Xbox 360 Error Codes - And What To Do About Them

If your Xbox 360 has stopped working you can get the error codes and get a general idea on what to do next. Error codes should be used as a general guide, they are not always 100 percent correct. They will give you an idea on where to start.

4 Flashing Red Lights - AV cable can not be detected.

• Make sure it is plugged in all the way.
• Disconnect the AV cable from the Xbox 360 console, and then reconnect the AV cable to the Xbox 360 console.
• Make sure none of your contacts are bent. Try cleaning the metal contacts on each end with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol
  
• If the AV cable is correctly connected but the four red lights are still flashing, try a different AV cable if you have one available.

3 Red Lights Flashing - is a general hardware failure

• Unplug everything and let it sit for 20 min. Re-connect and try re-starting
• If these steps do not resolve the behavior, turn the console off, remove the hard drive, and then turn on the console. If the 3x Red LED error light is no longer displayed, turn the console off, re-attach the hard drive, and then turn on the console.
• Check the lights on the power supply. When you turn on the console, the power supply light should illuminate green even if the three lights on the console flash red.

2 Flashing red Lights - Your unit is overheating

• Let your Xbox 360 console cool.
  You may have to wait several hours for the console to cool enough. Do not turn on the console when it is still hot.
• Make sure you can hear the fan running, also make sure you are not blocking the console from getting enough ventilation.
• Do not lay your console on heavy carpet or in a confined book case or shelf
• If you CPU is overheating you could replace the thermal compound. See the manual before you attempt this. The compound can be purchased at any radio Shack or electronic store.

1 red Light Flashing - General Hardware Failure

• This type of hardware failure can be determined by the error code displayed on the screen. If the screen is blank or you would like additional information follow the instructions for determining the secondary error code
• E45: Unknown
• E65: DVD Drive Error,DVD Timeout, Wrong firmware, DVD is without chip. This can also be caused by the tray not being fully closed or jammed on boot.
• E66: DVD Drive Error: DVD model, or version does not match that of the version expected by the dashboard. OR the firmware version on the drive is older then the firmware version expected by the dashboard. Make sure the DVD drive is of the same version originally included with the console and that it is using either the original firmware included with the console or newer.
• E67: Hard Drive Error, It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and re-connecting it.
• E68: Also a Hard Drive error. It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and playing without it, This can also be caused by a Hard Drive Eprom Error. Some also believe this might be caused by a problem with the fans.
• E69: Hard Drive Error. Could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive.
• E71: Possibly a dashboard update error, Check below in the "Console Reset Codes" for instructions. If that does not work there is no other solution and the console must be sent back to MS for repair.
• E73: General Hardware Error: Ethernet port, this error is caused by a problem with the Ethernet port.
• E74: AV cable error. There is a problem with the AV cable, try using a different AV cable. If the cable is known to be working then there is a 90% chance it's a scaler chip problem in rare cases it is the CPU.
• E79: Hard Drive Error. It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and re-attach it.

Still having problems? Get this easy to follow guide and repair your Xbox 360 yourself

Xbox 360 Three Red Lights Fix – Repair It Yourself

If your Xbox 360 has stopped working and you are getting the 3 red light error don’t panic, there is hope. With some basic tools and a decent repair manual you can fix it yourself.

You will need a set of torx screwdrivers, If you do not have a set you can pick up a cheap set at your local hardware store.

The 3 red light error means there is a general hardware failure. First thing you can try is to dis-connect everything and let your console sit for 20 minutes unplugged from the power. Re-connect everything and try it again, If you are still getting the error remove the hard drive and re-install it. Sometimes they get loose and you get a bad connection.

If that did not fix it you will need to open it up at this point. The most common failures are no video or disks will not read. Both can be repaired fairly easy.

If you have no video you can try a different video cable, borrow a friends if you do not have another one. If you still have no video but audio is working you will need to check the soldering connections on the main board for the video connector. Consult the manual before attempting this or any other internal repairs.

If your Xbox is not reading the disks or getting disk errors make sure your disks are clean. After that you may have to replace the DVD drive or if you have the skills you can remove the DVD drive and replace just the pick up assembly. This is a lot cheaper than replacing the whole drive. Again consult the repair manual before attempting this.

Your other option is to send your console off to Microsoft and Wait. Nothing worse than having Halo 3 and not being able to play it. I prefer to do my own mods and repairs. The console unit is very similar to your home computer, it is actually a small computer. With a little patience anyone can learn how to do there own repairs.

Once you learn about the inner workings of you game console and repair it you will become real popular with your friends when the game breaks down. This has turned into a part time business for me. Word seems to get around fast. If you want you can make some decent money doing repairs. People would much rather have someone local do their repairs.

Get The Ultimate Repair Manual Here