Josh Babetski : Quixotic Bravado

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So the first gadget casualty of 2009 seems to be my Xbox 360. It was 3 years old. I bought it, along with 4 others on launch day on November 22nd, 2008. I sold the other four at a handsome profit on eBay, which meant mine was free.

Cause of death: the dreaded red ring of death. Conveniently for Microsoft, this happened 6 weeks after the warranty extension for the RRoD issue they got so much bad press for had expired.

Like any gadget-lover, it’s tough to lose a device that you aren’t retiring because you’ve upgraded to something better. On the upside, when I replace it, I’ll get a newer version that’s more energy efficient, built better, and has a HDMI port. Unfortunately for Microsoft though, I haven’t been using my 360 much at all lately. It doesn’t play Blu-Ray DVDs, the Netflix integration is nice, but the selection is still lacking, and I have Rock Band 2 for my Playstation 3. There hasn’t been much in the way of any compelling games for it lately either. So that replacement may just wait until there’s something out there worth playing on it.

But this post is for you who will or already have had your 360 go down in a blaze of red blinking lights. In trying to save my doomed Xbox, I came across a very helpful post of error codes and how to pull out useful info out as your console gasps and wheezes its way to the great recycle bin in the sky. Maybe it’ll be some help to you. I found it in a post on Xbox-Scene called: “Error Codes Explained, If you have an error code, read this!” Very useful stuff, and I recommend you go there for more information, especially the part of getting codes out of the lights on the front of the console and what they mean. Credit for the information goes entirely to the members of that forum. I’ve copied part of the error code how-to below:

Secondary Error Codes

The specific type of hardware failure can be determined by a “hidden” error code

• Turn the xbox 360 on, and wait till the 3 red lights are flashing.
• Press and hold the sync up button (the small white one), while holding that button press the eject button.
• The LEDs will now blink the first number in the code (as described below).
  Release the eject button and press it again.
• The LEDs will now blink the second number of the code.
• Release the eject button and press it again.
• The LEDs will now blink the third number of the code.
• Release the eject button and press it again.
• The LEDs will now blink the forth number of the code.
• Release the eject button and press it again.
• The LEDs will go back to the 3 red flashing lights.

You should be able to determine the difference between the 3 flashing lights and the error code lights by the rate in which they flash.

Here is how you interpret the LEDs to get the code number:

• All four lights flashing – 0
• One light flashing – 1
• Two Lights flashing – 2
• Three lights flashing – 3

Codes

0001

power supply problem

0002

Network Interface problem

0003

Power problem could be the PSU could be the GPU/CPU, somehow the console isn’t getting clean power from the power supply.

0010

There is a problem with the Southbridge Chip usually dealing with how it connects to the mainboard (cold solder joint/bridged solder joints)

0011

CPU over heating – If you are receiving this error after disassembling your console make sure to all 8 of the heatsinc screws are tightened securely to the board/heatsink holes.

0012

GPU over heating -ensure your x-clamps are installed properly.

0013

RAM over heating

0020

GPU Malfunction, similar to error 0102

0021

This can be caused by two completely different things either:

A. DVD Drive Time out – Can be caused by problems with a firmware flash. This is also speculated to sometime be caused by a problem with the southbridge chipset on the motherboard based on how it connects to the DVD drive.

B. GPU error, generally caused by a poor connection to the mainboard (cold solder joints/bridged solder joints) See error 102 for more information

0022

CPU error, generally caused by a poor connection to the mainboard (cold solder joints/bridged solder joints). This can also be triggered by an error with the TSOP.

0023

(not yet known)

0030

Problem with temperature control

0031

(not yet known)

0032

(not yet known)

0033

(not yet known)

0100

(not yet known)

0101

(not yet known)

0102

Error in the “Digital Backbone” (CPU/GPU/RAM), this is usually caused by a cold solder joint between the GPU and the mainboard. There are two theories to fixing this one deals with the “X” clamps that hold down the chips. The other involves re-Heating the chips. DO NOT attempt either of these if your console is still under warranty. If your console is still under warranty return it to the store where it was purchased or call MS to have it replaced.

0103

GPU Error this is usually caused by bridged solder points where the GPU connects to the mainboard. see error 0102 for more detailed information

0110

Ram error, this is caused by a cold or bridged solder joint on one of the Ram chips.

…

0200

(not yet known)

…

1000

Kernel can’t be launched/signature in NAND Flash chip is broken! It could be possible after bad update. This might also be caused by a bad SATA cable.

1001

DVD Drive Error, either incorrect firmware or DVD Time out.

1002

DVD Drive Error, likely a firmware error, drive can eject, read, and write under windows but errors on console, replacing original firmware should fix issue.

1003

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

1010

Hard Drive Error, Can be caused buy a corrupt or missing eProm. See also E68 above

1011

(not yet known)

1012

(not yet known)

1013

(not yet known) possibly a dashboard update error

1020

(not yet known)

1021

(not yet known)

1022

There is high chance it’s a scaler chip problem (the “ANA” or “HANA” chip near the AV cable connection) it can also be caused by a faulty AV cable so check that first. In some cases it is a problem with the GPU and may be repairable by doing the x-clamp replacement (see error 0102)

1023

DVD drive not connected, connect DVD drive to boot

1030

This error deals with the Ethernet port’s controller chip, a dead chip may not cause the error but removing the Ethernet controller chip does, it may also be caused by other Ethernet related problems.

1031

(not yet known)

1032

(not yet known)

1033

it could be cpu/gpu related or it could be psu related, not much info is known for sure.

1100

Wrong LDV version in NAND Flash. This is in new dashboard. You have the update but haven’t R3T6 resistor. You can:

Downgrade to old dashboard, solder back the resistor and then update your xbox

If you have CPU Key, get current NAND Flash image and fix LDV (just add 1 up to latest kernel). (see error E80)

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