XBOX 360 flashing red lights

Geekgirl · 05-30-2007, 07:07 PM

Our XBOX 360 keeps flashing red lights. While the Xbox Ring of Light (RoL) is flashing red, we press and hold the synch button (the controller connect button) and while holding it, we press the DVD eject button. This will put the Ring of Light (RoL) into a faster blink and the the number of lit quandrants change. The numbers we get are 4424 which in the light codes mean -
0020 - not yet known, possibly overheating.

We cant even play more than 45 minutes and it shuts down. Does anyone know if it is true that all consoles made in 2005 have automatically been given an extra year of warranty…???

Does the blanket trick work?

Quote:

UNPLUG YOUR XBOX360 AND REMOVE THE HARD DRIVE. NOW PLUG IT BACK IN AND TURN IT ON. YOU WILL STILL HAVE THE RED LIGHTS. GET A THICK BLANKET AND WRAP THE CONSOLE COMPLETELY UP WITH IT TURNED ON. LEAVE IT WRAPED UP FOR 45 MINUTES. UNWRAP IT AND TURN IT OFF AND UNPLUG IT. IT WILL BE VERY HOT. LET IT COOL OFF FOR 20 MINUTES NOW RECONNECT EVERYTHING AND TURN IT ON YOU WILL HAVE GREEN LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING WILL WORK FINE. NO IM NOT CRAZY THIS REALLY WORKS.

http://i.nconspicuo.us/2007/01/27/br...-of-light-rol/

**carsey** · 05-30-2007, 07:25 PM

Ive heard the XBOXs have always had problems with their cooling.

A few links for you:
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=496524
http://www.xboxoverheating.com/

ebackhus · 05-30-2007, 07:40 PM

The 2005 units had slightly bad cooling systems. An important thing is to give the unit PLENTY of free space surrounding it. Mine sits next to a 1000w home theater system and I haven't had a heat issue yet. I bought it in mid-late 2006.

Geekgirl · 05-30-2007, 07:42 PM

I hate when these companies come out with a new console right before xmas and you know your kid wants it and they are very hard to get your hands on and you end up getting it anyhow knowing there could be issues with it. Its just like purchasing Vista right at release, you know there are bugs still needing to be resolved. ..........grrrr

We actually got screwed when we purchased this console. After reserving and it finally came in, when we went to pick it up we were forced into puchased an extra controller and 2 games that we were not told about at the time of reserving. Boy was I mad and fired up. It was Sam Goodies which now is closed for business.

My son called Microsoft, they told him to remove the hard drive and unplug it then replace the hard drive. Hes playing now, lets see how long till its flashes red again....

thanks for the links carsey, its like leaving the plastic cover on the heatsink when installing a processor/heatsink in a computer. I've heard this happening before.

Just read your reply ebackhus, mine sits on an open table stand with a box fan blowing right on it........go figure

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 05-30-2007, 09:59 PM

How many lights are flashing?

Geekgirl · 05-31-2007, 08:37 PM

I think my son said 3 lights, but it has not messed up since he removed the hard drive and unplugged it....

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 05-31-2007, 08:49 PM

Thats is the "ring of death" it means a major system part error then means it could be a damaged part such as video card, cpu, or hdd it also happends at random.

linuxfueled · 06-08-2007, 06:08 PM

this worked for me

Towel trick stopped working after a few uses

I finaly decased the damn thing and added a fan powered off the server below.

Looks like crap but i'm not out $460 for the 360 and $50-70 each for all the games we have.

Geekgirl · 06-09-2007, 08:13 AM

Since my son followed the instructions given to him my Microsoft it has not given us any flashing red lights.

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 06-09-2007, 11:36 AM

BTW why did they use passive heatsinks?

ebackhus · 06-09-2007, 12:41 PM

It uses active cooling, actually. Just the sinks are HUEG like the original XBox and not copper. If you have a 360 running you can feel the air moving out the back of it.

05-30-2007, 07:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
carsey Moderator, TSF Articles Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hunwick, Co. Durham England Posts: 10,691 OS: XP Pro SP3 My System	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights Ive heard the XBOXs have always had problems with their cooling. A few links for you: http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=496524 http://www.xboxoverheating.com/ __________________ Submit New Articles Here

05-30-2007, 07:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,300 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights The 2005 units had slightly bad cooling systems. An important thing is to give the unit PLENTY of free space surrounding it. Mine sits next to a 1000w home theater system and I haven't had a heat issue yet. I bought it in mid-late 2006. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

05-30-2007, 07:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,186 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights I hate when these companies come out with a new console right before xmas and you know your kid wants it and they are very hard to get your hands on and you end up getting it anyhow knowing there could be issues with it. Its just like purchasing Vista right at release, you know there are bugs still needing to be resolved. ..........grrrr We actually got screwed when we purchased this console. After reserving and it finally came in, when we went to pick it up we were forced into puchased an extra controller and 2 games that we were not told about at the time of reserving. Boy was I mad and fired up. It was Sam Goodies which now is closed for business. My son called Microsoft, they told him to remove the hard drive and unplug it then replace the hard drive. Hes playing now, lets see how long till its flashes red again.... thanks for the links carsey, its like leaving the plastic cover on the heatsink when installing a processor/heatsink in a computer. I've heard this happening before. Just read your reply ebackhus, mine sits on an open table stand with a box fan blowing right on it........go figure __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!* Last edited by Geekgirl; 05-30-2007 at 07:46 PM.

05-30-2007, 09:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights How many lights are flashing? __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

05-31-2007, 08:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,186 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights I think my son said 3 lights, but it has not messed up since he removed the hard drive and unplugged it.... __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

05-31-2007, 08:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights Thats is the "ring of death" it means a major system part error then means it could be a damaged part such as video card, cpu, or hdd it also happends at random. __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

06-08-2007, 06:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
linuxfueled Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1 OS: vista	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights this worked for me Towel trick stopped working after a few uses I finaly decased the damn thing and added a fan powered off the server below. Looks like crap but i'm not out $460 for the 360 and $50-70 each for all the games we have.

06-09-2007, 08:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,186 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights Since my son followed the instructions given to him my Microsoft it has not given us any flashing red lights. __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

06-09-2007, 11:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights BTW why did they use passive heatsinks? __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

06-09-2007, 12:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,300 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: XBOX 360 flashing red lights It uses active cooling, actually. Just the sinks are HUEG like the original XBox and not copper. If you have a 360 running you can feel the air moving out the back of it. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.