# Oh, hell. Xbox 360 gremlins **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155 "2010-04-15T02:22:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/1 "2010-04-15T02:22:49Z")
Well, it was only a matter of time. Not the dreaded Red Rings of Death, but one ring of…near death? Bottom right ring is red. Screen gives me a “E-73” error. No mods or tampering whatsoever. Google tells me it’s to do with the ethernet cable connecting it to the TV. Sure enough when I take the cable out and switch 'er on there’s no ring. I got the console in 2007 (I _think_), I’ve still got the original box but can’t find the damn receipt. I plan to give Xbox support a call anyway and see what they say, although I imagine the answer will be “give us lots of money and we’ll fix it”. In the meantime I’ve seen various fixes online which appear to be like the ‘towel trick’ for the RROD - namely blocking the fan and waiting for it to overheat and give the two disc error message, but this seems pretty risky to me. Any safe fixes? I’ve heard dust could be a cause, but my lungs seem not up to the task. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/2 "2010-04-15T02:32:53Z")
What is your first language? I can hardly understand you, but I think our **Game Room** has people who are your relatives. Moved to the Game Room from General Questions. 🙂 **samclem** , Moderator, General Questions ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/3 "2010-04-15T02:41:28Z")
Oh, thanks **Samclem.** Wasn’t sure whether to put this in GQ or TGR though, I’m hoping for a factual answer and it’s technically no different from a computer problem, not strictly related to gaming as such. But anyway. Any help still much appreciated. Damn gremlins… ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/4 "2010-04-15T05:24:36Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Well, it was only a matter of time. Not the dreaded Red Rings of Death, but one ring of…near death? Bottom right ring is red. Screen gives me a “E-73” error. No mods or tampering whatsoever. > > Google tells me it’s to do with the ethernet cable connecting it to the TV. Sure enough when I take the cable out and switch 'er on there’s no ring. > > I got the console in 2007 (I _think_), I’ve still got the original box but can’t find the damn receipt. I plan to give Xbox support a call anyway and see what they say, although I imagine the answer will be “give us lots of money and we’ll fix it”. > > In the meantime I’ve seen various fixes online which appear to be like the ‘towel trick’ for the RROD - namely blocking the fan and waiting for it to overheat and give the two disc error message, but this seems pretty risky to me. Any safe fixes? I’ve heard dust could be a cause, but my lungs seem not up to the task. looks like it’s not a problem with the cable, but with the ethernet port itself. The RROD is completely different, so RROD temp fixes (like the towel trick, which does (sorta) work, btw. I extended my old xbox’s life for about a week with it before I got the time to go out and buy a new one) won’t work at all. So I’d recommend you call up MS and see what they’ll charge you. Seems to be the safest way to go about it and the one guaranteed to work ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/5 "2010-04-15T12:18:34Z")
> [@PopeJewish](#): > > looks like it’s not a problem with the cable, but with the ethernet port itself. > > The RROD is completely different, so RROD temp fixes (like the towel trick, which does (sorta) work, btw. I extended my old xbox’s life for about a week with it before I got the time to go out and buy a new one) won’t work at all. > > So I’d recommend you call up MS and see what they’ll charge you. Seems to be the safest way to go about it and the one guaranteed to work Thanks for the reply, **PopeJewish**. Called up MS customer support, only one year warranty for the one flashing red ring, despite it being a hardware error, which’ll cost me 82 (!) of the Queen’s English pounds. Unfortunately they didn’t accept my debit card type, which is annoying, so I’ll have to get a hold of another…which will take me a while. In the meantime I’m wondering if it’s worth trying to attempt a fix myself. Since it’s out of warranty, and one RROD seems to me as bad as the dreaded three, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot I can lose. I’ve seen ‘the toothpick trick’ fix it, but don’t know if this’ll kill the old girl in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/6 "2010-04-15T13:17:37Z")
Doesn’t the wireless adapter plug into the USB port? That might be a cheaper solution. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/7 "2010-04-15T15:47:52Z")
For what it’s worth, I don’t know if samclem was joking but I understood your post just fine. Except saying an ethernet cable connected to your television, ethernet cables are just for networking. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/8 "2010-04-15T16:12:58Z")
We got an E-73 over the weekend. Apparently E-73 is the new RRoD. We had two RRoDs last summer, and both times they were “fixed.” We’re thinking of cutting our losses and just buying a new XBox. With three gamers in the house, it’s a worthwhile investment, because I highly doubt a new “fix” will make things any better with our apparently cursed console. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/9 "2010-04-15T16:59:37Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > For what it’s worth, I don’t know if samclem was joking but I understood your post just fine. Except saying an ethernet cable connected to your television, ethernet cables are just for networking. I thought it was, but when I unplugged the TV cable no red light, and all internet sources said that E 73 is an ethernet problem. Seems I put 2 and 2 together and got 5. It’s very strange though, I’ve not once had it connected to a network, never used Xbox live on it or anything. If that’s what’s frigged it up I’ll be rather annoyed, I never used it and it breaks my console? Damn! @ **Duke** , it seems that way, either way the console’s bricked. The first 360 console I got RROD’d within the first 24 hours, I took it straight back to the shop and asked for a newer model. What “fix” did you use, or is it top secret stuff? ---
**Author:** ![PopeJewish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@PopeJewish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PopeJewish)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/10 "2010-04-15T23:41:21Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Doesn’t the wireless adapter plug into the USB port? That might be a cheaper solution. yes, and it might bypass the problem altogether, or it might not. Definitely worth checking into, though wireless connection will (generally) be a bit slower than a wired one. > [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > I thought it was, but when I unplugged the TV cable no red light, and all internet sources said that E 73 is an ethernet problem. it might simply stop booting before it gets to the point where it checks the ethernet port? I dunno. You should try plugging in the wireless adapter to see if it’ll bypass the ethernet check (esp if you know someone who has one). 80 pounds is a bit extreme. Sorry mate ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/11 "2010-04-16T00:22:47Z")
A good idea fellas, I would owe you a few drinks if it worked, annoyingly it didn’t…plugged in an old USB wireless dongle goblin, the light on it came on so it was connected, turned on the console…red ring! Bollocks. Could try another USB dongle, my old one was a bit dodgy. Might try some compressed air or a vacuum or something to try and shift any dust. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/12 "2010-04-16T00:28:33Z")
If it’s out of warranty, you just crack it open and clean the dust out… especially on the southbridge. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/13 "2010-04-16T00:35:01Z")
Wouldn’t cracking it open annoy M$ and make them ask me for more money when I ship it off to them? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/14 "2010-04-16T11:46:52Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > @ **Duke** , it seems that way, either way the console’s bricked. The first 360 console I got RROD’d within the first 24 hours, I took it straight back to the shop and asked for a newer model. What “fix” did you use, or is it top secret stuff? Our “fix” was to send it back to El Paso and the Microsoft repair shop. It was “fixed” because it didn’t work and RRoD’d again, now for the third time. It appears, also, that we actually have an E74 error, not an E73. It’s the E74 which is the new RRoD. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/15 "2010-04-16T12:32:06Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Wouldn’t cracking it open annoy M$ and make them ask me for more money when I ship it off to them? I don’t know, but if they do end up wanting even more money, you’d be at that point where you might as well just buy a new arcade-level Xbox 360 and drop your hard drive into it. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/16 "2010-04-16T18:23:32Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Our “fix” was to send it back to El Paso and the Microsoft repair shop. It was “fixed” because it didn’t work and RRoD’d again, now for the third time. > > It appears, also, that we actually have an E74 error, not an E73. It’s the E74 which is the new RRoD. In that case, repairing it should be free. [Microsoft has extended the warranty to three years](http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/nxe/kb.aspx?ID=969905&lcid=1033&category=hardware) for boxes displaying an E74 error. I had one back in February, set up the repair over the net, shipped it off, and received a working Xbox (they sent a refurb rather than have me wait for repair) all in about 10 days. So, if your box is “cursed”, go ahead and ship it off, because they’ll probably send you a different one. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-hell-xbox-360-gremlins/536155/17 "2010-05-10T13:46:06Z")
An update; I’ve finally gotten around to calling up Microsoft again, who send me a few emails and confused the hell out of me with the UPS shipping requirements to Germany of all places, anyway the old girl is all packed up now and waiting for the UPS man to pick her up tomorrow. Anyone have any experience sending the console off for repair? MS says it’ll take 2-3 weeks, so I’m expecting it back in a month or two, then I can crack on with _Red Dead Redemption._ I’m hoping they’ll just ship me back a new one for me to stick my HDD back on. @ **Palooka** , I wish it had gotten the RROD, it wouldn’t have cost me £82 quid (£98 on the phone! Just buy a new one for that price!), it’s still in the three year warranty, but not the one year for everything else. The internet is awash with people wanting to know how to induce the RROD, which seems to involve overheating it - including a suggestion of putting a running 360 in an oven (!). In retrospect I wonder if I should have tried, or if MS are wise to this scheme. It seems a bit dodgy in any case, although the console is equally as bricked with an E73 as an E74.