Microsoft Stores offer on-site Xbox 360 repairs – the Red Ring of Death no more
Microsoft was already doing a good job of fixing borked Xbox 360 consoles in a timely fashion with as little customer irritation as possible. But it’s just opened its first Microsoft Store to coincide with the release of Windows 7 and is offering on-site Xbox 360 repairs. Now that is customer service for you.
Microsoft dropped an almighty clanger when it released the Xbox 360, because the hardware had such inherent problems that a high percentage (that is still argued over to this day) of consoles fell victim to the dreaded Red Ring of Death. However, it kind of made up for it (at least in part) by offering free repairs on all affected machines even though it cost the company $1 billion.
Microsoft opened its first retail store on Thursday (Oct. 22) in Scottsdale, Arizona. And according to Conrad Zimmerman over at Destructoid, the store is offering an on-site repair service for Xbox 360 owners in the area. After visiting the store, he said:
Microsoft stores will be equipped to handle some basic repair tasks. All you have to do is walk in the store with your console, drop it off at the Answers Desk and a Microsoft Store employee will then diagnose the issue that you’re having. If it’s something simple – such as a faulty power supply causing the Red Ring of Death – they’ll rectify the situation immediately.
The one downside to this is most people aren’t going to have a Microsoft Store in their local area. At least not for a while. However, by the time the Xbox 720 is released with its own version of the Red Ring of Death (it’s possible) there are likely to be hundreds crisscrossing the United States.
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77 Responses to “Microsoft Stores offer on-site Xbox 360 repairs – the Red Ring of Death no more”
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October 24th, 2009
LMFAO
October 24th, 2009
Hardware-wise, the Xbox 360 simply does NOT live up to my standards. I don’t own one, but I know exactly what I am missing out on when it comes to what is put on my screen and how I’m moving my thumbs. Once I can get blu-ray, wi-fi, online, most of all overall quality for $300, add-ons or not, I will buy one. Not until it has those things, a bit more, and if I will keep on getting games for at least 3 years into the next generation, it is mine. Until then, I’m holding on to my money. It isn’t like I have the time to play a 360 with all of these new PS3 exclusives that I’m being spoiled with.
October 24th, 2009
That’s really good of M$.
I hope this store comes to the UK, then I’ll get my 1st 360 fixed and sell it on $’Cha-Ching’$
October 24th, 2009
Nice just almost 4 years after the problem they decide this crap. Microsoft should hired third party makers to build they consoles. American technology is laughable. This store might not help much trust me.
October 24th, 2009
“American technology is laughable. ”
Like IBM, nVidia and ATI? Your precious PS3 is almost entirely American technology you idiot.
October 24th, 2009
dont bash america ivan, we dont take kindly to that lol
i have 1 quick question. If i get the three rings of death its free warranty for threes years right? and if so, is there like a shipping date on the console to prove that i purchased it in the 3 yr period w/o voiding warranty?
October 24th, 2009
2 questions my bad
October 24th, 2009
me_:
Shut up fool you an idiot so i wont bother with your stupid comment.
Kevo/Sir_Chubs_Alot08:
Well the warranty started even if you don’t have the red ring of death. I think it ends next year.
“dont bash america ivan, we dont take kindly to that lol”
Don’t worry i don’t mind, the world ain’t scare of a spoil country. I gotta move to Tokyo were electronic and gaming rule.
October 24th, 2009
how can you deny that your not spoiled either?? thats hypocrite talk buddy.
October 24th, 2009
Kevo/Sir_Chubs_Alot08:
LoL, how am i spoil by America? I would them to spoil me since I’m broke at the time.
October 24th, 2009
i am to meaning the world is in a economic downturn but lets talk games.
October 24th, 2009
Cue the PS3 fanboys.
(and note the typical silence on the 1 in 10 fail rate the fat PS3 had)
Never had a problem with my Falcon 60gb or my Falcon Elite 120gb, not even a single lock-up.
The Jasper SKU is even better and when Valhalla arrives in a few months I expect it to be even better again.
Between greatly improved SKUs and a 3yr warranty Microsoft have put this one to bed.
Store-based repair will be nice for those that prefer a tript in an afternoon rather than the week (or 2) shipping can take.
Not a bad move.
October 24th, 2009
Happyhockum:
Good for you and bad the other millions like me.
October 24th, 2009
I think that is great that they are doing that and yeah the Microsoft stor will be in malls everywhere in a few years. But this is customer service at It’s best. I only wonder if the Sony store does the same. Most likely not knowing Sony.
Happy
I have a Jasper Elite and it is the best 360 yet. It is so quite and stays cool I definately think Microsoft has the problem fixed and if Valhalla is going to make it even better I say this is the best time to get a 360 because the Hardware isses is now over. But Happy my stolen 360 was a falcon and I was impressed with that one to before it was taken.
Just to let potential buyers know. If you look at the manufacture date on the 360 you will have to dig out the box on the left side a bit to see it but just stick your finger in and tear away at the left side inside part of the box and you will see the consumption # and your looking for 12.something but the magic number is 12 and that is a jasper. A falcon is 14 and I don’t recommend anything beyond that.
October 24th, 2009
@cad Sony do a great job I’m getting ps3s fixed much better then microsoft when my xbox broke it took 23 days to come back repaired and when my ps3 broke it took 8 days
October 24th, 2009
Wow Ivan is just pissing everyone off today huh.
October 24th, 2009
RobertCarr316
Yet on the otherhand I know of people who had their Xbox back in a week.
I also know of people mightily pi$$ed off at how much Sony have charged to fix their PS3s (£150+ has been mentioned several times which is more than I ever saw Microsoft charge to fix an Xbox).
October 24th, 2009
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/10/24/microsoft-respond-to-sales-figures/
Funny site, lots of ps3 owners pretending to be 360 owners.. lol
October 24th, 2009
@RobertCarr316:
I got mine replaced in 3 days and that too in India,
Three week backs, i had a falcon elite, they replaced with a Jasper Elite
@Cad
You are right pal Jasper model is really quite..
Its manufacturing Date is 29th August 2009, so its Jasper i suppose
October 24th, 2009
“’American technology is laughable.’
Like IBM, nVidia and ATI? Your precious PS3 is almost entirely American technology you idiot.”
HAAAHHAAAAROFLMFAOOL… oh, that was priceless m…
“bad the other millions like me.”
Kind of like your PS3 going down huh Ivan?
October 24th, 2009
Wait a minute, Jaspers n Falcons run more quietly?
My 360 sounds like a jet engine.
October 24th, 2009
They just don’t build consoles like they used to. Same with phones and T.V.s. Gone are the bricks that could survive any sort of mishap. I wonder how long an Xbox 360 (and PS3 for that matter) can stand the heat? A TV would last about 50k-80k hours, from what I’ve heard.
Everything is just so damn fragile these days. And shiny.
October 24th, 2009
@virus
Yup, Jaspers do run more quietly
October 24th, 2009
I got a Arcade Jasper left. LoL is funny how everyone is is saying what model they have wow doesn’t look good LoL. Microsoft better ask IBM/AT or Nintendo to make their next console it might last more.
ViRuS;
Yeas the latest Xbox 360 model sounds very loud and as GTA 4 on it it keeps frezzing no reason the game is basically new all my games in perfection condition.
October 24th, 2009
ViRuS
“My 360 sounds like a jet engine”
Do you save to & play your 360’s games off of the hard drive?
If you do that and yours still sounds so loud then I’d say something is very wrong.
My 360’s noise when playing games from the hard drive is about the same as my mate’s PS3
(which contrary to all the launch hype is far from ’silent’ once its fans start up).
October 24th, 2009
……and right on cue there’s Ivan doing hos best to bash the 360 & PR for the PS3 with his fanboy lying.
October 24th, 2009
And why force people to waste HDD memory when they can just make a quieted drive. Happyhockum your mate PS3 sure. Kepp crying while i play Ratchet & Clank the new demo on PS3 2400 MB big file.
October 24th, 2009
@happy
actually he meant to that
“Yeas the latest ps3 slim model sounds very loud and as uncharted 1 on it it keeps frezzing no reason the game is basically new all my games in perfection condition.”
@ivan
there i did for ya pal
October 24th, 2009
@happy
actually he meant to say* that
“Yeas the latest ps3 slim model sounds very loud and as uncharted 1 on it it keeps frezzing no reason the game is basically new all my games in perfection condition.”
@ivan
there i did for ya pal
October 24th, 2009
IVAN speak english
October 24th, 2009
Ivan
What’s this new loopy idea of yours? “Wasting HDD”?
I can stream or hook up an external HDD for all my music, pics and movies (and I don’t have the FAT32 restriction on my external drive either).
We have no need to use my Xbox hard drive for anything other than games and downloads.
Is that why you have to worry about hard drive space?
Cos the PS3 can’t use an external hard drive with files bigger than 4gb and you have to worry about space on it’s internal drive?
I’ve got 250gb internal on the new Xbox, 2tb on my main PC, 1.5tb on my HTPC and I’ve a 500gb SATA drive in a caddy with a USB connection as my external.
Memory is not something I have any problem with at all.
Be honest, memory’s so cheap now I seriously doubt if anyone else really has an issue over it at this stage in things either.
Maybe your saturday job just doesn’t pay enough?
October 24th, 2009
What are you fools blabbering about? If you can do that well good for good i don’t really cared.
1 Got 2 segate external 1TB each just $260 for both and my VAIO has a built in 1 TB plus 500GB Solid Stae Drive and my PS3 500GB but almost all gone i’m a media lover fool of of content.
My 2 TB seagate HDD are almost outer space gotta buy 2 new ones soon.
October 24th, 2009
“Be honest, memory’s so cheap now I seriously doubt if anyone else really has an issue over it at this stage in things either.”
memory is not cheap for those 20Gigers or Arcade (xbox owner) out there. if they want to upgrade its going to cost them $100+
October 24th, 2009
Ivan
You were robbed.
I just bought 2 Western Digital 1tbs for £58 each delivered ($94 US).
WTF would anyone buy a 2tb drive for yet?
2 x 1tb or even 1.5tb is far more cost effective……unless you’re just into ridiculous bragging (umm….what do you think you come across like?).
Roca
How many times are you going to repeat that lie?
It’s not like you haven’t had this spelt out in simple terms even you can understand before
(and you wonder why people say you are simply here just to PR for PS3).
You can buy the exact 2.5″ 120gb drive you need to use and fit it into an enclosure yourself for a fraction of the official unit.
See here – ww.pcworld.com/article/150970/upgrade_your_xbox_360s_hard_drive_on_the_cheap.html
The firmware for the 250gb drive has been sent out as an XBL update and as soon as the drive is identified you’ll be able to do the same with that one too.
The recent change banning 360 ‘unofficial’ memory was all about memory cards not hard drives (why would they stop that? They are all about d/l’ing freebie demos and encouraging people to buy stuff).
Besides, anyone with an Xbox (yes even Arcade owners) can use an external hard drive with the Xbox for theior movies, pics and music
(and we have not 4gb Fat32 restriction on the external drives unlike the PS3).
October 24th, 2009
That’s the price that it was here in USA i don’t mind when i got it. And i got so many games i wish i had 10 TB.
October 24th, 2009
I’ve got a question. How do you change your avatar thing? I want to be known as more than some snowman with no arms standing in front of a grey wall.
October 24th, 2009
You have a “500GB Solid Stae Drive” Ivan?
When did you get it, what is it and how much?
October 24th, 2009
Fuck I really need to upgrade my ps3 I only have 60 gigs on it and I have been deleting stuff all year to make space for games it’s a pain anyone know where to buy a good hard drive for my ps3? Also I won’t upgrade my ps3 to a slim no way I’m losing my b/c
October 24th, 2009
Happyhockum:
On my VAIO PC yes why. It came with the PC so i don’t how much i paid Sony. I upgrade my PS3 from 60GB to 320gb then 500gb and i upgrade my other ps3 80gb to 250gb then to 500gb my xbox from 20gb to another 20gb soon 250gb.
October 24th, 2009
@ Ivan – HH is trying to tell you that 500gb solid states aren’t available yet so you’re wrong or BS’ing
October 24th, 2009
SW
You caught that wiff of bS too, huh?
Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Busted badly.
Still, it tells us that Ivan desperately wants to impress us all, which is kind of compliamentary if you think about it.
Bless.
October 24th, 2009
a jasper is 12.1 watts of voltage
October 24th, 2009
who said their making a new SKU?
October 24th, 2009
Kevo/Sir_Chubs_Alot08
The 45nm (or 65nm according to some later reports) Valhalla SKU has been coming for a while now
(just like all the other SKUs once were).
It features an even more energy efficient (and cooler running) ‘SoC’ (’system on chip’) which combines the CPU & the GPU into the one unit.
It was once claimed to be appearing in Q4 of ‘09 but it looks far more likely to be Q1 or Q2 of ‘10 right now.
It may come in the 1st Natal 360s next year?
October 24th, 2009
Happy I think 2 things are going to happen. Ivan is either gonna shout you down with his broken english and say one of his insider friends from whatever company got it for him or else just not post in this article any more.
October 24th, 2009
Oh please go to Sony’s website and check their Desktop PC lineup if you don’t believe me they bring a SSD drive. Even Alienware provides them too so shut the fuck up already. Anyways if you don’t believe i don’t give a shit. If anyone is jealous i don’t care.
October 24th, 2009
Nobody said there were no SSDs Ivan.
You’ve been on about that Vaio for months.
You now claim it has a 500gb SSD.
A 500gb SSD.
Busted.
(as anyone really cares anyways so why are you lying?)
October 24th, 2009
No I’m not but what ever.
I got this PC but is outer stock so they won’t allow you to add more HDD. VAIO® RT Series All-in-One PC
VAIO® AR Series Notebook PC
Even this model allow you to add 250GB SDD
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAIO go read on it there if you want fast prove
sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665507558
October 24th, 2009
From what I can see you can get a vaio with 2 250gb SSD, but they don’t offer a 500gb ssd. what’s more you are also looking at spending an additional $1300 to get the two 250gb ssd in raid. Somehow I seriously doubt even Ivan has that much money to burn.
October 24th, 2009
Rimmer:
They do but you got added since is out of stock you cannot see that. Only for their high end All in-one Desktop PC. Dude $3000 ain’t shit.
October 25th, 2009
toshi
right above the made in china is a series of numbers about the wattage. a jasper is 12.1 it is the second number in. falcons are 14.? and before that was 16.?
October 25th, 2009
@ happy
do you have any idea what the new chips are called or is that rumored?
October 25th, 2009
Kevo/Sir_Chubs_Alot08:
They still making more Xbox 360 chips?
October 25th, 2009
“They still making more Xbox 360 chips”
Best selling and still more advanced product for the majority of third party unreal engine titles, of course LOL
October 25th, 2009
CarlB:
Why you felt the need to say that LoL the curiosity is killing me to know. No one said it was selling i just thought i should if they making a better motherboard or something so i can be ready.
October 25th, 2009
I meant no one said it was not selling it is selling.
October 25th, 2009
The reason I said it was because you said, “They still making more Xbox 360 chips?” and I answered it directly.
October 25th, 2009
Oooookay. LoL
October 25th, 2009
@Cad
Above made in china, its written something like
12v 16.5A, 5V 1A..
I dont knoow know what it means, but ehh ???
October 25th, 2009
I think that is the xeon chip. But 16.5A is your #. That is two chip sets back.
October 25th, 2009
but yeah you can see those #’s before you purchase but like I said tear away at the inside left of the packaging and don’t worry it looks fine on the outside still your not ripping a hole in the package to get yourself in trouble. but you will see those #’s and the 2nd # is the # to look for.
October 25th, 2009
whats the launch set it starts with a “z” i think
October 25th, 2009
what can i say, we use 240 vs 120.. as we cant use anything mad ein us or canada without a converter..
i was guessing it was a jasper, coz it had 28th aug 2009 as the manufacturing sate behind the back of the console
October 25th, 2009
date*
October 25th, 2009
Kevo/Sir_Chubs_Alot08
Valhalla is the name for the next chipset.
It ought to be like Jasper and easily identifiable (when it arrives) because the amp rating will be even lower than Jasper’s 12.1.
Ivan
We’re all incredible impressed.
LMAO
October 25th, 2009
Kevo/Sir_Chubs_Alot08:
“whats the launch set it starts with a “z” i think”
Zephyr?
That was the version mobo straight after the initial Xenons.
It was the one that introduced the HDMI port.
Unfortunately although the cooling system was improved it still used the 90nm CPU & GPU & RAM so reliability was better but not by the big stride Falcon brought.
Falco introduced the 65nm CPU (and it’s oiften overlooked that the GPU and RAM also went smaller from 90nm to 80nm) which with the better cooling and lower energy draw & less heat being generated helped normalise the 360’s reliability.
Although Jasper brough the 65nm CPU & GPU in may ways it is more about cheaper production than improving reliability (even though that is itself improved).
October 25th, 2009
Anyone actually get Windows 7?
October 25th, 2009
I have it Barnabe.
It’s still in it’s box mind.
I’m just wondering whether or not to buy another new HDD and have it on that or swap my existing (and almost new) 1tb XP drive over.
Either way I’m going to ‘clean install’ (for a minimum of hassle, I hope).
I’m in no rush, I know that the necessary drivers for my Canon printer don’t exist yet and I’m probably going to use this opportunity to finally move over to 64 bit computing.
I managed to snag my (full retail version, including 32bit & 64bit, not OEM version) copy for £45 ($73 US/$79AUS…….jayzuss! the exchange rate between US & AUS has shifted mightily since last time I looked!) on the initial pre-order deal they offered.
Very happy about that deal too.
October 26th, 2009
I got Windows XP Professional SeRvice Pack 3 free and Windows Vista Home Premium. Vista sucks is bloated. Also for Windows 7 i might download a copy free.
October 26th, 2009
anyone remember the Zephyr joke in Ratchet and Clank future tools of destruction? Zephyr was one of the robots and the other robot was joking that he only works right half the time.
October 26th, 2009
so he was not joking after all
…he was right
October 26th, 2009
lol
October 26th, 2009
Ivan_PSP:
“Vista sucks is bloated. ”
Why would you care, you have all that memory and hard drive space so why would this even matter to you?
Oh wait…..
The truth is Vista got a (probably deserved) initial bad press but since SP1 has been getting little but praise from those that actually use it.
The give-away here is the last resort of whining about it being ‘bloated’ – like as if anyone gives a f*ck when most now run PCs with 2gbs or more of Ram.
Who cares?
You still end up with a Microsoft OS, only one of the best supported )in terms of security updates and mid-life improvements, easiest to operate & most compatible systems on the planet.
The only reason why Windows gets attacked so much is because it is so used and most have it – this is proved by the other OS’s, as their popularity increases, now coming under more and more attacks.
You could try an OS nobody uses or has heard of, undoubtedly it’d be much more secure, but then it’ll not work easily with anything and be nothing but a PITA.
October 26th, 2009
While I Prefer Windows more than any other OS…its known that Windows is no where near of best OS’s out there.
to tell you the truth I dont care what they say I still feel more confortable with Windows.
but the bottom line is Microsoft Windows is the most common operating system and is a reasonable choice for most people. Mac OS is second-most popular (and gaining market share) and is an excellent operating system for those who can purchase a Mac. Linux is a very good advanced operating system available for free and is recommended for experienced users.
October 26th, 2009
As a Gamer, I have no choice to run Windows in some capacity. I run XP64, an OS that won’t have another Service Pack, that does well, but has limitations imposed by its much lower usages.
I also run Ubuntu off a boot stick for encoding, but it is a special stripped OS (given to me by a friend that actually knows Linux) that doesn’t do anything except open a conversion/editting program about 15seconds after it turn on the computer. Cuts down my encoding timeby almost half on the larger files, as I have the entire computer dedicated to a single task with Zero distractions.
I plan on owning Windows7u64 soon enough, though I am considering waiting till the first service pack, an almost universally accepted maturation point on MS OS software. I just want to be able to stream my 4gb+ Video files to my PS3 :/.
I guess otherwise, I have absolutely no tangible need, but a very strong desire for a DX11 card, that would be handicapped without the DX11 OS.
October 26th, 2009
Windows 7 RC until it expires baby
Then we’ll see
Good for MS doing the RRoD repair in store. I tell ya tho, if I had a machine that RRoD’d I just beg MS to send me the parts and be done with it. Fix it my darned self.
October 26th, 2009
SW
The in-store thing’s probably a nice idea for those who want to be sure they are keeping their own console.
In time it’ll probably also get around as to who’s really good with them too.