Eric Sheline

Well, 3 days after I reported the Xbox 360 hardware error – otherwise known as a Red Ring of Death (“RROD”), I received Microsoft’s pre-paid return packaging (also known as the “coffin” – look at the picture). I sent it off the next day, and since I’m in the same state as the repair facility, it arrived the following day.

In all honesty, it doesn’t bother me too much to have it gone. I like the 360, but I mostly just use it to play single player, with the occasional online match. My 360 held out just long enough for me to finish Halo 3, which is just fine with me! (Microsoft better have a replacement to me by the time Mass Effect comes out though…)

Or in other words, an Xbox 360 “Red Ring of Death” (hence, RRoD) . This particular 360 is very close to a launch model, with the production date in December 2005, so I guess I should have been expecting a problem, but it’s worked great so far!

Just yesterday, I was playing Halo 3 and finishing up a blog post about the game and it was working fine. The console was shut down after playing Halo for a couple hours, then I turned it back on to watch a DVD – and got the RRoD. Microsoft has been kind enough to extend the warranty for RRoD’s to three years, so hopefully I’ll be able to use that to get a working Xbox. I’ll log everything I do to get a replacement, and you can track it all through this blog.

UPDATE 5PM: Talked to “Mark” on the phone, I should receive the return mailer within the week, and then it will take weeks (!!) to get a replacement/repaired Xbox. Mark claims “it usually takes less time than that” – which I hope is true because 4+ weeks is a long time for a replacement!