Apparently a time-bomb comes standard with every 360.

[PeteRock]

Without any prior warning, without any previous indication, without any prior cause for concern, this evening I became the proud recipient of the ever-popular TRROD, otherwise known as the Three Red Rings of Death.  And after numerous reboots, now my 360 won't even turn on. 

Even though 360 failures have been rather common, it seems that the frequency of failures has increased a great deal over the past few weeks.  Hell, I've seen a high number of failures just between the GT and OO communities fairly recently.  And now you can add PeteRock to the list of deceased. 

I'm debating whether I should wade through the nightmarish customer service disaster that is Microsoft customer "support" (because I have plenty of spare hours in the day to waste on hold), or simply pull a typical PeteRock and buy a new 360 merely for convenience.  I've had my eye on a new Elite, anyway. 

Either way, even though it's not by choice, it looks like I'll have some time to get back to my PS2 backlog.  It's about time I finished Kingdom Hearts and God of War, anyway.

Now I am seeing first-hand just how much the TRROD really sucks.  And they came completely without warning.  My 360 booted up just fine, and the moment I clicked on my Friends list the screen became scrambled, the sound cut to static, and that was all she wrote.  I think Simba learned a fair number of new and interesting four-letter word combinations this evening. 

And it figures that this happens right when I'm back into Oblivion.  I finally finished the Mage's Guild quest, I was about to start the Fighter's Guild, and then all I'd have left would be the main storyline and then the Dark Brotherhood.  I've been thinking about playing all day.

This really sucks.

[Misguided]

Welcome to the club 

Suggestion:

Buy the Elite and send the 360 for repair.
When it comes back from MS, you can trade it in without getting hit for a refurbishing fee.

[Gratch]

I feel your pain, mine just got shipped back last week. 

[CeeKay]

Sorry to hear that Pete.  I bet it was Simba constantly playing it when no one was home that did it in 

[Destructor]

Same EXACT thing happened to my brother a few days ago. Absolutely no warning whatsoever. And it was a launch console he played a ton on (as well as viewed HD-DVD movies on).

[gellar]

Yeah when mine a sploded it gave no warning.  You have my sympathies.

gellar

[Turtle]

Send it in, buy a PS3 to occupy you while you wait.  Then enjoy both systems. 

[Arclight]

Was it one of the first X-Box's to ship? I have one that was made in Nov. 2006, I'm wondering if I can have hope for a better experience with it?

Thanks.

Sorry to hear about yours going South.

[Turtle]

Arc, my X-box was one of the very first Xbox 360s.  My Dad just walked into a store at the height of the 360 rush and picked one up off the shelf since he wanted one.

It's worked fine ever since, however, it hasn't gotten too much use.  I've only had two really long gaming sessions, otherwise maybe 2-10 (average 3) hours a week with maybe double that with DVD watching time.

So, obviously not all boxes turn out like this.

[metallicorphan]

sorry to hear the news

when the disc tray on my 360 wouldnt close i had to send it off,first the customer service was better than i thought it would be(although i am in England....but we do tend to have crap customer service on average)...and a UPS truck came i think the next day and the woman said it would be 7-10 days(not sure if it was working days she said)...i got my 360 back within the week...although,my problem wasnt the 3 rings of death....but i was quite happy with the service,true it shouldnt of broke on me like that,after 8 months buying the console...but i was expecting my pain to be worse

that was last August,i am hoping that they may of improved the service some more by now

[Starshifter]

Welcome to the club my friend.  I'm on my THIRD X360 unit.  My suggestion is to get that repaired at MS since it's free.  Hold off on the Elite until this fall when MS is suppose to be shipping new 360 units with smaller chips and better heat management.  That's what I'm doing.  I will be picking up an Elite this fall.  In addition, you will still need your X360 unit to transfer all your stuff over to the Elite hard drive.  Get back to those PS2 games for now.  I know you have been itching to finish Cookie 'n Cream!   

[JuniorDan]

I am on my 3rd box also.. I don't have the patients to wait for Microsoft or anyone so I just keep getting the Gamestop warranty and swapping my box out when it dies. And yes that no warning thing really sucks, you are all hyped up to play your game and boom system flatline.

[Misguided]

I am on my 3rd box also.. I don't have the patients to wait for Microsoft or anyone so I just keep getting the Gamestop warranty and swapping my box out when it dies. And yes that no warning thing really sucks, you are all hyped up to play your game and boom system flatline.

Also on #3. My original one made it from Nov '05 to June '06 then poof, just like yours.
#2 was a refurb from MS that died within a week.

[denoginizer]

I cross my fingers every time I boot mine up.

Although I did buy them at Costco so I'm not too worried. 

[CeeKay]

Arc, my X-box was one of the very first Xbox 360s.  My Dad just walked into a store at the height of the 360 rush and picked one up off the shelf since he wanted one.

It's worked fine ever since, however, it hasn't gotten too much use.  I've only had two really long gaming sessions, otherwise maybe 2-10 (average 3) hours a week with maybe double that with DVD watching time.

So, obviously not all boxes turn out like this.

you did knock on wood after posting that, right?  don't tempt fate man! 

[TK-421]

I'll probably be buying a 360 in the next few months so that I can play Rock Band when it comes out.   We don't currently have a Costco in Omaha but there is one being built.  Hopefully it'll be open by the time I'm ready to finally pick up a 360.

[jament]

I'm on #4 - this refurb has lasted longer than the others (3 months) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  One of the really strange things about the 360's is the variance in noise levels.  My first and second sounded like jet aircraft, the third was very quiet (and died quick).  The one I have now is in between somewhere - not as noisy as the first couple but not quiet either.

[CeeKay]

I may finally get back to firing mine up this weekend after a month of non-use.  I'm thinking of getting some bomb squad protective gear just in case.....

[HankRaptor]

Sorry to hear about your pain.

[Interloper]

Mine also gave up the ghost suddenly.  Worked fine up until the day it died, and it died 100% that day.

[Gratch]

Mine also gave up the ghost suddenly.  Worked fine up until the day it died, and it died 100% that day.

Sheesh.  That's, what, half a dozen from GT'ers in the last 2 weeks alone?

[PeteRock]

I just got an email this morning letting me know that my 360 has shipped.  I can't wait to play Madden '08, but lately I've been getting caught up in the buzz surrounding Bioshock.  I had zero interest in it, but with a review average of F-ing 99% on gamerankings.com and the positive praise the demo is receiving around here, I just can't wait to see what all of the fuss is about.

Once in a rare while does a game of this caliber come around, and I just don't think I can resist the OO and GT forum effects.  I'm going to download the demo immediately when my 360 returns to see if it is a must-have title.  Lately I've been so desperate for NFL football that I've been playing my copy of Madden '06 on my original Xbox.  Man I can't wait to play '08.  I AM READY FOR SOME FOOTBAAAAAAALL!

At least before I knew my 360 shipped I resigned myself to simply not having one for a while, but now that I know it's coming I think I'm going to go crazy with anticipation.  HAUL ASS UPS!

[CeeKay]

I just got an email this morning letting me know that my 360 has shipped.  I can't wait to play Madden '08, but lately I've been getting caught up in the buzz surrounding Bioshock.  I had zero interest in it, but with a review average of F-ing 99% on gamerankings.com and the positive praise the demo is receiving around here, I just can't wait to see what all of the fuss is about.

you know you want it to run your perfectly manicured fingertips over.

[gellar]

You'd best pray to the gaming gods that you don't get Eduardoed.

gellar

[Gratch]

They recently sent me back a replacement unit with a manufacture date 6 months older than the one I sent in to get fixed.    Hope you have better luck.

[PeteRock]

They recently sent me back a replacement unit with a manufacture date 6 months older than the one I sent in to get fixed.    Hope you have better luck.

Does the serial number have any significance in terms of manufacture date (i.e. the higher the number the later the manufacture date)?  For example, I had a launch unit with a serial number starting with "4034--------" and the unit they're sending back has a serial number starting with "9015--------".  Here's to hoping that I get a newer unit.

[Gratch]

They recently sent me back a replacement unit with a manufacture date 6 months older than the one I sent in to get fixed.    Hope you have better luck.

Does the serial number have any significance in terms of manufacture date (i.e. the higher the number the later the manufacture date)?  For example, I had a launch unit with a serial number starting with "4034--------" and the unit they're sending back has a serial number starting with "9015--------".  Here's to hoping that I get a newer unit.

I don't think so.   My original unit's number started with a 1, and the new (older) one starts with a 9.

[PeteRock]

They recently sent me back a replacement unit with a manufacture date 6 months older than the one I sent in to get fixed.    Hope you have better luck.

Does the serial number have any significance in terms of manufacture date (i.e. the higher the number the later the manufacture date)?  For example, I had a launch unit with a serial number starting with "4034--------" and the unit they're sending back has a serial number starting with "9015--------".  Here's to hoping that I get a newer unit.

I don't think so.   My original unit's number started with a 1, and the new (older) one starts with a 9.

Greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

[Eduardo X]

You'd best pray to the gaming gods that you don't get Eduardoed.

gellar

Thanks for reminding me. I haven't done this in a while:

Those lousy motherfucking ass shit fucks! Kameo? That's it? Microsoft should be locked in a cell, Padilla style, and convinced to work for Sony, Padilla style, against their own best interest.

[Brendan]

If I personally apologize, would that help? 

[PeteRock]

FINALLY!

"Your package is on time with a scheduled delivery date of 08/22/2007."

All day the UPS website has said "Billing Information Received."  At least now I have an idea as to when my 360 will show up.  Wednesday won't get here soon enough.  But I'll have my 360 back just in time to play Bioshock.

[Gratch]

You'd best pray to the gaming gods that you don't get Eduardoed.

gellar

Thanks for reminding me. I haven't done this in a while:

Those lousy motherfucking ass shit fucks! Kameo? That's it? Microsoft should be locked in a cell, Padilla style, and convinced to work for Sony, Padilla style, against their own best interest.

That reminds me I should call and give them some outrage for sending back such an old unit.  Probably won't make a difference, but maybe I can get a free game out of it. 

[CeeKay]

You'd best pray to the gaming gods that you don't get Eduardoed.

gellar

Thanks for reminding me. I haven't done this in a while:

Those lousy motherfucking ass shit fucks! Kameo? That's it? Microsoft should be locked in a cell, Padilla style, and convinced to work for Sony, Padilla style, against their own best interest.

That reminds me I should call and give them some outrage for sending back such an old unit.  Probably won't make a difference, but maybe I can get a free game out of it. 

There's probably a ton of copies of Vampire Rain just sitting around....

[Gratch]

Hey, maybe I could pick up Bullet Witch! 

/ducks

[PeteRock]

Well, I finally got my new 360 back, and in all honesty, I think I'm happy things happened the way they did. I've been out of town for work over the past month, so I wouldn't have had time to play, anyway. And, the 360 I received yesterday was one of the new models with the HDMI connection and a manufacture date of "2007-08-06". Here's to hoping that the HDMI port and recent manufacture date are indicators of some of the failure problems being addressed.

[Gratch]

Well, I finally got my new 360 back, and in all honesty, I think I'm happy things happened the way they did. I've been out of town for work over the past month, so I wouldn't have had time to play, anyway. And, the 360 I received yesterday was one of the new models with the HDMI connection and a manufacture date of "2007-08-06". Here's to hoping that the HDMI port and recent manufacture date are indicators of some of the failure problems being addressed.

Glad that turned out well for ya Pete.

However, hearing this just makes me even more pissed that I got stuck with an older replacement unit.  And that was, what, 2 weeks before Pete gets a brand spanking new one?  Fucking MS...      

[EngineNo9]

I just got my empty box from UPS today and sent my 360 out.  Here's to hoping that I get one of the new model back, too! 

[CeeKay]

Well, I finally got my new 360 back, and in all honesty, I think I'm happy things happened the way they did. I've been out of town for work over the past month, so I wouldn't have had time to play, anyway. And, the 360 I received yesterday was one of the new models with the HDMI connection and a manufacture date of "2007-08-06". Here's to hoping that the HDMI port and recent manufacture date are indicators of some of the failure problems being addressed.

Glad that turned out well for ya Pete.

However, hearing this just makes me even more pissed that I got stuck with an older replacement unit.  And that was, what, 2 weeks before Pete gets a brand spanking new one?  Fucking MS...      

told you that you should have sent them a pic of yourself in with your 360 like Pete was planning to.  They like the pretty boys.

[Jarrodhk]

Reminds me it is about time to go visit best buy again and see if they have the newer systems in yet.

[PeteRock]

Well, it has been a good run.

My last RROD was back in July of 2007 and I got a replacement Xbox in August of the same year.  That Xbox has lasted almost exactly five years, but today unfortunately marks its inevitable demise (three weeks shy of its 5-year anniversary).  A few days ago Force Unleashed II froze and the screen scrambled, so I turned it off and moved on to other things.  Out of curiosity I turned my Xbox back on this morning and my suspicions were unfortunately validated.  The three RROD lit up as anticipated.

As I've gotten my money's worth and then some with five long years of uninterrupted gaming (which was technically even longer as my replacement was still under warranty back in 2007), rather than opt to have my Xbox repaired for a fee, I think I am going to purchase a new 250GB model which should easily take me into the next generation of consoles.

It is just unfortunate that my current console died as I manage expenses associated with beginning a new semester (new laptop, new TV for my grad apartment, academic supplies, housing supplies, etc).  Hopefully as it is a sanity-maintaining necessity, I can successfully justify the cost to my wife. 

Wish me luck.