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Fix the Xbox 360's Red Ring of Death

Step 4Play!

If this method didn't work the first time, wait for the 360 to cool off then repeat the method waiting 20 minutes instead of 15.

I can't stress enough that this is a temporary fix however, and I strongly urge that you go to Microsoft's website and visit their customer support page. Microsoft has extended warranties on all 360s that receive this error by three years, so you should be covered for the damage.

Now go play some games!

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16 comments

Apr 2, 2009. 7:17 AMguitar_god08 says:

Halo 3 is really boring and you get jerks on it. Cod 4 is awsume Guitar hero awsume and carnt wait for metallica version Bioshock awsume Bully Awsume Gta 4 ok there is aload of games that are AWSUME and there are some that are crap. Not saying any names ... (Cough) Halo 3.... lol

Jan 28, 2011. 11:10 AMPlanemaster101 says:

Dude, Halo 3 is three hundred and fifty percent better than all those games combined, the only good COD is Black Ops.

Jan 4, 2011. 7:10 AMgracelessduke24 says:

halo reach is worse

Jul 28, 2011. 6:14 PMkelson12345 says:

If i ever meet you, I will rip out your throat, pull out one of your eyes and make you watch yourself die. Halo is the best game on the planet. Period. End of story. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with my 12 gauge.

Jan 7, 2011. 4:32 PMvtheawesome says:

jerk just cuse you dont like halo dosent mean you have to talk bad about it

sorry but that might offend people

Mar 24, 2010. 11:43 PMfrostybob says:

why is it then that halo 3 is awsome?

Oct 7, 2010. 12:45 PMsuckafish says:

You both spelled awesome wrong........

Dec 22, 2008. 11:03 AMlancerguy says:

Boo. What he's not explaining is why this works and exactly what it does. The 3RROD (3 Red lights on your 360) means there is a general gpu/cpu related error. This is CAUSED by Microsoft using cheap and improper solder for a unit that gets as hot as it does. The board inside your box is flexed (bent) because there are clamps that hold the heatsink on top of the GPU and CPU, they are so tight the board is bent because of it. The bent board + the cheap solder = solder joints break, causing no connection, therefore RROD. THIS FIX ATTEMPTS TO OVERHEAT YOUR XBOX until the solder is so hot it *hopefully* melts back into place. This DOES work in most cases, however, as the author said, it is DEFINITELY a temporary fix UNLESS you open your xbox and remove the clamps and replace them with something that doesn't flex the board. The "wet towel" is simply to keep the heat in the xbox until it overheats. The method described in this article is NOT THE RECOMMENDED WAY TO DO THIS.

Dec 22, 2009. 2:22 PMTheRawData says:

Lancer, why you hating? The guy fixes your xbox for free!

Thanks instructables!

Xbox Red Ring

Oct 12, 2009. 7:07 AMArkAngel762 says:

this guy is right. read my comment above.

Jan 27, 2009. 7:38 PMSuperG says:

my xbox just got this i thought it was going to explode!!!

Jun 5, 2008. 3:04 PMcomander01 says:

Wow you guys are lame. Has nobody thought to ask how hot the water should be?

Jul 21, 2008. 2:20 PMHead Wound says:

What water?

May 30, 2008. 6:20 AMThe Jamalam says:

BIOSHOCK!!!

Jan 3, 2008. 4:35 PMplazmaonu says:

yeah! Bioshock owns!! even if it is pretty creepy... =D

Feb 23, 2008. 8:12 PMPureBreed says:

Yea, i agree Bioshock is pretty sweet, but Gears of War pwns all those little n00b games

Jan 6, 2008. 4:05 PMtwenglish1 says:

Halo 3 is better

Jan 7, 2008. 3:58 PMxirekaj says:

Halo 3 isnt anything new over halo 2. they could have put a number 3 sticker over the number 2 and reshipped it. and it is overrated. Call of Duty 4 curb stomps halo 3.

Aug 26, 2009. 3:27 PMbighead5454 says:

riiiiiiiight i am sure in halo 2 u dont exactly get on the ark have spike grenade have firebomb grenades have choppers well i cold go on and on face it you like halo 3 ur just too shy to admit it

Feb 20, 2008. 1:40 PMzoundsPadang says:

not the time or place but that's completely wrong. Better weapon balances, better multi maps, better character customization, new weapons, better graphics... and even if they didnt improve halo 2 at all and just added more maps it would have been worth it. COD 4 is totally awesome though. a different style so i dont think you can really compare them but it is pretty sweet.

Feb 20, 2008. 2:10 PMtwenglish1 says:

COD 4 is awesome but i like halo 3 better

Feb 25, 2008. 9:14 AMninjaimasta says:

Three words (and a number!) my dear amigos, Metal Gear Solid 4...

Sep 14, 2008. 6:53 AMAdmiral Puffinfresh says:

YES, NINJA! I own both consoles and if anyone tries to start a console war, I will personally curbstomp them because both consoles are great in their own ways but in terms of games, MGS4 OWNS YOU ALL!!!

And Halo 1 was good.
Halo 2 was whatever.
Halo 3 was a patch for Halo 2 that they decided, "wait, why don't we shove in some unnecessary bells & whistles, give it new graphics, and sell it for $60?"

Halo 3 is bland, story sucks, online is the only thing that gives it any merit whatsoever.

End of discussion. =]