HomeThe Xbox 360 is Microsoft's second video game console and the company's representation in the next generation console wars.
It tries to build up on the success of its predecessor, the Xbox. It keeps the things that worked, such as a built in hard drive and Xbox live while at the same time improving in other areas, such as graphics, game play, internet features, achievement points, and of course, new and fun games.
The Xbox 360 also came out almost a year before its competitors, the Playstation 3 from Sony and the Nintendo Wii, in the hopes of capturing a bigger market share. They somehow succeeded in that objective, especially with the Playstation 3 coming out with a very hefty price tag.
This strategy came with a price. Rushing the Xbox a year ahead resulted in the console having several technical problems that, unfortunately, happen too often. Some of the most common ones include: system overheating, reading problems, disc scratching and the breakdown of the system, which is indicated by 3 red flashing lights around the power button.
There were so many complaints that Microsoft had to establish an Xbox 360 repair service, which frankly, doesn't match the demand nor prevents problems from happening again. The way the Xbox 360 repair service works is like this. You send Microsoft your Xbox 360 console for repair, where it sits in a warehouse until a technician has some time to carry out a quick repair. Then it gets sent back to the warehouse until a clerk has the time to look up your address and get it shipped back to you. And each of these steps requires an executive to give authorization for them.
The whole process takes about 3 or 4 weeks (assuming you live in a place where the Xbox 360 repair service is available in the first place). But the bad news is that the problem will eventually happen again. This is because of the way the Xbox 360 is built, as it tends to overheat.
You can take some basic precautions to lengthen your Xbox 360 life, like keeping it away from heat sources and placing it on a stable base. But once you get the problem, there's nothing else to do but repair it.
Fortunately, you have another option rather than sending your console to the Xbox 360 repair service. You can repair it yourself. You'll be surprised at how easy it is. Most people tend to think that it takes deep knowledge in electronics, but it doesn't. I just takes a nice place to work in, a couple of hours, basic tools and the DIY (Do it yourself) guides available at Internet.
About the Author:
You can find best DIY Xbox 360 Repair Guide at fixya360. The repair process takes 2 hours at most, and then you can go back to enjoy your favorite video games again.