and raise hell. If the person you speak to will not repair your console for free, tell that person you want to speak to their supervisor. Do NOT under any circumstances take no for an answer. Microsoft is fully away of the RROD problem and they NEED to be held accountable for every single 360 system that has this happen. Period. And yes it might take awhile on the phone but once you get to someone who knows their ass from their head (and not just bored "tech support" people who are really just a glorified message service) then you'll get your console repaired for free. Remember: you have games for the 360 and you plan on purchasing many more once they have fixed THEIR error and repaired your console whose failure was THEIR fault, and that Sony LOST a class action lawsuite regarding the high failure rate of the PS2, and that such a class action lawsuit is brewing regarding the 360's RROD problem.

I want to say, I love it when the PS3 people start pipping up about how you should "switch" (cuz you know, you can't have BOTH). After all, no PS3s have EVER failed or had ANY manufacturer defects or problems. EVER. And Sony hasn't shown in the past how completely unwilling they are to FIX THEIR MISTAKES until they're sued to do so. ... Do I even need to put a rolling eyes smiley here?

stonecutter

10-11-2009, 10:44 AM

I just got back my third RROD system. When I called in I asked for a new system, due to my frustration as a loyal customer who has bought an extra console and had 3 RROD. Well it wasn't new, a refurb. I was pissed cause my previous one returned was new, and this was an Elite so I wasnt amused to get a refurb. So I called them back, immediately escalated, didn't want front line help, got another person, a manager. I really gave him the business.

End of story, couldn't send back for a new, but they will offer a peace offering of any peripheral such as a wireles controller, Live camera, remote control etc, or a game from a selected few, not Halo though. They will not offfer MS points, I did try for that. Anyway, 2 days later I got my game delivered by Purolater. So for my displeasure and time of a call I got a new game. As you may guess, all future RROD for me will be handled the same way.

mnbren05

10-11-2009, 12:51 PM

Funny thing, my brother called and told me to keep asking for someone with authority (he works for an AT&T wireless call center). When I called I had a hard enough time understanding the woman (I think it was a woman). If you read my first post I did give them the irritated speech about my library of 360 games, etc. My experience with MS customer service past and present is that they do not want to handle your call (my brother says this is a typical tactic to get you off the phone so their is less chance of giving into any type of refund/deal). It's right now less of a headache to deal with the repair myself than wait around for those jokers.

Also to the ps3 people, I love my ps3 but I will say I only own 6 games for it (opposed to 32 for the 360) and my system is a glorified DVD/Blu-Ray player for my purposes. Don't get me wrong great system, with some rock n roll'n games but as far as replacing anything it has only replaced my dvd player.

edit: just noticed I got the banana! Shwing!

stonecutter

10-11-2009, 03:25 PM

The manager tried to keep giving me the " We are sorry you feel that way sir, or Sir I understand your frustration". Well I know they are trained to say that, they are taught to try to use empathy, a common practice of any call center. So I pushed hard and said no you don't understand my frustration, nor are you sorry, I said if you treated your customer properly in the first place, you would not have to feed me that line. I then asked, do you just tell your customers things so you can get them off the phone. Bottom line, I didn't get the service the original call center person told me I would, how do you justify treating customers this way. Don't accept the empathy tactic and ask them tough questions. Point out flaws to them. Thats the sort of thing I did, and I was persistant about my points and the way a customer should be treated.

My other rant, the offshoring of the jobs. We know India has taken a lot of jobs, well now you will notice a new accent, the jobs are now being given to Argentina, it seems to be the new India. English is better, and business hours are closer in time zone alignment. Then I get the customer service survey, and I see a spelling mistake on it. Do they send their proof reading and editing to the countries where English isn't the first language, what a joke.

Ed Oscuro

10-11-2009, 03:28 PM

I thought this was gonna be about Painkiller Resurrection - just saw it announced on Steam. I just had bought the Triple Dose pack so the preorder bonus is worthless to me. Left 4 Dead 2 is coming out quick-like, too, faster than I had realized.

Hep038

10-11-2009, 09:45 PM

There should be more threads like this so people will know what this RROD is all about...

mobiusclimber

10-11-2009, 10:05 PM

Funny thing, my brother called and told me to keep asking for someone with authority (he works for an AT&T wireless call center). When I called I had a hard enough time understanding the woman (I think it was a woman). If you read my first post I did give them the irritated speech about my library of 360 games, etc. My experience with MS customer service past and present is that they do not want to handle your call (my brother says this is a typical tactic to get you off the phone so their is less chance of giving into any type of refund/deal). It's right now less of a headache to deal with the repair myself than wait around for those jokers.

The problem is that fixing an RROD doesn't work. It will work for long enough for the person to leave, and then it'll be broken again AND you can't send it to M$ for repairs. That's the problem. That's why I'm saying you should make sure that the person you speak to when you call them is NOT the person you end the call with. Yes, she or he is likely going to either be in another country, in prison, or both. They can and will do NOTHING for you. Don't bother wasting more breath on them than they deserve.

[edit: I went back over the topic and looks like it's too late anyway. Hope you don't mind repairing this over and over, because while this repair works for a little while, it doesn't last.]

monkeychemist

10-11-2009, 10:32 PM

HappehLemons

10-12-2009, 05:41 AM

I fixed my RRODed 360, (x-clamps fix) Put on new thermal paste and everything and it did work... but only for about 3 months. I got the RROD again and now it's unfixable.

carlcarlson

10-12-2009, 09:57 AM

It's ok to have a RROD once and get it repaired but more than that and you're stupid for keeping it going. Do you think Microsoft is going to make better consoles if you guys keep buying them? Seriously, I wish I had the disposable income you guys had...

It's free. As in, you don't need any income at all to get it replaced, disposable or otherwise. You could give a hobo a 360 and he could send that sucker in every week until the other hobos steal it (and then THEY could send it in).

And you call us stupid...

Tenjikuronin

10-12-2009, 10:09 AM

My other rant, the offshoring of the jobs. We know India has taken a lot of jobs, well now you will notice a new accent, the jobs are now being given to Argentina, it seems to be the new India. English is better, and business hours are closer in time zone alignment. Then I get the customer service survey, and I see a spelling mistake on it. Do they send their proof reading and editing to the countries where English isn't the first language, what a joke.

How exactly has India "taken" a lot of jobs? American companies that outsource deal directly with independent BPO Firms (such as IBM's Daksh) and have nothing to do with governmental agencies. India (and Indians for that matter) have nothing to do with an American company's choice to outsource.

Sniderman

10-12-2009, 10:15 AM

It's free. As in, you don't need any income at all to get it replaced, disposable or otherwise. You could give a hobo a 360 and he could send that sucker in every week until the other hobos steal it (and then THEY could send it in).

And you call us stupid...

Well, not to stir the shit-pot, but I don't care if it burns out every night and they send me a new one every morning. A $200 videogame system isn't a disposable lighter for fuck's sake. If they can't be bothered to correct the bugs before release date, I can't be bothered to buy the system in the first place.

sonoranreptile

10-12-2009, 11:54 AM

It's free. As in, you don't need any income at all to get it replaced, disposable or otherwise. You could give a hobo a 360 and he could send that sucker in every week until the other hobos steal it (and then THEY could send it in).

And you call us stupid...

Take the chains off, Micro$oft slave. As long as you keep buying their $hit, then they will keep making $hit. And if you read the first post, he is past the warranty and has to pay to get it fixed. I have an original xbox that has been played to death for the past 7 years.....still works like a charm even with a 400gb hard drive stuffed with games running screaming hot. The 360 blows (up).

megasdkirby

10-12-2009, 12:25 PM

It's free. As in, you don't need any income at all to get it replaced, disposable or otherwise. You could give a hobo a 360 and he could send that sucker in every week until the other hobos steal it (and then THEY could send it in).

And you call us stupid...

I admire your optimism, but don't you think a console should work flawlessly, without the need to constantly send it in for repair? It's awesome that Microsoft repairs the problem, but truth be told: if I had a console screw up on me constantly, I would NEVER buy from that company again, no matter how awesome the product was. Because if it was awesome, then why does it continue to "die"? I know that every electronic equipment has a life expectancy, but it should not "die" so fast!

Just because Microsoft repairs it for free doesn't mean that it's ok for it to screw up. I refuse to shell out $200-$300 on a console that may screw up in a short time, no matter if it had 10 years warranty. I admire those who put up with this every time their consoles "die" on them.

I really want a Xbox 360 (already have like 50 games without having the console), but until Microsoft finally "fixes" this issue, I will wait patiently to buy one.

But darn it, I really want to play Left for Dead and Dead Rising... :(

Well, not to stir the shit-pot, but I don't care if it burns out every night and they send me a new one every morning. A $200 videogame system isn't a disposable lighter for fuck's sake. If they can't be bothered to correct the bugs before release date, I can't be bothered to buy the system in the first place.

My feelings exactly.

TonyTheTiger

10-12-2009, 01:35 PM

Just because Microsoft repairs it for free doesn't mean that it's ok for it to screw up.

I don't think anybody is saying that it is. The general consensus is that Microsoft dropped the ball big time and now they're paying the price for it by eating, what is it, $1 billion? But there's no use crying over spilled milk. Microsoft can't jump into the WABAC machine and fix the problems before they started. The company is, however, offering free repairs in most situations which is about as much of a consolation as it can be realistically expected to provide. What's done is done but at least it's being addressed in a competent manner. What more can Microsoft do to get the villagers to drop the torches and pitchforks?

With any luck, this Valhalla thing will come to pass and we'll get a brand new redesign that works like a charm rather than the intermediate fixes we've seen that, while improving the situation, don't seem to be able to eliminate it. But even if that doesn't happen, I think we can bet the next round of consoles will see Microsoft's entry built like a tank. They don't want a repeat of this and know that the public will be far less forgiving if it happens a second time around. Sony learned a hard lesson after the PS2 and the result was a rather well built PS3.

carlcarlson

10-12-2009, 01:39 PM

Well, not to stir the shit-pot, but I don't care if it burns out every night and they send me a new one every morning. A $200 videogame system isn't a disposable lighter for fuck's sake. If they can't be bothered to correct the bugs before release date, I can't be bothered to buy the system in the first place.

...more stuff

Yeah, I'm not saying it's right that the 360 is prone to failure. It definitely does suck when your system dies. It's frustrating, a pain in the ass, and a bit insulting.

What I am saying is that it's dumb to act like repeat owners are playing right into Microsoft's scheme. Do you think they benefit by replacing all these systems? Do you think they enjoy being known for their shoddy product?

Heck, every time you send a system back you're costing them money. That should make the bashers happy, not resentful.

And no, I'm not calling you two bashers. You're both right and raise good points. I just personally stick with the 360 because I enjoy the unique experience it brings.

Take the chains off, Micro$oft slave. As long as you keep buying their $hit, then they will keep making $hit. And if you read the first post, he is past the warranty and has to pay to get it fixed. I have an original xbox that has been played to death for the past 7 years.....still works like a charm even with a 400gb hard drive stuffed with games running screaming hot. The 360 blows (up).

Ah right, I forgot you can't defend a company without being a fanboy/slave. My bad.

sonoranreptile

10-12-2009, 03:13 PM

megasdkirby

10-12-2009, 03:26 PM

What I am saying is that it's dumb to act like repeat owners are playing right into Microsoft's scheme. Do you think they benefit by replacing all these systems? Do you think they enjoy being known for their shoddy product?

...

I just personally stick with the 360 because I enjoy the unique experience it brings.

You are right. I know the gameplay rocks and is excellent. Heck, every time I see the console in the display bin, I have an urge to buy it. But I immediately remember the RROD issue and it scared me.

But you are right: the gaming experience is what sells a console. But I am pretty sure that, after some time, customers will simply abandon it because of constant problems. There is only so much a person can take.

The moment this RROD issue is non apparent, is the moment I buy the console and play 100 hours straight. LOL

TonyTheTiger

10-12-2009, 03:34 PM

My hope is for one of two things to happen.

1) A slimline 360 with a completely revised board.
2) A 100% backwards compatible next gen console rendering the 360 effectively obsolete.

I'd rather see option 1 happen due to the fact that it'll likely happen sooner than option 2. I've had to send my 360 in twice (free of charge) but I'd be perfectly happy selling the thing and putting up an extra $100 or something for a slimline for the peace of mind.

carlcarlson

10-12-2009, 03:38 PM

Never said you were a fanboy, but calling people stupid for NOT wanting to own a system that need to be replaced as often as the 360 has to be is not the brightest thing I have heard lately. And yes, if you keep buying this junk and all that goes along with it because you just have to play the games no matter if it is only 5 days a week because the other 2 days you new system is being shipped to you, then you are a slave. Let me know how the hobo thing works out too.

I didn't say he was stupid for not owning a 360. I was implying that his logic (having to re-buy a system every time it fails) was stupid. I suppose "flawed" would have been a better word, but I was using his terminology.

I don't blame people for dropping the system after it fails. Some people just don't want the hassle. But if you think you need to spend another $200 every time you get a RROD then you're part of the problem, not those of us that send them in for repair.

Now implying that the 360 dies every five days? That's stupid.

Arcade Antics

10-12-2009, 03:42 PM

megasdkirby

10-12-2009, 03:45 PM

Now implying that the 360 dies every five days? That's stupid.

How about having the RROD right out of the box? Happened to me when a customer returned his after suffering from RROD after around eight months. He asked if he can turn it on in the store, and since we had a Bravia 26" close to the register, and it was boring as heck, I did him the favor.

Unpacked the console, hooked everything up, turned it on...RROD! On the new console!

This freaked the shit out of me, but thankfully, the second console tested played great, so the customer had a working console afterwards.

Just remembering this terrifies me. :(

TonyTheTiger

10-12-2009, 04:02 PM

The XBox 360 is the only game system to date that is guaranteed to fail long before it becomes obsolete.

Why anyone would buy one and then be surprised by its failure, surprised by the lack of consumer support, and then repeat all of that by shelling out for an nth new one is the real surprise.

That's hyperbole. The failure rate is unacceptably high but it isn't 100%. And I think that an unacceptably large number of fat PS2s before the 39000 series suffered from DREs and a similar situation happened with early models of the PSX. So fragile consoles that have a tendency to fail during their relevant lifetime are no new thing. The 360 situation may be worse but it's by no means the first time this has happened.

But what's this about a lack of consumer support? Sending in a 360 is a rather painless process. You can print out the shipping label off the net and don't have to pay a dime for shipping.

megasdkirby

10-12-2009, 04:49 PM

But what's this about a lack of consumer support? Sending in a 360 is a rather painless process. You can print out the shipping label off the net and don't have to pay a dime for shipping.

But does Microsoft return the same console, or a new, refurbished console?

What if I want the same console back?

TonyTheTiger

10-12-2009, 05:06 PM

Depends. I've had one of each happen. The first time it wasn't a RROD nor, in fact, any ordinary problem. The console just froze up at random times. I got the same one back all fixed up but I'm not really sure what they did to fix it. The second time, RROD, I got a different console.

If there's something special about a specific console that makes it sentimental or otherwise important beyond just being a device used to play video games then sending it in to anybody is probably foolish. In that case fixing it yourself or finding somebody local who can do it might be a better solution. You'd have to pay for the materials and labor but I guess that's the trade off for having an attachment to a specific machine. I have a couple of things, some game related, that I wouldn't want to replace so I can relate. But I'm aware that if the machine fails it's sort of on me to deal with it if I happen to have some kind of uncommon attachment to the nuts and bolts.

I suppose the theory of wanting the same console instead of a different one is based on the belief that there's a greater chance the new one will fail but I'm not sure that's really true since they fix them all the same anyway so the console you get back, original or otherwise, is still refurbished. I don't have any numbers either way. I realize my situation might not be representative but I made out like a bandit when they sent me a new machine. Newer model DVD drive, quieter model fans, etc. It's still just a fixed Xenon board instead of what I was really shooting for, an Opus, but no biggie. I was half contemplating forcing a RROD just to send it in again to see if I'd get an Opus the next time around but I figure I'll wait to see what happens. Come to think of it, do they even check the machines? What would they do if I claimed RROD for a working console?

I can, however, understand somebody being pissed off if they send a newer model in and get a refurbished older model back. That is a negative mark they should address but, all things considered, it's still one of the best "we fucked up but we'll make it right" situations I've seen. I've dealt with a lot of quality assurance problems on both the hardware side and software side and usually the go to line is "tough shit."

Zthun

10-12-2009, 05:23 PM

You could always try to fix it yourself. The process doesn't look too difficult (I haven't tried it), but you'll have to turn a lot of screws.

Edit: I would recommend only trying this if the console is out of warranty and you actually know how to turn screws and hold a motherboard.

TonyTheTiger

10-12-2009, 05:27 PM

You could always try to fix it yourself. The process doesn't look too difficult (I haven't tried it), but you'll have to turn a lot of screws.

Don't quote me on this, but for anybody who's warranty is not up I've heard that it's possible to remove the security sticker without actually causing it to result in a voided warranty. Something about hairdryers and various tools that can allow you to remove the sticker intact so you can put it back when you're done fiddling with the internals.

This creates the possibility for some dastardly deeds I wouldn't take part in nor recommend but understand could potentially happen. Buying a console from GameStop, removing the warranty sticker intact, swapping the working internals with the non-working internals of your own console, replacing the sticker, and then returning the thing to GameStop for a refund or sending it in to Microsoft for a free repair.

Zthun

10-12-2009, 05:43 PM

This creates the possibility for some dastardly deeds I wouldn't take part in nor recommend but understand could potentially happen. Buying a console from GameStop, removing the warranty sticker intact, swapping the working internals with the non-working internals of your own console, replacing the sticker, and then returning the thing to GameStop for a refund or sending it in to Microsoft for a free repair.

Why...what a great idea...thanks Tony.

Arcade Antics

10-12-2009, 05:44 PM

That's hyperbole. The failure rate is unacceptably high but it isn't 100%.

Maybe "guaranteed" is a touch too severe. But let's count the threads that say "I've had an XB360 for ___ years and never had an RROD." :)

The point is that overall, you plan on getting the RROD instead of the typical plan, which is that the thing just works.

megasdkirby

10-12-2009, 06:31 PM

I remember watching Youtube videos on how people were forcefully trying to RROD their console. Most of the times, it's because of a bad DVD drive or any other problem, so they cause an RROD on purpose to get it replaced. LOL

mobiusclimber

10-12-2009, 06:57 PM

Almost every single disc-based system ever released has had problems with it, and that will likely continue for as long as games are released on discs. The Sega CD had problems, the Turbo Grafx CD had problems, the PSX, PS2, Xbox, 360 and PS3 all have had problems. SONY WAS SUCCESSFULLY SUED for the DRE problems with their PS2 consoles, a point that I made on page one. So I guess you won't be buying any of Sony's systems then, right?

God ... fanboys. :rolleyes:

TonyTheTiger

10-12-2009, 07:16 PM

Maybe "guaranteed" is a touch too severe. But let's count the threads that say "I've had an XB360 for ___ years and never had an RROD." :)

The point is that overall, you plan on getting the RROD instead of the typical plan, which is that the thing just works.

I don't know what the failure rates are for the newer boards, particularly the Jasper. It's still probably relatively high compared to the Wii and PS3 failure rates but most assuredly lower than the original Xenon board. So presumably a person can buy a new 360 today and at least have some confidence it won't red ring. Once again, I'm not excusing Microsoft for the original engineering nightmare. I am, however, at least thankful there is some recourse which is more than I can say for my early model PSX and PS2 which I had to fiddle with multiple times to deal with the DRE problem until it got to the point where all I could do is go out and buy another one. I bought a used PS2 (a 39000 series) from GameStop about two years ago since my first one no longer reads anything except DVDs and the various do it yourself fixes no longer work.

And I don't mean to point the finger and say "well, Sony did it first" because that doesn't excuse Microsoft's screw up. But I can at least say that in the situation we now find ourselves, with no means of contacting Doc Brown to change the past, Microsoft addressed the problem about as competently as it could. What does Microsoft need to do at this point to get people to stop crying foul? Or is it a shame the company must forever live with like a giant scarlet letter, or in this case, red ring?

sonoranreptile

10-12-2009, 07:29 PM

You could give a hobo a 360 and he could send that sucker in every week until the other hobos steal it (and then THEY could send it in).

@carlcarlson.....when I made the comment every 5 days I was referencing your quote....so, yes it IS stupid to imply it dies every 5 days. I guess I meant 7 days.......

@mobiusclimber

Sony settled its “disc read error” lawsuit by compensating the affected gamers with USD $25, a free game from a specified list, and (of course) the reduced cost repair or replacement (at SCEA’s discretion) of the damaged system. This settlement was subject to the courts’ approval, and hearings began in the US and Canada on April 28, 2006, and May 11, 2006, respectively.
They also redesigned their system (slim) for better reliability. I own all of those old CD based game systems. Many have their problems, but for the love of GAWD, nothing that even comes close to the failure rate of the 360. I would own one again if it wasn't for that....

Enigmus

10-12-2009, 07:46 PM

Believe it or not, I thought the title of this said "Frankie never saw it coming" when I saw it on a Wii. Stupid yellow cable blur. That's the last topic title YOU'LL ever make it sound like Frankie got in some trouble! :bad-words:

megasdkirby

10-12-2009, 07:51 PM

God ... fanboys. :rolleyes:

Not every case is a fanboy issue.

My criticism stems from fear. I WANT a Xbox 360 (like I mentioned earlier, I have around 30 games for the console), but I fear getting one and it screwing up relatively quickly. And yes, while it's not 100$ fullproof that it will damage, taking into account every possible information obtained, the probabilities are high that it will damage at a relatively quick rate. This is something I don't want. I want something to last me a few years at least, and not constantly worry that it will damage every time I turn the console on to play.

Once this issue is resolved successfully, then I will get one without even thinking. The urge to play is incredibly great, but the fear of it damaging quickly is even greater.

dsullo

10-12-2009, 08:07 PM

megasdkirby

10-12-2009, 09:26 PM

Somewhat on topic, but is it possible to determine whether or not an Xbox console has "jasper" or any "good" motherboard?

TonyTheTiger

10-13-2009, 12:31 AM

I don't know if this is 100% guaranteed but it seems like a decent way of figuring it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qt6GKg59ak

http://www.360drives.com/howto

Frankie_Says_Relax

10-13-2009, 12:47 AM

mobiusclimber

10-13-2009, 01:12 AM

Not every case is a fanboy issue.

My criticism stems from fear. I WANT a Xbox 360 (like I mentioned earlier, I have around 30 games for the console), but I fear getting one and it screwing up relatively quickly. And yes, while it's not 100$ fullproof that it will damage, taking into account every possible information obtained, the probabilities are high that it will damage at a relatively quick rate. This is something I don't want. I want something to last me a few years at least, and not constantly worry that it will damage every time I turn the console on to play.

Once this issue is resolved successfully, then I will get one without even thinking. The urge to play is incredibly great, but the fear of it damaging quickly is even greater.

I've been trying not to say anything for fear of jinxing it, but I got my 360 used quite awhile ago (maybe over a year now?) and it works fine. Granted I don't play it nearly as often as most people would, since I'm really a retro gamer at heart, but still.

I've read that the newer Elite 360 consoles really don't have nearly as high a failure rate. (Basically it's about on par w/ the PS3's failure rate.) Anyway, don't know how true it is, and I haven't had to find out yet, thankfully. If my 360 DID RROD, I think I'd just sell it to someone who wanted a broken one and sell off the games I have for it as well. I just don't get much use out of the newer consoles (I also own a Wii and that's great for collecting dust but not much else).

Zthun

10-13-2009, 04:28 PM

A lot of this is a lot like windows. When a new version of windows comes out, most experienced computer people won't jump on the band wagon until it has working drivers. Some wait until it has a service pack or two.

I see nothing wrong with waiting for the 360 to stable out, but as it was said, all the disc console systems had problems. I remember the PS1's overheating problems and how, when my first one died, I had to make sure to shut off the console every two hours to let it cool.

It's foolish to expect a 100% working system with no bugs. There is always bugs, in both hardware and software. That's just the way it is. If you attempt to find all of them before you release, your product will never get released.

sonoranreptile

10-13-2009, 05:47 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_technical_problems
Don't just read the page, go to the source pages cited as well......LMAO

mnbren05

10-14-2009, 02:09 PM

Meh it seems every generation I pick a console that takes a crap on me and leaves me stuck or forces me to fix/buy another console.

Genesis- Smelled like it was burning for years, should have disconnected it but I was young and after 2 years it no longer worked.

Original PS- had a disc read issue returned it to Wal-Mart what a bummer of a Christmas present.

Dreamcast- Worked for 3.5 months then would not boot past the set time screen

PS2- Original Fatty worked intermittently always slow to boot and finally stopped working a couple of years after - replaced with a slim unit.

and now the xbox 360 can be added to my list

Good news though did the X bracket removal new heat sink treatment and works like a charm. Honestly took a total of 10 mins for the repair and another 15 for the heat treatment. If you can take out a couple of screws, know what a torx head driver is, and follow a few simple steps this is an extremely easy fix. Although I only recommend it for out of warranty issues because you do have to break the microsoft seal. Moral of the story I'm gonna keep on rockin out the 360.

vivaeljason

10-14-2009, 04:27 PM

Dreamcast- Worked for 3.5 months then would not boot past the set time screen

3.5 months is nothing. My Dreamcast broke the day after I got it despite having played with it exactly one time.

Ryaan1234

10-14-2009, 04:53 PM

I don't know if this is 100% guaranteed but it seems like a decent way of figuring it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a1CzNGNdrs&feature=player_profilepage

Fixed.

LaughingMAN.S9

10-14-2009, 05:45 PM

you could do the towel trick to get it running, only a few minutes necessary to trick gamestop into giving you full trade in value towards the purchase of an arcade model

you could also always do a gut swap at walmart :(

fuck ethics!

mnbren05

10-16-2009, 12:46 AM

Towel Trick is a joke, and I don't trust people named the laughing man after watching Ghost In The Shell.

Update, my xbox seems to be running more smoothly and faster than before? I noticed before the rrod when I ran Madden 10 some chugging and pausing? Any ideas?

SegaAges

10-17-2009, 01:17 PM

Walmart gut swap = epic win

i did that when my ps2 busted way back in the day.

oh yeah, my dc is a launch model that still runs perfect

The 1 2 P

10-18-2009, 01:56 AM

Update, my xbox seems to be running more smoothly and faster than before? I noticed before the rrod when I ran Madden 10 some chugging and pausing? Any ideas?

Was this a Jasper that rrod on you or an earlier model?

megasdkirby

10-18-2009, 07:57 AM

I've been trying not to say anything for fear of jinxing it, but I got my 360 used quite awhile ago (maybe over a year now?) and it works fine. Granted I don't play it nearly as often as most people would, since I'm really a retro gamer at heart, but still.

I was told it also depends on how the console is treated, which would have made sense if it were not for the incident that happened to me (out of the box, new console with RROD mentioned previously).

But maybe that was a fluke.

I know I treat my consoles very well, and I don't play for extended periods of time. The most I've played where three hours straight on my PS3, and then I turn it off for at least two hours (a complete shut down, meaning I also press the switch behind the console and at times even remove the power cord...I never leave it on standby). So I am pretty sure that if I purchase a X360, it will last. I also play with my AC on, and not during the typical, "burn yourself to death" PR temperature.

I've read that the newer Elite 360 consoles really don't have nearly as high a failure rate. (Basically it's about on par w/ the PS3's failure rate.)

Everything I've read does in fact state that the RROD has gone down, but it's still extremely high, even with the PS3 and Wii combined. But I wonder what percentage of this are people who don't take care of their consoles vs those who do.

Anyway, don't know how true it is, and I haven't had to find out yet, thankfully. If my 360 DID RROD, I think I'd just sell it to someone who wanted a broken one and sell off the games I have for it as well. I just don't get much use out of the newer consoles (I also own a Wii and that's great for collecting dust but not much else).

I'm trying to find someone who wants to get rid of their RROD console (for free). My intention is not to repair and just use that console), but to learn how to repair the RROD issue. That way, if I am successfull, my fears will reduce a bit, and convince me to purchase one. Because if something ever happens, and I can't send it in for repair (either because it's out of warranty or some other issue prevents me), there is a high probability of me repairing it.

I know it may sound silly, but right now, anything that can put me at ease regarding the console is a good thing.

Zing

10-18-2009, 07:57 PM

I know it may sound silly, but right now, anything that can put me at ease regarding the console is a good thing.

Pardon me for stating the obvious, but wouldn't the best solution be buying a different console instead?

It's kind of like how abstinence is the safest form of sex.

megasdkirby

10-18-2009, 09:58 PM

Pardon me for stating the obvious, but wouldn't the best solution be buying a different console instead?

It's kind of like how abstinence is the safest form of sex.

That is what I was implying.

If I can get my hands on a damaged (or RROD) console, and be able to repair it, I will purchase a new one, a new console. I will do so because I will know (at that time) how to repair the console in case I am unable to return it to Microsoft for some reason, even under warranty.

And buying a new console is the entire reason I am not getting one now. As I stated before, I refuse to purchase a new console every time one damages, specially with the 360, which the probability of damaging is very high.

And besides, repairing it myself saves money and not as wasteful as purchasing a new console every time one damages.

Of course, this is in my opinion.