View Full Version : anyone have THIS problem with oblivion
mailman187666
08-29-2006, 11:39 AM
last night while I was downloading the Just Cause demo, I was playing Oblivion. While I was doing battle with a couple creatures, my game froze. Not only did it freeze, but it covered my screen with a "checker board" like patern. I shut my system down, cancelled the download and started playing again. It did the same thing except without the checker board thing and it made a static kinda sound out of the speakers. I took the disk out of the system, not a single scratch on the disk. Tried it for the 3rd time and it played fine, except the music durring the loading screens was not playing. Does anybody have anything they can help me with about this. Does it sound like my system or a glitch in the game? Is my system overheating or something while I was playing? any helpful comments will be appreciated[/i]
heybtbm
08-29-2006, 01:11 PM
last night while I was downloading the Just Cause demo, I was playing Oblivion. While I was doing battle with a couple creatures, my game froze. Not only did it freeze, but it covered my screen with a "checker board" like patern. I shut my system down, cancelled the download and started playing again. It did the same thing except without the checker board thing and it made a static kinda sound out of the speakers. I took the disk out of the system, not a single scratch on the disk. Tried it for the 3rd time and it played fine, except the music durring the loading screens was not playing. Does anybody have anything they can help me with about this. Does it sound like my system or a glitch in the game? Is my system overheating or something while I was playing? any helpful comments will be appreciated[/i]
The "checkerboard" pattern means it's time for your 360 to take a trip to Texas. I'm serious.
The "checkerboard" is the first sign that your 360 is shot. The 3 red lights of doom will soon follow. If you're under warranty, it'll be free (so to speak)...if not, it'll cost you $120.
last night while I was downloading the Just Cause demo, I was playing Oblivion. While I was doing battle with a couple creatures, my game froze. Not only did it freeze, but it covered my screen with a "checker board" like patern. I shut my system down, cancelled the download and started playing again. It did the same thing except without the checker board thing and it made a static kinda sound out of the speakers. I took the disk out of the system, not a single scratch on the disk. Tried it for the 3rd time and it played fine, except the music durring the loading screens was not playing. Does anybody have anything they can help me with about this. Does it sound like my system or a glitch in the game? Is my system overheating or something while I was playing? any helpful comments will be appreciated[/i]
The "checkerboard" pattern means it's time for your 360 to take a trip to Texas. I'm serious.
The "checkerboard" is the first sign that your 360 is shot. The 3 red lights of doom will soon follow. If you're under warranty, it'll be free (so to speak)...if not, it'll cost you $120.
yeah it's time to send it on a trip, checkerboard death.
I'd reccomend getting the 50$ 2 year warrenty, cheap insurence.
I very much doubt they'll even ask your gamertag, or for a receipt, they didn't for me, just asked my address and name, and thats it! I was out of warrenty by a few days as well, so hopefully you're lucky!
mailman187666
08-29-2006, 01:37 PM
^I didn't get the red lights of doom when that was happening, but if it happens it should be soon to follow you say? I have had this one since the 2nd shipment and haven't seen a problem since quake 4. I'd have to pay an extra $120? thats bullshit because I have to pay for thier incompetence. What would I do with all the XBLA games I've already downloaded? If I were to just pick up a used core system or something like that, would I be able to take the hard drive off mine and still be able to play the full versions of everything?
meancode
08-29-2006, 01:43 PM
Huh?
The checkerboard thing is a known issue with downloading stuff from XBLM. It happens when you are downloading something and the Internet connection drops. There are a couple variations on this known issue, but that is the most common. Did you get green bars across the screen too?
I don't know if it has to do with Oblivion specifically. I would play another non-Live game and download the Just Cause demo and see if the same thing happens. Download a different demo too.
But yes, by all means, send it in, get a new one, buy a 10 year warranty too. Seriously, have you had any other issues with your 360 lately?
I would test this problem with a couple other games before you jump the gun, but that is just me. Call me crazy (go ahead) but I troubleshoot computer networks, so this type of thing is just par for the course.
meancode
08-29-2006, 01:47 PM
^I didn't get the red lights of doom when that was happening, but if it happens it should be soon to follow you say? I have had this one since the 2nd shipment and haven't seen a problem since quake 4. I'd have to pay an extra $120? thats bullshit because I have to pay for thier incompetence. What would I do with all the XBLA games I've already downloaded? If I were to just pick up a used core system or something like that, would I be able to take the hard drive off mine and still be able to play the full versions of everything?
If you did send it in, you keep the hard drive. If you are not having other issues like you say, I would try to recreate the issue with other games/downloads. But you would retain your hard drive.
Even if you lost your hard drive, your Live account has those games and you would be able to download them again at no charge. You would just have to use the retrieve Gamertag option.
Oobgarm
08-29-2006, 01:48 PM
^I didn't get the red lights of doom when that was happening, but if it happens it should be soon to follow you say? I have had this one since the 2nd shipment and haven't seen a problem since quake 4. I'd have to pay an extra $120? thats bullshit because I have to pay for thier incompetence. What would I do with all the XBLA games I've already downloaded? If I were to just pick up a used core system or something like that, would I be able to take the hard drive off mine and still be able to play the full versions of everything?
I had the same checkerboard thing happen to mine recently. Started with Dead Rising, and then happened to every game, and even the system's boot sequence. I called MS and they told me without hesitiation that it had to be sent in for repair. I was lucky and had a friend help me out with a warranty exchange at Best Buy, so I fared OK. :)
If you can stand the wait, I'd just send it in rather than pay twice that for a used core system, unless you're going to get an awesome(less than $130) deal on one. No sense in wasting money.
The XBLA games/XBL identity on the hard drive are transferrable to any system once you plug the drive in. I did it with my new system, no problems.
meancode
08-29-2006, 01:55 PM
^I didn't get the red lights of doom when that was happening, but if it happens it should be soon to follow you say? I have had this one since the 2nd shipment and haven't seen a problem since quake 4. I'd have to pay an extra $120? thats bullshit because I have to pay for thier incompetence. What would I do with all the XBLA games I've already downloaded? If I were to just pick up a used core system or something like that, would I be able to take the hard drive off mine and still be able to play the full versions of everything?
I had the same checkerboard thing happen to mine recently. Started with Dead Rising, and then happened to every game, and even the system's boot sequence. I called MS and they told me without hesitiation that it had to be sent in for repair. I was lucky and had a friend help me out with a warranty exchange at Best Buy, so I fared OK. :)
If you can stand the wait, I'd just send it in rather than pay twice that for a used core system, unless you're going to get an awesome(less than $130) deal on one. No sense in wasting money.
The XBLA games/XBL identity on the hard drive are transferrable to any system once you plug the drive in. I did it with my new system, no problems.
If you can recreate the checkerboard issue, then that is serious, and I would not hesitate to call MS. They have been quite good at replacing units. And as nik said, will likely not give you a hassle.
mailman187666
08-29-2006, 02:28 PM
well I only got the actual checkerboard once but if what you guys say is true, I probably should send it back. The only other problem that I've been noticing lately is that my online speed has been kinda slow, but other than that, I've had no problems with my machine. Does anybody have the number to call or the website I can visit to get the number? I hope I just got dropped from the online connection and my system is fine because it did randomly stop downloading Just Cause before the system checkered me out, because i popped open the menu to see how far along the download was.
meancode
08-29-2006, 02:56 PM
well I only got the actual checkerboard once but if what you guys say is true, I probably should send it back. The only other problem that I've been noticing lately is that my online speed has been kinda slow, but other than that, I've had no problems with my machine. Does anybody have the number to call or the website I can visit to get the number? I hope I just got dropped from the online connection and my system is fine because it did randomly stop downloading Just Cause before the system checkered me out, because i popped open the menu to see how far along the download was.
Sounds like it might be nothing. But then, your 360 might blow up in a minute too, so watch out!
The number is in the back of the owner manual. I don't have it handy right now.
Borman
08-29-2006, 05:26 PM
Its either a Marketplace glitch, which happens from time to time, or its the Checkerboard of dooooom, which happened to me at varied times with Oblivion. I was good for a few hours, then bam, 3 red lights :\
1-800-4MY-XBOX
Huh?
The checkerboard thing is a known issue with downloading stuff from XBLM. It happens when you are downloading something and the Internet connection drops. There are a couple variations on this known issue, but that is the most common. Did you get green bars across the screen too?
I would test this problem with a couple other games before you jump the gun, but that is just me. Call me crazy (go ahead) but I troubleshoot computer networks, so this type of thing is just par for the course.
It's not par for the course with these systems. And no, the checkerboard is not just common with XBLdownloading, mine died after played a DVD movie, nothing was downloading, after the movie, it froze, and I rebooted, kept crashing between 20 seconds, and 5 minutes in.
It did not show the red lights, and they told me not to send in my HD.
Funny thing, I got the xbox back WITH a HD, I asked if I should return it they just told me to keep it.
mailman187666
08-30-2006, 08:48 AM
I played Oblivion again last night and the game froze on me twice. I did have this issue since I first bought the game though (I heard it was common for Oblivion to freeze). I didn't try downloading anything this time though. Still no red lights, and I only got the checker board 1 time since it first happened. I'm picking up a copy of Enchanted Arms tonight so I'm gonna give that a shot and see if it happens and if it does, $130 down the tubes I guess.
meancode
08-30-2006, 11:35 AM
I played Oblivion again last night and the game froze on me twice. I did have this issue since I first bought the game though (I heard it was common for Oblivion to freeze). I didn't try downloading anything this time though. Still no red lights, and I only got the checker board 1 time since it first happened. I'm picking up a copy of Enchanted Arms tonight so I'm gonna give that a shot and see if it happens and if it does, $130 down the tubes I guess.
It seems really strange that you keep having crashes in Oblivion, that doesn't seem right. I Have Oblivion crash, but that is once in a blue moon, not every single time I sit down to play it.
mailman187666
08-30-2006, 02:51 PM
^ tell me about it, I had a couple crashes here and there before but now its crashing more frequently. If it does it with Enchanted Arms later tonight, I'm going to be sending it back to get repaired....those fxckin' bxstards. I sure hope PS3 and Wii doesn't have this kind of stuff happen and say "oh our bad...just send us a whole bunch of money and we'll give you what you should have gotten to begin with." But I have yet to have it happen to any other games so I'll find out later tonight.
diskoboy
08-30-2006, 05:49 PM
I keep getting dirty disc messages with my copy of Oblivion. Even when the disc is spotless. It just got so frequent, I quit playing it.
Don't have any problems with any other discs - just Oblivion. I'm beginning to wonder if there is a manufacturing defect.
mailman187666
08-31-2006, 11:10 AM
last night I popped in my copy of Enchanted Arms I just picked up, and the checkers came back and it finally blinked the red lights of death and my system wouldn't work at all. HOWEVER, I called the 1-800 number and they gave me a pretty effective way of fixing the problem (so far). This is what to do when you get the checkers and then the 3 red lights THIS MAY SAVE YOU MONEY FROM GETTING IT REPAIRED.
1. make sure your system is completely shut down.
2. Disconnect every last little removable part from your 360 (hard drive, power brick from the system and wall outlet, AV cables, ethernet cable, controllers)
3. hook just the power brick, av, and controller to the system and other necessary oulets.
3a. if your system boots up with no red lights, you're good to continue with the rest of the steps.
4. if you have copies of either Kameo, PGR3, PD Zero, or Dynasty Warriors 5, get all of them out.
5. insert each disc individually until the "logo" screens are done playing and eject the disc and place the next one in, there is no need to watch any game intro movies, just the logo screens. Do not skip the logo screens. They told me this resets the memory.
6. Once you have loaded any of those titles you own (if you have them all, load them all) shut the system off.
7. After waiting about 15 seconds, turn the system back on but while the XBOX 360 globe thingy comes up, hold the A button until the desktop comes up and release the A button. (this frees up the system's memory cache).
8. Shut the system off again, insert your hard drive, turn system on while holding "A" durring startup again.
9. Go to "system" and then to "memory" and select your hard drive.
9. Go through ALL of your files on your hard drive and look for anything that says incomplete or looks to be out of the ordinary and delete them (I had 2 files that said incomplete under videos and 1 under demos).
10. Once all of that has been deleted, put the last game that your system froze on into the disk tray, close the disk tray, and turn the system off again.
11. connect your ethernet cable and everything else that was once connected to it. and turn the system on again (I held A again here just for shits and giggles).
Once I followed all these steps, I got no freezing, no red lights, and played my game for around 4 hours last night without the slightest problem. I don't know if its going to happen again or not, but it worked fine after all that. I think what may have happened was, if you read my original post, my problem started when i tried downloading the Just Cause demo and it had stopped without me noticing. As soon as I did that, thats when the problems started. When the xbox guy told me to delete all incomplete files, that sparked a trigger in my head and i realized it must have been because of that. So if you get checkers and red lights, follow these steps, and you may be in the clear and save yourself $140.
Awsome stuff, glad it worked for you!
Crazycarl
08-31-2006, 10:02 PM
thats because the cache was full. hold down b when u start the system up to clear it out. that should fix it fast.
Oobgarm
09-01-2006, 08:24 AM
Interesting. Didn't know about the cache, I figured it would empty itself.
Kinda funny, I got the checkerboard only after performing some routine housecleaning on my HDD, like removing saves from rented games, incomplete downloads, etc. The system had frozen once before while playing Ridge Racer 6 a few months back, but a simple reset fixed that problem. Perhaps the fact that my system was a launch model had something to do with it's death?
Glad to hear it's working for you now, though. 8-)
mailman187666
09-01-2006, 09:05 AM
oh damn guys, I got the checkerboard again last night after an hour and a half of playing enchanted arms :angry: looks like I'm am eventually going to have to send it out to get repaired at some point after all. When I get it sent out, I'm going to be also sending them a letter saying that I shouldn't have to be wasting this money on getting it fixed. I'm also going to list each game and accessory I've purchased for the system and the prices I've paid for everything and show them the reason why I am so pissed at them. I can't believe after almost a year of owning a 360, i have to pay them $140 PLUS an extra $30 for a 1 year extended warranty if i wanted one. I should get it for free, those assholes. If I was able to talk face to face to the guy who makes the decisions on who gets free stuff or not, I would be causing a scene and letting him know I feel like i'm getting robbed and should get the system repaired for free. Big FU goes to Microsoft from this consumer.
heybtbm
09-01-2006, 11:40 AM
When I get it sent out, I'm going to be also sending them a letter saying that I shouldn't have to be wasting this money on getting it fixed. I'm also going to list each game and accessory I've purchased for the system and the prices I've paid for everything and show them the reason why I am so pissed at them.
Unfortunately, the people who work at the Texas 360 repair center have no power or control to change anything. Most of them don't even read or speak english...the few that do (barely) work at the call center next door.
Edit: I should add...this is what I was told by a MS rep on the phone.
mailman187666
09-01-2006, 12:11 PM
so it kinda looks like I have to bow down to the almighty microsoft and fork over my money to them I guess. If I only had a couple games i would just sell it all and wait for wii and PS3 but I've already dumped a ton of money on games and stuff. If I see Bill Gates, my 360 HDD is going directly up his ass, the thieves they are.
so it kinda looks like I have to bow down to the almighty microsoft and fork over my money to them I guess. If I only had a couple games i would just sell it all and wait for wii and PS3 but I've already dumped a ton of money on games and stuff. If I see Bill Gates, my 360 HDD is going directly up his ass, the thieves they are.
Wait until you speak to them, or, you can call them up, and say "hi I'd like to purchase the 2 year warrenty"
Thats 50$.
Next day, call, and say, my 360 is broken!
Then you'll get your moneys worth.
For me, when I returned mine, they didn't ask for a receipt, or ANYTHING except my gamertag, and they sent out a box right away for me to send mine, and then I got a really good turnaround time for the replacement.
Don't get pissed from others posting until you see what you get from the phone calls!
I bought my 2 year warrenty after the original factory warrenty was up, they didn't care, they just want to make you happy!
mailman187666
09-01-2006, 01:20 PM
that sounds like a good idea but they already have my name, serial number, and date of purchase in thier system. I'll try and do that then if that doesn't work, I'm just going to ask to speak with a decision maker and try to get them to fix it for me. If all else fails, then I'm gonna have to bite the big one and waste my money. Does anybody else have any other info that could help me out?
Oobgarm
09-01-2006, 02:52 PM
If I see Bill Gates, my 360 HDD is going directly up his ass, the thieves they are.
At least you've found a use for that spare HDD you'll get if you do end up returning the system to MS. LOL